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Rifle Scopes Need Advice - Remington 700 308

B

borderc21

Private
Minuteman
Sep 11, 2013
9
0
Birmingham, AL
I currently have a Remington 700 308 in a Bell Carlson stock custom built by Red Hawk Rifles and wanting to sit a nice piece of glass on top for target shooting. I am new to the long range shooting but would like a scope that will allow me to easily reach 700 yards often and 1000 yards occasionally. So here is what I have found so far please let me know your opinion and also feel free to give input on other scopes in the same class and under $1000.

Used Leupold Mark 4 LR 4.5-14x50mm with illuminated mildot and ml knobs. Scope appears to be 4 to 5 years old but in good shape - asking $975

Used Leupold Mark 4 MR1 4.5-14x50mm with mildot and ml knobs. This scope if just a few months old - asking $1050

I have also considered SWFA SS, Zeiss, and Leupold VXIII

Thanks in advance for the advice!
 
Take a look at the vortex pst line as well. Great warranty and performance for price. Your budget limits you a decent bit. Maybe be able to pick up a used nightforce nxs for that price. A lot of people are trying to sell theirs for the new atacr and some of the other new FFP scopes out there
 
In the $1000 range, I'd tend to go with a Bushnell DMR 3.5-21x - they are big and heavy, but good.
 
For target shooting at those distances, for under $1000, I would get a Sightron SIII, either 6-24x50 or 8-32x56mm, mildot or MOA-hash reticle. Optically as good as anything under $1k and better than the vast majority.

A Viper PST 6-24x50 would be an option too, but you probably don't need illumination for target shooting, and the SIII is (IMHO) a better made scope.

Nothing wrong with the Mark 4 models but nothing that would make me run to them either.

You might find a used SWFA SS 5-20x50HD for right around $1k, and if you do that would be a more rugged and generally nicer scope than any of the other discussed, with glass quality at least as good as the SIII and probably somewhat better. (I've looked through the SS 5-20x but haven't spent much time with it - vs. having a SIII on my F/TR rifle and having used it a fair bit.)
 
for that budget, my money would be in the Vortex Viper PST 6-24x as well. I plan to use the same scope on my 30-06 build.

Their warranty helps sell it as well.
 
I am with cramey74. you can find a used Nightforce 3.5-15x50 or 3.5-15x56 for around 1200-1350 used if you look hard enough. These are great scopes for the money. For the added scratch you will definitely see a difference.
 
borderc21 said:
Any thoughts on the Sightron SIII?
Click to expand...

Pretty much repeating myself from my first post, but I think they are a fantastic target scope in the $800-1000 range. Adjustments are great, glass is great. I'm not sure how rugged they are (I haven't had any problems, I just don't get the "feel" of ruggedness from them) but for target shooting or varmint hunting I think they are a great option.
 
Another vote for Vortex Viper PST 6-24.

I like the one on my Rem 700 .308
 
Border:

Age? How soon will you be fighting off "Old Eye Syndrome"? Will you wish you had more zoom or clearer glass in the near future? Won't likely matter to a 20 something, but a 40's guy might want to think about it.

Btw, glass is typically at it's clearest in the middle of the zoom range, so 4-16 will often be less sharp at 16x than a 6-24 would be at the same. Enough to matter? I'm wondering the same thing (in a post I'll admit to shortly)

I don't know about the Leupold warranty, but in general quality glass holds its resale value surprisingly well. Personally unless its a heck of a buy I'd usually buy new. Now I have the receipt, now my warranty is good (and I'm the original owner), and I don't have any surprises later about how it's been the repair show three times already and etc..

Btw, while I'm on the fence on a similar issue, my reading suggests most that have owned/used both Vortex and Sightron think the Sightrons glass is clearer. Since you're not hunting over it who cares about illumination as included in the PST?

Just thought I'd mention a few things I'd not heard shared w/you. Best of luck. d
 
I would take a serious look at the SS 3-15x, the Weaver 3-15x emdr for FFP scopes.
The Vortex 4-16 HST would be an attractive option as well, it is SFP and comes in around 550 dollars.
 
So after two days of reading it has come down to two scopes:

Sightron Riflescopes SIII Series SIIISS624X50LRFFPMOA and Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50 FFP

I have read several articles stating that the Sightron Glass is a lot clearer on higher powers than the Vortex. Any comments on this?
I have also read where everyone has had great customer service from Vortex but have not read much of anything on Sightron's customer service. Should this concern me at all because so many people have had an experience with Vortex's customer service?
Seems like everyone was downing the Sightron because of the different reticules that were available but I am assuming this was before they came out with the mil hash reticule. Thought?
Last but not least there seemed to be a several discussions on the feel of the turrets. Thoughts?

Thanks for all your help the feedback has been super helpful for a rookie like me!
 
Yes, my two finalists as well. I see you too are thinking FFP. I've seen only one short review of the SIII FFP (and can't find it again), and said review mentioned the SIII FFM reticle was ok, but not great.
 
Snake CharmerXX said:
Yes, my two finalists as well. I see you too are thinking FFP. I've seen only one short review of the SIII FFP (and can't find it again), and said review mentioned the SIII FFM reticle was ok, but not great.
Click to expand...

Snake let me know if you pull the trigger on one of these? I would like to get your thoughts once you do
 
I like the reticle in the Viper PST FFP. Markings are usable, without a lot of clutter.
 
borderc21 said:
Well Snake today is the big day. What's it going to be?
Click to expand...


Well... I lied. Sorry. life raised up and bit me on the ass.

I'm strongly leaning towards SIII, but I've decided I want to build a fast table and compare them. I'll share it. Hopefully I can get it built tonight. I'm also strongly inclined to see if Scott would sell me the PST and the Sightron so I can put eye's on them both. We'll see.

(Table built, it's in my thread. Darn, I still can't decide. time to see buy them both! If Vortex made a 6-24 Razor I think I'd have just done that. But they don't, darn it.
 
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maggitas said:
I am with cramey74. you can find a used Nightforce 3.5-15x50 or 3.5-15x56 for around 1200-1350 used if you look hard enough. These are great scopes for the money. For the added scratch you will definitely see a difference.
Click to expand...

And if Nightforce made a FFP I'd just go buy one... I don't want to spend US Optics money, but I'd spend more to get more.
 
borderc21 said:
So after two days of reading it has come down to two scopes:

Sightron Riflescopes SIII Series SIIISS624X50LRFFPMOA and Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50 FFP

I have read several articles stating that the Sightron Glass is a lot clearer on higher powers than the Vortex. Any comments on this?
I have also read where everyone has had great customer service from Vortex but have not read much of anything on Sightron's customer service. Should this concern me at all because so many people have had an experience with Vortex's customer service?
Seems like everyone was downing the Sightron because of the different reticules that were available but I am assuming this was before they came out with the mil hash reticule. Thought?
Last but not least there seemed to be a several discussions on the feel of the turrets. Thoughts?

Thanks for all your help the feedback has been super helpful for a rookie like me!
Click to expand...

I'm a rookie here too border, and have a similar rig. I just set up my Vortex 6-24x50 but in SFP not FFP. I'm doing bench shooting as well and the best I could figure it, the FFP will be the better option only if you are doing unknown distance shooting where you need to mil the target to get the distance. Because I'm doing mostly shooting from the bench at known distances, I saved $300 for the SFP and put that into some reloading gear.

Good Luck.
Zeke
 
I bought an 8-32 nsx moar from papa on here used but not a mark on it at all for 1500 with the box and everything he's a great guy to deal with an always has something
 
Between the two the sightron is a much more reliable scope with a better track record. The sightron and the bushnell elite tacticals are the best scopes at the $1000 mark period.


Snake CharmerXX said:
And if Nightforce made a FFP I'd just go buy one... I don't want to spend US Optics money, but I'd spend more to get more.
Click to expand...

They make two FFP scopes, the F1 and the Beast.
 
BorderC21:

While I'd have loved to demo the PST, Scott (and practically everybody else) doesn't have one on hand. Meanwhile, heavy research confirms that almost everybody that owns both feels the Sightron is clearer in the higher zooms. I'd decided I'm buying an optic, not a guys toy, and so clarity wins over cool features. Too bad the Beast and/or the Leupold Mk 8 are the kind of money they are, but oh well.

The next problem was/is the Sightron reticle. In short, I really don't think it's my first choice. I'd have MUCH rather it carried the crosshairs across each other (intersected) and not used a 250% larger dot instead, but it is what it is.

BTW, SIII are made in Japan, w/Japanese glass.

I can find no other quality answers without substantial spending increases, so for me the SIII is what gets ordered.

Anybody know who's selling these at a good price?
 
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First post? Man, and I thought I was a low timer. Not really for a newbie like me to say, but what the hey:

"Welcome!".
 
borderc21 said:
I have also read where everyone has had great customer service from Vortex but have not read much of anything on Sightron's customer service. Should this concern me at all because so many people have had an experience with Vortex's customer service?
Click to expand...

This says it all for me. How the heck is the fact that Vortex Customer service is so well used a selling point? The fact that it is used so often makes it a NON-selling point. That's like somebody saying "This scope sucks, but they'll fix it for you."

Having looked through and played with both Sightron and Vortex, Sightron wins hands down.
 
Get a used Nightforce .
I have Signtron great scope.
Any warranty issues you will be screwed!!!!


PSE EVO 60 Lbs.
Blacked out
 
Yep, 1st post. Thanks for the welcome! Much appreciated! Lots of great information here. Im a regular on AccurateShooter.com and my profile name there is stinnett1981. Many transactions and post there. I stumbled upon this site because I was tryin to sell a tactical rifle scope (Bushnell Elite Tactical 6-24X50 30mm tube with a illuminated FFP mil-dot reticle) and was unable to because I dont have Full Member Status and a Complete Profile. How do I get a Full Member Status and a Complete Profile??? Sorry Borderc21 for getting off subject on your thread. I will post my own threads for now on so I dont clutter up other peoples threads. Thanks to all!
 
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