Scope Options short list help - updated

Sochi

Sochi

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... I am planning to use this riffle as a Training Platform for proper PRS shooting, so it will be used primarily on the range – bench, prone, sitting, and standing. Probably 50m distance to start with and we will see if I want to shoot longer. Silverdale has 200m max anyway. I also shoot at Target Sports so I will probably shoot 25m in the winter. In addition, my vision is not perfect anymore so I decided to have a higher magnification and AO as must requirements based on above. Any little helps. On the other hand, budget is limited so I will not go anything more expensive than ~$300 before taxes. Also rifle most likely will be CZ455 Varmint, still need to look into it more.

..................update

Thanks for all responses. I definitely listen to suggestion plus read some more on my own. still plan to stay around $300 but now I want a bit more magnification all things considering. so my list has changed (a lot :)) and updated looks like this below.
Seems like Hawke is a leader now - so much scope on my budget and reviews are good...
Changed my mind about Bushnell - best value and should do for my needs..
We are going to Mapleseed event so I will make my final decision after that.
Thanks again everyone!


1. Hawke Vantage 6-24x44 AO Mil-dot $299 at AGS out of stock now though

2. Bushnell Banner Dusk and Dawn Multi-X Reticle AO 6-24x 40mm - $260 at Al F's

3. Sightron SIH-Tac Series TAC 4-12x40 AO $305
 
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Ive had great luck with bushnell glass for the money. The banner is the lowest line but if only shooting during daylight hours theyll work. The sightron is a good choice. I take my rimfires thru the bush so i like covered caps. A bench gun it wpuldnt make much difference to me
If you really want to save money bushnell banner scopes can be had on the wish app.
I use a chinese 8-32x50 ao on my target rimfire. It was cheap and its as clear as my bushnell elites and ultra hd scopes
 
I like my Sightron S-TAC 4-20X50. It has decent glass for the money, I find it comparable to my Bushnell Elite 6500. It's made in the Philippines with a Lifetime Warranty. If I wanted a good scope with a bit less magnification than mine. I would look into the Sightron on your list.
 
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Canadiankeeper said:
go with a 20 or 24 power optic.

http://www.bullseyelondon.com/vorte...cus-dead-hold-bdc-reticle-matte-vhs-4319.html


EDIT

FULL STOP

What is "half Decent" to you?

Trust me there is nothing more annoying then a training rifle that doesnt put the rounds where the cross hair is.... Just saying... Savage, ruger ect... Dont bother...

Cz you can get good ones.

Annie is where I would be looking for a trainer rifle.
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To me there is nothing more annoying than having to send back defective scopes. Vortex has a good warrenty they replaced all 3 before giving my money back.
Bushnell has a life time no questions warrenty although ive never had to use it


Ifyou go vortex i hope you have a better run than i
 
Just to throw some more confusion into the mix, I'm using a Hawke Vantage 6-24x44 for target work. I'm very happy with it ☺
 
brybenn said:
To me there is nothing more annoying than having to send back defective scopes. Vortex has a good warrenty they replaced all 3 before giving my money back.
Bushnell has a life time no questions warrenty although ive never had to use it


Ifyou go vortex i hope you have a better run than i
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weasel1 said:
Just to throw some more confusion into the mix, I'm using a Hawke Vantage 6-24x44 for target work. I'm very happy with it ☺
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I have never in my life had to send back an optic. So I am lucky that way.

Ive used even a tasco 10-40 power optic...

IT WAS DARK! lmao but it worked.

I just recommend a higher power optic so you can see if it is you... Or the ammo/rifle...

There is nothing more frustrating then having poor results and not being able to tell what the issue is. In the higher power optics I found I could easily see and bounch, jumps or twitch in my own performance...

I usually shoot at a Cross so I can line the cross hairs up with it.

When you lay in perfect performance but the hole appears in your top left portion of your optic... You know it was the ammo/rifle.
 
I have a Bushnell banner 4-12 made in Korea, I am very happy with it and love the a/o for close shots. I hear the newer Chinese ones are of poorer quality but i tried out a friends banner 6-18 power and it seemed pretty decent for daytime shooting.

Also looking into the Nikon myself have read great reviews available for a decent price on amazon.ca

Another one to look into is the Bushnell legend 5-15 which the Canadian airgun forum store sells for $190

I will also chime in on the Hawke vantage series I know a lot of airgun shooters that are very happy with them Airgun Source has good deals on them.

As for the other scopes i cant comment as i dont know much about the ones on your list.

Buy the best you can afford!
 
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Free Advice ----- Please disregard any reviews on the apv 4.5-14 on RFC, I bit the bullet and tried one and was not impressed. I don't know if they work better the father south you go or not, lol.

On our list I'm familiar with Nikon and they have good value and use the Pro 5's on some of my rimfires although they are a bit above your budget, I would like to look though Sightron as a fair bit seem to think they are OK

I would look for a bushnell Legend HD 4.5-14 MD for what your doing - they might be disc but should be able to find the odd one around or check EE on here. Not a bushnell fan but this one is pretty good it seems.

Make sure ya get one with parallax adj
 
I realize you've set a budget of $300.

Having said that, my rule of thumb is to expect to spend at least as much as the cost of the rifle on a scope to match it's performance. Anschutz or Walther or even Cooper may be exceptions to that rule. CZ isn't, they're often very accurate rifles for the price.

The S-Tac Sightron Sakoman mentioned gets good reviews for the price point. I very briefly owned an S2 6-24x42. I found it darker than I like and fuzzy at the high mag settings. The S2 Big Sky lineup is better, but they're discontinued now. I have no experience with the S1 scopes.

I looked at the Mueller scopes for a little while, but their quality seems inconsistent. One owner raves about them, the next not so much.

I've had good success in the past with Nikon, it's too bad they don't make a higher mag version of the Prostaff 3-9x40 EFR. The one I had was quite good if you don't mind 1/2 MOA clicks. Like Leupold, they have a Canadian service centre, always a good thing.

Further up the price chain is the Leupold lineup, the VX3i 6.5-20 EFR is a Very Nice Scope for rimfire use. Their new VX Freedom line may have something appealing, too. The VX2 6-18x40 AO is a great rimfire scope if you can find a used one, they're discontinued now also. They will focus down to roughly 23 yards.

I don't consider a .22 to only be deserving of a lower priced scope, in fact the most expensive scope I own sits on a CZ452 Varmint.

Be careful about reticle styles and parallax ranges. Many reticles are too heavy for target work, and many scopes won't focus and eliminate parallax at rimfire ranges.

The Legend Ultra HD from Bushnell gets mostly positive reviews with a few bad ones thrown in, they do seem to stand firmly behind their products though.

Try to look through some of your choices in person, see what the adjustments feel like. Check out as many reviews as you can.
 
I was in the same position as the OP about 2 months ago. I went with the CZ 455 Varmint Thumb hole (On sale for around $600) and the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 4.5-14 X 44 (kit with targets, sling, mounts and scope for $449). The local gun shop where I purchased these items (Jo Brook Outdoors - CGN sponsor) swapped out the included scope rings for ones that would fit the CZ. It has met my needs in every way. It is accurate, especially at 50 to 100 yards, and I can't see upgrading anytime soon.

If you went to the CZ 455 american you could save another $100 and still have a very workable rig that you will not have to upgrade in a year or two, but won't cost you Annie-type money either.

I do agree with Chilly807 and others that it is worth splashing out a bit more on a decent scope. It really is an integral part of shooting well.
 
weasel1 said:
Just to throw some more confusion into the mix, I'm using a Hawke Vantage 6-24x44 for target work. I'm very happy with it ☺
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This is a good bang for the buck scope. They are tough as they are rated for springer air rifles with their notorious scope-killing two-way recoil. They have side focus that goes down to 15 yards. The mil dot cross hairs are pretty fine, which is needed for target work. The Hawke Vantage goes for about $270 new.
 
grauhanen said:
This is a good bang for the buck scope. They are tough as they are rated for springer air rifles with their notorious scope-killing two-way recoil. They have side focus that goes down to 15 yards. The mil dot cross hairs are pretty fine, which is needed for target work. The Hawke Vantage goes for about $270 new.
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nice, is it model HAWKE VANTAGE SF 6-24X44 mentioned? where did you see it for $270?
The lowest i see is 299 on Airgunsource and it's not even in stock. Can't find any ohter places have them in Canada
 
Sochi said:
nice, is it model HAWKE VANTAGE SF 6-24X44 mentioned? where did you see it for $270?
The lowest i see is 299 on Airgunsource and it's not even in stock. Can't find any ohter places have them in Canada
Click to expand...

Try DL airgun
 
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