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Rifle Scopes First scope purchase

Rpm1106

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Jul 15, 2013
11
0
Arizona
I'm in the process of building my first bolt rifle but I'm hung up on choosing a scope. I want to use the rifle for target shooting and hunting and I don't have a large budget. A friend recommended this scope Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44 PA Rifle Scope FREE S&H Vortex VIPER6520X44-VPR-M-05BDC, VPR-M05MD and I was curious if anyone here had any input. It fits my price range and seems to have what I think I ahould need. Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time.
 
First scope purchase

Low price point high magnification variable power scopes are tourist traps.

You don't need as much magnification as you think you do.
 
I'm in the process of building my first bolt rifle but I'm hung up on choosing a scope. I want to use the rifle for target shooting and hunting and I don't have a large budget. A friend recommended this scope Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44 PA Rifle Scope FREE S&H Vortex VIPER6520X44-VPR-M-05BDC, VPR-M05MD and I was curious if anyone here had any input. It fits my price range and seems to have what I think I ahould need. Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time.

I have no experience of the SWFA (though they seem very interesting) but the Vortex PA I have a pretty good experience about and I think they are really hard to beat as far as bang for the buck is concerned. They eyebox is even better than on the PST and optically speaking I would say they are second only to the Razor HD only.
They are very robust and I don't think you need to worry about them not hanging in when it gets rough.

Graham's comment is otherwise very wise indeed, but these are a good exeption from that rule.
 
I think you would be better off with a SWFA fixed power scope when all is said and done. They are available in 10, 12, 16, and 20 powers and are available in MOA or mil configurations. The 10x units have side adjustments, and all are under $400. If you go to sell it later you can get 75% of your money out of it, whereas the vortex you linked would be unlikely to get more than 50% out of it. I bought the mil dot version of the one you have linked, and it is sitting on a 22 right now.
 
I don't think your friend hunts if that's the scope he suggested . I would look at something lower power starting at 3 X or 4 x at the most .
 
I'm in the process of building my first bolt rifle but I'm hung up on choosing a scope.

Your "building" your rifle, old adage, take it's final cost, multiply by at least 3X, then start looking at scopes in that price range.