24x or higher

[cash--]

Anyone got any good suggestions on picking out an affordable high power scope. Max magnification should be at least 20x 24x is preferable, must have adjustable paralax.

Will be used on a target gun.

am i seeking a unicorn?

 

[phaed]

this is a tough one. i've been trying to avoid dropping 1500+ on good scopes as well. bought a barska that self destructed after 200 rounds on a 308. i've heard similar stories about ncstar, bsa, and simmons. i ended up with a millett trs-1 that's doing well so far. it has parallax adj, but it only goes to 16x. falcon, and counter-sniper have parallax adjustable models that have had a decent amount of recommendations also.

what caliber weapon is it going on? if it's a 22 LR, you can use just about anything, but a 338 is gonna be a different story.

 

[Omnivore]

IMO, you are chasing a unicorn. There are plenty of companies willing to put a fake horn on a pony, and charge you 200 bucks for it though.

Phaed's story is typical of those seeking the holy "cheap but good scope" grail. I have a couple similar ones. I've never known anyone who regretted spending the money on really good optics.

A good 14x will give you more visiual acuity (the ability to make out detail) than a medeocre 24x, etc.. Optical magnification and acuity do not go hand-in-hand. Heck, my 14x rifle scope shows more detail than my cheap 30x "spotting scope". I use the scare quotes because it's not really a spotting scope-- it's actually a piece of junk sold as a spotting scope.

Once I spent 7x the price of the first spotting scope, plus the time spent screwing around being frustrated with the cheap one, I now have one that I can use. 7x + 1x = 8x. See where this dollar-math is going? Buying right the first time saves you money and a lot of frustration.

 

[APIT50]

you might want to look at the Leupold rifleman series and my favorite economy scope is Sightron, their glass is hard to beat for the prices

 

[birdbustr]

Pentax Lightseekers are available in 24 and 32 magnification for about $600. I have one on my 7mm STW. I can see holes at 200yds. Adjustible side parallax. Good scope, not the best, but good for the price.

 

[rcmodel]

A good 14x will give you more visiual acuity (the ability to make out detail) than a medeocre 24x, etc.. Optical magnification and acuity do not go hand-in-hand.

+10000!

rcmodel