Help with optic choice for my Savage 10tr Leo

[Moparman1303]

First time scope buyer and long distance shooter. I'm looking at the Bushnell Elite Tactical LRS 5-15x 40mm SFP Mil Dot Riflescope. Also thought about Leupold. My range is 100 yards but could shoot up to 500. I'd like to many hunt with this rifle as well.

 

[rally guy]

I am receiving my nightforce nxs 5.5-22x50! I am excited , it's too much money but I am thinking buy once cry once.

 

[roadcarver]

Bought a 10TR as well - currently wading through the choices of scopes. I'm actually looking at the Redfield Revolution 3-9x40mm, and the Nikon Prostaff 5.

I'm seeing decent reviews for the Redfield as well as the Nikon.

 

[scott_r]

Bushnell are making some very decent scopes these past few years, just bought a DMR 3.5-21x50 G2,,,,love it. Leupolds are are about the least bang for your buck on the market, Korth has something to do with that,

 

[saitek11]

Look at vortex as well, for not to much more money you can get a pst. Whatever you get, mils or moa, get it so your turrets and reticle are the same. You will just end up wanting to do this later.
As for the sfp/ffp, they both have their place. I own both, but if I could have jut one it would be ffp. Understand that your reticle is only useful at one magnification level with an sfp. Depending on your use this may be fine. 3-12 range will be enough magnification at those ranges, and if you want to use it for hunting you will want to keep your bottom magnification low, like no more then 4-5. Preferably 3. If your shooting to 500 yards you will also want AO or parallax adjustment.
Don't cheap out on a base and rings. Almost always the fail point I see for new to long range.

 

[DILLIGAF]

Nightforce

 

[Tarrantula]

I have a Vortex Viper PST 4-26x50 FFP in milrads, and I love it. Other guys will bash Vortex, but the price is good, and the lifetime warranty is definitely a nice touch. If budget is NOT a concern (like it was for me), look into Sightron or Nightforce. And as Saitek said, do not cheap our on bases and rings. I used a 20MOA rail with Leupold PRW rings.

 

[DILLIGAF]

I bash vortex after having to use the warrenty 3 freaking times... Its hit or miss...I rather not use crap anymore.... YMMV

 

[Tarrantula]

Fair enough, lots of guys seem to have that experience. This is my first Vortex, and so far so good (cross fingers). However, like I mentioned, if my budget was a little bit more forgiving, I would have looked for something a little better.

 

[Mystic Precision]

When looking at a price of an optic also consider what it will cost if the scope doesn't do what you want.

Ammo, trips to the range, lost time, frustration..... From poor tracking, distorted optics, parallax, POI shifts. Some issues aren't obvious to diagnose.

It doesn't take much shooting to eat up the difference between a scope that might work and one that will. Quality of optics. Reliability of tracking. Consistency.

As budget allowed, I have moved up the full range of scopes manf from the 80's till today. There were some real gems that gave great performance for the money invested. Others that ended up being very expensive due to not working as desired.

The further you go, the more important optics and tracking will be to you. Where your balance and value is??? Entirely up to the end user but in general, costs are less important once the demands of LR shooting are attempted and success is met.

When you hit a 5" circle at 1000yds on demand, alot of the investments in better gear pays off big time.

YMMV.

Jerry

 

[roadcarver]

The more I do research via this forum and others, I see more options. The Vortex Diamondback HP appears to be very descent.

 

[CreamySmooth]

Sightron has proven very good for me. I have the an 8-32 and a 10-50. Both very good scopes. I would have liked Nightforce but after the first Sightron and the performance... I'm having a hard time paying twice as much. But still do want.

All that said, some of the new Bushnell Tacticals are very good.

 

[islandkent]

Well said Jerry as always. Thanks.

 

[ALMAR]

I put a Weaver SS 4-20 on mine.

The quality is great the image is as clear or clearer than i have ever seen in a scope, leupolds included. The tracking is dead on!

The only down side to this scope is the mere 34 moa of adjustment range in elevation. But I don't usually shoot more than maybe 500 yards so not an issue at all for me. The Tactical version would probably be better for longer ranges.

The fine crosshair and 1/4 moa dot is fantastic at the range not good for hunting but for target shooting this scope is beautiful.