Rifle Scopes $1800 Budget for optics, Whats the best
- Thread starter EricM40
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Re: $1800 Budget for optics, Whats the best
Well, you listed two pretty different scopes in your post. It might help to know specifics as to:
What features do you want most?
FFP or SFP?
What magnification range would you prefer?
Does your budget of $1800 include mounts/rings or do you have a separate budget for those?
What do you want to do with the rifle once you get a scope mounted? Ranges you plan to shoot, targets/steel or hunting, etc.
There are lots of choices out there for the $1800 range (give or take), but they are vastly different in terms of what they can offer you.
Well, you listed two pretty different scopes in your post. It might help to know specifics as to:
What features do you want most?
FFP or SFP?
What magnification range would you prefer?
Does your budget of $1800 include mounts/rings or do you have a separate budget for those?
What do you want to do with the rifle once you get a scope mounted? Ranges you plan to shoot, targets/steel or hunting, etc.
There are lots of choices out there for the $1800 range (give or take), but they are vastly different in terms of what they can offer you.
Re: $1800 Budget for optics, Whats the best
Agree with above.
However, for my purposes, that 3-18 IOR is looking pretty appealing.
Agree with above.
However, for my purposes, that 3-18 IOR is looking pretty appealing.
Re: $1800 Budget for optics, Whats the best
FFP or SFP does not really matter to me. For shoots I am mostly a 10X person, but then again never had a scope over that. I use my rifle for everything. On the range it is distances out to 600Yards and farther if i am privy to go to Benning. I hunt out to 400Yards out of a box blind with markers and windage flags.
I guess my biggest thing is that I want to get into competition, so I need a scope that can go from the range to the field with no issues. It must be very durable and must be able to take adjustments on the fly while positively returning to zero.
I have badger rings and bases already.
FFP or SFP does not really matter to me. For shoots I am mostly a 10X person, but then again never had a scope over that. I use my rifle for everything. On the range it is distances out to 600Yards and farther if i am privy to go to Benning. I hunt out to 400Yards out of a box blind with markers and windage flags.
I guess my biggest thing is that I want to get into competition, so I need a scope that can go from the range to the field with no issues. It must be very durable and must be able to take adjustments on the fly while positively returning to zero.
I have badger rings and bases already.
Re: $1800 Budget for optics, Whats the best
For $1800 with those parameters, the Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x50mm, Zero Stop with whichever reticle you prefer is as good as it gets! May cost you a few dollars over $1800 ($1810 or so), but it is money well spent on a scope that will last a lifetime and will have some of the best glass money can buy.
For $1800 with those parameters, the Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x50mm, Zero Stop with whichever reticle you prefer is as good as it gets! May cost you a few dollars over $1800 ($1810 or so), but it is money well spent on a scope that will last a lifetime and will have some of the best glass money can buy.
Re: $1800 Budget for optics, Whats the best
NF 5.5-22 NP-R1. Or 3.5-15 if you dont need more than 15x. You should be able to find one of those with zerostop in your price range. Check out the optics classifieds. You may be able to find a sweet rig used and save some coin.
NF 5.5-22 NP-R1. Or 3.5-15 if you dont need more than 15x. You should be able to find one of those with zerostop in your price range. Check out the optics classifieds. You may be able to find a sweet rig used and save some coin.
Re: $1800 Budget for optics, Whats the best
between the two....Nightforce.
If you are willing to open it up...would consider Vortex.
between the two....Nightforce.
If you are willing to open it up...would consider Vortex.
Re: $1800 Budget for optics, Whats the best
I too would leave Leupold out of consideration. There are better choices out there. I think for the versatility you're after it would be best to budget a few hundred more or be patient for a used deal to come up. An FFP from USO, NF, Premier or maybe even an S&B might turn up for $2000-2300 range. (Some of those you can get new for that). And each would give you a more versatile magnification range...something in the 3/3.2-15/18 range. If you just can't swing the $$$, the 4th gen IOR 3-18 from Liberty Optics is less than you budgeted.
I like scopes that can go down pretty low in magnification but when you get into some of these beefier scopes they can lose their advantages despite offering that. For example, I find my 20" barrel LTR with a NF 2.5-10X32 is much more maneuverable and nicer to shoot off-hand if need be than my 24" barreled .308 with a PH 3-15. Overall, that rifle weighs 2.5 lbs. more. Its advantages are less felt recoil and more "reach" out past 400 yards for stationary or near stationary shots.
I will bring both rifles antelope hunting and if conditions are better suited for 50-300 yard shots, use the LTR. If weather has driven them spooky and they are always 400-600 yards away, then the long gun comes out.
I too would leave Leupold out of consideration. There are better choices out there. I think for the versatility you're after it would be best to budget a few hundred more or be patient for a used deal to come up. An FFP from USO, NF, Premier or maybe even an S&B might turn up for $2000-2300 range. (Some of those you can get new for that). And each would give you a more versatile magnification range...something in the 3/3.2-15/18 range. If you just can't swing the $$$, the 4th gen IOR 3-18 from Liberty Optics is less than you budgeted.
I like scopes that can go down pretty low in magnification but when you get into some of these beefier scopes they can lose their advantages despite offering that. For example, I find my 20" barrel LTR with a NF 2.5-10X32 is much more maneuverable and nicer to shoot off-hand if need be than my 24" barreled .308 with a PH 3-15. Overall, that rifle weighs 2.5 lbs. more. Its advantages are less felt recoil and more "reach" out past 400 yards for stationary or near stationary shots.
I will bring both rifles antelope hunting and if conditions are better suited for 50-300 yard shots, use the LTR. If weather has driven them spooky and they are always 400-600 yards away, then the long gun comes out.
Re: $1800 Budget for optics, Whats the best
i see a bunch of nightforce and leupold for sale and honestly there both really good scopes, i decided to not save a few extra bucks for a nf and bought a leupold mark 4 pretty reasonable from a hide member and am more than satisfied with it. i think my next scope will be a nightforce cause ive been wanting one for a while but if u dont have the cash buy a leupold mark 4, im pretty sure u will be happy.
i see a bunch of nightforce and leupold for sale and honestly there both really good scopes, i decided to not save a few extra bucks for a nf and bought a leupold mark 4 pretty reasonable from a hide member and am more than satisfied with it. i think my next scope will be a nightforce cause ive been wanting one for a while but if u dont have the cash buy a leupold mark 4, im pretty sure u will be happy.
Re: $1800 Budget for optics, Whats the best
USO SN-3 1.8-10x w/a ERGO knob will be about $1800 shipped and will get you out to 1000 yards. If I had a M40 this is the scope I would rock on my rifle. I have a ST10 on my GAP 300WM and a SN9 on my 50BMG Windrunner. You should also think about the ST10 with ERGO, GAP mill reticle/lit reticle.
Just my 2 cents.....
USO SN-3 1.8-10x w/a ERGO knob will be about $1800 shipped and will get you out to 1000 yards. If I had a M40 this is the scope I would rock on my rifle. I have a ST10 on my GAP 300WM and a SN9 on my 50BMG Windrunner. You should also think about the ST10 with ERGO, GAP mill reticle/lit reticle.
Just my 2 cents.....
Re: $1800 Budget for optics, Whats the best
I would recommend the NF 3.5-15... it's all the scope you'll need and you can find them for less than $1500.
I would recommend the NF 3.5-15... it's all the scope you'll need and you can find them for less than $1500.
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