Thanks again for all the good advice. Some say don't buy the good optics, some say DO buy the good optics. Well, I would love to save money, but I feel if I get a nice optic it would serve me well for many years.
I think you are mistaken about the type of gun I have. The DPMS LR-308 can easily shoot out to 1000 yards as I am told. It is a 24" Heavy SS Bull Barrel in .308 caliber, it is not an AR-15. I said my other guns are AR-15s and on those I have closer range optics. I am going to use my LR-308 as my long range gun and I hear it has been claimed to be as or more accurate than many bolt guns at 1000 yards.
I do like Taliv's advice and I am trying my best to follow it although I hear some opposing views. I don't see what is so great about buying a $500 scope that has a crappy warranty and one I cannot sell back. $500 is a lot of money and if I am going to fork out that much money, I might as well get one for a little more that is better and has better warranty. Personally, I like the idea of having a scope that is a better shooter than me. Why use crappy equipment that has the potential to make me shoot even worse. As one poster said, I cannot blame the equipment if I am shooting crappy. I don't care if people laugh at me and I am not planning on shoointg Long-Range competitions before I learn the basics. But I like to learn with a good scope.
As far as what I can afford. Well, I did write that many times now. I said I would spend $1600 for a scope that would really would blow awawy others in the $1000 range. However, I much rather not spend $1600 and pay $800-$1300. But, if someone can prove to me the great added benefits of a specific type of reticle or scope and that scope is above $1300 but below $1600, well perhaps I would buy it. I can finance the thing really goood and that is why I am even buying a scope. Had it not been for the 0% APR I would have waited a year to buy it anyway. These promotional APRs are stable, I never4 had CC company screw me on promotional APRs and I have maxed out my cards in past. Anyhow, contrary to what people think, I will not be in horrible debt and if the scope has a transferable lifetime warranty, it can easily be sold for most of what I paid, its not like I am stuck with it.
Well, I know I am new, but having a good reliable scope is something I think is important. Most of my money has been on things that may be banned. I suppose scopes and training won't be banned any time soon. I can wait a few years. However, I don't think I need a $4000 training course to learn how to use a scope, which I can learn on my gun in the mean time.
Right now, I am thinking about getting a Leupold Mark IV or Zeiss Conquest. People say Mark IV has better turrets and adjustments. Perhaps it would be a better long-range fighting/tactical scope vs. Zeiss, which produces a better image. I am also debating if I should go with 6-25 mag type of scope or 4-14 mag type of scope. Before I buy I will try to learn about each of the reticle . The Z1000 reticle of Zeiss looks very interesting, it seems Zeiss has more reticle options than Leupold Mark 4. I am not sure how practical or better they are than the Leupold's TMR or Mil-Dots. OF course, I was reading people sayign Zeiss is not a Tactical scope and should only be used for Benchrest shooting.
I am still not sure what to do, but thinking.
You have a rifle that isn't considered to be a long distance shooter (aka more then 500 yards).
I think you are mistaken about the type of gun I have. The DPMS LR-308 can easily shoot out to 1000 yards as I am told. It is a 24" Heavy SS Bull Barrel in .308 caliber, it is not an AR-15. I said my other guns are AR-15s and on those I have closer range optics. I am going to use my LR-308 as my long range gun and I hear it has been claimed to be as or more accurate than many bolt guns at 1000 yards.
taliv speaks very wisely. I say, go ahead and get the best you can afford - but you need to ask yourself - since you cannot get something for nothing - there's always a tradeoff - do you REALLY want to spend $1,600, or some lesser amount? Tell us the amount you actually realistically are willing to part with, in light of the facts that yes you do get DIMINISHING returns with every hundred spent, but you DO GET returns!
I do like Taliv's advice and I am trying my best to follow it although I hear some opposing views. I don't see what is so great about buying a $500 scope that has a crappy warranty and one I cannot sell back. $500 is a lot of money and if I am going to fork out that much money, I might as well get one for a little more that is better and has better warranty. Personally, I like the idea of having a scope that is a better shooter than me. Why use crappy equipment that has the potential to make me shoot even worse. As one poster said, I cannot blame the equipment if I am shooting crappy. I don't care if people laugh at me and I am not planning on shoointg Long-Range competitions before I learn the basics. But I like to learn with a good scope.
As far as what I can afford. Well, I did write that many times now. I said I would spend $1600 for a scope that would really would blow awawy others in the $1000 range. However, I much rather not spend $1600 and pay $800-$1300. But, if someone can prove to me the great added benefits of a specific type of reticle or scope and that scope is above $1300 but below $1600, well perhaps I would buy it. I can finance the thing really goood and that is why I am even buying a scope. Had it not been for the 0% APR I would have waited a year to buy it anyway. These promotional APRs are stable, I never4 had CC company screw me on promotional APRs and I have maxed out my cards in past. Anyhow, contrary to what people think, I will not be in horrible debt and if the scope has a transferable lifetime warranty, it can easily be sold for most of what I paid, its not like I am stuck with it.
Well, I know I am new, but having a good reliable scope is something I think is important. Most of my money has been on things that may be banned. I suppose scopes and training won't be banned any time soon. I can wait a few years. However, I don't think I need a $4000 training course to learn how to use a scope, which I can learn on my gun in the mean time.
Right now, I am thinking about getting a Leupold Mark IV or Zeiss Conquest. People say Mark IV has better turrets and adjustments. Perhaps it would be a better long-range fighting/tactical scope vs. Zeiss, which produces a better image. I am also debating if I should go with 6-25 mag type of scope or 4-14 mag type of scope. Before I buy I will try to learn about each of the reticle . The Z1000 reticle of Zeiss looks very interesting, it seems Zeiss has more reticle options than Leupold Mark 4. I am not sure how practical or better they are than the Leupold's TMR or Mil-Dots. OF course, I was reading people sayign Zeiss is not a Tactical scope and should only be used for Benchrest shooting.
I am still not sure what to do, but thinking.