What is a good compact scope with a ballistic system?

[Montbars]

There are alot of different scopes out there that offer ballistic reticles or custom ballistic turrets for rifle scopes.
However, most of these are only subjected to the scopes with really big objective lenses.
Therefore I am looking for a scope that is:
-Of high quality, at least leupold vx III or Zeiss conquest as standards.
-That has an objective lens of less than 40mm (I have low rings)
-Either ballistic hash marks or custom turret to match a specific load's ballistics, not a target turret.

*I know about Leupolds CDS system, but i do not like gold rings
*People tell me the monarch BCD has too big circles.

 

[Wickens]

NIGHTFORCE makes a great little scope 2.5 X10 32mm bell with their velocity reticle around $1200 check out nightforce optic.com
made in the USA

 

[Z-Michigan]

I don't find the circles on the Monarch bdc reticle to be too big at all. They are 2 MOA or 2" at 100 yards, you would need an awfully small target, no wind and perfect range estimation for that to be an issue.

An ACOG would be ideal, but I assume that isn't what you're looking for, especially if you already have rings.

What about a mil-dot reticle? Many quality options there.

nightforce optic.com
made in the USA

Made in the USA with Japanese glass... same for Leupold, Burris, and I believe US Optics as well. I'm not aware of anyone making and coating the lenses in the US. Just FYI.

 

[jmr40]

The Leupold VX-3 in a 2.5-8X36 is available with this. It may not be quite compact enough, but I find the size about right for a hunting scope. I don't have the ballistic system on any of mine but have 4 of the 2.5-8X36 scopes. Two are older Vari-X models, one is the VX-III and the newest is the VX-3. All have been excellent.

They offer the VX-2 in a 2-7X32 with dots. They are smaller and about $100 cheaper. Pretty good scopes as well.

I bought one of the Nikon Monarch's 2-8X32"s from SWFA's sample list a while back for about $200. The circles may take a while to get used to. It is a pretty good scope otherwise. I don't think I would pay full price for one over the Leupold however. They are a little bigger and heavier than the Leupold 2.5-8X36.

With most rings you can mount 40mm scopes in low rings. There are are differences between some mounting systems and they may not work on all rifles and all 40mm scopes.

 

[Montbars]

The nightforce looks really nice, but its alot of money to shell out and I don't have 30 mm rings. Is the monarch up to par with a VX III or a conquest?

 

[patsygarret]

you might want to look at pride and fowler they are marketed by safariland i believe and i think they have a compact model that takes 1" rings. i have two of their full size scopes and they have been great. the price of the full size scopes i bought were around 500 and i have been very happy with them.

 

[Z-Michigan]

I don't have 30 mm rings

Just curious, is this going on some rifle that uses exotic rings? If you're using standard dovetail, weaver, or picatinny type rings, it wouldn't cost much to get new rings of a different height.

 

[jpwilly]

Some good options already mentioned but what about Burris? They make some excellent optics for the money.

Ever looked through a Burris Fullfield II then you could imagine what the top of the line Euro Diamond 3X-10X-40mm with Ballistic Plex or SixX 2X-12X-40mm.

 

[Montbars]

hmm some of these suggestions are for 40mm objectives, I like a little smaller than that. I see no problem with the monarch 2-8x with the BDC, It has a small objective and its already a 1 inch tube and has ballistics.
It is pretty cheap though--is it comparable to a vx III or a conquest? I like light transmission but im also sort of focused on durability.

 

[steven58]

I have the nightforce 2.5-10 on my ULA.308. AWSOME scope! The medium velocity reticle is spot on to 600 yds and is very easy to use. The glass is clear and bright.
I also have the Pride Fowler .22 Long Rifle scope. It also works as advertised, making accurate hits from 25 out to 200 yds with no adjustments is great fun.
Pride Fowlers are 1" tubes and, unlike Nightforce, can be found discounted. Just do a Gunbroker search. I got the 3-9 .22LR (msrp $477) for $266 delivered.
Also, the PF scopes have first focal plane reticles, so the BDC feature works at all magnifications. The Nightforce in question is a second focal plane reticle so you need to be on 10X to use the BDC function.
My advice is to go with the PF. This is a great scope for the $. They have a website just Google "Pride Fowler" figure out which scope you need there, then search GB.
Good luck!

 

[alfack]

Nikon makes an M223 model that may work for you. They have BDC reticles for out to 600. I don't have any experience with it. Had I not already purchased an ACOG, I would have looked into it, though. I like the Accupoint scopes, too.

 

[gunnie]

Montbars,

semi or bolt? what cartridge?

what Wickens and steven58 said for mostly long range use. i'd go NF 1x4 with the velocity reticle for lesser range usage, and for hunting. same about 33% cheaper than 2.5x10, very near true 1X on the low end, and will mount as low as you can find rings for.

if that'n is still too spendy, get a scope you like a that T K Lee is authorized to work on.

http://scopedot.com/

gunnie

 

[sscoyote]

I also love the PFI optics. Here's the 3-9x 22 LR Rapid Reticle on my AR. Just adapted the stadia subtension to the trajectory of my load--

 

[Montbars]

Its a bolt action, 22" barrel customized ruger m77 in 30-06, the ammo used will be 150 gr for deer hunting

 

[steven58]

Sounds like the Nightforce with a Medium velocity reticle would be perfect.

And you can get a set of Talley 30 mm rings to go with it from Brownells.

As this is a hunting rifle, how important is an illuminated reticle?

For me in PA it's a must have as I sometimes hunt at night for predators and many of my day shots at deer and bear were in low light situations due to time of day, weather and overhead cover.

Nightforce http://nightforceoptics.com/nightforcescopes/index.html have the ilumination and are a great product. but costly.

Pride Fowler Has this in a 1-4 that looks interesting but getting expensive. http://www.rapidreticle.com/1-4_Illuminated.htm Otherwise, no illumination on the other scopes which are much less expensive.

Here's a Nikon for $300 ish with a bdc reticle http://www.primaryarms.com/product.sc?productId=594&categoryId=157

 

[Montbars]

yeah thats kinda expensive.
Hmmm I was just thinking I could get a Leupold VX III and have the CDS turrets custom installed for the 150 grain fusion ammo. Sounds great, but now I am reading reviews saying that 1-5x scopes have the barrel looming into the picture of the scope. Is this a real pain or something I should not be worried about?

 

[steven58]

With any scope at a low magnification setting, say 1-2 range there is a very good chance you will see the barrel as a thick dark blurred line in the lower 1/4 field of view. It goes away as you crank up the power. I think of it as a help for CQB shooting. A nice thick line pointing to the center of the reticle.

I don't see it in my 2.5-10 or 3-9 scopes. I do see it in my 1.25 -4 scopes on low settings.

How far do you intend to shoot that 0-6? You should be able to shoot with it out to about 300 yds point blank range without having to do much of a change in hold if any.

I had a Trijicon accupoint 1.25-4 on my bolt .308 that was perfect out to 300 yds. I only changed to the Nightforce because it bothered me that I could shoot my AR with ACOG out to 600 but not my much more accurate .308 bolt action.

 

[steven58]

Here's a Valdada 1.1-4 BDC illuminated for $950

http://swfa.com/IOR-11-4x26-Tactical-30mm-Rifle-Scope-P2908.aspx

Price has come down as they came out with a 1-8 version at $1360 on the same body.

 

[Montbars]

Around NY where I will hunt I think inside 200 yards. I first hunted on the west coast way up in the mountains of Washington, and we used to take really long shots at puddles over 500 yards away. I always was amazed by it and when ever since I've learned about ballistic compensation in scopes I have always wanted it. The idea of having accurate adjustments like that would be something I would not want to pass off if I ever find a long-yard range.