Rifle Scopes FFP, mil/mil .338LM scope?

[jvencius]

I've got a .338LM on order from a member here and now I get to think/plan optics that'll let me work that rifle out at distance since a 2,500 yard range just opened that has me drooling in anticipation... At this point, I'm trying hard to find a reason NOT to buy a Vortex Razor HD with the EBR-2B reticle but is there another scope in the ~$2K price range (new, since the used market is hard to predict...) that's FFP and mil/mil I should be considering? Some time ago I got to look through a SWFA 5-20 and while the glass was excellent, I don't care for the mil-quad reticle vs. the Razor's Horus-esque EBR-2B.

If the IOR 6-24 was mil/mil I'd put it on the short list but it's not and since my other two magnified scopes are mil/mil, I'm trying to standardize things in the Closet of Hate so my simple little mind doesn't get too confused...

 

[Intensefab]

That's the optic I have on my Barrett MRAD.

The RAZR has held up and has great clarity!

Jeff

 

[BobinNC]

I've got a .338LM on order from a member here and now I get to think/plan optics that'll let me work that rifle out at distance since a 2,500 yard range just opened that has me drooling in anticipation... At this point, I'm trying hard to find a reason NOT to buy a Vortex Razor HD with the EBR-2B reticle but is there another scope in the ~$2K price range (new, since the used market is hard to predict...) that's FFP and mil/mil I should be considering? Some time ago I got to look through a SWFA 5-20 and while the glass was excellent, I don't care for the mil-quad reticle vs. the Razor's Horus-esque EBR-2B.

If the IOR 6-24 was mil/mil I'd put it on the short list but it's not and since my other two magnified scopes are mil/mil, I'm trying to standardize things in the Closet of Hate so my simple little mind doesn't get too confused...

I'm not necessarily recommending it, but IOR's 6-24x56mm is offered in a MIL/MIL version here: 6-24x56 35mm TACTICAL FFP MIL/MIL SF TACTICAL SCOPE

Street price should be inside your $2k limit.

 

[Sako man]

I'm not necessarily recommending it, but IOR's 6-24x56mm is offered in a MIL/MIL version here: 6-24x56 35mm TACTICAL FFP MIL/MIL SF TACTICAL SCOPE

Street price should be inside your $2k limit.

While I like the turrets on the IORs I have had issues with my 3.5-18 bottoming out in the erector only giving me seven mills after ZERO, not good. I want to love them because of the amazing glass and great price, features etc.. And they do have some of the best glass.

For the OPs question if your shooting out to 2500Y I would go with 25x not a 20x. That rules out Vortex and SS. You need max magnification if your gonna stretch those legs for 338. So the recommendation of the 6-24 is a good one. Plus the MP8 is a great reticle. If you were able to get another 500$ you could go for a used Steiner, much more preferable to the IOR.

good luck finding something, good glass is not cheep.

 

[2G5MK]

All things considered in the price range you are considering I would stick with the Razor. I have a PH 5-25 that does have better glass. However, the Razor sits on my 338 because it has longer eye relief and significantly more elevation travel than my PH. In the under 2k price range I have not looked through a ffp mil/mil that I would say was better than the Razor.

 

[JC Steel]

Get the 4.5x30-50mm bushenll ERS. 34 mm tube, a touch more mag than the others listed. Hope it helps

 

[Crosshair]

Here is a 3080 yard shot with the Razor atop a DTA 375 Cheytac. The 36 mils of elevation, 10 mils per rev, illuminated EBR-2B tree reticle, and best warranty; It would get my vote for best value in a 2K optic.



3080 Yard Shot with .375 CheyTac - YouTube

 

[jvencius]

Originally posted by BobinNC:
I'm not necessarily recommending it, but IOR's 6-24x56mm is offered in a MIL/MIL version here: 6-24x56 35mm TACTICAL FFP MIL/MIL SF TACTICAL SCOPE

Street price should be inside your $2k limit.

Interesting--mag range and price are right about what I'm looking for but I'd prefer (would like, but isn't a deal-breaker) a reticle like the Horus'es/EBR-2B that has some sort of markings so that I'm not holding off in space for windage/elevation.

Originally posted by jcvibby:
Get the 4.5x30-50mm bushenll ERS. 34 mm tube, a touch more mag than the others listed. Hope it helps

I saw that scope listed on Liberty Optics' site (couple other places too) and it definitely ping'ed my "interest" meter but I wasn't able to find any hard-use reviews for that model scope. The price/reticle/mag range are all right about what I'm looking for but $2K+ I'd hope for a good reliability record--not saying that the ERS 4.5-30 is either good or bad, but so far "we'll see" is about as much as I've found about it

Sorry for making this so hard--it seems like $2K is a price point in between "okay/serviceable but not ideal" scopes (i.e. the PST 6-24, SWFA 5-20, etc...) and unquestionably good to where the decision on a model comes down to personal preference (S&B PMII 5-25, PR 5-25, etc...). If I can be patient and save a while longer since buying the rifle has pretty well cleaned out my new-blaster budget then I'd be able to look at used top-tier scopes like the aforementioned S&B, Premier, etc. but if I get impatient and just can't wait any longer it seems like the Razor would be all the scope I NEED with 95% of the features I want, less a little bit of magnification at the top of the range.

Arrrrrgh--deciding on a rifle/chambering was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay easier than figuring out what optic to drop a big pile of dough on...

 

[lowfill707]

i have never personally checked out an IOR but i can say that the razor is surprisingly nice for the money. i had the not so common opportunity to compare the glass against a list of other high/higher end optics side by side at mile high a couple weeks ago and was surprised how much i like the razors glass against others like USO, the nightforce atacr and the new leupold mark 6(all in a similar price range). that was until it was against the S&B's side by side, but thats not a fair comparison. obviously glass isnt everything, but since you prefer the reticle on the vortex and their warranty would cover any damage caused by the 338lm's recoil it seems like a great choice. if it were my money id feel really comfortable going with the razor.

 

[Sako man]

Yeah Razor is nice. But if your going 2500 then thats a long ways and more mag the better.But the glass and reticle is great on the Razor, 10mil turrets a must.

 

[2G5MK]

Check out opticsthoughts.com Ilya Koshkin has written several very extensive comparative analyses on high end tactical scopes. They are titled, "high end tactical Scopes: East vs West," "High End Tactical Scopes: PartII," and "High End Tactical Scopes: Part III." you may find these articles helpful.