Which scope for these criteria...

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

mshootnit

Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2007
Messages
4,472
OK, before we had children and back when I had time, hair, and less fat cells, I actually had time to fire form, neck size and shoot for groups with my varmint gun. I once pulled off a group at 300 meters which amazed me.

Now I know times have changed but I can't warm up to 30mm scopes. So my question is this: Which scope is the best on the market to fit these criteria:
1. 1" tube, with simple reticle for varmint shooting and targets to 500 yds. No mildot, extensive grids, hash etc.
2. Capable of shooting 1.5" group at 300 meters.
3. Budget is at or under 800.00 for the scope, best you can get for that money.
4. 14 or 15 power magnification on highest setting
5. No bigger than 44 mm objective. 42 is better.
6. Parallax adjustable.
7. At or under 23 oz.

I appreciate any suggestions.
 
Ive got a pair of Meopta HTRs (ok ones the cabelas version), and besides having a top end of 20, and a 50mm objective they pretty well fill your requests.

the other one I have that fits everything besides price (and availability) is my Zeiss HD5 3-15x42. It does have a bdc reticle, but plain reticles were available (and i still see them new, but they are going for well over the 700 I paid for mine).


The next one IM going to try I think is a Tract https://tractoptics.com/riflescopes/toric-1inch-hunting-rifle-scopes
one of those will probably replace the Zeiss on my Ridgeline so it can go on either my carbon barreled 6.5, or my .375 Ruger.
 
Last edited:
LoonWulf said:
Ive got a pair of Meopta HTRs (ok ones the cabelas version), and besides having a top end of 20, and a 50mm objective they pretty well fill your requests.

the other one I have that fits everything besides price (and availability) is my Zeiss HD5 3-15x42. It does have a bdc reticle, but plain reticles were available (and i still see them new, but they are going for well over the 700 I paid for mine).


The next one IM going to try I think is a Tract https://tractoptics.com/riflescopes/toric-1inch-hunting-rifle-scopes
one of those will probably replace the Zeiss on my Ridgeline so it can go on either my carbon barreled 6.5, or my .375 Ruger.
Click to expand...

Those Tracts look great.
 
Last edited:
Just about any hunting scope will do what you want. You get the most scope for the money at around 3-9X40. I've shot 3/4 MOA groups at 600 yards with a fixed power 6X scope. When you get much above 10X there can be some negatives and you don't need as much magnification as you think you do.

At the present time I can't recommend a specific scope. Everything I'm familiar with, and would recommend, has either been discontinued or is out of stock.
 
You don't mention exposed turrets, which IMHO would be a requirement for any type of precision shooting at distance, especially without a mil-dot type reticle.

I can do pretty well with my Leupold duplex reticles out to 300/400, but after that I'm estimating and walking rounds on to the TGT. There's an awful lot of holdover with a duplex reticle out to 500yds.

To get what the OPs after, I'd look at the Leupold VX3HD 4.5-14X40 with CDS dial.

https://www.leupold.com/vx-3hd-4-5-14x40-cds-zl-duplex

It has the magnification, parallax adjustment and will make weight.
 
I don't see your requirements as being especially difficult to meet. Lots of scopes can do what you want. Leupold VX-111 with the duplex reticule in 4.5-14 would do nicely. Possibly something in the Ziess Conquest line would work for you.

If we lived closer together I have a spare Leupold that I would let you borrow long enough to try out.
 
I'll give another enthusiastic nod to Tract. i have two and will order a 3rd for my new Bergara B-14R 17 HMR which I hope to have in the next couple of months. For our OP's purpose, the T-Plex reticle will serve you nicely. Tract scopes are equal to or better than scopes costing twice the money. Availabio;lity is spotty, but if you persist, you'll get what you need and will not be disappointed.
 
army_eod said:
Looks great. I had no idea.
Click to expand...

An earlier thread introduced me to the S&B Hungaria....I have always wanted S&B, especially the fixed 10. Optics Trade had the 6x in stock. I ordered it, and had it in about a week! The hardest part was my bank...they really had a heartache over an eastern European order. I made it right, and Euro Optic was spot on. Great to work with (a sample of one), but I will order from them again...

@hq @Izzy77
 
Last edited:
jmr40 said:
Just about any hunting scope will do what you want. You get the most scope for the money at around 3-9X40. I've shot 3/4 MOA groups at 600 yards with a fixed power 6X scope. When you get much above 10X there can be some negatives and you don't need as much magnification as you think you do.
Click to expand...


https://smile.amazon.com/Burris-Opt...s=4.5-14x44+burris+FFE1&qid=1619399328&sr=8-6

Weighs in an ounce over your weight limit, but costs 25% of budget and will do the job. You mention varmint hunting; you won't find a handier reticle than the E1 for that service:
51139472569_85f14baa74_z.jpg
and the glass is much higher quality than price point would indicate.

Regards,
hps
 
hps1 said:
https://smile.amazon.com/Burris-Opt...s=4.5-14x44+burris+FFE1&qid=1619399328&sr=8-6

Weighs in an ounce over your weight limit, but costs 25% of budget and will do the job. You mention varmint hunting; you won't find a handier reticle than the E1 for that service:
View attachment 994654
and the glass is much higher quality than price point would indicate.

Regards,
hps
Click to expand...
I have the e1lr reticle in that same scope. Mine weights in at 20oz in leupold qd rings.
Besides the squishy turrets it's actually one of my favorite scopes, Even though it's noticeably cheaper than some of them.
 

Attachments

  • PXL_20210426_034750416.MP.jpg
    PXL_20210426_034750416.MP.jpg
    98.2 KB · Views: 5
  • PXL_20210426_034853367.MP.jpg
    PXL_20210426_034853367.MP.jpg
    54.2 KB · Views: 7
LoonWulf said:
I have the e1lr reticle in that same scope. Mine weights in at 20oz in leupold qd rings.
Click to expand...
:thumbup:I'll bet the weight I quoted was the shipping weight, as I got it off of the Amazon listing. Didn't think to weigh it before I put it on the rifle.
I have three Burris scopes, one 3x9 & two 4.5-14's plus a couple of the FFII's w/Ballistic Plex and haven't noticed any anomalies in the clicks.
The very first FFII I bought, had to go back as it did not track, but CS was excellent! They worked it over and returned promptly and it worked as it should. Their lifetime warranty is great.

Regards,
hps
 
hps1 said:
:thumbup:I'll bet the weight I quoted was the shipping weight, as I got it off of the Amazon listing. Didn't think to weigh it before I put it on the rifle.
I have three Burris scopes, one 3x9 & two 4.5-14's plus a couple of the FFII's w/Ballistic Plex and haven't noticed any anomalies in the clicks.
The very first FFII I bought, had to go back as it did not track, but CS was excellent! They worked it over and returned promptly and it worked as it should. Their lifetime warranty is great.

Regards,
hps
Click to expand...
yeah, amazons weights are all over the place lol.

Ive had 3 ff2s, and a couple of the e1s, all of them have tracked pretty well.
I actually preferred the ff2s set it and forget it dials, simply because while the e1s track fine their clicks are really squishy compared to my other scopes. Im much more likely to simply set the scope and not mess with the turrets again unless I need to resight. Which is why I went with the e1lr reticle, since its got moa hash marks it lets me hold over pretty easily no mater what rifle I've got it on.
The standard e1s nice because it offers hold offs as for wind as well, but its easier for me to just remember moa adjustments for the rifle the scopes mounted on.
 
Now that you mention it, the clicks are not as distinct on the E1's, but I had just not paid a lot of attention to them, as I don't usually have time to make adjustments when predator hunting and find the E1 great for my "Kentucky windage" style. The MOA turrets would be more precise, given time to do the math, but math was never my strong point and the clicks seem to be sufficient to hold zero, once set. Guess it all depends on what one gets used to. :rofl:

Regards,
hps
 
Depending on how much magnification you want, and if you can live with the objective size, the Swarovski Z3 scopes are brilliantly bright and clear for the money, and they come in a 1" tube.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

C
  • Locked
Parallax, is this normal
Replies
8
Views
1K
taliv
T
T
  • Locked
$500 scopes, best glass quality
2
Replies
32
Views
5K
ThePenguinKnight
T
C
  • Locked
Help me determine if my scope's behavior is normal
Replies
13
Views
1K
Haxby
H
Stevenvalleyky
  • Locked
Scope choice to learn with
Replies
17
Views
1K
Walkalong
Walkalong
G
  • Locked
When is an adjustable parallax scope necessary?
Replies
23
Views
2K
redneck2
redneck2
Back
Top