School me on how to evaluate the quality of rifle scope glass

[Will16]

Rifle Scopes - ZCO ZC420 v Kahles K318i v Schmidt Ultra Shorts v Minox ZP5

Three scopes walk into a bar, the first is a ZCO, the second a Kahles and the third a Schmidt… and so the joke goes, but in reality, it was 6 scopes, and Minox joined the party as well and the punchline of the joke is… well read on and we’ll get there. Right before SHOT 2018 I was thrilled to...

www.snipershide.com

 

[AlphaDogs]

If your scope cost less than your rifle, you probably made an error.

 

[Deleted member 48126]

@jd126 preaching to the choir man. Unless it's some super low quality, NC star, Barska, or Truglo I can't tell glass quality either. I've given up on looking for "quality glass" and am more concerned with ability to hold zero, track true, return to zero, true parallax, and loud/positive/tactile clicks. That glass quality stuff is like asking "what's the best cartridge?"

 

[Deleted member 48126]

If your scope cost less than your rifle, you probably made an error.

what if you have a $3500 rifle and only a crappy NF NX8??

 

[Deleted member 48126]

Rifle Scopes - ZCO ZC420 v Kahles K318i v Schmidt Ultra Shorts v Minox ZP5

Three scopes walk into a bar, the first is a ZCO, the second a Kahles and the third a Schmidt… and so the joke goes, but in reality, it was 6 scopes, and Minox joined the party as well and the punchline of the joke is… well read on and we’ll get there. Right before SHOT 2018 I was thrilled to...

www.snipershide.com

that's a pretty awesome article. Thank you for sharing.

 

[AlphaDogs]

what if you have a $3500 rifle and only a crappy NF NX8??

It has yet to be demonstrated that a $3500 rifle can do anything a $1500 one cannot. However $3500 scopes can be demonstrated to be superior to $2500 ones.

 

[Deleted member 48126]

It has yet to be demonstrated that a $3500 rifle can do anything a $1500 one cannot. However $3500 scopes can be demonstrated to be superior to $2500 ones.

either the $3500 scope has a great sales man or youre paying for diminishing returns.

 

[AlphaDogs]

Suggest you join Optics Talk blog and speak with real experts.

 

[jd126]

Thanks for the tips and articles. I have some home work to to do and some hands on in the field to learn what I'm looking at and looking for.

 

[jd126]

If your scope cost less than your rifle, you probably made an error.

So my current build is a Bighorn SR3, Proof Carbon Fiber Barrel, Manners Elite Hunter stock, TriggerTech Diamond, Hawkins Bottom Metal with a Wyatt's box. Scope is in Seekins Rings.

So your opinion is if I run that Vortex Razor AMG on top I made an error in my build? ...Even a Leupold VX-6HD would be an error

 

[Deleted member 48126]

So my current build is a Bighorn SR3, Proof Carbon Fiber Barrel, Manners Elite Hunter stock, TriggerTech Diamond, Hawkins Bottom Metal with a Wyatt's box. Scope is in Seekins Rings.

So your opinion is if I run that Vortex Razor AMG on top I made an error in my build? ...Even a Leupold VX-6HD would be an error

yeah it's crap...better run a $7000 hensoldt or get rid of that stupid rifle, get a $1500 one so your vortex AMG meets the 2x criteria.

 

[Deleted member 48126]

Suggest you join Optics Talk blog and speak with real experts.

naw I'm happy here. Plenty of experts to go round.

 

[jd126]

yeah it's crap...better run a $7000 hensoldt or get rid of that stupid rifle, get a $1500 one so your vortex AMG meets the 2x criteria.

Guess I need to trash that build and step down to one of those stupid Tikka's

 

[westcliffe01]

Some good advice on here already. Things to add to that:
Adjustable optic or side focus for minimizing parallax.
I once bought quite an expensive 3-15x Minox scope with no AO or side focus and it would not group worth a **** at 100 yards because it had an awful parallax problem. Fortunately I was able to return it and get my first Vortex PST scope, huge improvement.

Check the eye relief and how forgiving it is. If you have to have your eye in a very exact position to see through the scope or to follow through on your shot, it will frustrated you. I recall always having Nikon Monarch scopes and usually when I fired I would always lose sight of the target, even on a 223 bolt gun. I remember vividly the first pair of coyotes I shot with my 243 with the same 4-16 Vortex PST scope and seeing the coyotes fold in the scope. Such a different experience with a different scope.