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Looking for some help and advice on choosing a scope

3K views 24 replies 16 participants last post by  Don Fischer 
#1 ·
Hey guys!

Not sure if this is the best area of the forum to ask this but here goes.

I'm new here and wanted your help and advice on choosing my first scope. I'm looking for something that's good for around 200-300 yards.

I'm sick of using my friend's gun and scope, so I've already purchased a rifle but i want to put some more research into scopes so thought I would ask you lovely people.

I've seen some great options compared on on old threads and am leaning towards the Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn as it seems like a really great buy for the price.

I've set myself a budget of $250 for the scope - what do you guys recommend?

Thanks ahead for all the help!
 
#4 ·
That Bushnell you're looking at will do fine. Just be sure to use good/proper rings when mounting it.
 
#6 ·
The scope will be mainly used for target hunting but i might take it out on a hunt or two with friends. The rifle I have is a Marlin X7.

Also I've done some more research over the weekend and stumbled across this site whilst google searching for the best scopes: https://tangotactics.com

It seems to have a good explanation in what to look for when choosing a scope and I quite like the sound of the VX-1 as that also comes with a lifetime warranty


The VX-1 is almost double the cost of the Bushnell but the lifetime warranty is very appealing to me just incase it has any issues down the line...
 
#8 ·
As stated above what are you plans for it. As you said it is for target hunting. So the question I have is, do you want to shoot small groups or are you happy just hitting the target. If you are shooting to get good groups than that scope might not be adequate enough for up to 300 yards, and it has nothing to do with the magnification of the scope.

I am talking about parallax adjustment. Regardless of what you get if it is going to be shot at targets only and you want to shoot groups if your scope's parallax adjustment is only good to 100 yards than you must ensure that your cheek weld is always perfect. On scopes without parallax adjustment beyond 100 yards you will notice that if you move your head while looking at the scope the cross hairs move with your head and if you adjust the rifle back to target you may be off.

So if it is good groups you want to shoot and your shots are all over the place you will not know if the problem is you, your rifle, the bullet used for that rifle, or your scope.
 
#9 · (Edited)
Sky Cloud Machine gun Vehicle
I think a great value for the money and quality for a scope is "Vortex".I got mine at Sportsmans Warehouse.It was around $200 on a red tag sale and the one piece base was $90.I love it!It works great at 200 and 300 yards.One of my brothers has a hand held range finder and you just adjust the scope to the target.I want to buy one of those.
I like open desert shooting a lot more than public gun ranges.Plus it's free!
 
#10 ·
For years I only bought Leopold and Burris scopes. But as time went on their prices escalated out of my reach. So I tried several much lesser scopes. The really inexpensive scopes let me down with broken cross hairs and elements falling out of the scope. So I focused on mid-priced scopes and came up with my today’s go-tp scope the Bushnell Trophy series. I am pleased with those Trophys that I have. They compare in image quality (to me) to the many Leopolds and Burris scopes I have.

The pricing of scopes is highly dependent on the size of the front element and the power. I tend to avoid 50mm objective scopes (too heavy and not usable since I don’t shoot at night and you can not hunt at night). In daylight the extra glass is wasted as all it does is control low light level image brightness. I target shoot mostly so most of my scopes are greater in power than the pretty standard 3x9 variable scopes (I tend to use 4x12, 6x18). I also make sure all my scopes have the adjustable objective (AO or parallax adjustment) feature so that I might focus them at any distance I may choose to shoot at. This is critical for high power and long distance shooting. I also get AO in a 3x9 scope if I can.

For 22 rifle scopes I make sure the AO will focus down to 50 feet which is pretty much standard for precision 22 target shooting. Not all AO’s will do that. The focusing mechanism is usually marked for distance.

Years ago scopes had trouble with maintaining their cross hair sighting-in adjustments so extensive magazine testing went on for every new scope on the market. Today even the least expensive scopes do not have that problem. Scopes use to internally fog in cold weather. Most scopes today are sealed and filled with dry nitrogen (no water vapor) so scopes don’t fog internally. Most inexpensive scopes today are better than the most expensive scopes of the 1950’s.

Scope tube size is the new scope thing. The standard is one inch in America but 30mm in Europe. There are scope tube sizes today like 33mm, 34 mm that you can buy but big tube diameter goes with big front elements. Stay away from 50mm objectives and you only need one inch or 30mm tubes.

Finally, scope mounting and securing the scope so it does not slide in the rings is critical. I destroyed a giant scope on a 50BMG gun when the scope slid on the rings, hit the scope turret on the ring, and knocked pieces and parts loose inside an expensive scope. In that case it took four rings, grinding the rings to fit the scope tube better, and LocTite between the scope tube and the rings. That is not normally necessary but better ring are more secure. Some come with a paper shim that resist scope tube sliding in the rings.

Hope this helps.
LDBennett
 
#11 ·
Leupold or Vortex are excellent choices. I think my leupold rifleman 3-9x40 was right at $200 when I bought it. Price may have went up a bit, but it is excellent if that is all the magnification you need. Vortex has a great warranty as well and may have something to offer. I have been looking at mid-high end scopes, so I dont know what they offer in your price range.

Another option that I highly recommend from my research is SWFA SS scopes, especially if you could use a fixed power scope. Great glass for the price. Check out their website. They sell that line of scopes as well as most manufacturers.
 
#12 ·
Thanks again for all the info, I am planning on doing a bit of group shooting but i'm still quite new to the hobby.

Now so much to consider i feel even more lost than when i started lol. I was really considering the Bushnell but a lot of people have told me to stay away as its not made in the USA but websites like https://tangotactics.com have rated it to be very good for the money. Then I was considering the VX1 but other people have told me its not worth getting and that its also not fogproof.

I might look into Vortex scopes too but that just adds even more for me to consider :(
 
#13 ·
Almost nothing is made in America anymore and if it is its expensive.

Bushnell scopes are fine (I have the Trophy series on many of my guns along with Leopold, Burris, and a handful of other manufacturers....only the really cheap scope have failed on me). If you find a test of the model you want and it rates that scope high then buy it. Don't be fooled by internet chatter that is so full of opinions and posters who just want conflict.

Every scope mentioned in all these post will do the job if you follow the rules I laid out as to objective diameter, tube size, specs that spell out nitrogen filled (fog proof), and Adjustable Objective (Parallax correction) for powers over 9X. But do stay away from the bottom dollar scopes as they may not be durable enough. Buy in the $100 to $300 range and you will do fine. Indecision is not good. Just do it.

If you buy a scope and it does not fulfill all your needs (found out by shooting with it) then remove it and set it aside for another rifle you might get in the future where it will fit you needs better. There will be other rifles as shooting is addictive and fun and more rifles means more fun. Sometimes you have to do to learn. Blindly taking judgments by others on the internet is not good. Learn for yourself.

LDBennett
 
#15 ·
Redfield is made by Leupold in America. Either the vx1 or the Redfield are good scopes for the money that should last a lifetime. You will not go wrong with either, put down your money and make a choice before you drive yourself crazy, you are looking at good products. As mentioned, good rings and mounts are a necessity, so is proper mounting; have a pro install the scope and bore sight it, over tightening screws on a scope can cause damage and a decent shop should do the install for just a few bucks. Have fun.
 
#21 ·
Awesome thanks, I am going a bit insane reading all these reviews. I did find the tangotactics.com breakdown quite usefull so I think ill get something ordered from their reccomendation. I'll try and make the purchase tonight from amazon tonight and get it installed on the weekend.

I'll post up and let you guys know what I've decided on.
 
#16 ·
I am not an expert on scopes but I bought a Nikon Prostaff. Very clear and bright. I have it on my Ruger American 308. I got it on sale at a good price. It has a lifetime warranty.
 
#18 · (Edited)
I don't do any hunting, just shoot paper out to 1000 yards. It takes a better quality scope to do target shooting than hunting if your objective is to be as accurate as possible.
If you go cheap on a scope, the first time you go target shooting with someone with a quality scope, you are going to want to throw your cheap low power scope in the garbage.
If I were you, I would set my budget a little higher and get a minimum of 16 power scope. A 24x power scope would even be better.
 
#19 ·
Cabela's will install the scope and bore sight it for free. and right now they have a sale on all of there scopes too. No I do not work for Cabela's just tossing out that option.
 
#20 ·
This like everything else, buy the best you can afford. Not all "off-brand" scopes are turds, a friend of mine has a (?????) 12X scope that was made in Korea. It's crystal clear, even after the about 20 years or so that he's had it. He's had it on about four different rifles that I know of, all without any problems.
 
#24 ·
Thanks so much for all of your help guys.

I went and checked out a few scopes over the weekend and tried some of the ones you recommended in my local shop as well and ended up going for the Vortex Crossfire 2.

I felt that this is a really good scope for the money and even the manager of the store said he has one and it has never let him down. It feels leagues greater than the VX1 and I think it was slightly nicer to use than the VX2 as well.

Overall I am very happy with my purchase so thanks again for your help guys
 
#25 ·
I have one Redfield Revolutions; a 2-7x mounted on a long action mod 70. It appears it was designed for a short action. I had to get extensions rings to use it and then there's not a lot of room to fiddle at all. I think one of the best deals around right now are thr Nikon's. I've got a 4 1/2 - 14 one one rifle i generally only shot at target' with. The other is a 3-9x on a 243 and it works very well. Both have a lifetime warranty no matter who owns the scope. Seem's that the older style Leupolds are pretty inexpensive with the same warranty. No clue what you'll put this on, rifle or cartridge? I have some old Tasco laying around somewhere. Ugly but they worked a long long time. I'm pretty fond on one piece base's too, little strength to the action. There's some newer type base you might want to check out, well newer to me. They are one piece and are milled along the whole thing and you cn set the rings where ever you want. They weren't around when I put the base and ringe on the rifle I needed an extension for.

If you want one scope that will actually do it all, has to be a 3-9x. If it was just hunting, I go for low power scopes. If it's for target shooting the 3-9x will satisfy you.My 4 1/2-14 is on a rifle that weight's 10lbs without the scope. It's a long scope and fairly big. For scope's between $200 and maybe $350, brand isn't gonna mean a whole lot. Any scope under that $200 max I would not consider. I did at one time have a 3-9 Tasco Whitetail, about $89 and that scope worked fine for several years and then I up graded to my 4 1/2-14. Nothing wrong with the Tasco and I gave it to a kid for his first rifle. He may still be using it. But before I got that Whitetail I tried the real entry lever Tasco. Mounted it on a 6.5x06 and in about 20 rds it destroyed the scope.

I don't know what's up with the new Bushnell's but I do have one. Very old Banner on a 25-06 and not a problem one with it. But I tried I thing is was a 4-12 Bushnell before getting my 4 1/2-14 and wouldn't recommend the lower price Bushnell's.If I were looking at a Bushnell, got the ex a 3-9x Scope Chief; been a very good scope.
 
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