Scope selection

daveg01

daveg01

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
27   0   0
Location
Lanark, BANtario
I am looking for some decent glass for the top of a new-to-me 700 ADL in .204 Ruger.

The primary purpose of this rifle will be for shooting coyotes in farmers fields and for plinking at the range.

I have the rings and bases, so I would be looking for a 30mm tube.

Things I want:

- parallax adjust
- variable power (close up and long range flexibility)
- fully coated lenses
- Mildot, BDC or similar reticle
- 40mm or higher Objective

I was looking at the Bushnell 6500 and the leupold VX-L.


Any suggestions of optics under say $700 - $800? Comments or things I should stay away from? Things you like or dislike with a scope you have?

Thanks!
 
The primary purpose of this rifle will be for shooting coyotes in farmers fields and for plinking at the range.
Click to expand...
What ranges does that include?
How much precision/accuracy do you want to achieve?

Something like a Bushnell 4200 could do the job nicely. But if you want really good optics for great lenses clarity, low-light shooting, and simply the best scope you'll ever lay your hands on, you'll have to pay more than that. You'll want to look at Nightforce scopes, and most probably change those rings too. (what are they?)

What I'm trying to say here is that personally, either I go for a "budget" rig, (Bushnell 3200/4200) or all the way to the top quality (Nightforce). But that's just me.... ;)
I don't really see the advantages of having a higher-end Bushnell or a Leupold. I prefer to either buy a Bushnell 4200 and spend the money elsewhere, or save up some more cash to buy real high-end optics.

buy a scope based on some rings you have already is like buying a car because you have a set of headlights for it in your garage.
Click to expand...
30mm is fine, it's the most common standard... Stay away from 1" scopes, and 34mm is usually found on S&B and other high-ends scopes that are way over your budget.
 
Last edited:
Then it's all up to you. :)
The Bushnell 4200 series has what you're looking for. You'll most probably stay under 700$, and you have many choices of zoom and objective diameter.
Be advise, however, that not all 4200s have parallax adjustment. Check on Bushnell's website for the models, and shop around a little bit.

Let us know when you set your mind on something! :)
 
Yes, the Bushnell 4200 series range from $350 CND and up.

I personally would go with a Leupold VX-II, starting at $390 CND. You mentioned milldots on the reticle. Leupold has many different modification of the Mill Dot, even one for Varmits called 'Leupold Varmit hunter's Reticle'.

Quite honestly, you need to rethink your price point first, then we can properly make a decision on which scope would work for your varmit rifle.
 
Last edited:
Falcon has a 4.5-18X that's worth considering (just over $400). I have one of their scopes and I'm pretty happy with it (I have the FFP model). They have a 30mm tube, mil-dot reticles and tactical turrets. So far I have only shot it out to 600 yds, but it has worked well.

Nikon makes some nice scopes too.

BTW, the larger tube diameter will increase the range of adjustment in the scope (eg how many MOA of elevation you can dial in), but out to 400 yds that's not really a consideration. I use a Nikon with a 1" tube on my 40-XB (on a 20 MOA base) and I can my zeros from 300-1000 yds with no problems (it's chambered in 7mm RM).
 
daveg01 said:
Ok - point made. I'm not married to the rings, but they came with the rifle, so if I can I would like to use them. Otherwise, I will buy new ones.
Click to expand...

What point did he make? That he can be a grumpy boy online?:p

If' you have the 30MM rings, and you want a 30MM tube, and have the funds for a Elite 6500, why not get one? It looks to be an excelelnt scope, and you don't ned to spend any more on the rings.
 
I think given their excellent warranty and a Canadian warranty depot, Leupold is the best choice. Many scopes offer equal quality, but if your windage adjustment goes south, or if in the future you want to change the reticle or turret style, it would be nice if you could get it fixed here without the export/import hassels, particularly with US based companies.
 
:agree: I have Leupold on everything, all VXIII's or VXL's

My coyote rig with VXIII 1.5-5x28 illuminated reticle

2008Oct06003.jpg
 
Recently I have switched over to Vortex Optics, great glass at a great price. Here is the one I have on a Savage 112 single shot in 22-250.... http://www.vortexoptics.com/riflesc...6.5-20x44-pa-riflescope-dead-hold-bdc-reticle. It has a 30mm tube, parallax adjustments, bullet drop compensating reticle, the price is less than $600, their warranty is excellent and it is all covered in Canada. :dancingbanana:

Currently I have a Viper 6.5-20X44 PA, Diamondback 2-7X35 BDC, and a Crossfire 2.5-10X50 IR. Each scope represents a different price point in the Vortex line up, and all of them are excellent scopes, in fact I don't think there is a better scope in their respective price ranges.

Good luck!!:wave:
 
stovepipe699 said:
I think a Bushnell 4200 is worth the extra $ over a 3200 elite. Nikon has nice stuff, and Leupold has a good reputation. Those are the 3 I would look at.
Click to expand...

I have long been a fan of Leupold and the Busnell 4200s are nice. I have recently looked at a bunch of Nikon scopes and I think that they are big and clunky and their optics and reticles are nothing special.
 
Bushnell has/had a guarantee with their 6500 that says that you may return it for any reason within the first year. You may want to check it on their site to see if it still goes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom