Been out of the scope game for a while, recommendations?

Been a number of years since i bought a scope. Most of my good ones are Leupolds, and all but one are blued, if that tells you how long its been.

I recently acquired a 20" SSK rifle barrel for my T/C Contender, chambered in 6.5 Grendel. It needs a scope. My home shooting spot is at the moment only 100 yards but i have plans to get it to at least 300 yards. This will be a target gun, with maybe a whitetail in its sights every once in a while.

Im not looking for great glass, just something nice, with a warranty or solid customer service. Im looking at the Leupold VX Freedom 3x9-40mm with the hunt plex reticle. The price is in my comfort range and i know how well Leupold treats their customers.

Thoughts on my choice? Not interested in cheaper stuff like Tasco, Simmons, or the like, and not interested in spending $500 or $600 or $1000 on a scope.

 

Since you like Leupold i would stay with them. I been happy with my Burris and Vortex scopes. I been phasing out my cheaper scopes with upgrades.

 

Burris and Vortex are definitely on my radar. Most seemed more pricey than i wanted to spend i think

 

Burris maybe

 

I been ordering though Cabela's/Brass pro. They often have good prices on them.
https://www.basspro.com/r/shop/en/scopes?q=rifle scopes#numberOfResults=32&f[currentoffers]=Sale

 

I was buying Nikon but since they quit, I have gone with Vortex.
I have been very satisfied.....perhaps better than Nikon.

 

I just mounted a vortex straightwall 3-9x50 bdc on my .45-70.

 

Some nice prices on the Vortex scopes! Midway has the Leupold for $299 and i would get a $25 midway gift card with purchase.

Ill take a gander at the other brands listed in this thread.

 

These are my suggestions/recommendations:

• $150 Viridian Serac 6-24x50mm (30mm tube), SFP, long range reticle, 1/8 MOA tactical locking turrets - Viridian is OEM weapons light/laser supplier to Ruger and also supplies Eon scope lines for Ruger 10/22 package. Serac is their top of the line scope and comes with tactical turrets and flip covers. I would say Serac field of view brightness is on par with Burris FF E1 and better than Bushnell Trophy/Leupold American Marksman 3-9x40mm (Which are best of 3-9x/4-16x 40mm "lower end" scopes I have used). I like the Serac so much that it has become the reference scope for accurized 10/22 that can produce 1/2" groups at 50 yards and 1.25" groups at 100 yards. It is made in China - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-focus-sfp-long-range-reticle-for-150.900740/

• $221 Burris Full Field E1 6.5-20x50mm (1" tube), SFP, ballistic reticle, 1/4 MOA turrets - Burris FF E1 produces very bright and optically sharp field of view, particularly at 100 yards for visualizing .22 caliber bullet holes. It is made in the Philippines - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...20x-50mm-169-9-shipping.893341/#post-12023578

• $299 Vortex Strike Eagle 4-24x50mm (30mm tube), SFP, EBR-4 illuminated reticle, 1/4 MOA tactical turrets - With 80 MOA tactical turret adjustment (Compared to 40/45 MOA adjustment), I got this scope for T/CR22 with integrated scope rail that won't allow 20 MOA scope rail use. It is made in China - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...329-free-2-day-shipping.903761/#post-12257114

• $350 Athlon Argos Gen II BTR 10-40X56mm (30mm tube), SFP, BLR reticle, 1/8 MOA tactical turrets - With Gen II, issues with sharpness above 30x and turret are gone and I got to compare with Arken EP5 and to me, if you want to see farther out at 300+ yards, I would choose the Athlon Argos. It is made in China - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-focus-30mm-blr-sfp-moa.902061/#post-12224144

 

Burris is my go to as far as bang for your buck. I have 3 of the Fullfield E1s, and for the $150ish I paid for each, they are a pretty incredible deal.

 

I should state i want to stay with a 1" tube as i have a plethora of rings for 1" and none for 30mm.

 

I think that 3-9x40mm is great! If that reticle works for you it seems like a no brainer. I'm after the Trijicon TR-20 I think. Also 3-9x40mm but a mil dot reticle and few other features. I dig those scope specs though...

 

My recommendation to someone who hasn't bought a scope for awhile is prepare to be shocked.

$900 is the new $250.

 

I, too, really liked Nikon. I have noticed that since Nikon stopped selling Scopes, SIG has been selling what appears to be the Nikon models branded as SIG. I suspect that Nikon still makes them, and SIG just markets them.

https://www.amazon.com/Sig-Sauer-Whisky-Riflescope-SOW33202/dp/B07R3FDVM6

 

I have 2 sig buck masters scopes. They do the job well.
https://www.amazon.com/Sig-Sauer-BU...-goods&sprefix=sig+sauer,sporting,155&sr=1-19

 

I have the Leupold scope your are thinking of buying. It is much better than the old VX-1 and maybe netter than the old VX-2 scopes. For the money I'm not sure Vortex is any better. Their lower line scopes don't seem as good to my eye. I have not looked through a Burris but there are enough people around here to make me think you should before buying. It might get you what you want.

-Jeff

 

Check out Tract Optics

 

Not shocked, as i had seen talk on here and browsed some places for em. Not pleased about it though! Something in my brain says paying a grand for a scope is just outrageous. Thats a lot of money for me and my expensive hobbies.

Last one i bought was about ten years ago, cant say how much or what model even. Likely around 300 bucks iirc.

Im not competing with it, and its likely to be a fair weather gun unless i decide to pop a deer with it.

 

I have both of these, two very good Burris options with 1" tubes:

E1 3x9x40
https://www.opticsplanet.com/burris-3x-9x40mm-fullfield-ii-ballistic-plex-e1-riflescope.html

Fullfield II
https://www.opticsplanet.com/burris-45-14x42mm-fullfield-ii-rifle-scope.html

 

Realized most of my rings are not for picatinny or weaver rails. So i guess im not stuck with 1" rings. My one set of new weaver rings has been scavenged for a few parts...

 

I recently picked up a Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-16x44 with a Burris AR-P.E.R.P mount at BassPro, with price matching, walked out the door at ~$350. It’s FFP, and unless you have to have an illuminated reticle, would be worth a look.

 

I'm a Vortex fanboy. I really like the Viper line (in my case mainly the PST series, but they are probably more expensive and complex than what you seem to be looking for) because the vipers seem to be sturdy and have good glass at the price point.
Had a Viper 3-9x40 BDC on my wife's previous rifle, it was a no-frills hunting scope with good glass that worked just fine and didn't cost a ridiculous amount.

On her new rifle, though, I got her the Diamondback Tactical FFP. The glass isn't quite as good as the Viper line (the main thing I've noticed is eye position gets kinda critical at max magnification) but it's still pretty good, and the Horus-style Christmas tree reticle in first focal plane makes wind and elevation holds a no brainier. I think it's a heck of a deal for $350 street price.

If you just want a good traditional, simple hunting scope, the Diamondback still comes in the classic 3-9x40 with duplex or BDC for around $250, or bump up to the Viper HS 2.5-10x44 for a bit better glass and a little more zoom range for around $500.

Having said all my fanboy stuff, though, you can't go wrong with Leupold either. I'm told their warranty and customer service is still top of the line, and they still make a fine product. It used to be that you paid a bit more for the name, but with Vortex becoming a big name in the industry, too, the price delta seems to have closed up a bit in recent years.

 

Still browsing. Reticle is a big deal for me, and i really like Leupold's hunt plex which is similar to the old German three post which i love. I dont seem to like the crazy BDC and other reticles. Too much going on.

Im gonna wait to buy until my birthday pricing comes on at Midway in a month. $500 is more than i wanna spend.

 

OP, you mention target shooting 100 to 300 yards. Based upon my experience, I would want at least to get up into the 24x range for that if you are going to be trying to shoot your best groups. If you just want to ring a 4" plate, no need for that much magnification, but if you want to go for the best accuracy/tightest groups, magnification helps. I consider 24x okay for 100 yards.

 

Burris Fullfield ll are on sale on Amazon. I just bought one.