Opinion On An Optic For My New Rifle

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Ceej371

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Picking up a Savage 10TR this week, Right now I'm stuck between the Nikkon Prostaff 5 2.5-10x40 (on sale for 270), or the Vortex Crossfire II 4-12x44 (270 regular price).

Basically looking for a scope with a BDC reticle, for under 300. Primarily will just be a range gun, but may take it hunting next year. Any advice and opinions would be appreciated. The Nikon is the better deal right now, but the Vortex has a bigger objective lens, and slightly better magnification.
 
NIkon for sure.

However, I would recommend upping your budget if you can make it work.

Also, I would be more than comfortable buying a vortex or bushnell off the EE with their warranty.

If you use the search thread function, you can kind search by price.

Couple of Bushnell Legend HDs 4.5-16 for $300
 
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Bushnell 10x tactical, or another fixed mag comparable scope is probaby the best glass in that price range. I’d rather better glass that a variable personally. But there’s some decent glass in the EE in that range too.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions. So a Bushnell hd would be better than either of the scope I mentioned? Like I said it may go hunting with me one day, but for the most part will just be a range gun, new range I joined goes out to 600 yards. I'm still just a recreational/amateur shooter, don't need top notch glass, just something clear with decent zoom on it. Fixed 10x wouldn't work, don't wanna buy a second scope just for hunting.
 
Just found the crossfire II on sale for 210 bucks. What makes the Nikon better than the Vortex? Was looking at the Nikon in store today and it was actually kinda blurry past 8x magnification.
 
Ceej371 said:
Just found the crossfire II on sale for 210 bucks. What makes the Nikon better than the Vortex? Was looking at the Nikon in store today and it was actually kinda blurry past 8x magnification.
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At 8x you can't look at objects that are too close, like inside a store, or it might get blurry.

If I were shooting to 500 or more metres, I'd try to find something in the 3-15x range at least.
 
Go with the prostaff. Nikon is highly under rated IMO. Save money for ammo, have fun! my experience with Nikon scopes has been very good. In this context it's hard to quantify better, but take the caps off, spin the elevation and windage - Nikon is relatively light, refined, and tight. Vortex has a fantastic business model, and more current design perhaps, but much of their manufacturing is contracted which makes it easier for Nikon to control tolerances and qc. If any new scope looks blurry in the store either the lenses are oily or it's defective! Propliner speaks the truth about focus though - rare to find close focusing, high magnification optics. When you do they generally have an AO (adjustable objective) or 'parallax' control.
 
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Usually glass quality is more important, in the last 30 mins of shooting lights my vortex viper hs 4-16 is useless on high power(8 and up). If you are going to shoot in non-ideal conditions, further than 150m, spend money on glass. Don't get hung up on the magnifications, turrets and reticals, aslong as they are usable. save up and buy scopes with better glass. no Vortex PST. I never played with Nikon before, but I heard the glass quality is better than most competitors. I don't even like the Viper, don't recommend the crossfire. Leupold has good glass, one thing Leupold failed on is the thumb turrets, so get the CDS. From your rifle choice, seems like you want to shoot mid range+, if you shoot 300+ yards, you are going to need every bit of glass you can get. you can't hit a target if you can't see it. take a peek on Leupold VX3, you may find one on sale.
 
Appreciate everyones input. Think I'm gonna wait til Friday and see if any smoking deals come up, keep my eye on the EE, and if not I'll grab the Nikon. Was looking at a couple others today and I do like the paralax adjustment, ended up buying the 10TR for 650 shipped to my house, maybe I'll up my optics budget a little and get something a little nicer. Gotta figure out what rings to get before Friday as well. Decisions decisions haha
 
I just got a primary arms 4-14X44 for the exact same rifle, its on the way but I did a lot of digging and it was perfect. Was from a site sponser, cowboy action shooting or something like that, Great guys on the truck this afternoon being shipped and I ordered late last night. I also looked at special ordering a athalon argos from a place called red star targets in calgary. Also highly rated and well reviewed in the states. I'll let you know more about the primary arms when I get it this week if you'd like to pm me
 
Bushnell 6-24x 4500 Elite at North Pro. 17$ shipping. Under 500$

Decent optic. Simple reticle. Not really a dial and shoot type optic but still well made and good glass.

I bought one for my 223 CZ527 and maybe some use on my 22.
 
Shibby! said:
Bushnell 6-24x 4500 Elite at North Pro. 17$ shipping. Under 500$

Decent optic. Simple reticle. Not really a dial and shoot type optic but still well made and good glass.

I bought one for my 223 CZ527 and maybe some use on my 22.
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More than I wanna spend, and I'd like something with some sort of ballistics reticle.
 
Ceej371 said:
More than I wanna spend, and I'd like something with some sort of ballistics reticle.
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I was trying to stay out of this thread but here I am. I will be blunt and address the elephant in the room. Your budget is pathetically low and you will not find a quality optic with the features you want at the price you're willing to pay. I don't say this to shame you, I say this to prepare you for the impending disappointment you will experience with any optic you find that meets your target price range. You indicate this rifle mostly for range shooting which means you're after precision(like most of us). The rifle is alright, the optic will be a weak point and so will ammo if you don't feed it premium stuff. Based on your optic budget I think it's safe to say you won't be feeding it match ammo. With a poor optic and poor ammo you will be disappointed and likely quite frustrated... Just saying.
 
What about the diamondback tactical 3-9x40. Pretty cheap, decent features. Had a look at one the other day at wholesale, glass seems better than other diamondbacks I have had in the past. It was close to the price of your other options with the discounts, that or keep your eyes peeled this Friday for sales.
 
Kidd X said:
I was trying to stay out of this thread but here I am. I will be blunt and address the elephant in the room. Your budget is pathetically low and you will not find a quality optic with the features you want at the price you're willing to pay. I don't say this to shame you, I say this to prepare you for the impending disappointment you will experience with any optic you find that meets your target price range. You indicate this rifle mostly for range shooting which means you're after precision(like most of us). The rifle is alright, the optic will be a weak point and so will ammo if you don't feed it premium stuff. Based on your optic budget I think it's safe to say you won't be feeding it match ammo. With a poor optic and poor ammo you will be disappointed and likely quite frustrated... Just saying.
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I don't care if my rifle shoots 1/2 MOA, and that one flyer in a group won't keep me up at night. I'm sure I'll grab a box of match grade ammo to see how well it can do, but for the most part I'll probably be throwing regular factory ammo down range at paper having a good time shooting. Looking for opinions on a decent budget scope, That's clear enough to see the target, and reliable enough that I don't have to worry about it fogging up/getting water inside if/when I decide to try deer hunting.
 
Uisge said:
What about the diamondback tactical 3-9x40. Pretty cheap, decent features. Had a look at one the other day at wholesale, glass seems better than other diamondbacks I have had in the past. It was close to the price of your other options with the discounts, that or keep your eyes peeled this Friday for sales.
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Will have a look, thanks! Will definitely decide this weekend, rifle should be here by Thursday:)
 
Ceej371 said:
I don't care if my rifle shoots 1/2 MOA, and that one flyer in a group won't keep me up at night. I'm sure I'll grab a box of match grade ammo to see how well it can do, but for the most part I'll probably be throwing regular factory ammo down range at paper having a good time shooting. Looking for opinions on a decent budget scope, That's clear enough to see the target, and reliable enough that I don't have to worry about it fogging up/getting water inside if/when I decide to try deer hunting.
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You won't be losing a 1/2 MOA on your groups with cheap ammo and a cheap optic, you'll be giving up several MOA in your group sizes. An optic that won't fog internally and offers decent clarity is great, right up until the turrets stop working and your zero wanders. Glass clarity is only one aspect of an optic to consider and it is not the most important. Repeat ability and durability would be the top considerations. Clear glass is worthless if the rifle won't hold zero or simply falls apart. Even cheap optics have lenses of usable clarity and will likely not fog up internally if they're purged and gas filled. You will not find a decent optic with the features you want for the price you expect to pay.
 
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