Rifle Scope Recommendations

[Dr. Vette]

Just can't see why anyone would feed their rilfe factory ammo. Good luck.

I have a couple of rifles that shoot sub-moa consistently out to 500 yards with factory ammo at $22/box. For a rifle that gets used once a year for deer season or when I had it to someone to use, it's not worth my time to try to get any better than that.

One rifle shoots factory ammo consistently under an inch at 200 yards. Neither the previous owner nor I have been able to match it attempting to load for it, despite several attempts. I buy factory ammo for that one too, at least for now, since it's pricey stuff that it likes.

Now that I found out how easy it is to work up a load for the Hammer bullets, and how well they work, it will save a lot of time on the rifle projects now in the queue.

 

[Thomas Culver]

I would either buy that Valdada, an SWFA, or an Athlon Ares BTR. I have been running an Athlon for a couple months and have been very pleased with it. Tracks good, ffp, illuminated, side focus, etc. I debated for 6 months on which scope in this price range to buy and so far I'm very happy with my decision.

 

[Capt RB]

I'm a fan of the swfa 3-15's I've had 2 of those 3 fixed 10's and currently have a fixed 6. I most likely will get another 3-15 for my 22 for rimfire prs matches.
I have a 6-24 PST gen 1 Vortex that is a bit lighter than the IOR for 600 if that interests you. Box zero stop sunshade switch view lever. I can throw in a set of rings as well if you want it.

 

[Danehunter]

The Bushnell LRHS 3- 14 x 44 scope was a candidate for my new 6.5 CM Browning X-Bolt Pro mountain rifle and I still may get one If I can't scrape together the money for a MARCH 3 - 24 x 42 mil/mil scope. I want to transfer my tough 3 - 15 x 42 SWFA to my .300 Win mag Browning A-Bolt.

I really like my Bushnell Elite ERS 3.5 - 21 x 50 competition scope with H59 reticle. Is sits on a Ruger Precision Rifle, 6.5 CM, natch.

Eric B.

 

[elf]

I have been shooting a Savage LRPV .223 in groundhog matches out to 500 yd. for years. I still have a Weaver 36X with dot on it and it has never given me a problem - unlike some other well known scopes I have owned. I EVENTUALLY BOUGHT 2 MORE 36x Weavers and none of those has ever required service. Price new is in the $400 range.

 

[FS1]

I have a Tikka Varmint in .223. I've tried several scopes over the past couple of years as this is my most reached for critter gitter at the farm. The scope that has maintained the spot is a Bushnell LRTS 3-12. I like the reticle and it seems to be a good power range for a 223. The 3-12 LRTS and LRHS scopes can be found used in good shape in your price range. They have repeatable turrets with zero stop. Glass is excellent for the price. Much better in low light than several SWFA 10x I've seen and used. It's my recommendation hands down for a .223 bolt gun.

 

[Weatherby Fan]

I haven't bought box ammo since I was 13. Just can't see why anyone would feed their rilfe factory ammo. Good luck.

280AI using Nosler Trophy Grade 140gr Accubonds


7mm-08 using Nosler Trophy Grade 140gr Accubonds



6.5-284 Kimber Montana using Nosler Trophy Grade 130gr Accubonds




Not sure how old you are but lots of quality factory ammo around nowadays, I do handload and in some cases I can't handload anymore accurate than some of the factory ammo I use, of course depending on how much shooting one does handloading can be cheaper in the long run.

In regards to the OP scope Recomendations I would look at a Zeiss V4 4-16x44 or 6-24x50 with an ZMOA reticle which also has an excellent MOA zero stop dial, tough as nails scope with outstanding optics.

If you do get into handliading check out Sam Millard of Panhandle Precision how to YouTube Videos on reloading, no nonsense simple straight forward easy to understand instructions.

 

[KyCarl]

Well 500 for that IOR is just too darn good!
I sent him a PM. I'm interested big time!
And I have found that sometimes I use illumination when I turn a FFP
scope to the lower magnification? It helps me see the faint reticule.

 

[RSWeir]

KyCarl
By going to original thread I can upload info.
Randy

 

[George Dean]

I am new to rifle shooting and would like any advise. I have shot rifle barrel shot guns my entire life and am getting into long range shooting. I am looking for something that is easy to learn to use.
I am looking for BDC reticles.
Illuminated would be a plus but not a must.
With Tactical type knobs.

To get you started, you need simplicity. Like shooting basics, learning muscle memory, learning how to reload precision ammo, learning how to read Mills, learning how to dial scopes, how to chronograph, how to make dope charts for your loads, what B.C. (Ballistic Coefficient) means and what it affects, etc... These are all basics that must be mastered before attempting to shoot long range.

I recommend the SWFA SS 10x42 MQ scope. It's a fixed 10 power scope with a nice Mil-Quad reticle, and target turrets. For the money, they are very high quality scopes...I have a few myself.

https://www.swfa.com/swfa-ss-10x42m-tactical-30mm-riflescope-3.html

Then these rings, and this rail...

https://www.swfa.com/seekins-precision-scope-30mm-rings.html

https://www.swfa.com/egw-hd-picatinny-rail-1-piece-scope-mount-78.html

I second this recommendation: Great scope, great reticle, will easily take you to a thousand yards--depending on your rifle's caliber. I own one which is on my .223 20" AR 1:8 Wilde. An excellent choice for out to 500 yds. Economical, tracks well, very good glass for the money. An original creation for Naval SW.

 

[mfk]

One of my first turret scopes was an SWFA 3-15x42- mil/mil SFP that I bought new for $450 and I still use it and it works fine. The turrets are repeatable and I saw well enough to hit steel out to 1k with my 308. They are known to be rugged scopes and good bang for your buck. The fixed power swfa scopes are even better bang for your buck, but for hunting it may not be as useful for animals that are close-- not being able to adjust power can limit you--full power limits your field of view. But you pay for that privilege. If you think at some point you want to go past 500 years the SWFA 3-15x42 scope will work ok. The SFWA low power (3x) is a low enough range to take close shots and pick up your target easily with a decent field of view. You will pay more to get that same scope in FFP (I think about $600). competitive shooters like FFP, and more hunters than not lean towards SFP, although that seems to be changing in the hunting community. (You can google the differences between them FFP and SFP if you are not familiar with that). There a pluses and minuses for each type of focal plane.

When I first bought a scope I got a BDC reticle not understanding the limitations. BDC scope may possibly be decent for a certain bullet at a certain speed which means a certain barrel length. It was too limiting for me. For that reason I don't recommend a bdc scope and suggest some type of scope with turrets that are known to track properly. It will ultimately give you a lot more flexibility for targets and hunting.

There are a bunch of people that seem to like the vortex scopes and they have some cheaper ones, but I am not familiar with the models.

 

[barleydog]

The Bushnell LRHS 3- 14 x 44 scope was a candidate for my new 6.5 CM Browning X-Bolt Pro mountain rifle and I still may get one If I can't scrape together the money for a MARCH 3 - 24 x 42 mil/mil scope. I want to transfer my tough 3 - 15 x 42 SWFA to my .300 Win mag Browning A-Bolt.

I really like my Bushnell Elite ERS 3.5 - 21 x 50 competition scope with H59 reticle. Is sits on a Ruger Precision Rifle, 6.5 CM, natch.

Eric B.

I have the new xrsii with the edprime glass.....beauty of a scope

 

[Hoppsing55]

MudRunner2005 has your shortest / most efficient route. Learn the basics. KISS: keep it simple.

 

[MudRunner2005]

One of my first turret scopes was an SWFA 3-15x42- mil/mil SFP that I bought new for $450 and I still use it and it works fine. The turrets are repeatable and I saw well enough to hit steel out to 1k with my 308. They are known to be rugged scopes and good bang for your buck. The fixed power swfa scopes are even better bang for your buck, but for hunting it may not be as useful for animals that are close-- not being able to adjust power can limit you--full power limits your field of view. But you pay for that privilege. If you think at some point you want to go past 500 years the SWFA 3-15x42 scope will work ok. The SFWA low power (3x) is a low enough range to take close shots and pick up your target easily with a decent field of view. You will pay more to get that same scope in FFP (I think about $600). competitive shooters like FFP, and more hunters than not lean towards SFP, although that seems to be changing in the hunting community. (You can google the differences between them FFP and SFP if you are not familiar with that). There a pluses and minuses for each type of focal plane.

When I first bought a scope I got a BDC reticle not understanding the limitations. BDC scope may possibly be decent for a certain bullet at a certain speed which means a certain barrel length. It was too limiting for me. For that reason I don't recommend a bdc scope and suggest some type of scope with turrets that are known to track properly. It will ultimately give you a lot more flexibility for targets and hunting.

There are a bunch of people that seem to like the vortex scopes and they have some cheaper ones, but I am not familiar with the models.

2 of my 3 SWFA SS scopes are also the 3-15x42 SFP scopes. One is a Mil-Quad, and the other is a Mil-Quad DM reticle on my DMR 6.5 Grendel. The other is a fixed 20x42 Mil-Quad.

I am also not a fan of FFP scopes, I prefer SFP. I hate that SWFA stopped making the 3-15x42 SFP models, and they only offer the FFP version.