Rifle Scopes help choosing optics

[enviousinteriors]

Hey guys. This is my first post here. Ive been reading for a while and need some advice...

Im looking at an optics upgrade from the stock bushnell scope on my rifle. Im hoping to get pointed in the right direction...
Im shooting a 7mm rem mag rifle. Id like to have variable power out to the 24-32x range. Prefer good turrets and side parralax. Ir makes no difference go me. 95% will be for target shooting in the desert at 300-600 yds and the other 5% for hunting. Id love to stay under $300 for now to get started and use that to play with til I save up for something in the $1500+ range.

I appreciate any advice and im sure I will have more questions to add. Thanks!

 

[jasonZ]

Now that's a pretty tall order there! I doubt you'd need that much mag for only 600yds. For that budget you're going to be hard pressed, but not impossible, depending on the quality of glass. Mueller has some and I've heard decent stuff on em. Maybe look on opticsplanet at reviews. Maybe look at hawk optics as well. Decent there from what I've seen and read. I've had a Simmons 44mag series on a 7mag before. Held up well surprisingly enough. Like a 6.5-21x44 mildot with covered target turrets. That one was like $160. I'd recommend spending as much as you can once though. The buy once cry once theory really applies here! I'd really suggest the Vortex Viper which is 6.5-20 or so x44 with mildot and covered target type turrets. Really good optic for about $450-500. Those would be my starting point there. More than what you want to spend and not quite as much mag, but a very solid scope with decent glass. It only goes up from there though. Good luck

 

[RanchhandTCR]

4-12 Vortex Dimond back is what I have on my 30-06 and it tracks well and I have shot out to 1000 yards with it.. It had good glass, you can buy one with the paralax adjustment or without and I have the one without it has good glass and a great warranty behind it..

 

[Crosshair]

+1 to JasonZ's post.

It is all about what you are willing to trade off in that price range. There is good glass with lesser magnification range, there is high mag/lower quality of glass (which is pointless) and there is the decision to make as to if you are wanting a tactical style scope with mil/mil or moa/moa and ranging reticles, or a dedicated target scope with fine plex and 1/8 moa turrets. In my opinion, if you are trying to use your rifle scope to see 7mm holes at 600 yards, don't -- get a spotting scope and use your rifle scope in a more efficient way. 6x is enough for torso sized steel targets, 16x for paper. I wouldn't consider hunting with any scope that isn't capable in going down to 6x at the bare minimum. If you are just shooting paper and you are wanting do dial corrections very much, you want repeatability. For that, I'd recommend the fixed power SWFA 12x, 16x, or 20x -- but not at all for hunting.

If you need a variable for hunting, a good compromise would be a 4-12x, 4-16x, or 6.5-20x. Vortex Viper, Burris Fullfield, Weaver classic V, or for a more "tactical" front focal plane scope, the Falcon Menace 5.5-25x50.

Most importantly... Glass quality always trumps magnification. Any scope in the $300 range is not worth going over 20x in my opinion!

Everything factored in, I'd vote for this one as it will still have very good resale value when you're ready to upgrade: Vortex 6.5-20x44 Viper 30mm Rifle Scope

 

[enviousinteriors]

Ok. Thanks for the advice. I was curious about the vortex crossfire. Someone locally is selling a brand new one in 6-24x50 with rRemington tactical see thru rings for 275. I know it doesnt have the side parralax that id prefer but is it decent or should I hold off and invest a bit more?

 

[enviousinteriors]

My goal eventually is to hit 1200-1500 yards but im working up to that. I just bought my first rifle 3 weeks ago so I know I have to start short and get the basics down before attempting shots like that

 

[Crosshair]

Ok. Thanks for the advice. I was curious about the vortex crossfire. Someone locally is selling a brand new one in 6-24x50 with rRemington tactical see thru rings for 275. I know it doesnt have the side parralax that id prefer but is it decent or should I hold off and invest a bit more?

I would NOT waste $275 on a Crossfire, that is an old model and had several failures on .22's even. The new models are Crossfire II's and are 6-18x and much improved. That being said, that is money spent on chinese glass with low resale value.

It takes an experienced marksman to connect at 1200-1500 yards, and good equipment, the Crossfire is not going to reliably get you there, IMO, so might as well get a better and lower mag scope.
You can do it, like you say, if you start slow and work on fundamentals and practice at 600 yards-- that is a very long shot in reality. Get a decent 3-9,4-12, or 6-20. The Weaver 3-10 mil/mil is about 10 orders of magnitude better than the crossfire:

Weaver Tactical Grand Slam Rifle Scope 3-10x 40mm 1/10 Mil Adjustments

 

[enviousinteriors]

That is exactly why I asked I really appreciate you guys steering me in the right direction here. I also did some searching and found that crossfire for under 2 bills. Lol. I think ill continue shooting with this 3-9 bushnell for now and save some dough for better optics. Its hard to be patient sometimes but I will take your advice and spend a little more for the right stuff

 

[enviousinteriors]

I have been taking a look at some of those suggestions. Im liking the hawke eclipse 30 6-24x50. Any thoughts on it?

 

[Night Eagle]

I think you will easily get to 600-700 yrds w a swfa 10x. For your budget it's the most bang for ur buck. It will also take care of you at 100 yrds easily

Your losing lots of scope going to a variable power at that price range

Night eagle

 

[enviousinteriors]

Should I plan on ditching the variable idea? Is 10x in a swfa going to give me the ability to see a target at 800-1000 yards on a fixed zoom? Im not against the idea of fixed zoom and from what Iknow the military usually uses 10x fixed? At 3bills I that swfa going to be repeatable and consistent?

 

[enviousinteriors]

Night eagle.... I want to give a big thanks for recommending the ss 10x42. Super sniper it is I have been researching it all morning on the hide and multiple videos available from sources that I trust. Its the right price point and I believe at this point it will be the best choice for myself, my wallet and my application. Thanks everyone for the advice. Now I just have to decide on moa or mil. Im leaning toward mils but if you all have an opinion for a beginner I will gladly listen...

 

[Crosshair]

Definetly mils. The mil version has their Mil-quad reticle and .1 mil adjustments as opposed to the older version with standard mil dot and moa adjustments. In the whole mil vs moa thing, the most important and benificial factor is to have the adjustment units match the reticle units. There aren't quite as many scopes out there with moa-based reticles. The SS mil quad is a very cool reticle, IMO, and I think you are on track for the best scope option in your budget. The mil/mil Weaver I mentioned, IMO will have slightly better glass and is variable power, but is a 1" tube and has less elev adjustment and is a little less rugged compared to the SS. Happy shooting.

 

[enviousinteriors]

Awesome. Thanks a ton for all the help and advice any recommendation on rings?