Best scope for $500 or less

[SHAGGY101]

Hey guys,

I recently bought a rem 700 in 30-06 and would like to put some glass on it. What are your recommendations based upon your experiences? I am trying to keep the total cast at or below $500 so the best, economical scope under $500 would be best. Also I would like to try to avoid AOs.

Thanks,
Ryan

 

[jem375]

Bushnell 3200 or 4200
Nikon Monarch or Buckmaster
Weaver Grand Slam 4.5-14 x 40 AO
The 4200 is my next scope... Have a Grand Slam on one rifle...great scope..

 

[soloban]

+1 Nikon Buckmaster 6-18x w/ Mil-Dot Reticle.

 

[Robert Wilson]

An 18x scope with a mil-dot strikes me as a silly thing to put on a hunting rifle. Maybe I'm old fashioned.

I drink the Leupold Kool-Aid myself. For a general purpose hunting rifle I think it is hard to beat one of their VX-3 midrange variables, like the 2.5-8X or 3.5-10X. They can be found at "street" prices of $400-$500.

 

[Walkalong]

VX-3, 4200, Monarch

 

[Redhat]

I have a Leupold VXII 3x9 on my hunting riflle that has served me well and I'm also fond of my Bushnell 3200 10X mildot for range fun.

 

[Prion]

Another +1 for the Bushnell 4200.

Check out some of the prices on Amazon, they can be very competitive.

 

[Turn Key]

This is on the way in the 'Big Brown Truck'.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=128054

They beat Amazon & Optic Plant on price..

Bushnell Banner Rifle Scope 6-18x 50mm Adjustable Objective Multi-X Reticle Matte

I've been using the Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40 and want to see a bit more...

TK

 

[ms6852]

Depends what you're main use of the scope with your rifle will be. Hunting, plinking, or target shooting. What distance are you shooting. If hunting what is your longest shot? Is it open fields or a wooded area. But to be on the safe side a 3-9x40 will cover most every thing. I would recommend what I own since I have no experience with other brands. Either a Nikon Monarch, or a Sightron, or a bushmaster. The higher the price the better glass you will get and in optics it makes a big difference.

 

[goalie]

Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40

Thank me later.

 

[deputydad]

Either the 3-9x40 Zeiss or the 2.5-8x36 VX3 both are on sale for 399. Though with a long action the Zeiss will give you better mounting options.

 

[nastynatesfish]

What's the difference in the nikon buckmaster and monarch line. Looking at the 6-18x44 buckmaster form my 7mm

 

[srkavanagh6621]

Nikon Monarch

 

[HOOfan_1]

What's the difference in the nikon buckmaster and monarch line. Looking at the 6-18x44 buckmaster form my 7mm

Nikons quality goes from Prostaff at the lower end, to Buckmaster in the middle to Monarch at the top

 

[nastynatesfish]

Sorry not tying to rob the post but what's the diff? Is it the optics or the overall of the scope. I've never looked through a monarch. How do they compare to the bushnell 3200?

 

[Lloyd Smale]

with my eyes anyway a monarch is a better scope opticaly then a 3200. there about on par with a 4200. the 3200 is better at least to my eyes then a prostaff for sure and id rate them just a tick better then a buckmaster.

 

[pro2]

Another "thumbs up" for Zeiss Conquest. Own a 4x32, love it. Do some research on the Zeiss Conquest line, you will be impressed.

 

[rattletrap1970]

I have a Millet LRS-1, I like it.

 

[justgoto]

My $.02 about the Bushnell 3200. The first one I had, lost windage adjustment capability after 19 shots on a 30-30. Everyone told me it was a fluke so I bought another, lost elevation adjustment in less than 200 shots with that one. The warranty worked as intended, but I did have a bit wrapped-up in shipping.

Just so you know... I remounted the $50 BSA scope I had on it before the 3200s; and it is still adjusting like new.

 

[dubbleA]

For the average 30-06 deer rifle, the Zeiss Conquest 3x9 would be a great choice.

 

[Sock Puppet]

For the average 30-06 deer rifle, the Zeiss Conquest 3x9 would be a great choice.

This.

 

[bpl]

I'd be choosing between the Leupold VX-3, Nikon Monarch, Zeiss Conquest, Bushnell 4200 or 6500. For a 30-06 hunting rifle, which is what I presume you are scoping, I'd want something like 2-7x, 2.5-8, 3-9x, or 3.5-10x magnification. I like Leupold because they are strong, invariably more light and compact then the others, and have a bombproof warranty. I also like the Leupold alumina flipup lens covers, which I have several sets of and can remove from one rifle scope and place on another when I take it hunting.

Sightron and Vortex seem to be developing a following, but I have no experience with them. My biggest concern with them is if they will be around in the furture to provide warranty service.

 

[BrocLuno]

Most of these are good, ...

Bushnell Elite 4200 is very nice especially if you hunt in the rain due to their unique lens coating. Nikons are rated as some of the brightest in any of the equal objective lens size comparos. Leupold is always good and Zeiss makes nice optics.

Go to store and handle. Compare weight and eye relief. Some are more more forgiving on exact eye distance than others.

Best bet cheap = steel tube Weaver Micro-Trac from the El Paso days. It'll be used, but hell for strong and still working after 40 years

 

[KP Texan]

I went through this search recently myself:

If you're looking to spend closer to $400 I would probably get the Zeiss Conquest.

I wanted to spend a tad less so I'm going to end up purchasing the Sightron SII Big Sky. It offers more generous eye relief than the Bushnell Elite 4200 with similar glass and comes in more reticles and colors (the gloss finish will match my rifle better than matte). I hear many great things about the company and they seem to back up their lifetime warranty very well.

-Wes

 

[CraigC]

Leupold VXIII in either a 1.5-5x, 1.75-6x or 2.5-8x variety.