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Budget hunting scope

mi223

Full Member
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 14, 2017
815
431
West Michigan
It looks like my kid will be hunting with me for the first time this year. He has been shooting my ar with a 1-6 lpvo very well so I decided to get a 350 legend upper as a collapsible stock works very well for both of us.

Now I need an optic. I don't want to spend a bunch of money on a scope for a 15 day hunting season. I really want the new athlon helos 2-12 but I would prefer not to spend that much.

Is there anything that is worth using in the 200 dollar range? Or is vortex strike eagle or Burris rt 6 as cheap as I should go?

Thanks for any help
 
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You can probably pick up a nice used scope with a good waranty for that.

Leupold has great customer service and an old leupold is probably a lot nicer than a new budget brand.
 
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Take a look at the PX section under optics... one thing I have learned in glass, buy once cry once. I finally splurged when I was a poor kid in College with a set of Swarovski binos... I still use them 20 years later! Best purchase ever!
 
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Only scope I would trust at that price is the Burris FF II 3-9x40. Not the greatest glass or reticle, but it never held me from taking a shot when I needed it. I wouldn't constantly dial it, but once set... has help up to alot of abuse. As long as you don't over tighten the rings, 1/4 moa click actually equals 1/4 moa. I have a few and always keep one as a spare on trips. It's bailed out a few friends.

Ilya has some reviews on it. Like the SWFA, good bang for the buck. Could get you by until you can afford better.

Hope this helps.
 
Hunting where and what? THose kiddos can see sharp. Maybe just a red dot you have lying around. Obviously that doesn't work out west for long distance but at 100 yards, iron sights or a dot for a kid: Easy Money. All my deer pre-adult were iron sights (If you are borrowing a rifle, you can't be real choosy)

Just a thought--Where I hunted 200 yards (50-100 was more typical) was a max shot, so that flavors this opinion.
 
There's a strike eagle 1-8 in the px for 275. I've take quite a few coyotes, raccoons and one skunk with it. Tracks well, bdc isn't terrible. For the price (of a used one) the eyebox is forgivingish, the 1x is pretty good and I've taken it out to 800 effectively on steel e types.

Edit: not my SE for sale.
 
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i'd spring for a little more on what doug recommends, because if there was something worth it, i think he would say so.

if needed, make plans to see a couple movies in your head that you might want to see. maybe the new eastwood film.
plan to take the kids if you have them, popcorn and sodas, or plan on the cost of a baby sitter.
now cancel those plans and you can afford a little more for the scope. :p
 
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an old 2-7 or a 3-9 will work just dandy.

Rooster is a top guy to deal with with his listed.

Not sure in MI, but we cannot use any illumination here for hunting, so anything like that is out in CO.
 
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an old 2-7 or a 3-9 will work just dandy.

Rooster is a top guy to deal with with his listed.

Not sure in MI, but we cannot use any illumination here for hunting, so anything like that is out in CO.
Thanks for the kind words brother!
 
an old 2-7 or a 3-9 will work just dandy.

Rooster is a top guy to deal with with his listed.

Not sure in MI, but we cannot use any illumination here for hunting, so anything like that is out in CO.
Are you sure about that? What I am seeing is nothing that projects a light.
 
Hunting where and what? THose kiddos can see sharp. Maybe just a red dot you have lying around. Obviously that doesn't work out west for long distance but at 100 yards, iron sights or a dot for a kid: Easy Money. All my deer pre-adult were iron sights (If you are borrowing a rifle, you can't be real choosy)

Just a thought--Where I hunted 200 yards (50-100 was more typical) was a max shot, so that flavors this opinion.
Great questions. I forgot to mention this is deer hunting in the woods. Shooting 100 yds max. I want something with a wide fov to make it faster for him to f
i'd spring for a little more on what doug recommends, because if there was something worth it, i think he would say so.

if needed, make plans to see a couple movies in your head that you might want to see. maybe the new eastwood film.
plan to take the kids if you have them, popcorn and sodas, or plan on the cost of a baby sitter.
now cancel those plans and you can afford a little more for the scope. :p
Lol. I was starting to wonder what you was getting at. I like it
 
I've got 2 Midas BTR's on 22lr's. Will sell you one cheap for your kid if interested. Great value scope, Ares glass but SFP with subtensions correct @15x. Mag range is 4.5-27x50.
 
A very good very budget scope that punches way above it's price is the Sig Sauer Buckmasters 3-12x44mm - BDC #SOBM43001 for $99.99
I actually just bought a tango 3 locally. Didn't know know about a 3-12 or I might have waited. A friends brother worked at this shop and said "this is what you want.". I agree it punches way above it's price point. I couldn't believe the turrets actually click. Very impressed for $130. It will be great for a few weeks out of the year.