Best scope on 223?

[andym79]

Hi guys I have a Stevens 200 in .223 the rifle is plenty accurate enough, my current scope (3-9) is fine for hunting out to 250 to 300 yards. But for competition shooting at the range (100-300 yards) its just does not cut it!

I have tried cheap high magnification scopes (6-24 without much joy) which of these would I be best getting:


Nikon Buckmaster 6-18x Variable, 40mm $390
Weaver V-24 Series 6-24 x 42mm $410
Weaver Grand Slam S6-20x, 40mm $440
Sightron SII 6-24x Variable, 42mm $440
Leupold VX-2 6-18x 40mm $500

Thanks

 

[jschroed]

Sightron has been good to me although I have not had that particular model. Take a look at Vortex Viper's too. They are in your $ range.

 

[Bushpilot]

20X+ is a lot of magnification for a .223. What kind of "competition shooting" are you competing in? Sometimes too much scope can be worse than not enough. You loose a lot of brightness, clarity and eye relief at 24X even with a good scope. Leupold is never a bad choice, Nikon has great optics, I’ve had some very good Weavers and some very average. I have never owned a Sightron.

 

[Haxby]

I haven't looked at any of these scopes in this size.

The Buckmaster is the only one one of the bunch that is not fully multicoated.
The V-24 is probably not as good as the Grand Slam.
CameralandNY has a deal on a Vortex Viper that size.
Natchezss has a deal on Weaver Classic Extremes.

Of the scopes listed, I'd go Leupold or Grand Slam.

 

[dprice3844444]

nikon has a 223 bdc scope

 

[jmr40]

What you need is QUALITY, not a lot of X's on your scope. A QUALITY scope at 9X is more power than you need at the ranges you are shooting. Scopes with high magnification either cost a LOT more money, or they are cutting corners. Spend $500 on a good 3-9X40 and you will have a better scope that will be clearer and sharper than a $400 scope that goes up to 18X or more.

 

[Gtimothy]

This is the glass I have mounted to my AR but it is also used on bolt guns...Leupold Mark AR Scope, 3-9x, 40mm Obj, Matte Finish, Duplex Reticle. The nice thing about this scope is it is set up for .223 and has a pre-engraved bullet drop compensation (BDC) dial to match the ballistics of most 55 grain .223 Remington/5.56mm NATO loads. I spent $300 for it and it works great!

 

[wingman]

In your group I would take the Grand Slam Weaver, I have a Mueller 8-32x40target dot on my Savage Model 12BTVS 223, groups average .465 at 100yards, when I shoot well I can get down to .250, the Mueller is more clear then my Nikon Monarch, cost for the Mueller was $240.

I did see the Grand Slam on sale recently believe it was Natchez.

 

[greyling22]

take a peek at the nitrex tr-1's over at natchez. they'er basically weaver grand slams. cheap, good glass, very fine reticle. However, it's big and the eyebox is pretty small at high magnification.

 

[B!ngo]

nikon has a 223 bdc scope

Agree that you should take a look at the Nikon w/BDC tuned for .223/5.56 55 cartridge. I own the M-223 in 1-4x and it's excellent for the price. Basic features in trade for very good glass. But they just came out with a lower price P-223 series in 3x and 3-9x (I think) both for a very attractive price.
OTOH, it's not clear what you are using the scope/rifle for and without that information, it's hard to recommend anything.

 

[T Bran]

At one time I had quite a few scopes of various brands it has cost me dearly to upgrade on all of my rifles but worth it.
They now all wear Nikon in one form or another. The Monarchs are great, the one on my bench gun in .223 is a BDC model. I wouldnt trade it for anything I've looked through.
Even my woods hunters wear prostaff 3x9x40 and are very clear and return to zero as well as holding zero while getting knocked around.
Guess I would go with the Nikon but I'm kinda biased lol.
T

 

[ms6852]

I would recommend the sightron. Stay away from the Nikon monarch with bdc. The parallex is just plain awful beyond one hundred yards. If you are like some shooters that like to zero your rifle at 200 yds or develop loads by using the ladder test method, the nikon will not be helpful. I know, I own both scopes and am making this comments on practical experience.

 

[husbandofaromanian]

My Contender Pistol wears a SuperSniper fixed 16x from swfa.com. It has over 100 minutes of vertical adjustment and the adjustments are very accurate. I paid $299 for it and I am extremely happy with it. I have never looked through a $1000 scope to compare the optics. However, for me, the large vertical adjustment and accurate adjustments where the most important to me. Another scope with these attributes would have cost me triple the price.

 

[TonyAngel]

Andy, I think I have an idea of what you'll be using your rifle for. I do quite a bit of target shooting and always end up shooting at smaller and smaller targets.

For target shooting, I like a lot of magnification. You can always turn it it down, but you can't dial up to what you don't have. My primary target rifle wears a 5.5-22X50 and it does well for the distances that I shoot.

A good place to start is to first figure out what your minimum requirement is. Once you know that, then get a scope that meets your minimum requirement and has the highest magnification. For target shooting, 6X or so isn't a bad bottom end.

Of the scopes that you listed, I think I'd concentrate on either the Sightron or the Weaver V series scopes. In the Sightron line, go with a Big Sky model if you can.

 

[RalphS]

Not on your list, but I use the Weaver T24 fixed power target scope on my .223 rifle out to 300 yards and my .22LR rifle out to 100 yards. Works great for me for prone and benchrest.

I also shoot offhand with a T24 on an Anschutz 1712 but that isn't easy. Takes lots of practice to hold steady.