Best Scope for $300 or less

Status
Not open for further replies.
U

unreal45

Member
Joined
May 17, 2004
Messages
310
Location
MISSOURI
I want too put some glass on my new Savage 16fss 270WSM.
My budget is $300.
I will be hunting in Big timber and farmland, with shots ranging from
20 - 400 yards.
I have been looking at Leupolds vx-II and Weaver Grand Slams.
All opinions welcome.
 
The Leupold and Weaver are excellent choices, both.

A couple others to consider at your price point are the Bushnell 3200 & 4200 Elites - which I have personally used with excellent results - and the Burris Fullfield line which I have not.

Might even find a used Zeiss Conquest out there for around $300...ya never know!
 
Super Sniper fits the bill as well. I also have a Weaver Grand Slam and those scopes are awesome at that price.
 
The 2004 VXII's are excellent. I have no personal experience with the Grand Slams, although I have one on the way courtesy of the classifieds from another forum.

Please be aware that there are a lot of discounts on new scopes right after Christmas. Mail order places like Midway, Natchez and Graf's have a lot of closeout specials. Scan their websites daily and have your credit card handy.
 
Thanks for the input.
I think I will wait till right after Christmas and see if i can get a discount. :D
 
Natchez has the 3-10X40 Grand Slams on special for $245, and Midway has specials for its prior customers. IIRC the "customer special" from Midway was about $236 on the same scope. Cabela's recently mailed out $30 off coupons on any purchase over $100 made before 1/9/05, which could take down the price of some VXII's to a comparable level. However, you seem inclined to wait, and I think you probably could do better.
 
The Burris Fullfield 4.5-14X 42mm ballistic plex can be had very cheaply including a 12-24X 60mm spotting scope. I have considered this package for the Savage 10fp in .308 that I want, I think it would make a great starter rig. I have had a great experience with my Burris 2-7X compact that has been an absolutely wonderful scope.
 
I have a Grand Slam 3.5x10x50 that I absolutely love,my CZ 550 premium loves it to.Cost me around $350.00 if I remember correctly.I'd put it up next to any Leupold or Nikon! It's clear,bright and almost manufacture's light.Another good choice would be the Simmons Aatec for around $179.00. Have one on my Model 7 7mm08.Great scope for the money.Merry Christmas. :)


Hate that new member thing.Maybe I should post more often! :evil:
 
Last edited:
Choosing a scope is a tougher decision than choosing the rifle. :D
There are so many choices all having different advantages.
 
I think I will wait till right after Christmas and see if i can get a discount
Click to expand...

I haven't seen any discounts yet at the major mail order houses, but Gart Sports (aka Sports Authority in some places) in my region is running a 25% off sale on all scopes through tomorrow. I saw some 2004 model Leupold VXII's at decent prices, such as a 4x12x40 AO for the regular retail price of $399 (minus 25%, or $300) and the 3x9x40 matte for the regular retail price of $299 (minus 25%, or $225), which makes this the best retail deal I've seen so far on Leupolds. Be sure that you get the 2004 version of the VXII, though, because the 2004 versions have the same features of the discountinued Vari-XIII line, but the 2003 and earlier versions are the equivalent of the 2004 VXI and are not worth the same price as the 2004 VXIIs. As I understand it, the 2004 VXII's have a suffix "M" after the serial number. (See http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...=UBB36&Number=368835&Searchpage=1&Main=368811 for this and other info.) The salesmen did not know any of this, so you have to do your homework. They even had a Vari XIII 2.5x8x36 with a serial number showing it was made in 1997, and the retail price on that was way too high for what it is worth today.

[Edited to correct stupid math error.]
 
Last edited:
I had a Weaver Grand Slam 3.5-10x40 on my Savage 10FP awhile back before I switched to a Bushnell 3200 10x Mildot. It was a solid scope. The only reason I sold it was because I wanted a scope with target knobs and the mildot, and wanted a fixed power for matches and target shooting.

The Weaver Grand Slam is one of the best value scopes out there. Inexpensive and great quality. Definitely not junk.
 
scope

Hello,
i have used both Leupold & Sightron , they both have held up very well both in hunting and on tactical rifles .
i would tell you to be watching on Ebay for a 6.5X20X40 Leupold ,the life time warranty is worth spending a little more .

TS2
 
I think it would be hard to go wrong with any of the scopes mentioned, but my 3-9X40 VX-II performs great and is thus far very durable.
 
I was in your situation, except I had budgeted around $600 for a scope. I looked at the Burris Signature Series, Leupold VX-III, Nikon Monarch Gold, and the Bushnell Elite 4200. After a lot of research, I chose the Elite 4200.

I have to say that Bushnell's marketing team wasn't kidding when they said the 4200 was bright and clear. Of all the scopes I looked at, the 4200 was the brightest and clearest scope. The one problem I do have with the Elite 4200 is that eye relief is a bit short; IIRC it's a little over 3". But, because the scope was going on a .30-06, I can live with it. And, in all honesty, eye relief, to me, is not as important as clarity and brightness.

If you can stretch your budget by $100, I highly recommend the Bushnell Elite 4200.
 
If you can stretch your budget by $100, I highly recommend the Bushnell Elite 4200.
Click to expand...

I concur wholeheartedly. While my Leupolds are nice (VXIIIs), I believe the my three 4200s are optically superior (albeit with aggrevatingly short eye relief) and I plan to purchase more in the future.
 
Guess I'd better go take that old Weaver K-4 off my Model 70 and toss it in the trash. Obviously it can't cut it anymore.

Better yet, everybody out there do the same and send them to me. Please.
 
The Weaver K4 is a good scope. I have one on one of my .22s. That being said, there's no way that a K4 is better than a Leupold VX-III or a Bushnell Elite 4200. Those two scopes are worth every penny of the $200-$300 extra you would pay over the cost of a Weaver K series .
 
Leupold

Why? Because they have the best customer service, no question warranty, and best product for the dollar IMHO. Another plus, I live 10 miles from their factory. :)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

U
  • Locked
Best scope for $300
Replies
13
Views
703
keeperofthehills
K
A
  • Locked
Best scope on 223?
Replies
14
Views
2K
RalphS
R
H
  • Locked
Scope upgrade
Replies
17
Views
934
xerxesthecat
X
D
  • Locked
finding a good scope for my rifle, for under 500 dollars
2
Replies
27
Views
3K
fowl_intent
F
R
  • Locked
Help choosing a scope
Replies
19
Views
993
Rebel Gunman HK
R
Back
Top