Advise on a scope for new Ruger American 22-250

KGB2014

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Hey boys and girls, I'm pretty new to hunting and just got myself a new Ruger in 22-250 as a predator hunting rifle. I am trying to decide on a scope for it. I have been offered a Leupold vx 3 used scope by a good friend , the scope is 6-7 years old but in an almost new shape. Buddy wants $500. He paid around $800 for it 6-7 years ago.Comes with the rings.
I'm not sure if I want to spend $500 on a scope...is it a good buy, is it a good scope? I looked at Amazon and there are scopes there for like 100-300$$... I have no idea what am I looking for and what to look for. So far I researched and found out that I need to stay away from Vortex brand...
Please, any advise will be appreciated!
 
What power is the VX-3? They are an excellent scope and tend to hold their value.

A cheap $100-$300 scope is worth nothing after you buy it and are typically Chinese junk.
 
I had a VX-3 on my 22-250 for about 4 years. It worked well. Only needed to send it away once to fix some dust in the lenses. I just sold it for $700 to replace with a Vortex Razor.
 
I won't give you a suggestion for "what scope" but will give you some questions you need to answer for yourself before you choose what glass to put on top.

How far do you plan on shooting - what you need will be quite different if you are shooting yote's at 100 yards or 700 yards.

Will most of your shooting be done at dusk and dawn or the middle of the day. You don't need to pay extra for a scope that gathers light better if you are only shooting in the daylight.

Is this something that you will "flip" in a couple years to fund a different scope or are you the kinda guy that buys something and keeps it forever. While Leupold does hold value you pay a premium for that up front. If you are never going to sell it it could be similar to buying insurance for something you don't own - you could find a different scope just as clear/bright/functional for less money.

How often are you realistically going to shoot? A 200 or 300 dollar scope is often fine for the deer hunter who goes out one week a year with his buddies. They work, they are functional and a perfect for the one or two shots "that count" that they may take. They don't want bells/whistles etc.

The answer to those questions will help determine what you need. Close shots don't require extreme magnification. Close shots don't require significant compensation capabilities (adjustable turrets, parallax focus, windage dots or bullet drop compensating reticles). Only you can determine what you will need.

If you list what you want the scope to be able to do for you and what your budget is, you will probably get more usable suggestions. But ultimately you should end up making a short list and then getting somewhere where you can actually look through the scopes on your list.

Just because everyone and their dog says scope A is better than sliced bread, you may look through it and say "nope, don't like it" - and then it doesn't matter who says what about it.

Last point - I read an article once where the writer suggested that we (collectively) "cheap out" on our optics. Today's rifles are all "super accurate" regardless of how much they cost. That accuracy is useless without good optics and good ammunition. He suggested that if you look at optics "twice" the price of your rifle cost you are probably getting close to what you should put on top....
 
Thank you very much guys! As I said, I'm a beginner here. I started tagging along with my hunting buddy/mentor a couple of years ago enjoying not the kill but the hunt itself. I was taking my SKS, MOSIN and SVT -40 and to tell you the truth only was able to pull the trigger a few times and to not much of the success, LOL!!
Not I think I'm getting ready for the real hunt( according to my buddy hunter). Soo... Here are my thoughts to what I need.
I don't think that I'm good enough to place a 600+ yards shots. So probably my limit will be between 200-600 yards.
Not sure about low light shooting since it is getting dark early and the low light feature might actually come handy.
I do want a good magnification on my scope and clear glass since I'm wearing glasses and don't have a good eyesight.
I do want a scope that doesn't give me the hassle of adjusting it after every couple of shots.
I don't want any issues with fogging or moisture.
If we are talking about a $100 difference between a OK scope and a really good one - I will go with a good one. But if you are telling me that I can get a good scope for what I'm going to use it for for $200 - then it's a different story.
I do trust the buddy who is selling me the scope, he wouldn't sell me something that has some kind of defect or inferiority.
As I mentioned already, all comments are appreciated!
 
You won't get more value for the money than you will with a Leupold, even more so at used prices. Even my "affordable" bush gun wears one, because I don't trust anything cheaper when it's getting bumped around and exposed to mud/rain/snow etc.
 
There was also no "VX-2" or "VX-3" designation 6-7 years ago, it would have been the older style Roman numeral designation: VX-II. I'd also be leery of counterfeits, there are plenty out there, many owned by people who don't even know it.
 
Why not buy a bushnell trophy scope priced right ...many will tell you need a 5 to 7 hundred dollar scope ,,, you don't . bushnell scopes work well wont break the bank ,, lifetime warranty
 
Just got myself a vx2 4-12x AO and yes its not cheapbut after buying crap that fails I decided to replace all scopes with Leupold.

Its not only the glass quality/clarity.. Leupold are compact weigh less and are durable with lifetime warra ty, without forgetting the great eye relief.
 
Back
Top Bottom