Looking for sub-$500 Hunting Scope

mmattockx

mmattockx

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Rifle is a 6.5 Creedmoor. It will be used mostly for hunting but with some medium longish range target shooting on the side. I am looking for something in the 3-12x magnification range with 40-45mm objective lens. Tube can be 1" or 30mm, I don't have a strong preference. SFP, with a heavy enough reticle to allow low light shooting on game. I have several Bushnell 3200 and 4500 series scopes and am happy with them, so that is kind of the level I am looking for. There are a number of new brands out since I last was optics shopping and I know very little of them, so need some pointers.

I see another thread on the Athlon brand for hunting and their Argos 2-12 x 42 would likely work for me if the price is in the ballpark here and they are decent quality, but they are one of the brands I know nothing of.

What do people recommend in this range?


Thanks,
Mark
 
I have a vx freedom 4-12 I’m replacing with a vx 5 hd
It has a dent on the front edge of the bell housing,where the caps would screw on.
I’m gonna sell it once I get the VX5.
PM if interested.
 
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Do not laugh too loud, but for considerable less, you can probably find a decent Tasco scope on the used market - it helps to know that Tanross Corp - from Florida, USA - never built a single scope - never did own any factories - but would hire "jobbers" in Japan to build whatever their wholesale buyers in USA wanted - from cheapest crap to about best in the world at that time. About similar to the Leupold and Redfields at that time, look for the Tasco "World Famous" model of scopes - they will have a silver antelope head as an emblem on the left side of the vertical turret - not the words "silver antelope" - those would be made-in-China (or similar) by current owners of that Tasco brand name - I have no experience with them. Thirty or forty years ago, there was maybe dozens of models of Tasco scopes being sold - some were the cheapest crap that could be imagined, and some were about as good as anything made then.

As was the practice in those days, typically one did not re-adjust the turrets for a shot - you "sighted in", then held off for windage or range as required. Most of our "hunting" was done circa 250 or 300 meters maximum - so if your group was circa 1 1/2" or 2" (4 or 5 cm) High at 100 yards, you would be good for trajectory to hunting ranges - windage was up to you to handle by holding off into the wind.
 
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This is why I miss Nikon lol, they were cheap and had great glass for the sub $500 price range. I liked their bdc reticle for a hunting/target shooting setup, the 4-12x42 I have hits that mark well for me.

This doesn’t answer the op’s question, I’m in the same boat though. I don’t see the need for $1000 plus scopes when the rifle see’s more hunting than anything else, probably just going with Leupold for my next optic. Vortex has never really impressed me when I looked through them on friends rifles.
 
There's a Leupold 3.5-10x Vari-X III Tactical on the EE for $450. Another Vari-X III 3.5-10x for $450. And a Vari-X III 6.5-20x for $800, if you feel like spending a few more bucks. Sure, the Vari-X III is an older generation of the scope, but I'll bet that you don't notice an appreciable difference. And if you think you do, for a few more bucks more you can get the newer generation VX3 of which there are a couple of the 3.5-10x priced at $650 and $700.

The EE is your friend...and so is Leupold.
 
conor_90 said:
https://www.cabelas.ca/product/83256/vortex-diamondback-hp-1-riflescope

These are alright
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That is pretty tempting. I have a couple Vortex scopes and they aren't bad, but they are not as nicely finished or smooth operating as Bushnell or Leupold and the glass never seems to be quite as clear and sharp.


MilitaryCollectorMark said:
Bushnell elite series. Can find a good quality scope for around $300 or so.
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They seem to have moved on from the elite 3200 and 4500 series to the named ones like Prime, Nitro, etc. I'd be super happy with a 4500 3-12 x 42(ish) but that is not an option that I can see. Cabelas lists a 4500 4-16 x 50 for $500, which is also tempting. I'd prefer the lower magnification be 3x for closer in hunting but most of the time 4x isn't the end of the world.


No love for the Athlon brand here?


Mark
 
mmattockx said:
They seem to have moved on from the elite 3200 and 4500 series to the named ones like Prime, Nitro, etc. I'd be super happy with a 4500 3-12 x 42(ish) but that is not an option that I can see. Cabelas lists a 4500 4-16 x 50 for $500, which is also tempting. I'd prefer the lower magnification be 3x for closer in hunting but most of the time 4x isn't the end of the world.

Mark
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Have you checked out the bushnell Nitro 3-12x44? It seems to fit the bill of what your looking for in terms of specs and price.

I found the Prime series similar to the old elite 3200's with the 3200's being slightly more solid feeling and the nitro is certainly above the primes in quality. I have never used one of the 4500's to compare it to.
 
dand883 said:
Have you checked out the bushnell Nitro 3-12x44? It seems to fit the bill of what your looking for in terms of specs and price.
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It fits the specs but is a boat anchor at 24oz. I also haven't found one in stock anywhere yet.


TANK1867 said:
I would just by the Bushnell Elite 3200 3x9 for $180 shipped that's up on the EE, I know the poster and he's a really nice guy!
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I want at least 12x for the target shooting side of things or that would be a good choice. I've got a couple of those and they are good hunting scopes.


Mark
 
Potashminer said:
Do not laugh too loud, but for considerable less, you can probably find a decent Tasco scope on the used market - it helps to know that Tanross Corp - from Florida, USA - never built a single scope - never did own any factories - but would hire "jobbers" in Japan to build whatever their wholesale buyers in USA wanted - from cheapest crap to about best in the world at that time. About similar to the Leupold and Redfields at that time, look for the Tasco "World Famous" model of scopes - they will have a silver antelope head as an emblem on the left side of the vertical turret - not the words "silver antelope" - those would be made-in-China (or similar) by current owners of that Tasco brand name - I have no experience with them. Thirty or forty years ago, there was maybe dozens of models of Tasco scopes being sold - some were the cheapest crap that could be imagined, and some were about as good as anything made then..
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As noted Tasco farmed out production to various entities. The Tasco Super Sniper scopes had a hell of a good reputation. I had several of them for years and they were a solid performing optic.

I've also have had a pair of Tasco 3-9x MilDot World Class scopes for 20+ years that have put up with a ton of abuse being dragged through endless gopher fields. Never had any problems with any of my Tasco's.

There are loads of better scopes but for the money, Tasco is a decent choice.
 
Almost any modern scope will beat any 30 year old scope no matter what country its made in. Especially in the 500 dollar range

Vortex has never really impressed me when I looked through them on friends rifles.
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Everything PM said about Tasco in the stone age is true of vortex now. Their crossfire scopes are truly crap. Made in Phillipines diamondbacks seem to track well and hold zero, but won't win any awards for glass quality.


Another Vari-X III 3.5-10x for $450.
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This is the answer. Though if you must pay more the modern freedom series are basically equivalent in quality
 
I have both the 3-9 and 6-24 Vortex Diamondback tactical scopes. They have one in 4-16 too, worth a look, don't come up for sale used a lot. There is a reason. Excellent scopes.
 
Cabela's has some Vortex Vipers on sale and if you watch their Wild Wednesday sales some deals to be had. The one thing to pay attention to with the Vipers is the eye relief which can be very different between models.
 
I Dont Care About You said:
As noted Tasco farmed out production to various entities. The Tasco Super Sniper scopes had a hell of a good reputation. I had several of them for years and they were a solid performing optic.

I've also have had a pair of Tasco 3-9x MilDot World Class scopes for 20+ years that have put up with a ton of abuse being dragged through endless gopher fields. Never had any problems with any of my Tasco's.

There are loads of better scopes but for the money, Tasco is a decent choice.
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Agree. Just stay away from the Chinese ones. - dan
 
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