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

freezer filler said:
SWFA exports their scopes to Canada...or at least they used to? Having owned 100s of scopes, I vote for a used Leupold, Burris, or Bushnell. I've had Vortex crap out on me before.
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They did, then they didn't, and repeat. They were good scopes for the money, actually made by Hakko I believe. Still have a 10x here, but it needs repair. - dan
 
The comment about so called "slave labour" in China is uncalled for. They are not forced to work. Without work they and their family would starve to death. Is that what you want? Just go ahead and buy US products made by US unionized companies. Fine by me.
 
Based on favorable reviews and strong recommendations from the guys at Cabelas, my son in law bought a 3-9x40 Vortex Viper for his 308 hunting rifle. Everything was great sighting it in. Set it up with Burris Signature Z rings. His proficiency with the rifle proved the scope held zero well. But after zero at 100, and quite a bit of practice, when I suggested he dial in a little elevation at 100 yards, no amount of turning the elevation turret produced any further change in elevation. So, we left it and he went hunting with it. Based on that experience, I am not favoring him buying another for his next rifle, nor do I plan to buy one. Yeah this is just a one off, and the reviews are overall glowing, its not left me with a good feeling. Even if the warranty is good, there was no time to mess around further before hunting season, and it would be a waste of ammo to have to re zero it, even if the store just handed us another.

Next inexpensive scope will be Bushnell or Burris.
 
tiriaq said:
Bushnell Scopechiefs are very decent scopes, and are usually modestly priced.
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Completely agree! I have had a very inexpensive Bushnell scope (forget the model but it was a CTC special) which didnt impress and didnt last long ... BUT the first Scopechief I got (a short variable) that was thrown in with a rifle I purchased was surprisingly good. It later went on a Rem 7600 35 Whelen which had fair recoil and the scope has been a real delight: light, bright and dependably (and remarkably) holds zero and gives a great image.
Since then I have picked up several more Scopechief's and they have all been excellent value.
 
m1008 said:
Your picture shows nothing, trying really dialing it, rough use, holding zero.
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Like I said before I've been using vortex scopes for many years and never had a problem with them.

I'm not saying they are the best scopes out there but when someone says that ALL vortex scope are garbage then I'm going to call them out.

I've had nothing but good luck with vortex scopes, maybe I've just been lucky these many years but vortex gave me a good bang for the buck.
 
It all comes down to what you are willing to accept as acceptable. Until you have experienced something better you will most likely be content with something lesser.
 
Bad Bob said:
It all comes down to what you are willing to accept as acceptable. Until you have experienced something better you will most likely be content with something lesser.
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Well to be fair I just bought my first Leopold, it's a VX-Freedom 4x12-40. The rifle that it will be put on should be here this week.

Time will tell but so far just by looking through it I don't see any advantage over a vortex that cost less than half of this Leopold.

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Bad Bob said:
It all comes down to what you are willing to accept as acceptable. Until you have experienced something better you will most likely be content with something lesser.
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So you're going to give the OP some money so he can buy something better?

The guy has a budget. Saying his budget can only buy junk just tells us you're an optic snob. Nothing wrong with liking good glass, but you're not helping the OP pick an optic by ####ting on every option he can afford.

m1008 said:
Glass quality should be the last thing on the list
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What is more important than glass quality? Sure, you need to be able to zero it, and you don't want it to lose zero if you bump it, but those expectations exist for a scope at any price point.
 
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I would always put holds zero first.

Then there is some baseline optical quality, although even the cheapest scopes look tolerably well in the bottom half or two thirds of magnification.

Then, if you need a scope that dials the ability to dial reliably comes in.

Then I’d be back to paying for optical quality and other features you need.
 
Suther said:
So you're going to give the OP some money so he can buy something better?

The guy has a budget. Saying his budget can only buy junk just tells us you're an optic snob. Nothing wrong with liking good glass, but you're not helping the OP pick an optic by ####ting on every option he can afford.



What is more important than glass quality? Sure, you need to be able to zero it, and you don't want it to lose zero if you bump it, but those expectations exist for a scope at any price point.
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Nobody’s being an optic snob, I own and use swfa scopes as well as fixed power leupolds. I’d buy a bushnell before a vortex.
A few hundred dollars is no going to break the bank(what do you spend on ammo, clothing, travel).

If I was the op fixed power weaver, old redfield lots to choose from don’t have to purchase Chinese crap
 
Optics are something that you get what you pay for. Expensive optics will have expensive lenses and coatings giving excellent optical clarity. The mechanicals will be accurate and repeatable. Meaning one click moves point of impact exactly what it is supposed to. Then adjustable parrallax, fancy recticles illuminated. I am probably forgetting some doodad but i digress. So as the price goes up you can have it all. As the price goes down well then you should focus on what you really need. Decent optics decent mechanical. A bushnell elite 3200 fixed 10x does not have any options but it does have decent optics and good mechanicals.

If you are looking for a low power then a fixed 2.5 or fixed 4X leupold will likely have decent optics and decent mechanicals. Respectfully to others recommendations older scopes have older lens coating technology.
 
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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LMAO, all the empty claims from a guy who is proud of himself for shooting an MOA group at 100 yards.
The company is not Chinese, some of its scopes are made in China due to cost savings, and they are not junk by any means. Particularly, the Strike Eagle and Venom are great scope and bang for the buck, both performed extremely well in various tracking tests. If you never had anything from Vortex how do you know they are junk? What are your judging criteria for a rifle scope? I can't possibly imagine someone who is proud of shooting an MOA group at 100 yards know anything about scope...
 
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