Looking for advice on glass for two semi-auto .308's

aiwa

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..the first is a RFB, the second is the ubiquitous M305. Now, I don't have much experience with med-long range. I'm more of a pistol and carbine kind of guy. I know what the good brand names are, that's about it.

Now I'm tentatively budgeting $300-$600 used per scope - purchased exclusively on the EE. I was thinking of a variable power with large objective lens for the 305. Not quite sure for the RFB - maybe something smaller and more compact to better match the design of the rifle.

Suggestions, oh gurus of glass?
 
I'm running an older Bausch & Lomb on my RFB. 2.5 - 10 x40. The 2.5 makes it great in the bush, but the 10X gives it some legs for longer shots. Mounted in a PEPR mount. Yes it's a little big/funny looking, but it works for me, and gives me an all-round package.

M-305? You'll get as many answers as there are rifles. Right now I'm using and older Falcon Menace 4-14, that hasn't screwed up on me yet. Get a good mount! I have used ARMS-18, ProMag, and the M-14.CA CASM steel mount, and have found them all to be good solid mounts. ( but they will all run you $150-$200+).

The answer to your question depends a lot on what you are doing with them. Neither of my set-ups is good for CQB. I know guys that shoot out to 300 with an ACOG (I can't even see that far anymore without higher magnification). Once you decide what they will be used for, it will narrow the parameters of what you'll need.
 
Thanks for the info, KePet.

I'm not familiar with Falcon, but I will definitely check it out. I should be OK for the mount, the 305 is already dressed in Archangel, with a CASM on top. The idea is RFB for Bambi, 305 to be a dedicated range toy.
 
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I better add that I've got 2 Falcons that are FUBAR. Up to you, but I won't spend my money on another. Vortex Viper are in the same price range, and the warrantee is bulletproof. My RFB has become my go to in a lot of ways. The versatility of the scope makes it great for close in the bush, or will let me hit Bambi out to 300, which is my personal limit for ethical shots. The PEPR mount puts the scope at almost the perfect height with the ultimate flat-top. You might want to look into the new Vortex that's coming out. I think it's called the "Strike Eagle" it's a 1-6 power in that $5-$600 range.
 
SWFA all the way. Odds are it will be a fixed power scope, but they are rated for 50bmg, so they can take any abuse. I think I snagged the last one on EE, but they do come up.

Also you can keep an eye out for the Bushnell Elite 3200 line. Great scopes for the .308 and they are within budget.
 
i just picked up a Bushnell 1-4 for my m305, true 1x so it can be used as basically a red dot, and 4x is more than enough for what I want/need it for. Illuminated reticle, nice adjustments, nice glass. The price was also right at around $450 I think.
 
OK, kill the Falcon. I've heard good things about the Vortex, and I have a couple of their red dots. I can't seem to find any nice Vortex scopes in my price range, tho, even on the EE. What about Leupold for the 305? They are a quality product, and they're all over the EE.
 
while the arms18 is a good mount, I have one, its a pain in the butt dismantling the bolt to trim the ejector/extractor springs to prevent empties from stovepiping between the mount and the rcvr. Get the higher mount like the casm and avoid the hassle.

for the norc, get a low power variable. Leup's are great scopes and very durable get a vxii/vx2 or vxiii/vx3, Or get a bushnell elite 10X, excellent scopes for the money and highly rated by everyone, they aren't S&B but they are great budget scopes.
 
see this chart for all questions leup.

one thing to keep in mind is the name changes as the models are upgraded eg. vari-x iii(roman numeral) oooold, vx iii(roman numeral)2nd gen, vx3(newest gen)
so keep that in mind when getting a used leup, don't pay current gen prices on older gens.

you can also check the serial number to see what year it was made.

http://www.opticstalk.com/uploads/298/SWFA_Vari-X_to_VX.jpg

not sure if its still on their homepage. But they used to have a video on the vx2 where they bolted it to a jackhammer for 30min and ran it on concrete then onto a rifle and tested it to see if it was damaged.
 
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