Hi all. I'm a noobie to LR shooting and trying to decide between these two scopes. I've considered 19 or 20 other scopes. Weaver Grand Slam, Bushnell 4200, Burris Fullfield II, Millet LRS-1, Mueller, Nikon Monarch, etc., etc. But for one reason or another, I've ruled them out and am down to these two. I suspect there are scopes for $200-300 more that would (and should) be better scopes, but I'm down to these two. So unless you know of a super sale going on, or a buddy with a used scope for sale, please limit discussion to just these two. Would appreciate any advice on choosing one or the other.
It's going on a stock (for now) Savage Mdl 11 .243. I've never shot over 200 yds before, but a 500 yard range opened up near me recently and I've decided to give it a try. And just last week I found a place that I think may give me access to 1000 yards. So I need some decent glass. I want this for mainly paper punching. But it's possible I'll start hunting again, so that could end up being a use. Also, I would want this to be my SHTF long range gun too. I would have preferred a .260 or 6.5 Creedmoor for that purpose, instead of the .243, but just never could find a good used one.
From all I've read so far on the two scopes, the Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44 or 6.5-20x50 are good scopes. They're also at the top of the price range I'm looking in. $430/$460. The Vortex has a great lifetime (transferrable) warranty and is supposed to be a tough, rugged scope that will track and hold zero. With good clear optics. Sunshade is an extra $30. The Viper is the traditional SFP scope.
The Falcon Menace is a 4-14x44 FFP scope. A UK company. Limited lifetime warranty. From what I've read, they do not stand behind their warranty as well as Vortex does. But still OK, for the most part. But you would likely be without a scope for a lot longer, if you had to return one to Falcon. The Falcon is $100 cheaper at $360. And it's only 4-14x44. So a lower power scope. If you think you'd need more than 14x, that is an important consideration. I'm not sure if I would need more than 14x or not, since I've never shot beyond 200 yards before. Pointers on that?? The general opinion seems to be that the Falcon glass is not as clear or bright as the Viper glass. But for the money, it's considered to be a good scope.
The biggest differences I see between these two are:
*Viper is $130 more (if I get the sunshade... it's included with the Menace)
*Power rating up to 20 on the Viper vs only 14 on the Meance (Menace makes a 5.5-25x50 FFP priced at $450 that I should probably throw in the mix)
*Clarity and brightness are said to be better on the Viper
*Viper is said to be more rugged
*Eye relief is better on the Menace. Pretty short on the Viper, but probably fine for .243
*the Viper is longer but the Menace is heavier
*SFP vs FFP
That last one is a big one. But I'm still undecided on SFP vs FFP (is it first focal plane or front focal plane??... I've heard both) . I've never used an FFP scope before. It sounds as if SFP is better for bench shooting, but FFP is best for moving situations/targets. And the FFP scopes are definitely more expensive by a good bit.
It's going on a stock (for now) Savage Mdl 11 .243. I've never shot over 200 yds before, but a 500 yard range opened up near me recently and I've decided to give it a try. And just last week I found a place that I think may give me access to 1000 yards. So I need some decent glass. I want this for mainly paper punching. But it's possible I'll start hunting again, so that could end up being a use. Also, I would want this to be my SHTF long range gun too. I would have preferred a .260 or 6.5 Creedmoor for that purpose, instead of the .243, but just never could find a good used one.
From all I've read so far on the two scopes, the Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44 or 6.5-20x50 are good scopes. They're also at the top of the price range I'm looking in. $430/$460. The Vortex has a great lifetime (transferrable) warranty and is supposed to be a tough, rugged scope that will track and hold zero. With good clear optics. Sunshade is an extra $30. The Viper is the traditional SFP scope.
The Falcon Menace is a 4-14x44 FFP scope. A UK company. Limited lifetime warranty. From what I've read, they do not stand behind their warranty as well as Vortex does. But still OK, for the most part. But you would likely be without a scope for a lot longer, if you had to return one to Falcon. The Falcon is $100 cheaper at $360. And it's only 4-14x44. So a lower power scope. If you think you'd need more than 14x, that is an important consideration. I'm not sure if I would need more than 14x or not, since I've never shot beyond 200 yards before. Pointers on that?? The general opinion seems to be that the Falcon glass is not as clear or bright as the Viper glass. But for the money, it's considered to be a good scope.
The biggest differences I see between these two are:
*Viper is $130 more (if I get the sunshade... it's included with the Menace)
*Power rating up to 20 on the Viper vs only 14 on the Meance (Menace makes a 5.5-25x50 FFP priced at $450 that I should probably throw in the mix)
*Clarity and brightness are said to be better on the Viper
*Viper is said to be more rugged
*Eye relief is better on the Menace. Pretty short on the Viper, but probably fine for .243
*the Viper is longer but the Menace is heavier
*SFP vs FFP
That last one is a big one. But I'm still undecided on SFP vs FFP (is it first focal plane or front focal plane??... I've heard both) . I've never used an FFP scope before. It sounds as if SFP is better for bench shooting, but FFP is best for moving situations/targets. And the FFP scopes are definitely more expensive by a good bit.
