Downgrading scopes... options.

So, I just sold off my Vortex Viper HST for $500. It was just more scope than I need and I feel like I could better use the money elsewhere. My plan is to buy a less expensive scope and use the extra cash to invest in rounding out my reloading setup. I'd like to stay below $300 to leave a good chunk of cash for the reloadong stuff, and through various discounts I can do that with the options below. Looking for opinions!

Primary Arms SLx 4-14x44 (ARC-2-MOA Reticle)

Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-16x44

Swampfox Patriot 4-16x44

My biggest desires are some kind of drop compensating reticle (I use Strelok to be able to plot out approximate actual drops), adjustable parallax, 30mm tube (to be able to reuse the same rings), and a 4-14/16/20/etc magnification range. Tube size is the least important of those, but still preferable. I'm open to other options as well if anyone has suggestions!

 

Never heard of anyone down grading their scopes.

 

Yaaaa, I got the Viper in a trade and it's 6-24x50. It's more magnification than I need. I mounted it and liked it otherwise, but I want to drop down magnification-wise. At the same time, I need to round out my reloading kit so looking to spend a bit less than I sold it for.

 

Of the three the only one I've used is rhe Diamondback tactical.
I found it pretty nice, but I really prefer the Talos and Argos line of Athlons over any of the Diamondbacks..... Tho I'll say the Tacticals are, at least to my eye, and noticeable step up over the standard Diamondbacks.

I would be really inclined to try the swampfox personally.

If you want a couple of recommendations.
Cameraland has deals running on the Talos BTRs, and the Argos HMRs.
And the Blackhound Genesis can be had under 300.....i like all of those a lot.

 

I can get the Argos HMR right about $300, so could be a possibility. Downside would be needing to get new rings, but that wouldn't be the end of the world. Actually, I still have my DNZ Gamereaper mount for that rifle come to think of it, so maybe not...

 

SWFA’s SS line of scopes.

Quality on the same level as Ultradots.

 

Leopold.

 

Burris Fullfield II 4.5-14x42 or E1 4.5-14x42, with the Balistic Plex reticle. Pick between these two according to whether you want Side Focus or A/O. You may not even consider it a downgrade after you get the Burris and sight through it. I've compared pretty much all of my scopes (49 at the moment) carefully side by side using an optical resolution target and other tools. My bunch includes a few Vortex scopes (including the 6.5-20x44 Viper), a few Leupolds, Weavers, Sightrons, Clearidge, Nikon, and others. The aforementioned Burris scopes are as good as the best, better than most of them until you start paying more than $550 or so street price. They are amazing bargains, IME.

 

I'm VERY familiar with the Fullfields, I have 4.5-14 E1s on my 243 and 308 with different reticles. Really like them, was thinking about branching out a little bit this time BUT going with what I know and like wouldn't be such a bad idea necessarily.

 

I've heard good things about the Vortex Diamondback.

 

I have two Primary Arms 4-14 scopes, one with the DMR-HUD reticle and the other with a MIL-DOT reticle. They do fine and are good for the money. I have not used any of the Swampfox Patriot scopes but have several of their LPVO scopes (Arrowhead and Tomahawk) and actually prefer them over the Primary Arms LPVO scopes. The reticle in the Swampfox scopes are a little bigger ad easier to use for me.

 

In my personal experience, the regular diamondback 4-12 is garbage. The 1.5-5 is really nice. I have not looked through the athlon scopes. I have looked through blackhound and arken. If you're ok with ffp, the arken was quite nice at lower powers. Above 15 or so it washed out. I still like the value Burris is offering with the full field line. Blackhound offers a nice turn key package, it's decent optically, but I disliked ffp.

I recently bought a Burris e1 4-14x, and it's as good as, and possibly better than, my grand slams. I bought it for like $165 or so. My only beef is that the power ring is almost impossible to turn. Maybe I just got a bad one.

I too sold a viper to downgrade. It was long ago, one of the original vipers. Replaced it with a sightron and a weaver.

 

I'm really leaning towards a Burris Fullfield E1, even though that would mean I have 3 of the same scope out of the 5 optics I have. Even having to buy 1 inch rings I'd still come in at about $200. That would leave me quite a bit to invest in a reloading bench and rounding out the equipment. And, I know I like the scope and Long Range MOA reticle.

 

The time will come when your eyes become older that you wish you had better optics, not necessarily meaning higher magnification, because better optics do make a difference. Reticles are a personal preference, I prefer the Primary scope's reticle.

 

+1. And larger 50mm objective lens will provide brighter field of view.

Burris FF E1 6.5-20x50 Ballistic Plex reticle for $170 + $9 shipping if you don't mind 30 day wait - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...20x-50mm-169-9-shipping.893341/#post-12061424

 

If the magnification on the low end was down in the 4-5 range I'd jump on that option, wait be damned. I've found 4ish on the low end to be about as high as I like to go.

 

https://gritroutdoors.com/burris-fullfield-e1-45-14x42mm-riflescope-200349 $150+shipping. I bought from them. they're legit. be advised, my power ring is super hard to turn. other than that, I love the scope.

 

Then how about Vortex Strike Eagle 4-24x50 for $329? - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...4-moa-se-1627-329-free-2-day-shipping.903761/

 

Funny you should mention that, I was actually oogling that one last night. I was on a hunt for deals, haha. It's on my list now as well. I was also looking at this Sightron.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CINL78K/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_3KGMPXJV6FQ1ARKNN21N

 

Unless that strike eagle is a significantly better scope in optical quality from their 1 to 6 strike eagle, that burris I linked is a better scope for half as much money

 

Ya, I'm still leaning hard this way just keeping my options open. Going with the Burris would leave me alot of extra $$$ for reloading stuff and I do love the Fullfield E1s.

 

Well I sent mine back to Burris today. I talked to them over the phone and they thought there's probably just too much grease on the threads, and that's why the rings doesn't want to move. I'm a little disappointed that I'm going to have to eat 11:50 to mail a scope back to them and never should have made it out of the factory in the first place. Oh well.

If it comes back nice and smooth I will probably sell my Weaver Grand slam and buy another of those bursts scopes.

 

You mean Burris?

BTW, I am quite happy with Filipino Burris FF E1 6.5-20x50 ... Probably my new standard for 1" tube "cheap" scopes under $200 along with South Korean Bushnell Trophy and neither are made in China.

 

yes. fixing it now.

 

What would you recommend for a 20" Weatherby Vanguard in .308, meant as a range toy and maybe to hunt a few hogs?