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Rifle Scopes Optic suggestion request...

gsd1983

gsd1983

Who are you and why are you in my house?
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 14, 2017
769
394
Texas
I’m piecing together a bolt action in .308 and thought I’d ask for some suggestions on an optic.

Here’s the basics:
Platform: Bolt action .308 Win
Use: Target/practical/tactical shooting to 750yds, hunting, maybe a 1k comp occasionally.
Primarily Daylight shooting with minimal evening/dusk use

Must have Mil/Mil
No preference on reticle per se
Min mag 3-5x

Budget: Preferably under $1k, max $1500.

I’ve been eyeing the Vortex PST Gen II 3-15 as an option. Found them for around $700 online. I had a first gen on another rifle and aside from being a bit chunky I was pleased overall.

That being said, I also like the Sig Tango6 3-18.

So, y’all have any suggestions for other options?
 
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Mark 5 3.6-18 can be had for close to that, Bushnell DMR II is right there. Might be able to score a DMR II pro on sale for your upper limit.
 
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I'd check out one of the demo Steiner's Doug from Camera Land has.
 
If you were generally happy with a PST Gen 1, then I see no need to push you towards $1500 unless you really want better glass.

That being said, you can get 3-18 Razors for under $1500 now, and that's just a stupidly good price.

However, most of the current options in the $500-$1000 range are going to be better than your PST Gen 1. The PST Gen 2 3-15 is great. LRHS would be a good option. SWFA HD 5-20 should be in the mix. Cronus is good too. All of those are a big step up in glass from your Gen 1 PST, and have useful reticles. SWFA is probably built the toughest, but all of them are at least fairly well built, and they all have companies that back up their products with good warranty support.
 
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patriot07 said:
If you were generally happy with a PST Gen 1, then I see no need to push you towards $1500 unless you really want better glass.

That being said, you can get 3-18 Razors for under $1500 now, and that's just a stupidly good price.

However, most of the current options in the $500-$1000 range are going to be better than your PST Gen 1. The PST Gen 2 3-15 is great. LRHS would be a good option. SWFA HD 5-20 should be in the mix. Cronus is good too. All of those are a big step up in glass from your Gen 1 PST, and have useful reticles. SWFA is probably built the toughest, but all of them are at least fairly well built, and they all have companies that back up their products with good warranty support.
Click to expand...
Fact.
 
I like to keep a back-up scope available for when my best one breaks. I recommend the Simmons 6-20x50 for $110. It tested so well for me that I put it on my hunting rifle. I had an expensive scope fail to make 1,000 yds. when I was getting checked out on a range, and I used my Simmons-scoped hunting rifle, which handled the job. I'm always at KD, and I hold off for wind, so knob-twisting is not critical, although the Simmons knobs were accurate.
 
If hunting use is truly important, you might consider staying with the 3-15 or 3-18 magnification range and a simple illuminated center dot or cross. Maybe even consider 2-15x. The ability to dial down to a lower power will often help you to more clearly see game in low light and/or dark background situations.
 
I own several Vortex PST scopes, and I have compared them side by side with just about everything made in their price range (Athlon Midas and Ares, SWFA, Sig, Weaver Tactical, Bushnell Elite, Nikon Black, etc.). I have yet to find anything that I like better than the PST in its class. If you liked your Gen 1 PST and want to stay under $1K the Gen 2 PST is the way to go. If you want to step up to the next level and don't mind the weight I believe you will love the 3-18 Gen 2 Razor.
 
For under $1K, id give a long look at the Nikon Black FX1000 series. feature packed unit at a great price.
 
I picked up a Bushnell Forge 3-18 recently for my 22LR trainer, and I have been really happy with it so far. It tracks well, glass is damn good for the price, and it's got all of the features you're looking for. Mine has ~28mil of total adjustment, which would be plenty with a 20MOA rail to get your 308 out to 1k.
 
Damn, the Hide coming through in grand fashion. Thanks all for the ideas and suggestions, it has given me some things to ponder.

Doug, I’m really liking that 3-15 Steiner...I may in touch if I can slow down during business hours long enough to call.
 
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I second staying with the Vortex products if you are already familiar and happy with them. I have the PST Gen2 3-15 and have been happy with the performance it provides at the price point. The features on it are good and I haven't had any problems taking my 308 out to 1000. Best of luck.
 
LRHS is hands down the best option here.
 
Burdy said:
LRHS is hands down the best option here.
Click to expand...
IMHO, it's in the middle of the pack, well behind the Razor Gen II, SWFA HD 5-20, Cronus, and probably just behind the Steiner 3-15. Roughly on par with PST Gen 2, but better than the Nikon and anything else in the sub-$800 category.
 
patriot07 said:
IMHO, it's in the middle of the pack, well behind the Razor Gen II, SWFA HD 5-20, Cronus, and probably just behind the Steiner 3-15. Roughly on par with PST Gen 2, but better than the Nikon and anything else in the sub-$800 category.
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If he didn't include hunting as one of his use cases, then fine. But as soon as you want to hunt with it too, the G2H reticle in the LRHS really trumps any other FFP scope, IMO. And it trumps them enough to overlook any other deficiencies of the scope.

I will say no way would I include the PST Gen II regardless....
 
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Burdy said:
If he didn't include hunting as one of his use cases, then fine. But as soon as you want to hunt with it too, the G2H reticle in the LRHS really trumps any other FFP scope, IMO. And it trumps them enough to overlook any other deficiencies of the scope.

I will say no way would I include the PST Gen II regardless....
Click to expand...
That's a really fair point - G2H is a nice hunting reticle and that scope is better suited for hunting than some of the ones I listed.

I'll disagree on the PST G2, but you know what they say about opinions...
 
Unexpected update for those interested. I was browsing on another forum and scored what I feel was a damn good deal on an SWFA 3-15x42. I’ve had the fixed 10x in the past, and for just over $400 shipped I could not pass up a mint optic.

That being said, all of the suggestions offer here will be remembered for the inevitable upgrade, as I’ll probably run this until I recoup some funds, and then I’ll move it over to my 18” WOA SPR.

Thank you all for the help, hopefully I’ll get to post a finished rifle in the near future, only thing out of hands now is the barrel.

-Dave
 
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