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Shopping for new glass

I don't know a lot about optical clarity on the scopes of your interest -- so can't comment there. You're young (I remember those days well) so -- overall gun weight isn't an issue for you at this time. However, 10 - 15 years will go by in the blink of an eye and if you still have what you put together on your rifle at that time, weight WILL be an issue to you. So I'd let the weight of the scope you choose also enter into your criteria. Every ounce counts!
 
Crockett12 said:
I don't know a lot about optical clarity on the scopes of your interest -- so can't comment there. You're young (I remember those days well) so -- overall gun weight isn't an issue for you at this time. However, 10 - 15 years will go by in the blink of an eye and if you still have what you put together on your rifle at that time, weight WILL be an issue to you. So I'd let the weight of the scope you choose also enter into your criteria. Every ounce counts!
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This is very true, I suppose by that time I'll just have to put it on a bench gun. :D
 
I had a Razor HD 5-20 for a while. It was good, but heavy at 37oz. I'm intrigued by the Kahles k624i (33oz) or k525i. Also, the Bushnell Elite Tactical lines like the DMR look great for the money too. This is what I'll probably end up with next.

I wouldn't be opposed to something lighter, but want it to be repeatable.
 
AZShooter said:
The SWFA HD FFP 5-20 x 50 is quite a scope for the money. The price is $1299.95 for the non illuminated and $1499.85 for the illuminated. I have the illuminated version and really like it.

They just had a black Friday sale. The next sale will around April 15.

You can sometimes find one in the sample list page as a trade in. FYI I have purchased several condition B scopes and they are flawless in appearance and function.
https://www.samplelist.com/entire-sample-list/riflescopes.html?brand=SWFA SS



Here is a review when it first came out in 2011

https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/swfa-super-sniper-5-20x50hd.72157/

If you look around the net you will find many folks say the SWFA lineup of HD and non HD scope turrets are strong, repeatable, return to zero. The center screw of the HD turrets are really nice as the caps will line up perfectly in any position they are moved to after zeroing. (this is something that drove me nuts with other brands)
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I'm just now finishing my first hunting season with this scopw Holy cow! This is one VX5 HD and the Bushnell 3.5-21. With the exception of the Bushnell, I like the SWFA better than the others. For what I want, it is the best bang for the buck. These are really terrific scopes.
 
I'm thinking I may go with the Bushnell DMR II 3.5-21, they make one with the ED Prime Glass which is their top tier glass they put in the much more expensive XTR Models, I don't need a 30x scope so I think this may be a winner as I have read and watched numerous things about the quality of glass and for its price point it doesn't sound like there is a better option.
 
skookum said:
I'm thinking I may go with the Bushnell DMR II 3.5-21, they make one with the ED Prime Glass which is their top tier glass they put in the much more expensive XTR Models, I don't need a 30x scope so I think this may be a winner as I have read and watched numerous things about the quality of glass and for its price point it doesn't sound like there is a better option.
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yep, I agree ☝️
 
I believe that you should look into Valdada scopes they are made in Romania with German glass from Schott AG tracking is perfect and rugged as nails. I love my 3.5-18x50 MP-8 rectical with 35mm tube 20 mills of elevation with a 40moa rail you will likely zero near the bottom giving you most of all the up elevation the optic has to offer. I have owned mine for nearly 5 years now ad would not take double the money for it. Matter of fact it took me 6 month's to make up my mind after looking through Vortex, Leopold, Night force, US optics, Burris, Bushnell, Nikon and many others i had the money to buy what ever i wanted once in a life time so it had to be true and perfect because that was all i was getting. The clarity throughout the zoom is impeccable next to none. Call Val at Valdada 682-224-5865 he won't steer you wrong. I am just a roughneck and don't want to waste my money on any thing that not reliable or unfeasible when it comes to the important things.
 
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My only beef with IOR Valdada is a friend had the 6-24 a few years back and things kept going wrong with it. The company was great to fix it but his was in the shop 3 times, I believe, and I never had any issues with my Razor. I liked my EBR-2B reticle better as well (thinner lines). The glass was great on the IOR though. Ymmv. But now I have a tough time picking that over something else.
 
AZShooter said:
The SWFA HD FFP 5-20 x 50 is quite a scope for the money. The price is $1299.95 for the non illuminated and $1499.85 for the illuminated. I have the illuminated version and really like it.

They just had a black Friday sale. The next sale will around April 15.

You can sometimes find one in the sample list page as a trade in. FYI I have purchased several condition B scopes and they are flawless in appearance and function.
https://www.samplelist.com/entire-sample-list/riflescopes.html?brand=SWFA SS



Here is a review when it first came out in 2011:

https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/swfa-super-sniper-5-20x50hd.72157/

If you look around the net you will find many folks say the SWFA lineup of HD and non HD scope turrets are strong, repeatable, return to zero. The center screw of the HD turrets are really nice as the caps will line up perfectly in any position they are moved to after zeroing. (this is something that drove me nuts with other brands)
Click to expand...

Another excellent recommendation. I have the SWFA HD FFP 5-20 x 50 non-illuminated version on my .300 WSM and they are simply amazing.
 
All of the recommendations here are very good. I have used several brands and models of scopes over the years and my preference falls to Nightforce for usability and function. The 'Zero-Stop' on the NF plus the amount of adjustment are tough to beat. Plus, the glass is very good. I am currently running a 5.5-22x50 NXS and a 5-25x56 ATACR and both have been incredible for me. I really like the glass quality in the Ziess scopes as well and my Conquest is still one of my favorite 'all-around' scopes. I was pleasantly surprised when looking through the new Bushnell Tactical scope at how nice the glass is. I would say look close at your needs and look through as many as you can. All that have been listed as suggestions here are great scopes and would probably do a great job. But I will suggest a very hard look at the NXS in your price range. Crazy tough, etched reticle, great glass, and perfect tracking. Plus, the zero-stop works better than any of the others that I have personally used and is one of my favorite things about it. There is no questioning your zero if set up correctly.
I was on an elk hunt a few years ago with my NXS and had forgot to turn the scope back down from shooting at a hillside the night before and was set on somewhere around 1,600 yards, when a shot at a bull was presented at about 150. I didn't even look down to return the scope to zero. I just grabbed the turret and cranked it down as hard and fast as i possibly could. When it hit the stop i was fully confident that the bullet would hit where I wanted it to and it did.
 
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