Looking to upgrade my scope

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webrx

webrx

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I have a Vortex Crossfire II 6-24 x 50 now and I am looking to upgrade my scope to an FFP for 600-1000 yards target shooting.

I have $1500 budgeted for a good scope
Want FFP, Tactical turrets, similar or better magnification, best bang for the buck

Any suggestions?

Dave
 
I'll open with a few questions to help your cause and not being a dick. Simply going north on Vortex's portfolio may appease you.
What are your gripes with your current optic you want to replace?
Do you prefer dialing or holding, mutually exclusive to either axis, and are distances known or unknown?
Within the 6-24x as a mag range; where do you find the most utility in your situations?
How do you use the reticle/stadia?
What is the stance/position or the rest of your body and rifle. ex: fixed or dynamic, bench, prone, F-classy, R&G, etc.?
What are the time aspects to commit to a shot?
Mass/weight

It's a bit of a open question and brand familiarity always pops up first.
 
Thanks, let me see if I can answer these.
The scope - is functional, I don’t usually go up above 20, would like target turrets, a zero stop and a more forgiving eyebox but other than that it is functional for what I am doing now.
I hold for wind and dial for distance typically.
Distances are known, bench or prone typically bench. Bipod and a rear squeeze bag.

Paper at 100/200 and steel at 100 yd intervals out to 1000 now. Looking to get into paper at 600 and 1000.
running a 6.5 BA Stealth can pretty consistently hold MOA or better on paper at 100/200. Have held .5 or better on a good day.

medium.jpg

Have not shot timed events but am around 30 seconds per round at 100/200 currently. To get above accuracy. Give or take.

Dave
 
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I think the toughest decision is picking a reticle to learn. If you have an app for calculating holds, I’d recommend finding something that matches your sensibilities then look at scopes that offer that specific or close to it reticle. It may be beneficial with pricing to choose something you can afford multiples of if you’re looking to outfit a second rifle and desire uniformity.
 
I’d recommend the Tract Toric 4-20x50 scopes. They are FFP with several reticle options. I’ve used them for 3 or 4 years and have been very satisfied. I’ve done a side by side comparison with 2 other scopes I own and the Tract optics were clearly superior. Friends who’ve shot my rifles are equally impressed. If you wait for a holiday sale they’re under $1200.
 
Sorry, my fault, in reality the 1500 is a ballpark (1500 to 2k is where I am comfortable) it is not my primary factor.

I can shoot the current scope, and I already have a 20 moa rail on my rifle, I want a decent scope on my "good" rifle (I know many have more expensive rifles and scopes), I do this (shooting) for fun, not money, fame or glory, and I am aware that I am the limiting factor in all of this.

TBH I don't know how much better a $1500 or 2k scope is than a $800-1000 scope.

and I guess for the weekend shooter, is it worth it to move up the price scale?

Reticles: I like EBR (tree) reticles

updated:

I was thinking of going to this scope with the ebr 7c - I only want to buy a good scope for this rifle once so if there is something significantly better for 500 - 1k more, I wanted to be aware.

If I stay with Vortex:

Vortex Optics Viper PST Gen II First Focal Plane Riflescopes ~$1k


I can also get this one on sale for around $600 and it is FFP with the ebr 1 or 2C but is the original gen 1 model
Vortex Optics Viper PST Gen I First Focal Plane Riflescopes

or this one for $1700
Vortex Optics Razor HD 5-20x50 First Focal Plane Riflescope with EBR-2B

I can also get this one for 2k
Vortex Optics Razor HD Gen II First Focal Plane Riflescopes 4.5-27 x 56 EBR-7c
 
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I would not dismiss 2FP for your particular situation given your feedback. The 5.5-22x50mm Nightforce NXS was my choice for 600-1k F-Class and F-Open. There are optically better options but these are the gold standard in tracking & reliability (IMO). Vortex does offer good reticle options however if you are dialing elevation it obviously detracts from the utility of a full "tree" reticle.

The PST Gen1 is poor IMO and not worth $600. I had one and it did not take long to dump it. The Gen2 is significantly improved optically and mechanically. I'm a big fan of the Gen1 Razor. I run 2 of these on LR rifles; a 6.5-08 and a 6.5-284. No experience with the Gen2s. For these applications I find myself more & more weight conscience so a 50oz+ optic solution is no longer of interest. There is a noticeable difference in the overall performance of the Razor vs the PST2 and to me it is worth the extra cash if going on a preferred tier-1 rifle.
 
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I do not have a lot of experience with different scopes. All I can say is I have the Vortex Viper PST Gen II 5-25 x 50 FFP . I shoot on our 1000yd range several times a month and our club 1K match every month. So far it has served me very well. I paid $750 last January for mine. EuroOptic has them now for $650 Here. This is the same scope you linked to on Amazon that is selling for $1000.

Edit: The one you linked to and the one I linked to are not the same. The one you linked to is PST-5259. The one I linked is PST-5258. They look like they have the same specifications so I don't know the difference. Maybe someone a lot smarter than I can explain
 
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I dabble a little in PRS with the same Savage Stealth in 6.5 CM that you use. I put the Gen II Vortex Viper on it and I've made hits on steel targets out to 1000 yards with it. I was a Leupold fan for a while, but just couldn't turn my back on the price for a Viper. So far the scope has been rock solid so I can't complain. I've always wanted to get a NF, but the price is prohibitive for me.

i1Q2gjZ.jpg

NZbLapn.jpg
 
At the $1000-1500 price point, I like the Bushnell Elite Tactical line much better than the Vortex Viper PST’s. Bushnell DMR II, II Pro, and XRS II & now III. I like them better enough in glass and features that I give up the .2mil wind graduations in the Vortex EBR-7c reticle and tolerate .5mil graduations of the Bushnell G3. Both are better than the Burris XTR III, and both are considerably better than the Burris XTR II. The DMR II Pro and XRS II and III being better than the DMR II.

The Gen II Razors are better enough over the original Razors that I would recommend spending that extra money.

If you’re simply wanting to punch paper or bang steel for the cheapest dollar amount, there are a few $500 ballpark scopes which will do it. The driving experience won’t be as nice as shooting these $1000-1500 optics, just as the driving experience with those $1500 optics won’t be as nice as a $4500 Tangent Theta, or $3500 Kahles K525i, but if I were challenged to spend as little as possible to productively and successfully engage targets at 600-1000, it can be achieve with $300-600 optics.
 
When Midway had the XRS II on sale at $1400/1500 it was a super buy. The PST Gen II at $650/700 is a great buy. The Crimson Tace I bought at 50% off ($500 vs $1K), was a very good buy (No zero stop). I think the PST Gen II is about the best bang for the buck right now with them at that price.

My XRS II is a very nice scope.
 

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The PST Gen II on the Seekins I started with. It resides on my NRL-22 gun now.
 

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Walkalong said:
When Midway had the XRS II on sale at $1400/1500 it was a super buy. The PST Gen II at $650/700 is a great buy. The Crimson Tace I bought at 50% off ($500 vs $1K), was a very good buy (No zero stop). I think the PST Gen II is about the best bang for the buck right now with them at that price.

My XRS II is a very nice scope.
Click to expand...

Midway does have some really good deals on optics. Might not be what you want specifically, but if you're open to suggestions, it's a good place to check.

I find cameralandny usually has the best prices if you're looking for something specific.
 
I am open to other suggestions, I have had decent luck with vortex, and sometimes the devil you know is better than the one you don’t. But I am asking here as I want to get a decent scope if I am going to spend the money for one. Tbh I have not owned a scope that cost more than 500, and I have not competed before. I am really just doing this for fun and because I would like to try, my competition will be me, trying to get a little better each time.
 
Walkalong said:
When Midway had the XRS II on sale at $1400/1500 it was a super buy.
Click to expand...

I bought my first XRS II from a fellow shooter after borrowing it for a night match. Used, it was a steal. My second, I bought new from GAP in a kit with a Kestrel for $1360, a better steal still. The non-illum reticle is favorably thinner in the center.
 
I bought a DMR II with the "free" Kestrel from GAP. They were out of the non illuminated, so asked if the illuminated one was ok.......yep, you bet. Like $960 shipped IIRC. Super deal, and I needed a Kestrel.
 
Well, i pulled the trigger on a vortex viper pst Gen 2 5-25 50 mm, EBR2C MOA - on sale at midway for 700 (list price 1300). Figured why not, has the zero stop, turrets, reputation, etc.

Thanks for all the advice folks!

d
 
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