Long range scope recomendation

rugbydave said:
"Buy once, cry once" is a great mantra but the reality is that since you're brand new to long range, the features that you want are likely to change as you get a better idea of what kind of long range shooting you want to do.

I have a few of the scopes mentioned in here (Vortex LHT 4.5-22 and Razor gen 2 and gen 3) and have had my fair share of other scopes that satisfy your basic requirements (FFP, mil/mil, etc). Reticle choice is a highly personal thing but in broad strokes, a more simple reticle is better suited to someone who will always dial elevation and a "tree" reticle is better for someone that will hold elevation (and wind) a lot. The Vortex EBR-7D reticle is a great compromise with all of the information you'd need to holdover but not as cluttered as something like a Horus H59 or Tremor. At the end of the day, time behind a scope will give you a better idea of what you like and don't.

If you're requirement is to be able to get prone behind your rifle and hit steel out to 1000m, most quality scopes will allow you to do that. You don't need huge magnification, people routinely shoot out that far at 10x but something like a 3-15/18 or 4-20, 5-25 etc is more common. Lets you have the high mag for zeroing and then you shoot more around 15x for a larger field of view.

There are many sub-niches that different scopes are aimed at so you kind of have to determine which features are important to you. For instance, the Razor LHT 4.5-22 is intended as a "crossover" scope, good for both hunting and "tactical" shooting, hence it's design is biased towards light weight (22oz) whereas the Razor gen 2 4.5-27 is strictly a "tactical" optic and weighs over double (48oz) what the LHT does. Both optics can still very easily be shot to 1000m, I do it with both regularly.
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I kind a went off course, after a while in this during this discussion I was set on a vortex razor gen 2. But a few people recommended the arken ep5, I went read alot about it. I was extremly skeptical because of the price point. But ultimatly it looks like a great value for a beginner like me. Great glass, great tracking, zero stop, illuminated reticle, in mil with 32 mil of elevation and a sunshade with it. Basicly all I need. So im gonna learn with this and in a few years when I get better the next stop will probably be a night force atacr. But before that I need to learn to reload.
 
Jesus.C said:
I kind a went off course, after a while in this during this discussion I was set on a vortex razor gen 2. But a few people recommended the arken ep5, I went read alot about it. I was extremly skeptical because of the price point. But ultimatly it looks like a great value for a beginner like me. Great glass, great tracking, zero stop, illuminated reticle, in mil with 32 mil of elevation and a sunshade with it. Basicly all I need. So im gonna learn with this and in a few years when I get better the next stop will probably be a night force atacr. But before that I need to learn to reload.
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It's really not a terrible idea to start off with a more "budget" scope. The best thing you can do is get some time behind your scope, see what you like/dislike about it and then if possible, get out to some matches, meet other shooters, look through their optics, compare and contrast and go from there. Once you get above a certain price point, personal preference becomes a big deal. The Atacr is a great scope but some people can't stand that the whole ocular rotates when you adjust magnification. Smaller things like that you can get a feel for by trying other guys/ gear more so than by reading the spec sheets.
 
Jesus.C said:
I kind a went off course, after a while in this during this discussion I was set on a vortex razor gen 2. But a few people recommended the arken ep5, I went read alot about it. I was extremly skeptical because of the price point. But ultimatly it looks like a great value for a beginner like me. Great glass, great tracking, zero stop, illuminated reticle, in mil with 32 mil of elevation and a sunshade with it. Basicly all I need. So im gonna learn with this and in a few years when I get better the next stop will probably be a night force atacr. But before that I need to learn to reload.
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I would seriously look at getting an Athlon or Delta ahead of an Arken, both for resale and quality.
 
rommelrommel said:
I would seriously look at getting an Athlon or Delta ahead of an Arken, both for resale and quality.
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I already order it. Ive read and watch enought about the arken to trust them as good range scope. And with the remaining fund I went and invest in a good gun vise, barrel level, scope level and torque screw driver. So now I can perfectly mount my scope.
 
I have seen good and great glasses, sharp image full details, until a mirage hits. Also, so much difference if you shooting over a gravel or over a grass...
There is no rule how much money to spend on glass claimed to buck the elements better, still if you didn't learn how to read and miscalculate the pattern better pack your staff and go home.
 
Arken Scopes are greats optics for their dollar value.
I run the SH4 GenII 6 - 24 X 50mm on my competition .22 RF rig.

For your price range you should have a serious look at the Apex Rival 4 - 32 x 56mm.
The Rival retails for $2300.00 Canadian and is a Canadian company.
I know and shoot with quite a few guys competing with them and they all love the Rival.

I just picked one up and am so far impressed with it.
The Rival replaced the S&B PMII I had on my main rig.
 
I went with a march high master 10x60x56 second focal point moa scope
with no regrets.
make sure you get good NOT cheap scope rail and rings.
My advise to you is to talk to other shooters in your discipline
 
I just had a conversation these days about real quality scope glass in my (international) airgun forum.
Ok, I must say my long time hobby was photography (over fifty years), so I developped some preferences, and talking further I start from here.
We ... in airgun community that shoots - and scores - target rings @ 100 meters/yards, we test the scopes like this:
placing a business card - or your drivers license - at 100, and you read the small prints = when you compare several scope glass ...
Which scope passes this test you can freely use for long range shooting ;)
 
im a novice but from what ive read and heard on different forums.

Good glass IS important. But for tactical/competition scopes the #1 factor is mechanical reliabilty/repeatabliity/precision. If you're going to be dialing up and down all day, the dials must adj exactly the amount they're supposed and also not deviate on windage when dialing elev.

I also do a similar test but use an eyechart at 200.
 
The OP made a very solid "beginner" choice with the Arken EP5, which is a leap above the more budget-priced SH4 Gen 2 in terms of its Japanese glass quality. I really like both of my Arken optics, of which the EP5 sits on my B+T APC308 and is a great match to that rifle in terms of the glass clarity at distance and of course the super-solid mechanicals with the outstanding tactile Turrets that Arken is renowned for. All of that for $1K makes the EP5 a genuine bargain within the Precision Optics world.





I also run a Vortex Razor AMG (American Manufacturing Group) 6-24x on my SIG Cross in 6.5 CM. It is a terrific, lightweight alternative to the far heavier Razor HD2 line. Priced right around $3500, the AMG offers excellent, tactile turrets and Vortex's only US-ground optical lenses which are first-rate. There is lot to like about the AMG for both Hunting and Precision Long Range shooting/competition which is precisely why I have it mounted on my SIG Cross.





Next up I have a Leupold Mk 5HD 5-25x on my Christensen Modern Precision rifle in 6.5 CM. It is a very solid optic with an excellent feature set and a decent price around $4K depending on your reticle selection.





The one that really impresses me these days is the Nightforce ATACR 7-35x that I have mounted on my Tikka/KRG Whiskey build in 6.5 CM. Priced right around $5K to $5.5K (depending on your reticle selection) these are not for the light of wallet, however they are truly exceptional optics in every conceivable regard. Simply superb from start to finish. If you have the $$, then I definitely recommend Nightforce's flagship ATACR line. They offer everything that you need for Long Range Preciision shooting, Gun Games, or Hunting afield. No gimmicks, or extraneous crap - just functional and bomb-proof raw performance.


 
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Arken EP5 series FFP Scope MIL
$790 this weekend at "opticspice" website. Admittedly their website is about a 4/10 on the sketch factor.
 
I’d spend a bit more and buy a minox ZP5 5-25x56. There’s also a used one on the EE for $2900, if you like the MR4 reticle.

I had an ATACR once, wasn’t too impressed with the quality. Illumination feature failed after two months, and optically wasn’t too stunning. They’re ok, still a middle tier scope with several options that are much better.
 
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Tract Toric 4-30 or their new 4-25, very impressive scope, have the 4-30 and its performing great., if can grab the Razor2 4-27 go for it, have both and they are solid
 
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