Opinions on the best Rifle Scopes - The Firearms Forum

coreyacp · 10-14-2011, 12:34 PM

I am getting a Ruger Scout rifle. I want a fairly decent scope for it. Im thinking about being able to reach out comfortably to around 500 yards.
My inclination is towards Leopold but thats because of my bias generated by the military. My m14EBR that I use in my squad has a Leupold Mk 4. Which obviously is amazing but it is so expensive! What is a civilian counterpart that is decent, affordable, and durable? Any thoughts?

JLA · 10-14-2011, 01:21 PM

Leupold has reintroduced the redfield line. I think a redfield revolution the same power as your Leupy on your service rifle with accu-range reticle will reach out and touch somebody at 500 easy enough. Heck with the accu-range reticl itll reach out to 300 without even touching the turret..

American Leader · 10-14-2011, 01:33 PM

I agree with JLA, however, I shoot several BSA's and like them. I know some members don't care much for them but my experience and Zanes have been pretty good. Keeps your cost down to $150-$200 for a variable. I'm 3/4 blind and poor so I usually purchase 6X-24X 40mm and so far so good. If I could afford them I would purchase Zeiss or Leupold VXIII.

Brisk44 · 10-14-2011, 01:41 PM

CDNN has some good buys also they are BEC and some others but worth a look.

howlnmad · 10-14-2011, 01:45 PM

I'm a Nikon Monarch kinda guy. They have clear optics, transfer light well, stay dialed in and don't have the price tag of the Leupold. JMO.

bamajoey · 10-14-2011, 04:33 PM

Mueller has a decent scope (8-32x44 Target Dot) for around $250. I recently put one on a CZ 452, and am well pleased with it.

The Duke · 10-14-2011, 04:43 PM

Look at the Millett line of scopes...Im impressed with the two that I own and the price was about half that of a MkIV..

coreyacp · 10-14-2011, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Duke

Look at the Millett line of scopes...Im impressed with the two that I own and the price was about half that of a MkIV..

I have a millet red dot that Is AWESOME and I didnt even think about them.

rcairflr · 10-14-2011, 05:28 PM

I've been looking at scopes for the last month (replacing my Redfield Revolution 4-12x on my .223). I've been looking at the Sightron siii 6-24 and the Vortex PST 6-24. Both are beautiful scopes with great optics and very nice reticles. They both go for around $750 and both worth taking a look at.

HnRhandifanatic · 10-14-2011, 05:34 PM

+1 for the Redfield

coreyacp · 10-14-2011, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcairflr

I've been looking at scopes for the last month (replacing my Redfield Revolution 4-12x on my .223). I've been looking at the Sightron siii 6-24 and the Vortex PST 6-24. Both are beautiful scopes with great optics and very nice reticles. They both go for around $750 and both worth taking a look at.

I like that price range

rcairflr · 10-14-2011, 05:42 PM

In that price range, I don't feel you could do better than the Vortex PST or Sightron siii. I am very close to pulling the trigger on one of them.

JLA · 10-14-2011, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by American Leader

I agree with JLA, however, I shoot several BSA's and like them. I know some members don't care much for them but my experience and Zanes have been pretty good. Keeps your cost down to $150-$200 for a variable. I'm 3/4 blind and poor so I usually purchase 6X-24X 40mm and so far so good. If I could afford them I would purchase Zeiss or Leupold VXIII.

dont buy a dadgum ziess.. They are waaaaay overpriced IMO. Example.. My FIL bought a rem 700 XCR tactical .223 and put a $1000 dollar Ziess Conquest 4.5-14X40mm on top. Around the same time I was building my Savage/CBI .308 and I put a Nikon 4.5-14X40mm w/ BDC reticle. For all intents and purposes the 2 scopes are Identical in different wrappers.

My Nikon has twice as clear optics and a better reticle, the side focus is graduated in yardage hashes instead of un-labeled lines like the ziess, and the Nikon has about 1.5 inches more tube to play with for mounting. His Zeiss cost him just shy of a grand at cabelas, My nikon cost me 309 bucks at academy.

Now if i were gonna spend big money on a scope (like 1500+) I still wouldnt go with a Ziess. once you get up into that kinda range in price they are competing with nightforce and countersniper and other purpose built optics.

JLA · 10-14-2011, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coreyacp

I have a millet red dot that Is AWESOME and I didnt even think about them.

The Millett TRS-1 and 2 are excellent tactical scopes. My favorite millett is the Buck Gold fine hair 30mm tube. Excellent target scope for the modest 350 bucks.

Trevor1837 · 10-15-2011, 10:57 AM

I just absolutely love the Bushnell DOA scopes. The aiming points are really helpful when hunting. I would take a look at them if you are going to be hunting.

Pagrizz · 10-15-2011, 04:25 PM

I have owned Leupold and Nikons for years ,but I bought my first Burris a few months back.I held several types of scopes up and the Burris had the best optics of the bunch.So far it has held up to a couple of hunts I went on.The price was not bad either.

woolleyworm · 10-15-2011, 04:29 PM

We've got a great resource in Doug here on the forum also.

http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/show...446#post805446

http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/showthread.php?t=95040

Some of the best prices I've seen online and he took really great care of a friends scope needs.

JLA · 10-15-2011, 06:23 PM

Burris is another good one. I like the fullfield2 series. and the Ballistic-plex reticle is great for hitting your mark out to 500 yds without having to adjust the turrets.

rcairflr · 10-15-2011, 07:45 PM

I went out and bought the Sightron Sii Big Sky 6-24x 42mm and installed it on my .223. Then took the Redfield Revolution 4-12 and installed it on my 10/22.

The optics in the Sightron puts the optics in the Redfield to shame. Seems like it is going to be a very good scope.

The Sightron has the Dot reticle, should work excellent for target practice and varmints.

JLA · 10-15-2011, 07:57 PM

I like that fine reticle.

American Leader · 10-15-2011, 10:22 PM

Thanks for the input JLA.

JLA · 10-16-2011, 08:56 AM

yessuh. In my line of tinkerin I have had the chance to work with most of the proclaimed 'best' optics. I dont mind voicing my honest opinion.

JLA · 10-16-2011, 08:58 AM

And its not that the Zeiss os a bad scope. Heck I can shoot the same .5 MOA groups with it. The problem is this.. If youre a big time scope mfgr and you offer a thousand dollar piece of glass for rifle shooters, better make damn sure another reputable scope mfgr doesnt have a superior unit for 1/3 the price.

10-14-2011, 12:34 PM	#1
coreyacp Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Portland Oregon, USA Posts: 787	Opinions on the best Rifle Scopes I am getting a Ruger Scout rifle. I want a fairly decent scope for it. Im thinking about being able to reach out comfortably to around 500 yards. My inclination is towards Leopold but thats because of my bias generated by the military. My m14EBR that I use in my squad has a Leupold Mk 4. Which obviously is amazing but it is so expensive! What is a civilian counterpart that is decent, affordable, and durable? Any thoughts? -->

10-14-2011, 01:21 PM	#2
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,305	Re: Opinions on the best Rifle Scopes Leupold has reintroduced the redfield line. I think a redfield revolution the same power as your Leupy on your service rifle with accu-range reticle will reach out and touch somebody at 500 easy enough. Heck with the accu-range reticl itll reach out to 300 without even touching the turret.. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

10-14-2011, 01:33 PM	#3
American Leader Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Iowa Contributor Posts: 1,630	Re: Opinions on the best Rifle Scopes I agree with JLA, however, I shoot several BSA's and like them. I know some members don't care much for them but my experience and Zanes have been pretty good. Keeps your cost down to $150-$200 for a variable. I'm 3/4 blind and poor so I usually purchase 6X-24X 40mm and so far so good. If I could afford them I would purchase Zeiss or Leupold VXIII.

10-14-2011, 01:41 PM	#4
Brisk44 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Iowa Contributor Posts: 1,747	Re: Opinions on the best Rifle Scopes CDNN has some good buys also they are BEC and some others but worth a look.

10-14-2011, 01:45 PM	#5
howlnmad Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Harriman, Tn Contributor Posts: 2,565	Re: Opinions on the best Rifle Scopes I'm a Nikon Monarch kinda guy. They have clear optics, transfer light well, stay dialed in and don't have the price tag of the Leupold. JMO. __________________

10-14-2011, 04:33 PM	#6
bamajoey Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Pensacola Contributor Posts: 1,256	Re: Opinions on the best Rifle Scopes Mueller has a decent scope (8-32x44 Target Dot) for around $250. I recently put one on a CZ 452, and am well pleased with it.

10-14-2011, 04:43 PM	#7
The Duke Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: NW Louisiana Posts: 813	Re: Opinions on the best Rifle Scopes Look at the Millett line of scopes...Im impressed with the two that I own and the price was about half that of a MkIV.. __________________ Ineptocracy (in-ep-toc'-ra-cy) - a system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.

10-14-2011, 05:28 PM	#9
rcairflr Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wichita, Ks Posts: 1,309	Re: Opinions on the best Rifle Scopes I've been looking at scopes for the last month (replacing my Redfield Revolution 4-12x on my .223). I've been looking at the Sightron siii 6-24 and the Vortex PST 6-24. Both are beautiful scopes with great optics and very nice reticles. They both go for around $750 and both worth taking a look at.

10-14-2011, 05:34 PM	#10
HnRhandifanatic Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Western new york Posts: 17	Re: Opinions on the best Rifle Scopes +1 for the Redfield

10-14-2011, 05:42 PM	#12
rcairflr Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wichita, Ks Posts: 1,309	Re: Opinions on the best Rifle Scopes In that price range, I don't feel you could do better than the Vortex PST or Sightron siii. I am very close to pulling the trigger on one of them.

10-15-2011, 10:57 AM	#15
Trevor1837 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 262	Re: Opinions on the best Rifle Scopes I just absolutely love the Bushnell DOA scopes. The aiming points are really helpful when hunting. I would take a look at them if you are going to be hunting.

10-15-2011, 04:25 PM	#16
Pagrizz Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Pa/Maine Posts: 44	Re: Opinions on the best Rifle Scopes I have owned Leupold and Nikons for years ,but I bought my first Burris a few months back.I held several types of scopes up and the Burris had the best optics of the bunch.So far it has held up to a couple of hunts I went on.The price was not bad either.

10-15-2011, 04:29 PM	#17
woolleyworm TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SW Fort Worth Contributor Posts: 4,881	Re: Opinions on the best Rifle Scopes We've got a great resource in Doug here on the forum also. http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/show...446#post805446 http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/showthread.php?t=95040 Some of the best prices I've seen online and he took really great care of a friends scope needs. __________________ . What are you gonna do, talk the alien to death? -- (on Sigourney Weaver's worry about Guns in Aliens) "Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands." "I carry a small gun to compensate for my huge Blue press." .

10-15-2011, 06:23 PM	#18
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,305	Re: Opinions on the best Rifle Scopes Burris is another good one. I like the fullfield2 series. and the Ballistic-plex reticle is great for hitting your mark out to 500 yds without having to adjust the turrets. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

10-15-2011, 07:45 PM	#19
rcairflr Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wichita, Ks Posts: 1,309	Re: Opinions on the best Rifle Scopes I went out and bought the Sightron Sii Big Sky 6-24x 42mm and installed it on my .223. Then took the Redfield Revolution 4-12 and installed it on my 10/22. The optics in the Sightron puts the optics in the Redfield to shame. Seems like it is going to be a very good scope. The Sightron has the Dot reticle, should work excellent for target practice and varmints. Attached Images

10-15-2011, 07:57 PM	#20
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,305	Re: Opinions on the best Rifle Scopes I like that fine reticle. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

10-15-2011, 10:22 PM	#21
American Leader Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Iowa Contributor Posts: 1,630	Re: Opinions on the best Rifle Scopes Thanks for the input JLA.

10-16-2011, 08:56 AM	#22
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,305	Re: Opinions on the best Rifle Scopes yessuh. In my line of tinkerin I have had the chance to work with most of the proclaimed 'best' optics. I dont mind voicing my honest opinion. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

10-16-2011, 08:58 AM	#23
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,305	Re: Opinions on the best Rifle Scopes And its not that the Zeiss os a bad scope. Heck I can shoot the same .5 MOA groups with it. The problem is this.. If youre a big time scope mfgr and you offer a thousand dollar piece of glass for rifle shooters, better make damn sure another reputable scope mfgr doesnt have a superior unit for 1/3 the price. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!