Best rifle scopes in the $200-$300 range?

Nothing at all wrong with Vortex, if you stick to their higher models. The lowest level I'll own going forward is the PST. The Razor line is alpha tier, only an idiot would attempt to argue otherwise.

Best sub $300 scope I've owned to date is the Bushnell 3500 elite. Noticeably clearer glass than my more expensive Leupold VX1, day and night better than the DBT and Nikon Prostaff I have on my rimfires. And it holds up to recoil like a champ.
 
The vintage steel Weavers made in El Paso are good reliable scopes. K2.5, K3, K4, K6 scopes are generally very reasonably priced.
 
The main reason I don’t like vortex scope is the weight and bulkness of them! I like light and slim scopes w/o bells and whistles! So for me it is Leupold or bushnell elite !
 
IvoB said:
100% agree
The company (CHINESE) came in super cheap once people drank the Koolaide (lifetime warranty) to take market share from others - they bailed nothing but junk - vendors pushed them because they stood to make more money per unit. I never had or never will buy anything Vortex
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Talk about drinking the Koolaide!! Jesus man youve just admitted to never owning one but have no problem running them into the ground. How exactly did they Bail as you put it? The Vortex optics company is American owned and started by the Hamilton family of Middleton Wisconsin. Their headquarters are in Barnveld. So the next time your gonna bash something you should at least know what your talking about or have first hand experience. This coming from the guy that touts how great fixed 4X simmons scopes are. HAHA
 
Longstud said:
Talk about drinking the Koolaide!! Jesus man youve just admitted to never owning one but have no problem running them into the ground. How exactly did they Bail as you put it? The Vortex optics company is American owned and started by the Hamilton family of Middleton Wisconsin. Their headquarters are in Barnveld. So the next time your gonna bash something you should at least know what your talking about or have first hand experience. This coming from the guy that touts how great fixed 4X simmons scopes are. HAHA
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It's like trying to argue with your wife.
 
Longstud said:
Talk about drinking the Koolaide!! Jesus man youve just admitted to never owning one but have no problem running them into the ground. How exactly did they Bail as you put it? The Vortex optics company is American owned and started by the Hamilton family of Middleton Wisconsin. Their headquarters are in Barnveld. So the next time your gonna bash something you should at least know what your talking about or have first hand experience. This coming from the guy that touts how great fixed 4X simmons scopes are. HAHA
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The bulk of Vortex’s rifle scopes production occurs in China. This includes the Diamondback Tactical FFP (First Focal Plane), Strike Eagle, and Crossfire rifle scopes product lines. Asia seems to be the place for optics. In fact, Bushnell gets theirs from South Korea.

Out of all the Vortex scopes, the only one built in the USA is the Vortex Razor HD AMG 6-24×50.

I do know what I am talking about - the above came from a simple google search - I think you should be asking yourself why are they being made in CHINA and not the USA. Simmons scope for the price point are fantastic. I heard complaints from youtubers, gun stores, people who bought them and swore they will never buy another one.
 
Seems most scopes under $1000.00 are made in China or assembled using Chinese components but many manufacturers will not say including Leupold rangefinders..

I have had great experiences with Athlon scopes on centrefires but the one I bought was around $600.00, they handle the lifetime warranty in Canada, no hassles. For my .17HMR and .22 rimfire cheap WestHunter scopes off Amazon work very well for me as well at around $200.00, but I wanted Mildots, 30mm tube, and turrets without caps.

My buddy has an old 10x Leupold it does what he wants.

Comes down to budget and what do you want the scope to do, lots of variables.
 
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A contributing factor to Vortex Canada's replacement warranty was that they did not have a service facility in the country. Repairs would have required export and re-import. Easier and faster to replace.
 
Vortex are made using Chinese slave labour. One reason that everyone who touches them, can add a nice hefty markup, and they can so easily replace them.

Before they stopped making scopes, Nikon, was were price and quality met. Japanese bushnell elite are now that. Have nothing against leupold, I will just never deal with Korth for warranty, or enrich them as they're the distributor in Kanada.
 
Its not fair to the animal to use a vortex crossfire. Couldn't shot at an animal with a scope that changes poi every shot. Know of 2 from close friends. Warranty doesn't do you much good when you miss or worse yet wound an animal. Used 3200/4200 or vx1 would be my choice
 
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