Best scope for under $1000?
- Thread starter Shinysideup
- Start date
Munkey1973
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Regina, SK
The Cabela's "Convenant" line is pretty good for under a grand.
I've had two that were first focal plane. They go on sale frequently.
I have been told by a friend (and others have told me as well) who works at Cabela's that Vortex actually makes the scope for them.
I've had two that were first focal plane. They go on sale frequently.
I have been told by a friend (and others have told me as well) who works at Cabela's that Vortex actually makes the scope for them.
For a budget of $1000 the market is very populated and a lot of good glass sitting on shelfs.
Some Questions to you:
- what you will be using that scope? Hunting or Target shooting?
- what reticle you like?
- FFP or SFP (front focal plain or side focal plane)?
- what distance you plan to shoot? up to 50 yards/meters or 100 or 200 or 400? or longer?
- what parallax you want, 100 yards/meters, or 50 or 10 maybe?
- Chinese glass or Japanese or German glass? ----------- and don't you think about US glass, those are same Chinese only rebranded...
- you want to buy in store or order online?
- you want to buy in Canada or from outside of Canada - USA or China or EU?
I am not selling anything, but when people asking me these are the questions we talk first. I have learned things on my own pocket and me personally trying to buy things outside of Canada. I am not reach to buy cheap things.
For $1000 you can get fantastic clarity Japanese glass or very good German glass from second hand.
Hey BigHUN,
- what you will be using that scope? Hunting or Target shooting? Hunting.
- what reticle you like? I like a clean reticle, currently have a mil dot on the Bushnell and I like it.
- FFP or SFP (front focal plain or side focal plane)? I've only ever used SFP but am not adverse to trying FFP
- what distance you plan to shoot? up to 50 yards/meters or 100 or 200 or 400? or longer? Mostly 100, I rarely shoot over 200, never over 300
- what parallax you want, 100 yards/meters, or 50 or 10 maybe? I have no idea, sorry
- Chinese glass or Japanese or German glass? ----------- and don't you think about US glass, those are same Chinese only rebranded...Japanese is probably in my price range
- you want to buy in store or order online? In store would be nice, but it's not critical
- you want to buy in Canada or from outside of Canada - USA or China or EU? In Canada if possible
- what you will be using that scope? Hunting or Target shooting? Hunting.
- what reticle you like? I like a clean reticle, currently have a mil dot on the Bushnell and I like it.
- FFP or SFP (front focal plain or side focal plane)? I've only ever used SFP but am not adverse to trying FFP
- what distance you plan to shoot? up to 50 yards/meters or 100 or 200 or 400? or longer? Mostly 100, I rarely shoot over 200, never over 300
- what parallax you want, 100 yards/meters, or 50 or 10 maybe? I have no idea, sorry
- Chinese glass or Japanese or German glass? ----------- and don't you think about US glass, those are same Chinese only rebranded...Japanese is probably in my price range
- you want to buy in store or order online? In store would be nice, but it's not critical
- you want to buy in Canada or from outside of Canada - USA or China or EU? In Canada if possible
instead of side focal plane it is called second focal plane in opposition of first focal plane.
I cannot help you much, me personally never had enough money for paying Japanese scopes in Canada. I like to save my dollars as much possible and that means buying online cutting off the middle man and sometimes I noticed there are more then just one co inline to skim the valet.
If you decide ordering online I can recommend Kraleshops in Netherlands, and the euro-CAD currency ratio is in favour lately.
For a distance in a 200 meters ballpark (plus minus 100) I would go higher then 32 power, I have 10-40 and 10-50 power SFP all Japanese glass, sourced from the shop above. My main hobby was photography over four decades so I can say I am pretty educated with a quality glass. Swapping scopes like the winter tires, always looking for better.
If you decide for Chinese scopes don't buy re-Branded but shop from China direct. China builds good stuff to, for people ready to pay.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
A used Leupold 6.5-20x.
VORTEX...you cannot go wrong with any of them...I have a $370 diamond I scored on sale and specifically choose it after finding it's optics and other features to be a match for the big name scopes 3x that price range. Best of all lifetime warranty replacement instead of just repair by the rest.
Since you are using it for hunting, you have to factor in weight of the scope and rings. Many scopes in that price range will be just too heavy for hunting. I think there was another thread a while ago and most people voted for Leupold.
Jerry said to really look at the Athlon line as was also seriously looking at Vortex and Leupold. Found one locally and was immediately impressed with the settable turrets (the clicks sold me), glass quality and my 1st time using a FFP scope at for 550.00!!!!
Mounted the scope and my rimfire buddy who had never fired a centre fire immediately fell in love with the MRAD and clarity was was easily whacking the steels at 500 meters, he could not get over the clarity!
Anyways here it is on my plinker budget build.
Mounted the scope and my rimfire buddy who had never fired a centre fire immediately fell in love with the MRAD and clarity was was easily whacking the steels at 500 meters, he could not get over the clarity!
Anyways here it is on my plinker budget build.
Sheesh - OP is in Ontario, and wants a hunting scope for 100 y, possibly 200. At those distances, having too much magnification (eg 10-50) is a hindrance. Something in the 1.5 to 4.5 or 2 -8 would be more suitable. A low-power Leupold Freedom (~450$) would work very well.
But he said, varmint gun and to upgrade the Bushnell Legend 4x16x50mm, 100yd and 200yd is pretty close for varmints, as well my old eyes need greater magnification especially when sighting in on paper.
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I would also say, for hunting, go 3x9 Zeiss conquest (used). Or a good quality 4x16 if you plan to shoot 400-600-700 one day.
I think you would be changing scopes quickly if you put a 8-32x or 10-50x on a hunting rig.
Lots of options that may suit your needs on the EE - and changing all the time.
I think you would be changing scopes quickly if you put a 8-32x or 10-50x on a hunting rig.
Lots of options that may suit your needs on the EE - and changing all the time.
