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Rifle Scopes Advice on some new Glass

Panhandle_Pilgrim

Panhandle_Pilgrim

Private
Minuteman
May 2, 2018
31
17
Kellogg, ID
#1
Hey all! This is my first post on this site so sorry if I am bringing out an already dead horse to be beaten some more but, I am seeking some input on a new scope to put on my 300 WSM. My primary use is hunting but I do shoot rocks and varmints as well, generally a couple times a month. I currently have a Huskemaw, its served me well but I want an optic with a better reticle and better glass and more vertical elevation. I get military discounts on several big names and here are the ones I am considering:

-Nightforce NXS MOAR-T 5-22.5
-Leupold Mk 5 or 6
-Vortex Razor Gen 1 or 2, (is the 2 worth the extra $)
- Bushnell DMR 2 (Read some great things for the price, but I can't find one anywhere to actually look at one.)

I am looking for something with good glass and functionality, I don't care about much else, weight is nice, but not a deal breaker. This will be the 3rd Scope on this rifle, previous was a Viper PST and I'll never own another for anything other than a varmint rifle. I might add that I am used to MOA but am not opposed to relearning MILs. I appreciate any input.
 
#3
I suggest you learn mils regardless. Because eventually you'll shoot with someone who is using mils and you won't want to feel like a dummy and be completely lost.

All of the above are great options. With the warranties those scope makers have I would highly suggest buying used. unless the available mil discounts beat used prices. You honestly can't go wrong with any of the above options. Only red flag I see is the NF being a SFP optic. Certainly not ideal with today's offerings. A 3-15F1 would more directly compare to your above list. (discontinued--you'll have to buy used)

I'd drop the mk6 off your list. It offers literally almost nothing over the mk5 at a higher cost. Only downside is there's a upcharge for illumination. I wish leupold would have used the same turret for wind on the mk5 as elevation. Their mk5 wind turret setup is kind of fuckey. I had a mk6 H59 for a couple months and while it was a fine optic it's certainly not worth the premium.

I'd skip the G1 razor. It's an OK scope but that's about it. If you're strictly looking at the vortex razor series I'd say the G2 is certainly worth the $$$.

DMRII. I currently have a G3 illum model and I tell you what it's a sweet little package. When you compare the feature set to the price to Bushy's great reputation for reliability & tracking it's a great value. I wish the glass were a little better but I can't blame the glass for missing anything I've used this scope to shoot at.

If It were my $
1. Nightforce 3.5-15x50F1
2. Bushy DMR2
2. Vortex 3-18/4-27

But really it all depends on what you want out of a reticle and how much magnification you think you need. Good luck!
 
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#5
The DMR pro is the one I was looking at, on the order form it is a little more but lists having the same glass as the XRS which is a few hundred more, at that point I think the only thing more I'd be gaining in buying the XRS is the extra zoom which is cool, but not $400 cool.
I played with the Mk 5 5-25 at Cabelas and really liked it aside from the wierd location of the wind age zero hashmark and the 10.5 mil per revolution. I think someone with a 10lb brain may have over engineered that one.
I learned MILs in the Army, but didn't get extensive use with them, but I do have a basic understanding of how to use it, just not with a great deal of proficiency.

GR8ful Doug, before I start calling random numbers, what company do you work for?
 
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#6
Panhandle_Pilgrim said:
The DMR pro is the one I was looking at, on the order form it is a little more but lists having the same glass as the XRS which is a few hundred more, at that point I think the only thing more I'd be gaining in buying the XRS is the extra zoom which is cool, but not $400 cool.
I played with the Mk 5 5-25 at Cabelas and really liked it aside from the wierd location of the wind age zero hashmark and the 10.5 mil per revolution. I think someone with a 10lb brain may have over engineered that one.
I learned MILs in the Army, but didn't get extensive use with them, but I do have a basic understanding of how to use it, just not with a great deal of proficiency.

GR8ful Doug, before I start calling random numbers, what company do you work for?
Click to expand...
@gr8fuldoug is at Cameraland. Great guy to do business with, I recommend giving him a call before you buy elsewhere.
 
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#8
I like the Bushnells myself, I'm not sure if the sell them in moa though, I've handled an vortex gen 2 razor and they seem to be build like a tank and nightfoce is always a good option
 
#9
Panhandle_Pilgrim said:
The DMR pro is the one I was looking at, on the order form it is a little more but lists having the same glass as the XRS which is a few hundred more, at that point I think the only thing more I'd be gaining in buying the XRS is the extra zoom which is cool, but not $400 cool.
I played with the Mk 5 5-25 at Cabelas and really liked it aside from the wierd location of the wind age zero hashmark and the 10.5 mil per revolution. I think someone with a 10lb brain may have over engineered that one.
I learned MILs in the Army, but didn't get extensive use with them, but I do have a basic understanding of how to use it, just not with a great deal of proficiency.

GR8ful Doug, before I start calling random numbers, what company do you work for?
Click to expand...

It's worth converting to mils. Math is simpler, and if you decide to try your hand at PRS-style matches, you'll be speaking the same language as pretty much everyone else. There have been rumors of a MOA XRS2 coming, but I don't know if/when that will happen - and I don't expect a MOA DMR2 Pro any time soon.
If you have any questions on the Pro, let me know. I've been running one for a few months (along with two XRS2s) and will gladly help you out.
 
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#11
Panhandle_Pilgrim said:
So many decisions, and now I'm also looking at the Athlon Cronus BTR because I am reading some great stuff. Its enough to drive a guy mad.
Click to expand...

All I can say is I have run a lot of Bushnell optics over the last few years, and I have yet to have one fail me - even when they have been dropped, beaten up, or otherwise abused. I can't say that about any other brand of optic I have owned.
 
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#14
If you got the money get the razor amg it’s pretty light at 28oz for hunting or razor hd gen2 for target shooting because it’s heavy & that’s a good thing for target shooting to sap recoil. If your trying to save money get the vortex pst gen2, it has good glass, turrets, & ebr-2c is one of my favorite reticles
 
#15
I’ve got a Steiner M that’s I’m pretty stoked on. Seems like a lot of people like their T series too. Both pop up used from time to time in the PX for nice prices.
 
#17
If you want a scope to hunt & varmint shoot with I would go with the Razor AMG it’s not too heavy & American glass probably Schott USA glass. Lots of good scopes to choose from now at good prices there’s also bushnell dmr pro & xrs2, leupold mk5, nf nxs 22x, at this price range any of these scopes will be very good
 
#18
Panhandle_Pilgrim said:
So many decisions, and now I'm also looking at the Athlon Cronus BTR because I am reading some great stuff. Its enough to drive a guy mad.
Click to expand...

We are looking for different scopes as I don't hunt to do adore shooting precision at longer and longer ranges. I was a dyed in the wool Vortex fan but got a great price on an Athlon Argos BTR from Doug at Camera Land NY...it arrived today and I'm basically stunned. I have not seen glass this good in a scope costing less that $1200 and the turrets are super precision with a firm audible click and detent. Fit and finish is beyond want. No CA that I can see.

Have a good hard look at Athlon and buy with full confidence. I have been shopping Vortex and Nightforce and looked thru a lot of very expensive optics the last year and figure I saved about $1000 by talking to Doug.

VooDoo
 
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#19
It would be great if this new athalon turns out to be a good scope. My experience hasn’t been good with Chinese made optics. They can make good glass I don’t doubt that but my bushnell ffp spotter has gone back once for a broken focuser & is going back again for reticle/fine focus problems but the glass looks pretty good but reliability is not. I bet for steel shooters the athalon will be good but competition who twist those turrets & shoot a lot recoil can wreak havoc, so only time will tell
 
#20
How long ago was that? I'm under the impression that Athlon has been improving steadily the last year or so. And it's got a Lifetime Warranty so if it gets sloppy it goes back. So far, in the hand and at first impression, I'm very impressed with the Athlon *but* when one spends $400ish on an optic it's never gonna be as good as a $1400 optic over the long haul. I don't shoot competition nor will I be rough housing/pushing the unit.

So there is that...just saying that for a newbie one should look at the Athlon offerings and try and decide what the use will be realistically.

VooDoo
 
#21
Vodoun daVinci said:
How long ago was that? I'm under the impression that Athlon has been improving steadily the last year or so. And it's got a Lifetime Warranty so if it gets sloppy it goes back. So far, in the hand and at first impression, I'm very impressed with the Athlon *but* when one spends $400ish on an optic it's never gonna be as good as a $1400 optic over the long haul. I don't shoot competition nor will I be rough housing/pushing the unit.

So there is that...just saying that for a newbie one should look at the Athlon offerings and try and decide what the use will be realistically.

VooDoo
Click to expand...
Good point I’m sure you are right about the $400 vs 1400 no doubt. This is most money I’ve seen for Chinese made & if it’s as good as all the reviews so far it sounds like I might need to sell my pst gen2 for my value scope on the 6.5. I don’t use my pst gen2 past a 1000, my SB 25x I use for 1000-1500 yards with 338. I just wonder how the athalon or pst gen2 would hold up to 338 & 1000 yard plus shooting
 
#22
You could save some money buying used, or open box new on eBay, there’s a used nf nxs 5.5-22x56 for $1300. Also a used vortex hd gen2 27x for $1650 & new in the box for $1750 & another for $2200 & vortex has lifetime transferable no fault warranty
 
#26
chavezz556 said:
If you don't need a tree style reticle... for sure check out the Tract Toric or the Nikon Fx1000

It's hard to find a bad review of either scope
Click to expand...
I bought my nephew a Nikon fx1000 6-24 for $675 on sale at a local sporting goods store. I can’t believe how good it is for so cheap. I think sport optics still has a 14% off sale that would make the fx1000 6-24 around $685, hard to beat that value
 
#27
LAW-DOG is right that Nikon's BLACK FX1000 should definitely be added to your list. MOA/MRAD illuminated or nonilluminated reticle it's up to you. Great reviews on this optic and a great price. I have taken mine to 727 yards and put down a number of feral hogs past 500 yards.
These 6.5 cm's both carry BLACK FX1000 4-16x50 MOA no illumination.

Screen%20Shot%202018-11-26%20at%2011.54.19%20AM.png
 
#28
LAW-DOG said:
If you want a scope to hunt & varmint shoot with I would go with the Razor AMG it’s not too heavy & American glass probably Schott USA glass. Lots of good scopes to choose from now at good prices there’s also bushnell dmr pro & xrs2, leupold mk5, nf nxs 22x, at this price range any of these scopes will be very good
Click to expand...
Razor AMG with American Schott glass?

888DCCEA-5E71-4292-8228-67FCE41B0466.jpeg
 
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