At your price point, the scope that has probably taken a lot of beating is my 5-20 SWFA. It's been on my 300 WSM for 11 years now and still works as advertised. I successfully harvested games 600Y and beyond with it. Good luck!
-
If you are being asked to change your password, and unsure how to do it, follow these instructions. Click here
Optics
- Thread starter Clem Bronkoski
- Start date
Help Support Long Range Hunting Forum
lancetkenyon
Well-Known Member
For 90% of hunters/shooters, a $1k scope is plenty.
For another 5%, $2k will add a lot of benefits.
For that last 5%, the $2500+ market comes into play. When you routinely shoot 5000+ rounds a year, and shoot a lot past that 800 yard distance, top tier alpha glass really shines.
Here is the catch. This is LR Hunting. Where most members are in that top 10-20% of hunters. Where we talk about 1k+ shooting and hunting. A $300 scope is not going to cut it for the amount of 1k+ shooting it is going to take to make that 1 shot on game at those distances. I think that is where we are getting lost here. If you "only" shoot/hunt out to 500 yards (and I use that term loosely as 500 is still a long shot on game), you probably don't need a $1k+ scope.
Even then, what scopes do LEOs use for their SWAT snipers, who rarely would use them beyond 200 yards? Not a Tasco...
There are a lot of other forums that are better suited for the "What is the best sub-$500 scope for hunting from my blind or trestand out to 200 yards." I really stay out of those discussions when they pop up here.
For another 5%, $2k will add a lot of benefits.
For that last 5%, the $2500+ market comes into play. When you routinely shoot 5000+ rounds a year, and shoot a lot past that 800 yard distance, top tier alpha glass really shines.
Here is the catch. This is LR Hunting. Where most members are in that top 10-20% of hunters. Where we talk about 1k+ shooting and hunting. A $300 scope is not going to cut it for the amount of 1k+ shooting it is going to take to make that 1 shot on game at those distances. I think that is where we are getting lost here. If you "only" shoot/hunt out to 500 yards (and I use that term loosely as 500 is still a long shot on game), you probably don't need a $1k+ scope.
Even then, what scopes do LEOs use for their SWAT snipers, who rarely would use them beyond 200 yards? Not a Tasco...
There are a lot of other forums that are better suited for the "What is the best sub-$500 scope for hunting from my blind or trestand out to 200 yards." I really stay out of those discussions when they pop up here.
Last edited:
Underrated scope and hope it gets a gen 2
buckbrush
Well-Known Member
If you can't afford a top tier scope, it's ok. No reason to fabricate sentiment based on scopes that are "guud enuff".
FYI- i have mid tier and top tier scopes. So take your jab and shove it.
But you know I will drag you into it if they do not have a budget.
In 2010 I had KK Jenze build my light 338 nm.Hes head smith at Proof,I told him I was putting a mark 4 mil on build.Rifle just over 7#.He told me Id be lucky to get a year out of that scope.He ran Premier.I ran scope for a number of years hard mountain hunting and horseback, kills past 800.Before I ran vx3 on 340wby for truck load of elk, mil dot ,same out to 800 yrds.Still have scopes in use.Ive had a Leupold fog up on me and one on my dads 300 wby, cross hairs broke loose.I have march on light 338nm now, that went threw a roll over in my jeep and endue in back of cab,kept zero.I had a SWFA on my other heavy 338nm,worked well, very clear.That rifle now has a mark 5 ,5-25x56.This is the clearest scope I have when im lined up out back on wood line 1/4 mile, I can see the barbs on fence, not with my other optics.Thats my main rig rifle for LR practice,maily pop rocks with it at 800-1200.Last few times, seems as I haven't been quite on,well im canyon shooting and some wind.But im wondering if Im loosing my zero a bit, has 2# jewel in it, at 800 im usually spot on with a 300 0tm.Im curios to get out when weathers better, but if that Leupold not holding, Im scope shopping again.I saw a S&B for sale thats tempting me for a spare...Yes I have NF too.
buckbrush
Well-Known Member
An emotionless discussion on hunting optics would be great…but will never happen.
lancetkenyon
Well-Known Member
If the question is posed "What is the best scope for..." and no budget, I will always chime in.But you know I will drag you into it if they do not have a budget.
When someone quantifies "for $xxx", I am out. I have no recent experience with optics under that $800 price point, and very little under the $1000ish budget. I can honestly say I am not qualified to give an educated response in that range. It has been a long time since I have shot behind a $300 scope.
But when someone says "my $300 scope is just as good as any $3000 scope", I say put up or shut up. At 200 yards, it it probably fine as a "set it and forget it" scope that sees 10 days and maybe 10 shots of hunting use a year. That is not a strong argument.
Not with bottom dwellers on here.An emotionless discussion on hunting optics would be great…but will never happen.
lancetkenyon
Well-Known Member
I got friends in low places...
pavementends
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2017
- Messages
- 139
There is a site out there PrecisionRifleBlog that looks at what the competitive (PRS) shooters use. Surveys the top 200 shooters. He recently did a post on what they were using last year. Interesting but still leaves many questions i.e. what is harder on a scope, multiple days matches with many rounds fired or hunting with few rounds but lighter rifle and larger cartridge, dialing for every shot at multiple ranges or ranging and dialing once for only opportunity. Also the question of sponsorship, is a shooter using a scope because it is the best available or because it is "good enough" and the sponsoring company provides scopes and spares for "free" Life gets complicated.
Lapuatom
Well-Known Member
You could buy one top of the line scope, and have a rail on all of your guns then just move it around! Enjoy high end optics on all of your firearms. Just a thought.
comfisherman
Well-Known Member
Like switch barrel rifles.... sounds good on paper. But when I've tried it, leads to more scopes and built out barrels to full rifles.
Last edited:
