Scope; Best Bang For Your Buck?

[R.Morehouse]

Sightron S-III line in my opinion is the best bang for your buck. I had the 8-32 on a 300RUM and it never gave me a bit of trouble. I am now a paper puncher and just use March scopes.

 

[middleofnowhere]

I like your thinking. If you can't do it with a Leupold you probably can't do it with anything.

I know this isn't important to everyone, but I like to support Made In USA as much as possible. A sizeable portion of Leupolds scopes are manufactured in Oregon. Right now in the "Budget" category, the VX-5HD is about the best glass you can buy that had American hands involved in the manufacture.

 

[BHC]

Another vote here for Sightron. Awesome glass. I have the 10-50 x 60mm. I also have an S-Tac on an LFAR in .308 that is very good for about just north of $400. I believe it is around 5-20 x 50mm.

 

[Pdvdh]

Sightron's SIII scopes have been dependable on my muzzle braked rifles. Good value for their cost.

 

[Barrelnut]

Also have a Sightron S-III 8-32 and agree they are a good value. Have had it for a while. Been on a braked 300 RUM, braked 300 WSM. Tracks well and glass is pretty good.

 

[dok7mm]

I have VX-6s, March, SIII and AMG. Still for "bang for buck" value, the S-III's are hard to beat. Just wish they had a zero stop.

 

[CaptnC]

WOW...not sure why but I'm not getting alerts on the thread...

Thanks guys...I'm going to get an Athlon when I can afford one...I passed on a deal Midway USA had...The Millet that I have was marked down to $175...shipped. A buddy gave me the heads up and I passed even though I now have one rifle that is scopeless until I get the loot for the Athlon...

Any way....I listening to you guys! Seriously...I am!

 

[WildRose]

WOW...not sure why but I'm not getting alerts on the thread...

Thanks guys...I'm going to get an Athlon when I can afford one...I passed on a deal Midway USA had...The Millet that I have was marked down to $175...shipped. A buddy gave me the heads up and I passed even though I now have one rifle that is scopeless until I get the loot for the Athlon...

Any way....I listening to you guys! Seriously...I am!

While you're saving, keep an eye on the LRH classifieds, you never know what's going to pop up there.

 

[Pdvdh]

A lot of higher dollar scope owners have been disappointed when comparing their premium scope to the SIIIs, side by side, and failing to "see" the optical benefit of the additional funds required to purchase their premium scope.

They tend to console themselves with some of the additional features on their much more expensive scope.

 

[Shootin4fun]

I know all the big name scope are the best, but one top tier scope is almost equal to a couple budget rifle builds at my house. I've got some very good shooting rifles that I've put together on Mauser and Savage actions that shoot very good...a lot better than factory guns.

I'm just red neck who doesn't live in the woods...who has too many guns...doing it on a budget.

The cost of a rifle and quality in return is a whole 'nother subject. I think most of us now acknowledge that you don't need a $3K gun to shoot <.5 MOA groups. Savage, Howa, Tikka, Browning, and others make rifles well under $1K that do this. I have some of them and though I drool over expensive rigs at the range, when I print a 1" group at 400 yards in 8 mph gusts with my Savage 7RM that cost me $450 from a clearance deal at big C with a $450 Monarch 3 on it, I realize that there's no absolute need to spend several thousand on a rifle to do that. Would I like to have so much extra cash that $5K means nothing to me? Sure! But like I tell the kids, when you're paying off a home loan, its $1 principle and $2 interest for every $3. So when you buy a toy, remember that if you put that money towards your mortgage you would have saved the $2. $2K extra for the toy means $4K extra you're paying for your housing in the long run.

 

[Shootin4fun]

Having said all of that, I don't think any of us want a Nikko Sterling for long range shooting even though Howa throws them in just about for nothing.

 

[Danehunter]

SWFA. No middleman (distributor or dealer) = lower price and better deal.
My $600. SWFA SS 3 - 15 x 42 scope with FFP, mil/mil turrets & reticle, side focus knob and great glass is an outstanding buy.
SWFA scopes also have outstanding durability.

Eric B.

 

[vitaminado]

You can also look at the used market
there are very good riflescopes at half price

 

[Rich Coyle]

Yep! I picked up a Nightforce 5.5-22X56 here from one of our .com friends for $750. It's older but the glass is as good as my Bushnell 6500. I got it for learning to shoot long by twisting.