Help me scope my Tikka Scout rifle!

[coloradokevin]

I recently picked up a Tikka Scout Compact Tactical Rifle (.308 Win), and I'm currently shopping for glass for this rifle. I plan to use this rifle for shooting at target distances of 100-800 meters, and may use it for some limited big game hunting. I know that you often get what you pay for with scopes, but I also realize that the sky is the limit on price, and sometimes a more "bargain priced" optic will still do the job just fine. I'd love to have one of the more top-end options I'm listing, but I'd rather not pay twice the price of the rifle for a quality scope!

I've already done a good bit of research on my own, but I'm still weighing my options between a number of different scopes. Also, I'm completely open to other scope suggestions, as I don't have any loyalty to one particular brand!


Here are some things I'm concerned about:

-Tracking
-Accuracy
-Repeatability
-Glass quality
-Durability
-Warranty
-Price
-Ranging options (mil-dot or other range finding reticle, and I also prefer a setup that is mil/mil or moa/moa, as opposed to the all-too-popular mil/moa style).



In no particular order, here are the scopes I've considered so far:


1) Nightforce NXS 3.5-15x50 zero stop.

-sounds like a great all-around optic.
-I like the zero-stop concept.
-BUT, value is harder to justify hwen it costs twice as much as the rifle. I really don't want to spend $1650 on a scope if a lower priced option will work!

2) Leupold Mark V 3.5-10x40 M1.

-Another notable scope, though apparently not as popular as Nightforce.
-Price is still high at $1,100 for the Tactical Milling Reticle.

3) Weaver Grand Slam Tactical 3-10x40

-I'm seriously considering this scope.
-This scope is pleasingly priced at $300, and this exact setup appears to be available exclusively through Midway USA (as such, I can't look through one before buying).
-Scope has some nice features for the price, including: Mil/Mil reticle-turrets, tactical style resetable turrets, and apparently decent glass.
-The scope received good reviews through Midway customers, and also on Snipershide.
-The scope lacks a parralax adjustment, and is built on a 1-inch tube, which makes me concerned about elevation adjustment at long range.

4) Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40

-Priced nicely at $400.
-Company has a great reputation for quality glass.
-No ranging reticle at this price point.
-Turrets are similar to the type I've found on most hunting scopes, and don't appear ideal for shooting where you'll routinely have to dial in an elevation correction.
- 1-inch tube issue on this one as well

5) Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16x42 or 50mm

-Priced at $699-779 for a mil-dot reticle.
-I'm not sure if the turrets are available in mil adjustments or not, but I'm assuming they are the standard 1/4 moa, interfaced with a milling reticle.
-Scope has HUGE power adjustment range.
-Scope has a 30mm main tube.
-I don't know much about the turrets on these scopes.

6) Nikon Monarch 2.5-10x42

-The version of this scope that I've found was priced around $389.
-This scope came with a non-ranging duplex style reticle.
-I've heard that Nikon makes nice glass for the price, but I don't know anything of their tracking, accuracy, or repeatability.

7) SWFA SS (Super Sniper) 3-9x40

-I've heard that this off-brand scope has proven to be of decent quality, for a reasonable price. BUT, I've only seen reviews on their fixed power scopes.
-This model is priced at $599, and I've never seen one in person.
-Standard Mil dot reticle with Mil/Moa setup

8) SWFA SS (Super Sniper) 10x42mm Fixed Power

-Priced at an attractive $300
-Fixed 10 power may limit this scope's viability for hunting use.
-Scope has decent reviews, but I've never seen one in person.

9) Burris Xtreme Tactical XTR 3-12x50 Mil-dot

-Priced at $789
-30mm tubes
-I don't know much about this brand, but a friend recommended that I look at them as well.

10) Sightron SIII Long Range 3.5-10x44 or 6-20x50 SF

-Priced between $720-806.
-Seems to be a brand that is gaining in popularity.
-I really don't know much about this product line either.



Anyway, I'm sure that nearly everyone has an opinion on scopes, and I'll welcome any and all input on this! Buying the glass always seems more difficult than choosing the rifle, at least in my opinion

 

[bp78]

Vortex Viper 2-7x32? Outstanding warranty/service from Vortex and quality optics. Japanese glass assembled in Philippines. Lower magnification might be handy for a short scout rifle. Just picked one up on closeout for $180 at SWFA.

 

[MIL-DOT]

I don't blame you for seriously considering the Weaver. Though I have a Leupold MKIV and two Bushnell Eliites ( 3200 & 4200), I think the glass in my two Weaver V-series scopes is the best I own. Weaver seems to get two thumbs up from everyone that's familiar with them.

 

[Coal Dragger]

I have a Nightforce NXS 3.5-15X50 on a Steyr SSG 69, and it is a great piece of glass. Mine was made before the zero stop was offered though, and I wish I had that feature.

Also you might consider the new NXS 2.5-10X32 with the new velocity recticles. Go to their website and plug in your likely load and velocity, and one of the three (most likely medium velocity) will give you elevation and windage holds out to 600 yards. Similar to the Zeiss Rapid Z concept, just a bit more refined given the different velocity range options.

I am seriously thinking of putting one of these little NXS's on my new Cooper M52 in .280 AI since the high velocity recticle theoretically mirrors point of aim point of impact perfectly out to 600 yards (within less than .2 MOA for any range) with the bullets I am interested in.

 

[HOOfan_1]

The Vortex PST scopes are mil/mil or moa/moa.

 

[Norrick]

add Sightron to the list! Their S2 Big Sky line has some features for a price that cannot be beat. Tracking is also very good.

Here are two snapshots:

http://www.sightron.com/index.php?action=view_document&did=1201816362&cat_id=15&id=29

4-16x42 (mil dot, calibrated at maximum magnification)
1/8 MOA adjustments
80 MOA adjustment range
adjustable objective

http://www.sightron.com/index.php?action=view_document&did=1201816362&cat_id=15&id=35
6-24x42 (mil dot, also calibrated for max magnification)
1/8 MOA as well
60 MOA adjustments
AO




Both list for 600 +/- 30 in most online retailers. And for the next couple months Sightron is offering 75 dollar rebates on these scopes.
Both are fully multi-coated, have 4 inches of nearly constant eye relief, made in japan. Only gripe I have about mine is the target knobs are a bit on the easy side to turn.

I used to own the Elite 6500 2.5-16x50 Mil Dot. It felt very well made but I didn't like the turret adjustments (felt kinda flimsy cheapish plastic) or the reticle. It's set at 10x so it feels kind of useless on a scope with that much magnification. It also had a very pronounced fish bowl effect on the image at lower magnifications, probably because it has such a large range of magnification. AFAIK all 6500's are mil/moa. The tactical models just have oversized knobs and an all black finish. They made a first focal plane model with mil/mil in the 4200 series. No idea why they didn't opt for this on the 6500's. Regardless, I replaced mien with the first of the two scopes I suggested, and have been happier.

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

.

I was choosing between a Leupold VX-III 3-9 or a Zeiss Conquest 3X9 and went with the Zeiss. I'm very happy I did.


Zeiss:


1.) Great glass

2.) Turrets instead of needing a coin or screwdriver

3.) Turrets actually click making a noise and you can feel everytime you move the turret.

4.) Great price.

 

[coloradokevin]

add Sightron to the list! Their S2 Big Sky line has some features for a price that cannot be beat. Tracking is also very good.

Thanks. I almost forgot to put them on the list during the original post, just because I know very little about the company. I've had at least two people mention their scopes, but I wish I could see one in person around here!

I was choosing between a Leupold VX-III 3-9 or a Zeiss Conquest 3X9 and went with the Zeiss. I'm very happy I did.

Have you had a chance to put the tracking/repeatablity to the test on this scope? The glass looks superb, but I was a bit worried that I haven't ever heard of anyone trying a "box test" on this scope, or had anyone tell me that they've run the scope through the adjustment range with a return to zero.

I ask simply because I think the scope I throw on my rifle will be experiencing a fair amount of adjustment as I shoot at different distances (as opposed to one of my hunting scopes that I set at a 100 yrd zero, and use from 0-250 yards).

The Vortex PST scopes are mil/mil or moa/moa.

Good to know! How does this line compare to the other scopes I've mentioned? I've heard of Vortex (or at least seen them in catalogs), but I've never owned or used one, and I'm not sure that I know of anyone who has!


Thanks for the information so far everyone! This is a tough decision for me, since there only about 100 different manufacturers who each produce around 20-40 scopes each. I'll Keep watching this thread to see what everyone says, as there's nothing quite like a recommendation from someone who has used a product firsthand.

 

[HOOfan_1]

Never used Vortex myself, though from everything I have heard about them, I plan to in the future. I haven't heard/read a single bad thing about them, which is very unusual on this forum

From pricing and reputation I would say the Vortex Viper PST slot in below the Leupold Mark 4 and Nightforce and right in line with the Bushnell Elite and Nikon Monarch X (Nikon's tactical line)

 

[coloradokevin]

Well, I'm starting to narrow my list down a bit, based on a combination of factors (including cost).

Here are my leading choices right now, in roughly my order of preference:


1) Vortex Viper PST ($700 in Second focal plane / $850 in first focal plane)

Pros:

Lots of features from the money. Mil/mil or Moa/moa setups, with zero stops, target turrets, and a decent magnification range of 4-16x50. The company's warranty looks solid, and the scope features a 75 MOA total range of adjustment (which is better than some of the competition I've looked at in this price range).

Cons:

Is this scope even available? I see it for sale on a lot of sites, but I found a recent thread (this week) on another forum that was talking about how this scope hasn't yet shipped from the manufacturer, and may not do so until the end of the year (I don't want to wait two months to get a scope right now.


2) Weaver Grand Slam Tactical 3-10x40 ($300 on sale at Midway)

Pros:

Sounds like a pretty darn decent scope based on all of the reviews I've read. It comes with matching mil/mil turrets and reticle. Price is great.

Cons:

Power range is okay, though I'd probably prefer a 4-14x over a 3-10x. Again, I've never seen one in person.

3) Sightron SIII ($719-805 depending on power/reticle choice)

Pros:

Sounds like good glass for the price.

Cons:

Turret knobs are target style, but capped (I hate caps). Power range leaves me choosing between a 3-10x (which is limited on the top end) and a 6-24x (which starts a bit on the heavily-magnified side for hunting). Again, I've also never seen one of these scopes in person.

4) Nikon Monarch X (priced right at $1,000 for a 4-16x50 w/ mildot)

Pros:

Sounds like solid glass, from a well-known and reputable company.

Cons:

Priced a bit higher than the other options, and reviews mention that the adjustment range within this scope is a bit narrower than the competition (as such, I'm concerned that I might run out of elevation before I run out of distance). The 2.5-10X seems to have a good range with 80 MOA of travel, but at least one review mentions that the 4-16x has only 50 MOA (which I'm guessing could be pushing it for elevation, even if I add a canted base to my .308 Win).



If anyone has any additional advice on this decision, I'd love to hear it! Also, can you guys comment on what power range you like the most for working between 100-1,000 yards (with most work being done between 100-600 yards)? Again, I will be doing some hunting with this rifle, but it will be primarily used as a target gun.

 

[67rschev]

Hey coloradokevin
If you want to save a little bit , one you might want to consider is the Falcon Menace 4-14-44

If your in the Denver metro area , I have one if you would like to look through it .

PROS

FFP construction , sounds like you want to do some ranging .
4-14-44 variable , very usable
Priced right at around 400-450 when you can find them in stock
Mil Mil target turrets , a biggest plus in my book . Great feel once I took the factory grease out , on the money repeatability .
Side Parallax , at max power will focus down to about 20 meters
Fantastic glass in my opinion , better then my SuperSniper
90 moa of adjustment with a 30 mm tube


CONS
Limited availability , got mine through RWSSnyder and had to wait
Limited warranty , 5 years and the scope must go back to the distributor , not the manufacturer . The other one i was considering was the Horus , and they only have a 1 year so FM was actually better for me
Heavy , and I mean HEAVY . I think its 24 oz .
Tube and internals make in the east with Jap glass , but final assembly and QC in England
FFP , can be an issue at full magnification depending on which reticle you choose , can obscure small targets at very long distances , You probably know that .
Little unforgiving eye relief , I like easy scopes to line up on .

Over all I'm very happy with mine . Box test is right on the money . Little Leary bout the 5 year warranty , but I could buy 5 of these to one Leupold MK4 . Time will tell .