Which scope for roughly $500?

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ojibweindian

ojibweindian

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My yearly bonus is coming in the next few monhs, and I've budgeted roughly $500. I've searched several forums, including this one, and I've heard an awful lot about brightness, clarity, and ruggedness, but nothing about repeatability.

What I'd like is a scope that has good clarity, brightness and, in addition, repeatability. Which scopes in the $500 range has all three of these qualities?
 
Best performance for the money will come from a fixed power scope. You also cut down on moving parts--always a good thing.

If you're going to be using the scope for hunting then look for something 6X or less, preferably LESS. Seriously.

If you're going to use this for some kind of precision shooting (e.g. benchrest) or extreme long range competition then you might look for something a little higher powered.

IOR, Nikon, & Leupold all make very good quality scopes in that price range. There are others, I'm not saying that's an exhaustive list, just a place to start.
 
I think that the Burris Signature Select 1.5x6-40 is probably the most interesting scope to me right now - it's the one that I'd be looking at if I wanted to drop $500 or so on a scope.

I like Burris in general and have never had any issues with them. I also don't subject my rifles to a lot of rain and cold and such, so my experiences are admittedly limited.
 
Here are a few options at your price range:

LP55046 LEUPOLD 3.5-10x40mm VXIII MATTE DUPLEX $389.99
LP55120 LEUPOLD 4.5-14x40mm VXIII LONG RANGE MATTE DUPLEX $459.99
LP55152 LEUPOLD 6.5-20x40mm EFR VX-III TGT MAT FINE-DUPLX $505.99
 
WildAlaska

The scope I buy will sit atop a Winchester M70 in .30-06.

ocabj

I've had a chance to look through the Leupold VX-III series at my local sporting goods store (Wiley's Outddor Sports) and like them, and would buy one, but I don't know if they're repeatable and able to hold zero. Can they?
 
After seeing a Burris torn apart I can say that they are well designed and have high quality components. For me it would be a fight between them and Leopuld. Which ever had the features I wanted at a good price I'd go for.

Both are going to be very repeatable. If you're paranoid some Burris models even have a mechanism to lock the reticle in place once set. Not sure if anyone else offers this. If you don't need quick-detach rings I'd recommend the Burris Signature series rings with any scope you choose.
 
A 2.5-8 VXIII would be about perfect for your .30-06. Leupold scopes are very repeatable, rugged, and have the best service policy in the industry.

Clemson
 
By repeatability, do you mean holds zero or do you mean it is consistant when changing the elevation or windage (AKA a click moves the bullet 1/4", everytime). I have found my two Leupold's are right on. My Long Range Target model has he knobs and it is very consistant. My cheapie Rifleman Leupold is the same way. I have a Burris compact 4-12 for my 10/22, but I am not as impressed with it. It works, but I am not impressed with it. It might be because it is a compact scope.
 
My Leupold Long Range Target is very reliabilitive then. :p

I use anywhere from 110 gr. V-max to 175 grain SMKs in my .308. I move the target knobs around all sorts and it is very reliablitive. I shoot 1000 yard matches that require me to come up 120 clicks. I go back down to my 100 yard zero and it is the same everytime.
 
Jim

I'd like to hear what you find out. Though most of the woods here in Alabama are pretty dense, there are plenty of clear cuts in some WMA's that make a long shot a good possibility.
 
I hate to bring this thread back up and pester y'all, but I've a question. Is there a significant difference between a Leupold VX-III and a Leupold LPS? I know the LPS is more expensive, but I'd be willing to pay the price if it means better quality.

The reason I'm bringing this up is that I went to the range yesterday to see how my current set up, a Winchester M70 in .30-06 with a Bushnell Banner 4-12X40 AO was doing. In a word, terrible. The scope, on the ride to the range, lost its zero.

I want a scope that will NOT lose its zero on a ride to the range; better yet, a scope that will not lose its zero, period. I want a scope that is durable. I want a scope in which 1/4" clicks at 100 yds. means EXACTLY that.

I am SO TIRED have having to suffer cheap scopes; no more crap for me.

Anyway, I'm sure that the VX-III is NOT a crappy scope, but if the LPS is worth the extra cash, then so be it.
 
From what I can see of the descriptions the LPS gets you better light transmission with it's 30mm tube as it's primary advantage. If you won't be shooting often in low light I don't think there's a serious quality or consistancy advantage to the rest of the line.

Hopefuly someone with some direct experiance can chime in soon.
 
A Leupold VX-III 3.5-10X40 it is.
Click to expand...
If you ever hunt with a guide, you'd better keep it at the lowest power or the guide will cuss you behind your back.
The scope, on the ride to the range, lost its zero.
Click to expand...
Are you saying that you zeroed it earlier at the range and somewhere between taking it home and back to the range it lost zero?

Or are you saying that you zeroed it at home (big backyard???) and it was no longer shooting to zero when you reached the range?

Or are you talking about having the scope BORESIGHTED and then finding it wasn't shooting to point of aim when you got it to the range?

:confused:
 
If you buy the LPS, be sure to get 30mm rings. The 1" ones won't fit. If you want a piece of glass that is pleasing to look through, look through a Nightforce. You will want nothing less, well, maybe a Schmidt & Bender is up there too.
 
Are you saying that you zeroed it earlier at the range and somewhere between taking it home and back to the range it lost zero?
Click to expand...

Exactly.

The rifle was in its cabinet since the last time i shot it. The way to my range has some rough road and a car will bounce a bit.
 
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