Scope suggestions

[gotboostvr]

Selling my old Primary Arms 4-14xFFP MILDOT scope and looking to upgrade from it.

My max budget is about $500

It's going on a Savage 110 Varmint 223rem. It's mostly going to be a range toy, maybe occasionally going out for prairie dogs or coyote occasionally but mostly range time from 100-1000yrds.

I prefer FFP and MIL, but I've got one of these on my dedicated hunting rifle:
https://www.leupold.com/vx-freedom-4-12x40-cds-side-focus-tri-moa-riflescope

So I'm thinking, one of these to keep everything same/same would be nice:
https://www.leupold.com/vx-freedom-6-18x40-cds-side-focus-tri-moa-riflescope

They come in right at the top of my budget, and I know that I either like or can deal with everything but it being SFP. Since it's a range rifle, I wouldn't mind a heavier scope. The Leupold's lightness isn't as big of a selling point in this case.

I was looking at the Vortex Diamondback FFP, but I know I preferred everything about the Leupold better when compared to the Viper HS when I played with them side by side when I picked out my 4-12 and I think the Viper is supposed to be the next step up from the Diamondbacks.

So anyone got any suggestions?

 

[greyling22]

I'm sure there are a jillion other options, but let's get the ball rolling:

I ran into a guy who reviews scopes on youtube one day at the range. I asked him what he really liked for "value"
he recommended
arken https://arkenopticsusa.com/
and Black Hound https://www.blackhoundoptics.com/scope-finder/

he said they are basically what first vortex, then athlon did. Imports that offer great value to build a reputation at first, that they then later start raising prices and lowering quality. But I have not looked through either.
this was the guy I met. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWL2TQa6Ug_qqj36AgPp2XA

I suppose I would also look at these https://www.natchezss.com/bushnell-...-30mm-ffp-deploy-moa-reticle-black-matte.html as a budget offering,
and https://www.natchezss.com/burris-ve...0mm-ballistic-e2-reticle-rfp-black-matte.html at more of your price point.
or if you're willing to gamble on a nikon https://www.eurooptic.com/Nikon-BLACK-FX1000-Riflescope-4-16x50SF-Matte-FX-MRAD-FFP-16512.aspx
also https://cameralandny.com/shop/hawke...d6a2-0135-d841-00163e90e196?variation=1677050

 

[gotboostvr]

I've liked the look of those Arkens, I'd really like to play with one in person. Although all the YouTubers seem to live them.

Nikon is out. I don't fault them for getting out of the game, but how they're honoring their warranty dosen't exactly rub me the right way.

Never heard of black hound, they look good on paper. I'll look into them more.

 

[skeeterfogger]

I have $90 Centerpoint on 2 rifles. No problems taking game out to 350, so far. 5 years on the rifles and zero issues.

 

[JFrank]

Ya know' i remember getting a great scope deal off the SWFA sample list.
Recommend you check it out

 

[CowboyTim]

Meopta.

https://cameralandny.com/shop/tags/...cde2-0138-9c55-00163e90e196?variation=2779766

 

[Peakbagger46]

I’ve got a Viper PST 4-16 on my longish range bolt gun. As for as the turrets and reticle I like it a lot. The glass is OK, but not good on 16X.... I imagine a diamondback would be pretty lacking in clarity.

 

[gotboostvr]

I’ve got a Viper PST 4-16 on my longish range bolt gun. As for as the turrets and reticle I like it a lot. The glass is OK, but not good on 16X.... I imagine a diamondback would be pretty lacking in clarity.

Yeah, that's the general consensus I've seen other places.

It looks like my options are a Gen 1 PST, which would mean saving up a little more.

Picking up one the the 6-18x Leupold's which is the top of my budget.

Moving my 4-12x over and replacing it, which would work fine and I could probably be very happy with a 3-9x on my hunting rifle.

Or finding a used Leupold and having it sent in for a free cleaning/tune up.

 

[brasscollector]

I have all but eliminated any lower-end Vortex scopes from my fleet. I do have a 2-7x and a 3-9x crossfire(s) on a couple of rifles and for what they do they work just fine. Higher magnification on the CF and diamondback lineup are horrid past 8/9x IMO. I haven't bought anything less than a Viper in years and just removed a 4-12 DB tactical from a rifle a last week and shelved it.

If you're happy with the Leupolds and you can find them in stock somewhere I see no reason to change now, great brand and excellent CS.

 

[gotboostvr]

So after thinking about it, and doing more and more research, I think I'm narrowing it down. I've got it down to these three as my top contenders:

Arken 6-24x50 SH4 GenII:
https://arkenopticsusa.com/SH4-6-24...d-Reticle-with-Zero-Stop-34mm-Tube-p230440516

Swampfox Patriot 6-24x
https://www.swampfoxoptics.com/patriot-series

BlackHound Genesis 6-24x
https://www.blackhoundoptics.com/product/genesis-6-24x50-ffp-moa/

The Leupold 6-18x is still in the running, but it's a little more expensive, but in my budget. The Meopta's, I'm sure are good but according to their literature the SFP reticles are calibrated for 6x, which isn't terribly useful for me.

I think the Arken is leading the pack right now. Even with the 34mm rings I'll need it won't over shoot my budget. I've already got a set of 30mm Warne QD's, so the BlackHound or Swampfox will save me about $100. I prefer the reticle on the Swampfox over the BlackHound. So the Arken and Swampfox are probably #1 &#2 right now.

Is the Arken worth an extra $100?

 

[Zerodefect]

Usfa fixed 10x

https://www.swfa.com/swfa-ss-10x42-tactical-30mm-riflescope-3.html

 

[Walkalong]

Even with the 34mm rings I'll need

Arken rings for an Arken scope?

https://arkenopticsusa.com/Halo-Scope-Rings-p157890081

 

[gotboostvr]

Arken rings for an Arken scope?

https://arkenopticsusa.com/Halo-Scope-Rings-p157890081

That's what I was thinking.

 

[greyling22]

Keep in mind the arken website was showing a 16 week backorder on their stuff. If that affects your decision.

 

[gotboostvr]

Keep in mind the arken website was showing a 16 week backorder on their stuff. If that affects your decision.

I'm not happy about it, but I'll just keep telling myself there's a good reason it's back ordered so far, and since it's not a hunting or self defense or match rifle that needs to be ready to roll I can live with a delay.

 

[greyling22]

it might be available here https://www.brinkexcursions.com/sto...minated-Reticle-with-Zero-Stop-34mm-Tube.html it let me go all the way to checkout without saying anything about backorder

 

[gotboostvr]

Ooh, they've even got some 34mm rings in stock at a decent price!

I'm selling a few old or extra scopes to fund this so I'll have to check back in a couple weeks.