So I bought my wife a Weatherby Vangaurd 7mm08 for her birthday, not time to top it off with a scope, have a set of talley 1" low mounts for it so will need to stick to 40mm maybe get away with 42mm. Was leaning towards a Vortex Viper 3-9x40, any other suggestions with reasons why would be greatly appreciated.
Best scope under $500?
- Thread starter 7mmAndrew
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Check eye relief.
Make sure wifie looks down the optics "you" pick to see if her eyes
uhm, reflect your vision....?
I'm gonna type it again.............Leupold.
One thing is certain, warranty..................and eye relief.
Oh, clarity is in there too.
Make sure wifie looks down the optics "you" pick to see if her eyes
uhm, reflect your vision....?
I'm gonna type it again.............Leupold.
One thing is certain, warranty..................and eye relief.
Oh, clarity is in there too.
Leupold VX-2 3-9x40
I think you can obtain one of these under $500 these days.
I just picked up a 7-08 Weatherby Vanguard as well in the compact version and I like it.
I think it will be a great late season rifle with the short length of pull when its cold and I am bundled up in layers.
I don't have glass on it yet but I think my old Vari- X II 3-9x40 or new VX-2 2-7 will be used.
I think you can obtain one of these under $500 these days.
I just picked up a 7-08 Weatherby Vanguard as well in the compact version and I like it.
I think it will be a great late season rifle with the short length of pull when its cold and I am bundled up in layers.
I don't have glass on it yet but I think my old Vari- X II 3-9x40 or new VX-2 2-7 will be used.
I put a VX-2 3-9x40 on a couple of my rifles. You cannot go wrong. She wont be disappointed.
Its around the $500 mark. If you are unsure, even the VX-1 3-9x40 is a performer for the $300-$350 mark. Some less experienced shooters have a hard time telling the difference between the VX-1 and VX-2.
Ive recommended the VX-1 3-9x40 to several new hunters and haven't heard anything but positive reviews for that price range.
Like Looky says... Eye relief.
Its around the $500 mark. If you are unsure, even the VX-1 3-9x40 is a performer for the $300-$350 mark. Some less experienced shooters have a hard time telling the difference between the VX-1 and VX-2.
Ive recommended the VX-1 3-9x40 to several new hunters and haven't heard anything but positive reviews for that price range.
Like Looky says... Eye relief.
I've have had very good luck with Bushnells, never let me down and if they ever do their warranty is top-notch. Jumped on the Leupold bandwagon once but quickly got off, my eyes could not get used to the FOV and their clarity wasn't any better than similarly-priced Bushnells.
On your $500 budget I would suggest a new Bushnell Elite 3500 3X-9X. Alternately, you check the EE and get a gently used, older model 4200, more features and excellent glass.
On your $500 budget I would suggest a new Bushnell Elite 3500 3X-9X. Alternately, you check the EE and get a gently used, older model 4200, more features and excellent glass.
The Vanguard 2 are quite heavy rifles compared to other rifles, so I would choose a Leupold scope, since Leupold scopes are lighter than a lot of there competitors. I think a lot of people do not consider the combined weight of the rifle and scope when choosing a scope, for example the Vanguard 2 that I have in 223 is a youth model with a 20" barrel with a number one contour barrel and with the VX-1 scope it weighs 8.029 lbs where as the Ruger American Predator in 308 with a 18.5 inch number three contour barrel and a Vortex Diamondback HP 4-16X scope weighs 7.647 lbs. The Leupold scope weighs 11.2 ounces where as the Vortex weighs 18.0 ounces
Before I opened your thread I was going to say Viper 3-9 or 4-12 they are great scopes for the money, clear, lifetime warrenty and not complicated. Eye relief is more than decent for a bolt action.
As everyone says:
VX2 3-9x40 or a used VX3 3.5-10
Of what you're thinking, only the Leupolds have the combination of body tube length and eye relief that will let you mount the scope comfortably for her (aaaaaal the way back, and aaaaaal the way down... You'll likely even need extension bases!)
And they're great scopes, perfect warranty, and they hold their value.
Length of pull should be chosen by breadth of shoulder. It's about how close or far you can are to the rear bridge for optics, so unless you got her a short LOP rifle, this will be critical!
Warne extension bases for a Remington 700, vortex viper or egw aluminum rings (egw is better, get them at Hirsch Precision) The viper rings are a good idea executed terribly, so you'll need to break a ton of sharp edges with sandpaper. Alternatively, cheapo weaver rings are actually really good, but they scratch the crap out of your scope, and are a pain to set the scope in level.
Leupold reversible front extension bases and rings might work too.
I've scoped a lot of vanguards and such. PM me. I might actually have a ton of the stuff I mentioned above lying around.
VX2 3-9x40 or a used VX3 3.5-10
Of what you're thinking, only the Leupolds have the combination of body tube length and eye relief that will let you mount the scope comfortably for her (aaaaaal the way back, and aaaaaal the way down... You'll likely even need extension bases!)
And they're great scopes, perfect warranty, and they hold their value.
Length of pull should be chosen by breadth of shoulder. It's about how close or far you can are to the rear bridge for optics, so unless you got her a short LOP rifle, this will be critical!
Warne extension bases for a Remington 700, vortex viper or egw aluminum rings (egw is better, get them at Hirsch Precision) The viper rings are a good idea executed terribly, so you'll need to break a ton of sharp edges with sandpaper. Alternatively, cheapo weaver rings are actually really good, but they scratch the crap out of your scope, and are a pain to set the scope in level.
Leupold reversible front extension bases and rings might work too.
I've scoped a lot of vanguards and such. PM me. I might actually have a ton of the stuff I mentioned above lying around.
Thanks for all the responses, yes eye relief is a major factor, she has only shot my 22, and I've been getting her to hold my 7mm magnum and i can tell she needs all the eye relief she can get which my swaro is great for, but unfortunately another swaro isn't in the budget. Weight was also another concern of mine, the rifle is the compact model with 20" barrel. And to Bartledan thanks for all the info but as i stated i already have a set of talley rings.
+1 for Leupold and you should also add 2 things :
- Good resale value
- The eye piece is small compared to other brands so you can mount it low without interfering with the bolt handle.
The VX2 is a VG scope. I have one on my hunting rifle and I really like it.
nowarningshot
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I just got one .....a 1-4x20. Really clear, lots of eye relief and super light. Rifle i put it on has a bit of recoil ....more than a 7-08. Will see if i shake the reticle out of it.
well, you have got several options, as per my intensive research here are the results:
Vortex Diamondback
Burris Fullfield II
Bushnell Elite 3200
Redfield Revolution
Nikon ProStaff
they are all excellent value for the money and available on different magnifications ( my preference is 2-7). all have good eye relief, field of view, excellent glass quality and solid turrets. ofcourse there are better ones out there but not in the price range. If i were you i would pick which ever is on specials. but if you put specials aside, you wont go wrong with burris or vortex ones. if you follow my advice you will definitely love me for the rest of your life.
one more thing i would like to add, if you can stretch your budget get leupold vx3
for me am planning to either buy burris or vortex but not sure which one to go for.
Vortex Diamondback
Burris Fullfield II
Bushnell Elite 3200
Redfield Revolution
Nikon ProStaff
they are all excellent value for the money and available on different magnifications ( my preference is 2-7). all have good eye relief, field of view, excellent glass quality and solid turrets. ofcourse there are better ones out there but not in the price range. If i were you i would pick which ever is on specials. but if you put specials aside, you wont go wrong with burris or vortex ones. if you follow my advice you will definitely love me for the rest of your life.
one more thing i would like to add, if you can stretch your budget get leupold vx3
for me am planning to either buy burris or vortex but not sure which one to go for.
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i agree primary arms is wonderful scope for the money, solid and good glass and has way more features than the ones i mentioned (e.g first focal plane). but still the ones i mentioned got better overall quality (glass, rigidness). if you badly need the features on the PA then go for it. but if you dont then go with my picks.
Cheers.
Clinging to those talleys might poison the whole project. If she has to crawl the stock, crane her neck, and hold the butt in her bicep to get a sight picture, she's not going to have any fun shooting, and that's what you're getting for your $58.
I like talleys a lot, but they aren't a help with eye relief, ever. From the tall base part interfering with the objective bell, to the extension rings that are a great big 1/4" farther back, they aren't the right tool for the job, if eye relief problems are the issue.
The VX-2 3-9x40 has about 5" of eye relief at 3-5 power, and about 3.8" at 9 power. The monarch 3s are similar.
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Sightron - SII 3-9x42 HHR .250 MOA would be my pic. 370$
I have a Sightron 4-16x42 HHR on my 700 .308 and it pulls double duty.
I wasnt impressed with the SI's i tried out but the SII's are a great value. Solid and clear.
