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Best value for a benchrest/reference scope?

P

pangris

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    • Feb 25, 2006
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    I'm looking for a scope I can throw on various rifles for checking potential accuracy, how they like a load etc.


    Available on the market today - is there a better deal going than the above SWFA for a 16-25X capable scope?

    I'd guess by what I used to know that is the point of diminishing returns for a basic bench scope but I'm open to suggestions
     
    Last edited:
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    I have a old Leupold VX3i 6.5 -20 fine plex that i use, it's the efr? That you can focus real close for a 22.
    Anyway not sure what you are asking.
    Think Leupold named the new line VX-3, just a basic scope ,without all the tactical crap the people on the Hide has to have for it to be serviceable.
     
    Apologies for not being more clear.

    I'm not using it for anything other than academic range duty - testing how any given rifle works with any given load at 100 or 200.
     
    pangris said:
    I'm looking for a scope I can throw on various rifles for checking potential accuracy, how they like a load etc.


    Available on the market today - is there a better deal going than the above SWFA for a 16-25X capable scope?

    I'd guess by what I used to know that is the point of diminishing returns for a basic bench scope but I'm open to suggestions
    Click to expand...

    Yeah a used SWFA they pop up for ~200 ever now and then. 12x, 16x, 20x, etc.
     
    There isn't a SFP benchrest scope on the entire market better than the Athlon ETR or Heras 15-60x56 as far as bang for the buck in this genre of target scope . These are true jewels to look through and I'm not exaggerating.
     
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    SWFA fixed power. I have a 20x sitting just for eliminating possible scope issues when something is not right. Awful glass, awful eye box. Solid and reliable.
     
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    I appreciate the input - I ordered the SWFA 20X as I can live with awful glass, awful eyebox as long as it is reliable.

    Who knows, once I get my data on the stuff I'm curious about maybe it will be for sale for here 🤷‍♂️
     
    steve123 said:
    There isn't a SFP benchrest scope on the entire market better than the Athlon ETR or Heras 15-60x56 as far as bang for the buck in this genre of target scope . These are true jewels to look through and I'm not exaggerating.
    Click to expand...
    How does the Heras stack up to the Ares? This is my first high mag SFP scope of this type, so I'm undecided if I want to keep and use, so this price point makes it reasonablefor me to try. I'm only shooting LR steel matches with this scope so it will work for it's intended use. I'll use other FFP optics for the other matches.
     
    Chris1972 said:
    SWFA fixed power. I have a 20x sitting just for eliminating possible scope issues when something is not right. Awful glass, awful eye box. Solid and reliable.
    Click to expand...
    You were exactly correct. It made me realize I was short on cheek position. Does allow for tiny groups.
     
    EscapeVelocity said:
    How does the Heras stack up to the Ares? This is my first high mag SFP scope of this type, so I'm undecided if I want to keep and use, so this price point makes it reasonablefor me to try. I'm only shooting LR steel matches with this scope so it will work for it's intended use. I'll use other FFP optics for the other matches.
    Click to expand...

    Because I haven't looked through the Heras all I've got to share in the comparison between the two is what two friends told me. They couldn't tell hardly any difference in image quality, one swears his Ares gets the nod, the other struggles to make out a difference. Both these shooters are national champions, one in Benchrest, and one Field target, so pretty reliable sources.

    The reticle is thin so I wanted the 'mostly' daylight bright illuminated center dot in the ETR because sometimes the reticle wouldn't be easy to see against shaded targets when shooting in FT matches.

    I love this scope, its amazing, regardless of price.
     
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    steve123 said:
    Because I haven't looked through the Heras all I've got to share in the comparison between the two is what two friends told me. They couldn't tell hardly any difference in image quality, one swears his Ares gets the nod, the other struggles to make out a difference. Both these shooters are national champions, one in Benchrest, and one Field target, so pretty reliable sources.

    The reticle is thin so I wanted the 'mostly' daylight bright illuminated center dot in the ETR because sometimes the reticle wouldn't be easy to see against shaded targets when shooting in FT matches.

    I love this scope, its amazing, regardless of price.
    Click to expand...
    I appreciate the input! To the OPs question, this seems like a great option for price. For me it's an experiment to see if I want to use this type of optic, so not a lot of downside.

    I agree about that center dot preference. I'm not sure about a solid thin reticle. I like them dots.
     
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