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.
