Scopes That Don't Break The Bank

thatmikeguy

thatmikeguy

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Steinbach, Manitoba
I've got a parker hale .308 and it shoots very well. I would like to get a scope better suited for long range, yet still practicall for hunting but i don't want to spend $1000. Preferably $500 or less. When i shoot four to five hundred yards i'm guessing at my hold over and i want something more precise. I'm thinking mil dot or a compensating reticle. Currently i have a nikon prostaff 3-9 with a duplex reticle. Excellent scope, just not for long range. Any suggestions?
 
About 100$ for a Leapers mil-dot reticle. I've only shot mine out to about 300 yrds, but puts out good groups.
Others will recommend spending more though.
 
Burris Fullfield II with ballistic plex, Bushnell 3200 with DOA. You'd need to test at each distance and record any significant deviation between the hash mark's suggested holdover and actual results with your rifle. Beyond that, something like a Bushnell Tactical 5-15 would allow you to dial in the exact moa at a given distance, but its a bigger more combersome setup, and would require more time setting the elevation knob prior to a shot. I believe it would produce the best results if you put the time in testing to determine your drops at various distances, and the mildots would assist in rangefinding.
 
Vortex Crossfire 6-24X50 mill dot for $250 I have this on my Savage 25 in .223 and like it
Vortex Diamondback 4-12X40 for $270
Vortex 3.5-10X50 with Dead hold BDC reticle $330 I plan to get this for my Tikka 30-06
Vortex Viper 6.5-20X44 $600
 
if you look you can generally pick up a nice used Leupold for considerably less than $500-an older M-8 for around $200.I'm not afraid to buy an old leupold-the lifetime guarantee takes the risk out of buying a used scope-and I'd rather have a good used one than a new lower quality one.Haven't tried Vortex but I understand they're good
 
I'm not afraid to buy an old leupold-the lifetime guarantee takes the risk out of buying a used scope-and I'd rather have a good used one than a new lower quality one.
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Best advice yet. If it doesn't suit your needs, you can always sell it on the EE.
 
I have a Leupold VX1 and its been 5 years without a hitch on a Browning BLR in .308. ($325 ish)

If I was going to buy a new one I would be giving a Burris Ballistic plex a seriious look over. Two of my hunring buddies have them and it pulls more light than my Leupold.
 
SuperCub said:
There's good reason for that. Cheap scopes are not that cheap afterall when you have to replace them.


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Agreed. That's why I don't touch Tasco or Nikon.
Although maybe Nikon has strengthened the tube body in the last few years, I'm not sure. They had a habit of cracking when you tightened the rings.
 
The Leupold VX II 3-9x40 with the long range duplex should be still under 500, I bought one last November for 430 with tax and it's a great scope.
 
The bushnell elite 3200 I got works fairly well. Mines a set 10x zoom, target turrets and mildot reticle, on leopuld QRW rings. Holds up fairly well on a Norc M305. At less then 50 yards or so the sight image is going to be a bit blurry though. Fairly robust scope for $300 or so. If I had to do it again though I'd probably would have spent a little extra for a variable zoom though.

I've heard good things about falcon menace scopes but I've only handled them once and never shot with one.

Mildot... you can use them for aiming points and I do it more times then I care to admit (usually when I'm too lazy to adjust the scope), but they're supposed to be for range estimation only.
 
Leupold Canadian CDS (Custom Dial System) VXII 3-9x40 $560

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Zero @ 200 yards, then turn dial to whatever range you're shooting at and aim dead on out to 600-700 yards
 
My choice would be a Bushnell Elite 3200, 4-12X40mm, with DOA (Dead On Accurate) reticle. The DOA reticle has lines from 100 yd. to 650 yd. with reticle lines at 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 650 yd. (according to their on-line manual?).

You can get also the Bushnell Elite 6500 (DOA 600) with 2.5-16x42mm and the 4.5-30x50mm but I haven't checked their prices.

I just bought the 3200 for $447 at Higginson Powder in Hawksburry for long range moose hunting using a TC Encore Pro-Hunter in 300 WM with a 28 in. barrel.

I had a look at the Leapers at Marstar and found them interesting and at a good price but they are out-of-stock in several models/magnification ranges.

Duke1

This is from Bushnell DOA manual on their web site. I have seen other videos with the range going only to 600 yd. and not 650.... confusing. Mine hasn't arrived yet.

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