Best High Quality Bang for your Buck scope for magnum rifle

[Aim1]

My friend is moving to Alaska and needs a solid scope for his .338 Win Mag. He doesn't want to spend a ton of money but knows that scopes aren't cheap. I would have pointed him to the Zeiss Conquest because for $399 it was a heck of a good deal at one time. He wants a scope that can handle the recoil of the magnum cartridge.




What is the best high quality bang for your buck scope for this .338 Win Mag rifle?




Thanks in advance.

 

[jmr40]

For absolute reliability on a heavy kicking rifle I'd go with a fixed power 4X Leupold. The Conquest is a great scope if you can still locate one but no variable is as rugged as a fixed power.

To be honest, the difference is small, most modern variables are pretty rugged. But if it absolutely, positively had to work to save my butt, I'd choose a Leupold fixed power. Especially in harsh conditions and on a hard kicking rifle.

 

[Aim1]

I know he wants a vairoable scope and likes the 1x-4x range.

 

[Orcon]

SWFA SS fixed powers can be had for under $300, variables go for under $700. My 3-15 SS arrived last week and I am very happy with it. They are alleged to be one of the only budget scopes that wont get utterly destroyed by the bolt impulse of the FAL and similar weapons.

 

[browningguy]

https://www.natchezss.com/weaver-su...riflescope-1-5x42mm-dual-x-reticle-matte.html

I've had one of these on my .458 Win Mag for several years now and never a problem, very good quality glass for the money.

 

[Llama Bob]

SWFA SS fixed powers can be had for under $300, variables go for under $700. My 3-15 SS arrived last week and I am very happy with it. They are alleged to be one of the only budget scopes that wont get utterly destroyed by the bolt impulse of the FAL and similar weapons.

I was going to suggest the same line. I've had the 3-15 on my 7mm mag (admittedly not the highest recoil thing in the world, but not trivial) for quite a few shots, and it's happy as can be.

 

[cdb1]

If it were me I'd probably get a Meopta.

 

[Robert]

I run a Leupold VX3 2.5-8x36 on my 375H&H without issues. Very clear, not super heavy and works great.

 

[CB900F]

Aim1;

I have a Zeiss Conquest 44mm 3.5-10X #43 reticle on my .338 Winchester magnum. It's been there since the gun was new, and that's been for over a decade. The Burris mounts failed, but the scope didn't. Then I put a set of Talley's on & remounted the scope to the gun in them & have been shooting it ever since.

The load is 75.5 grains of RL19 behind a 225 grain bullet & I'm getting 2900 fps. The reason for that information is to let you know that the recoil is there, it hasn't been given a diet of "Oooh my poor shoulder" loads.

900F

 

[MIL-DOT]

There are obviously a bunch of worthy options, but given distance and relative remoteness up there, I'd be leaning towards one of the companies with the best warranty, like Leupold. If there's ever an issue (however unlikely), I'd be glad to have a company I knew I could just ship it off to and forget about it, rather than having to jerk around with customer service headaches from some other operations with less than stellar CS.
With any given product, there are two things I like to factor in on purchases: warranty, and re-sale value.
Can't go wrong on either with Leupold.

 

[farmerboy78]

I'd say either vortex viper / razor or the swfa... both have top notch customer service and warranty

 

[entropy]

Leupold FX-II or VX-III. Whether a fixed or variable, either is fine.

 

[Ks5shooter]

I run a Leupold VX3 2.5-8x36 on my 375H&H without issues. Very clear, not super heavy and works great.

I agree that would be a great choice for that gun.

 

[Sav .250]

The most bang for your buck does not come .....cheap! He needs to save his money until he can buy a quality scope.

 

[cdb1]

If not Meopta I'd go for this scope also.

 

[Aim1]

If not Meopta I'd go for this scope also.

Which scope?

 

[Grumulkin]

My scopes are mostly Leupolds many of which I bought used. Leupold's warranty is good even if you bought the scope used. I had a VX II on a 458 Lott with no brake; it held up just fine. I have a low powder Leupold on a 460 Weatherby magnum that cost less than your friend wishes to pay and it has held up just fine. Those scopes are/were variables, by the way.