Looking for a new scope $1000 or under

[dougduey]

I agree, the Sightron's are great.....I have 2 SIII's , a 6-32 and a 10-50....both are fantastic, but it seems the Tract scopes glass are just more "crisp" if that makes sense. Plus the elev + windage both have locking turrets, and the zero stop is metal on metal, two pins that stop the turret with a solid feel and click. Now, I won't get rid of my S3s, but I would go with the Tract Toric HD 30 if I buy another scope..The only thing I would change is I'd like it to be lighter....but quality does have limitations.....I'd love a 407 Cheytac that weighs 5lbs complete and kicks like a 223.....ain't gonna happen...rsbhunter

I have an older SIII 6-24 with the MOA-2 reticle and like it a lot and it sits on my 243. Do you have one of the FFP SIII's? I was curious on how the MOA-2 reticle would look on low power
The Tract scopes seem really good too. I managed to see them at a local Outdoor Expo a month ago. You are correct, they are heavy. But, I should be able to keep the gun around 9.5 lbs with a heavier scope and that won't be an issue

Thanks to everyone that has responded. I've got a lot to look at and figure out what I want to purchase. First world problems!!

 

[rsbhunter]

No, my Sightron's are both sfp, but the new Tract Toric 30 is only available in ffp, so far. The moa reticle on the Tract is simple...I moa hash marks, windage and elevation...when on low magnification, the hash marks are (for my old eyes) are hard to see, but, that's four power....you can use the outer stadia lines like a duplex reticle. This isn't unique to any one brand of scope, all ffp scopes do this to some degree. They do have a Christmas style reticle in mil/mil configuration....I would buy one in the x mas reticle if it was moa. Now, I will say, that at 20 power, the center of the reticle is fine enough that I could see the reticle wiggling in the 1/4" center circle of the target. I honestly thought I had found my go to scope when I bought my Sightron's, but I believe you would have to go to the SVSS model to get the same glass quality....At my age,64, I find that optical quality overrides magnification...And Tract gives an Awesome veterans discount, best I've found on shooting related items...15% ! For the price, I am hooked on Tract.....rsbhunter. dougduey, was it the Tract Toric 30 HD scope you saw at the show? What was you impression?

 

[Weaselthis]

I have Nightforce SHV on all three of my hunting rifles. I have an NXS on my comp. gun. It's lightly heavier than the SHV is why the hunting rifles have them. Two SHV are illuminated, one not. All 4 scopes are 2ndFP and have MOAR reticles.

After zero, I verified the holdovers from my ballistic app out to 600yd. Dead on the money and had the two grandsons and their friend (14-16 yr.) making first round hold-over only hits from 300-400-500-600 yds. on 2 MOA steel targets in pretty hot/hazy weather. A little competition set the stage, and the smiles were priceless!

Haven't had to shoot at an animal past 600 yds. yet, but figured IF I do I would have time to dial...he wouldn't know I was in the same zip code.

 

[rsbhunter]

One thing to consider is a custom dial for elevation. I love the ability to turn the knob to a yardarge, hold dead on, and hit. I have a custom Rem 700 in 300 RUM, and it really is a tack driver. With a Zeiss Conquest 6.5-20 with duplex reticle, I have shot targets at 200-600yards, 200-500 meters and just by setting the dial on the yardage, make first shot hits...every time. Kenton industries makes em...you can also buy labels that will work on scopes that don't have replaceable knobs. The one thing I like about moa scopes, if you have to figure how much a MOA is at 600yards, it's 6"...1200 yds , 12"...but look into a dial or label....it saves a couple seconds off of having to go to an app, of even looking at a chart.....rsbhunter

 

[dwinmeade]

I'm looking into purchasing a 6.5 Creed for my daughter and want to put a decent scope on it. Trying to figure out what optic to buy before I pull the trigger on purchasing the rifle. Of course I will also use this rifle, so I want to like it, too. It will be mainly used for hunting and occasional target shooting. Looking to see what you guys would recommend. Thanks for the help

 

[PredatorSlayer]

Awesome veterans discount, best I've found on shooting related items...15%

Vortex has like a 40 or 50%...15% doesnt seem that great...

 

[dwinmeade]

I use an Athlon, Ares ETR 4.5-30×56 APLR2 FFP IR MOA on my 6.5 Creedmoor, Savage 12FV, 26" barrel. (Scope is over $1,000)

I use an Athlon, Midas TAC 6-24×50 APLR4 FFP MOA on my Remington 700, 25-06, 24" SS barrel. (Scope is under $1,000)

I use an Acme Machine, 6-24x50mm FFP Tactical Rifle Scope TR-MOA Reticle on my BHW 6x45 AR-15, 24" SS Polygon barrel. (Scope is $300)

I use Athlon scopes because, pound for pound, they out shine all others in value.

I have an Acme Machine scope because it's the best value second to Athlon.

I use MOA scopes because I understand how to use the built-in range finding feature.

The rule of thumb is you'll have 2x more in a scope vs the rifle cost. Athlon/Acme Machine keeps me 1.5x (mostly less) vs the cost of my rifles, without sacrificing quality.

Plus, both Athlon/Acme Machine have a life-time warranty on their products.

PS...I do have one Primary Arms, Silver Series 4-14x44mm FFP Rifle Scope - Illuminated ARC-2-MOA, purchased before my Athlon/Acme Machine knowledge. It's a short range scope (but deadly), currently on my ATI, 223, 18" Wylde barrel AR-15.

LOL...I still have my first scope purchase, a XOPin, 4-16X50EG/4-12X50EG Hunting Scope AR Scope. It's currently on a 300 blackout AR-15, but it floats around between various rifles and the storage selve. It's spot on or it'd be gone.

Hopefully my scope experience is helpful. Be prepared to make mistaken purchases along the way before settling on what works best for you...blessings!

 

[rsbhunter]

PredatorSlayer, yeah, big discount.....usually correlates to big mark-ups....same with furniture sales....SAVE 60 TO 70 PERCENT !!!!! (Think about how bad it was put to you if you paid full price)You honestly think they are losing money? No, it is all figured in.....do you not think they make enough profit off of each sale to pay for the scopes that people run over, drop, etc? Watch the top quality companies that have sales....maybe 10%....because they don't have the profit margin built in.....Same thing with Tract, they sell direct to the customer....I'm sure their making a living, but there isn't a lot of profit to give away....rsbhunter

 

[Aquamark]

Nightforce SHV or Bushnell. If you wanted FFP I would also say NF or Bushnell. I have all FFP now and really like both brands.

 

[308stillbrass]

If you aren't opposed to buying used, look for a Bushnell ERS 3.5-21x50 with the G2 reticle. They'll run you about $1100-1300. I had one on my .308 for a while and really liked it compared to the Vortex Viper PST 1st gen, but I can't compare it to any Nightforces or the Gen 2 Viper PST. My biggest gripe is how much the turrets protrude, but that's rather minor.

 

[lyle2231]

Look for a used Leupold. I personally don't think power over 16x is practical in the field. Unless you wanna make 1000 yds attempts. A 300yd shot @ 4x is adequate.
HTH!

 

[rsbhunter]

I wish that there was a testing facility that could test scopes, and rate them in groups of 5-10 so that anyone could look and see where a certain scope rates....most of us know that a $150 scope won't match a $1000 scope, but break it into $200 brackets. I know guy's that say, I have a brand x that cost me $215 and it's as good as any $2000 scope! Yeah, well....One of the biggest problems is the web...anyone can be an expert, or trash a whole brand of scopes because they had one, or know of someone that had a bad one.....try, or look through as many as you can.....buy what YOU like...and any more, most of the scopes in the $1000 range are going to be great....rsbhunter

 

[gr8fuldoug]

If you aren't opposed to buying used, look for a Bushnell ERS 3.5-21x50 with the G2 reticle. They'll run you about $1100-1300. I had one on my .308 for a while and really liked it compared to the Vortex Viper PST 1st gen, but I can't compare it to any Nightforces or the Gen 2 Viper PST. My biggest gripe is how much the turrets protrude, but that's rather minor.

We've got the Bushnell DMR2 3.5-21x50 in G3 and H59 reticle for only $999.99
https://cameralandny.com/shop?query=dmr

 

[rsbhunter]

Gr8fuldoug's deal sounds like a jump on it now deal.....I have dealt with his company, and they are fantastic.....Bought a scope through him and was totally satisfied with all aspects of the sale...rsbhunter