looking for a decent "tactical" scope

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juk

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I'm looking for a decent quality "tactical" scope for an upcoming build. The rifle will be used primarily for punching paper and ringing steel at extended distances, but want to still be able to use the rig for hunting. So, basically what I am wanting is around a 4-14 power scope with mil-dot reticle and 1/10 mil adjustments. I can't spend more than 350$ for the scope. I do want a decent piece of glass, and would prefer resettable target style turrets and a good warranty. It would be nice to have a first focal plane scope, but I would need to double my money to get that.

I will also consider any really good deals on scopes that aren't quite what I had described. SWFA has a Vortex Viper 2-7x32 for 150 that is eating me up.
 
I have one of the Bushnell 10x that was linked to earlier. I love it. I have it mounted on my heavy barrel 10/22 and shoot out to 200 yards. I can only imagine how good it would be on a centerifre at lonher ranges
 
I have had my eye on one of those elite 3200 fixed 10x scopes for a while. It looks to be a heck of a scope. The only thing is that I really would like to have an adjustable magnification range. Whatever scope I get will eventually end up on an AR chambered in 264lbc/6.5Grendel. I would like to be able to use the rifle as a backup for deer and primary as hog/pest/predator. Realistically, ranges for those shots would be under 150 and probably inside 75 yards. So I really think that I could make better use out of a variable power scope. Later on down the line, I would love to pick up one of those fixed 10x Bushnells though.

Heck, I still may get the Elite. It would be a good scope to learn the mil/mil system on... and I wouldn't have to worry about which power the mildots are calibrated at. Maybe put a PA microdot clone on top of the Burris PEPR....
 
Good luck finding a single 4-14x, mildot, 1/10 mil adjustments under $350, regardless of glass quality. The problem is that mil adjustments seem to only be popular on the higher end stuff which is well out of the $350 budget.

That one Bushnell is the only scope I know of that's built outside of China under $350 to have 1/10 mil adjustments. There may be a couple BSA options out there that have mil adjustments, but I haven't seen a single scope of theirs that I'd use on anything with ammo that costs more than 5 cents a shot. That said, the Bushnell option is a bit under your budget and would get you started using 1/10 mil until you can get something high end. Not a great hunting scope though.

You say you want to use it as a tactical scope. I ask, what are you really looking for? In your use, will you be able to use a range finder? Are you shooting stationary targets like that steel? If you don't need the mil reticle to range (laser range finder) and don't need the reticle for lead on moving targets, you really just need a repeatable and accurate set of adjustments on about any reticle. A quality 4-14 would let you hunt just fine as well as do most of what you want from a range setup. It seems there are a lot of mildot's out there that never get used because people are shooting still targets with accurate distance measurements before the shot. The people more serious about the game will use the reticle, especially if they have moving targets, but for many, a quality built scope can be more important than the details such as reticle and adjustments. Be realistic with what you need and buy accordingly, be that a high end durable "tactical" type scope or a quality scope more commonly suited for hunting.
 
Alright guys. Like I previously mentioned, I have had my eye on the Bushnell Elite 10-40 with mil/mil system for a while. I researched almost every scope you all have mentioned but I kept coming back to that dang bushnell. About an hour ago I called up Midway and got one on the way. The fixed power will reduce the flexibilty of the rifle it is put on, but it seems to be well reviewed, fairly simple, and rugged.

Thanks to all that posted their choices. I won't be able to play with the scope for a while. Still have to buy an flattop AR mount and a few other goodies. It will go on a standard Stag carbine until I get the Grendel built.
 
I have three Bushies. An old Scope Chief that won't die. An Elite and a beater 4x fixed. Never had any trouble with any of them.

BUT, I'd buy a new one from a place that will stand behind it - period. Bushnell has been through some changes and their warranty service has been spotty.

If there is any question, I want my vendor to take the issue and not me.
 
I have a SWFA 10X and it's a good scope. I also have 3 Nightforce scopes. They are great scopes. Do you want to spend $300.00 or $2,000.00?! The only significant difference I see between the scopes is glass quality. Early morning, and late evening mean nothing to Nightforce users. If you are a varmint hunter, steel=-pinger, save your money and get a SWFA. Just saying.

Geno
 
Vortex Viper PST. 2.5-10x. You can get in in Mil-Rads or MOA increments, find the extra $200 somewhere and get it, it's well worth the money. I have the 1-4x model and it's excellent. Zero-stop turrets, solid clicks, etc. all add up to an excellent setup.
 
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