Affordable scope for Ruger .270?

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sbwaters

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I will be receiving an unexpected Ruger .270 in about a week and will likely use it for shooting 100-200 yds, 300 max, target practice and possibly for medium sized game [more likely to use the Ruger .308 for deer].

At issue is what affordable optics to put on it. Recommendations?
 
There are several scopes in the $200 ish price range (MSRP) that will work well enough. If you can get it discounted below $200 fine. I tend to prefer some scopes in the $300-$500 range, but would not feel handicapped with any of the suggestions listed below. Once you get below about $200 MSRP quality is spotty enough that I advise people avoid them.

#1 stick with a 3-9X40. That combo is the value leader for all brands and gives you the most scope for the money. And there is darn little they don't do well enough for 99% of shooting. The other options are more specialty scopes and if in the same price range expect lower quality. I'm talking about 4-12X, scopes and stuff in the 2-7X range.

The lens quality is very similar, it comes down to features. But I like the Burris FF-II and Leupold Freedom the best priced right at $200. Nikon, Vortex, Burris, and some others have similar scopes in the same price range. Just looking at them in stores some of the lower end Sig scopes look pretty good, but I don't know as much about them. Choose the one you can get the best deal on and has the features most important to you.

Going up to the $300-$400 scopes get you a little more low light ability and some other special features. But there is isn't a huge difference between a $300 scope and a $200 scope. The difference between a $200 and $100 scope is huge.
 
Jmr's post above was great, but I'd also mention that a 2x7 may not be a bad option for what you are looking for. The prices usually aren't that much more than 3x9s, and you can mount them closer to the bore with low rings. If 300 yards is going to be your max range, 6x should be plenty.

I do like the wider FOV of 3x9s, so I guess it comes down to a tradeoff between that and mounting height, whichever you prefer to have.
 
I bought a Vortex 4 X12 X 44 for my .243 and liked it so well I bought another one for my .270. Great glass for under 200 bucks. hdbiker
 
If you are not afraid of used optics you could check out swfa sample list. Could get higher end glass for price of lower end new optics.
 
burris ff2 gets my continued vote, it's really hard to bear them for the cost. Those you can pull used of ebay for around 100 bucks also.
 
The Zeiss Terra in 2-7x or 3-9x are solid contenders, I own the 3-9 version purchased on clearance for under $200. The Leupold VX Freedom is so far a good scope as well, I own that in 3-9x. The Minox ZV3 May still be out there on clearance, picked one up under $90. Also own 3 Leupold Mark ARs that are great for the price, between $180-$350 and yes, Burris is a heck of a bargain too.
 
Think Leupold stopped making the Redfield Revolution stuff.
IIRC the duplex they used on those is the "wide" duplex (could also get "accurange reticle").
Personally, I like the wide duplex.
Bought a 3-9x50mm for my .30-06 (Steyr).
Went 50mm because of the receiver making scope sit high, 40mm didn't look right.
Might try low rings and a 40mm.
The 50mm doesn't sit stupid high, but my head is slightly more up. Cheek on stock, just not as much pressure.
Feels a little different, usable.
 
Have owned three 2-7X, a 4-12X and now this 3-9X........in the Redfield Revolution line.
Only gripe is the red logo on turret body.
I hate red.
 
I have a .270 with a Burris Fullfield II 4-14X 42mm. I paid under $250 and is the best "bargain" scope I've ever purchased. What a great scope! I have lots of scopes and this is one of the best no matter the cost.
 
Sniper66 said:
I have a .270 with a Burris Fullfield II 4-14X 42mm. I paid under $250 and is the best "bargain" scope I've ever purchased. What a great scope! I have lots of scopes and this is one of the best no matter the cost.
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I agree 100%. I've carefully compared my Fullfield II 4.5-14s to several of my scopes in the $400-$500 street price range, and NONE of the others are better, IMO. It's the best bargain I've ever encountered in a scope for the money. You sometimes see the Burris in the $225 range, which is a huge bargain, IME.
 
Well. This may not help much. But when I think of "affordable scope," I think of Tasco. Unfortunately, when I think of Tasco, I think of the cardboard tube from a roll of paper towels, so, again, not sure how much help that was.

On a more serious note, I have a Redfield Revolution on my 243, and, while it's not awesome, it is acceptable. For the $250 I pad for it, I feel it was a good value. Unfortunately, Redfield went under (again), so they may be hard to find.

I have a spotter from the Vortex Diamondback line, and I feel the same way about it as I do the Redfield. (Actually, I think it's better.) So if you looked at a scope from that line, you'd still be in the $250 range and have a decent scope.
 
The last run Redfield Revolutions had a silver "R" on the objective, not red.
But the little recess on the turret body for the word "redfield" was in red.
Acetone will remove them both, but then you have the inset for the turret body logo.
Need to make a decal or something to fill that slot.
 
LoonWulf said:
burris ff2 gets my continued vote, it's really hard to bear them for the cost. Those you can pull used of ebay for around 100 bucks also.
Click to expand...
I’ve got Fullfield II 3-9x40’s on both my 450 Bushmaster AR’s. They’ve got very clear glass, and take the recoil without a problem.
 
Sniper66 said:
This is the best price I have ever seem on this scope. I have 2 of them and they are outstanding.
Click to expand...
yeah, I literally just paid 500 for the cds version. at that price im tempted to buy another just to have

Honestly, I still haven't found a scope that is significantly better than the 3-9x40 FF2 optically. I sat there with my more expensive scope yesterday and played with them all for a while.
The Conquest hd5 and Ares btr, were noticeably better than the others, but honestly when set at 9-10 none would have given me an advantage on anything I could see from my house.

The vx3i is lighter than the rest, but it's only an oz less than the burris or Nikon buckmasters I was playing with. It's optical quality was as good or better, but not enough for it to matter to me. All told I for 300 I'd buy the leupold, but I don't think I'd spend the 400-499 on it over a FF2.
I'll say this also, what ever changes leupolds made to their newer scope has really improved the way I see colors thru them.
 
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