I like all of them that track reliably and absolutely hate the ones that don't .
I agree with WeiserBuck. The most import criteria in a scope used for LR anything are:
1. First focal plain - it is hard to use a second plain reticle for anything unless you are super good at remembering to check the magnification of the scope before you use the reticle to judge holdover etc. Also, it is highly advisable if the turrets are the same scale as the reticle (e.g. Mil reticle and mil turrets or MOA reticle and MOA turrets).
2. Turrets have to track accurately. Preferably out of the box but it is critically important that it is reliable in the field. My hunts tend to involve long hikes over steep and challenging turrain in all types of weather. My equipment gets knocked around, wet, dusty and muddy. When I have a shot, I want to know that my bullet will go to my cross hairs if I do my job with probability 1.
3. Enough travel in the turrets so you can dial in enough drop to cover the full range of targets you intend to engage. Holding over your target when you had plenty of time to range the target, calculate an accurate solution and dial the solution into your reticle is always preferable to holding over. It is a bummer when you and your rifle can engage longer targets but your scope doesn't have enough travel.
To me, glass is secondary. Any FFP scope you buy today will have reasonable good glass. Even though I hike big distances with my equipment, weight is secondary. Good scopes that track well and are durable in the field tend to be a little heavy (notice that the military's equipment is almost always heavier than civilian equipment). To me, there is no point carrying a nice light rifle if you cannot reliabily take animals at 600 meters to 1,200 meters.
All of my scopes are Schmidt and Bender, which unfortunately are stupid expensive. I've measured their ability to track when they are new and retest all of them once a year. All of them track within the amount of error in my measuring methodology. One of my S&B scopes is 17 years old. It is all scratched up but still works great. I have no intention of replacing it. My advice is that whatever you chose, pick something that will last for at least 10 years. That will help you overcome the pain of purchasing an expensive piece of equipment.
There is an online YouTube course called Sniper 101. It is 100+ episodes on various longrange topics. There are three or four episodes covering optics and how to chose a scope to match your application. I cannot remember how long they were together but I believe that if you watched them all back-to-back it might take an hour.
) Right now - considering the Burris veracity - 3x15 50mm, and similar in Vortex Viper/PST, and Bushnell and Nikon equivalents. Like Leopold but in that price range - more likely a 3x10 - 50 mm LX3? Any others to consider in that price range? Thanks.
