I have an IOR 3x18 that I picked up from a member here, love the scope, got a good deal, has treated me right so far. Believe it to be a Gen 3. The MP8 reticle is nice, if a little thick.
I'm going to build up a .260 and am starting to save for glass now. My budget will be sub-$2500. I realize that, by the time I am ready to buy the glass (perhaps 6-8 months from now), many things may have changed, new models may have come out, etc. But enough new stuff has come out in the past few months that I need to start learning about it now. Hence the post.
I was originally looking at another IOR, but have recently noticed the new Bushnell ERS scopes. I can also get LE pricing from Leupold, so I will be looking at their Mark 6's when I get the price list. My magnification range is NTE 24x, with preference given to the 17-21x crowd, which puts a 44mm USO in the running if I can find it used. Haven't really given much thought to the Vortex Razor HD, but its in the price range. Not sure it has the features I want though.
At this price point, I am darn sure going to get what I want... Zero stop, 10mil turns minimum, etc. I'm really liking the MSR reticle, but not a lot of companies offer it yet. Still a fan of the original Bushnell HDMR, so the ERS looks interesting. USO can pretty much get me any reticle I want (emailed them today about the MSR), and I'm not sure about Leupold.
And I haven't even started looking at others such as NF (no experience whatsoever with them).
Assuming everything in this price range is going to be durable and repeatable, that leaves features , reticle choice, and glass.
Based solely on internet research, I am most familiar with IOR, Bushnell, and USO. I'm less familiar with Leupold and NF. And I'm sure there are offerings from other companies that I haven't even seen.
Comparing current models from IOR, Bushnell (ERS), USO (SN3 3.2x17), and Leupold (Mark 6), what scopes stand out in your mind? I have long considered USO, Premier, and Steiner to be the gold standard in glass. How are the "Tier 2" manufactures stacking up against them these days?
Thanks.
I'm going to build up a .260 and am starting to save for glass now. My budget will be sub-$2500. I realize that, by the time I am ready to buy the glass (perhaps 6-8 months from now), many things may have changed, new models may have come out, etc. But enough new stuff has come out in the past few months that I need to start learning about it now. Hence the post.
I was originally looking at another IOR, but have recently noticed the new Bushnell ERS scopes. I can also get LE pricing from Leupold, so I will be looking at their Mark 6's when I get the price list. My magnification range is NTE 24x, with preference given to the 17-21x crowd, which puts a 44mm USO in the running if I can find it used. Haven't really given much thought to the Vortex Razor HD, but its in the price range. Not sure it has the features I want though.
At this price point, I am darn sure going to get what I want... Zero stop, 10mil turns minimum, etc. I'm really liking the MSR reticle, but not a lot of companies offer it yet. Still a fan of the original Bushnell HDMR, so the ERS looks interesting. USO can pretty much get me any reticle I want (emailed them today about the MSR), and I'm not sure about Leupold.
And I haven't even started looking at others such as NF (no experience whatsoever with them).
Assuming everything in this price range is going to be durable and repeatable, that leaves features , reticle choice, and glass.
Based solely on internet research, I am most familiar with IOR, Bushnell, and USO. I'm less familiar with Leupold and NF. And I'm sure there are offerings from other companies that I haven't even seen.
Comparing current models from IOR, Bushnell (ERS), USO (SN3 3.2x17), and Leupold (Mark 6), what scopes stand out in your mind? I have long considered USO, Premier, and Steiner to be the gold standard in glass. How are the "Tier 2" manufactures stacking up against them these days?
Thanks.
