Not really...I've had several...They're "OK" at best, and extremely outdated design and features. They only have 5 MIL turrets, NO illuminated reticle, NO zero-stop... WAY too outdated to be asking what they ask for them. The Burris XTR-III has all those features, 34mm tube, zero-stop, illuminated reticle, and much better (modern) Japanese ED glass.
I was going to recommend that, but when I saw that he said he was able to go up to $1K, then no questions get the XTR-3 over the XTR-2. I have both the recent production XTR-2 5-25x50 SCR and XTR-3 5.5-30x56 SCR2, and the XTR-3 is a noticeable jump in glass performance for the money.
Thanks. If the XTR-2 is pretty serviceable I'd much rather come under budget than max it out. My best scope is a Viper 6-24 HST and glass wise I'm ok with anything on par with that.
Don't know about the 3-15x50 XTR-2... But if it's as good as the 5-25x50 XTR-2, then it will definitely be better than the Viper HST 6-24x50. I still have a few of those that I used for over 10 years. Glass-wise, they were good, but mechanically and zero-stop wise, they were lacking compared to modern scopes, so they got replaced.
Your XTR 2 is comparable to the HST? Glass wise
Yes, better scope overall, actually... The controls are more solid, the zero-stop is a solid steel pin nstead of that crappy "smooshy-feeling" shim system Vortex used to use on the HST's, 34mm tube, better turrets, and the glass is a step up, IMO. Everyone's eyes are different, but to me, the XTR-2 is a noticeable upgrade over the HST.
Thanks I appreciate your input but the ever changing SFP reticle values confuse the crap out of me. I don't have time to do math. Most of the time I do best flying by the seat of my pants. I try to know my approximate distance and the drop in inches or feet for the round and guesstimate it. It obviously hasn't worked out perfectly for me. It's why I prefer flatter guns. At 300 to 500 yards I'm stretching out a 223 too far for moving targets. I'm hoping the 6.5 helps at least a little.
ARC M-Brace 34mm Low will be more than enough clearance with a 50mm objective... The only way to fly. I used to only use Seekins Precision, and they're great rings, but these are the most repeatable and solid rings I've used. Also, the design of them makes leveling the scope SUPER fast and easy because it doesn't rotate once you get it leveled and then start torquing the clamps. It's a great design. I've started using them exclusively. They're worth the money...Good rings always are.
www.midwayusa.com 
This is the first I've heard about it!
Where did you hear this rumor? Seems to have come out of left field.
I heard the rumor first at Shot Show from someone connected.
I wouldn't do too much reading on the internet (especially some of the threads on here about Burris), it's mostly made up of people bitching about things that don't work. You rarely see anyone post up things that work as good or better than they're supposed to. Everyone loves drama...
I can ride with you on everything but the last sentence. I'm not suggesting meopta is the answer to any question, but $$$ for $$$, comparing apples to apples, they are spectacular. Their optika 6 series glass is really good. Repeatable, good turrets, they seem reliable way beyond their cost (in my experience). I've had a few and really liked them for the cost.I wouldn't do too much reading on the internet (especially some of the threads on here about Burris), it's mostly made up of people bitching about things that don't work. You rarely see anyone post up things that work as good or better than they're supposed to. Everyone loves drama...
Good rule of thumb for the internet and reading scope and gun reviews... 75% of it is personal bias, and 25% (or less) is factual. So literally follow the old adage of "Believe none of what you hear, and only half of what you see."
My point being, the internet blows things way out of proportion and nukes things out of orbit with people who want to hop on the hate bandwagons to be "part of something" and feel cool. Most of these stories you read are either complete bullshit, happened to someone else and not the person claiming it did, never happened, or they heard it happened and got details twisted up through multiple hands telling the story.
Also, I won't own either Sightron or Athlon, personally, and Meopta is overrated.
I've looked through quite a few... Wasn't overly impressed. Plus, the giant rubber buttplug adjustments and blue markings are kind of cheesy and shitty. And the fact people on the internet are trying to compare the glass to $2K scopes is Poors projecting and grasping for straws.
I told a story last year or the year before about a prs match I shot. I had an optika 6 on my backup rifle (an ar10 6.5cm), and last minute, I had to take it. Last stage of the day we had targets at 1k, 1,100 and 1,200. The mirage was as bad as I've ever seen it (probably noon by the time we shot it, and the wind was 20mph+). The conditions were terrible for spotting impacts, almost as bad as they can be. We were on an elevated platform, about 20' up. We went 10 at a time, and laid side by side prone. There was "alpha glass everywhere". I was the only person, (with an optika 6 5-30×56 that I bought second hand for $600 just to goof around with on a trainer rifle) who could pick up the impacts. I watched every impact for the group. Nobody could believe that I could see them and they couldn't, but their corrections proved that I could. I'm not making any statements about that scope being somehow better than any other scope, but that is an accurate description of what happened. And I have alpha scopes too. I'm meeting someone in a few hours to trade away a Z8. They just seem to punch way above their weight class.
I totally understand taking internet chatter with a grain of salt. I've other hobbies that where I've seen bs parroted. I'll call Burris tomorrow to see how they handle the missing throw lever and dead battery. If they handle it well I may try them again. If they give me a song and dance I'll know the complaints amount about their CS is legitimate.I wouldn't do too much reading on the internet (especially some of the threads on here about Burris), it's mostly made up of people bitching about things that don't work. You rarely see anyone post up things that work as good or better than they're supposed to. Everyone loves drama...
Good rule of thumb for the internet and reading scope and gun reviews... 75% of it is personal bias, and 25% (or less) is factual. So literally follow the old adage of "Believe none of what you hear, and only half of what you see."
My point being, the internet blows things way out of proportion and nukes things out of orbit with people who want to hop on the hate bandwagons to be "part of something" and feel cool. Most of these stories you read are either complete bullshit, happened to someone else and not the person claiming it did, never happened, or they heard it happened and got details twisted up through multiple hands telling the story.
Also, I won't own either Sightron or Athlon, personally, and Meopta is overrated.
I agree, but the problem is, nothing under $1K is really worthy of the rigors of comp use. That’s why I recommended the XTR-3… It’s proven to be a reliable entry level scope. Tracks true, glass is top of its price point. And lots of folks will recommend this scope to you.
I'm not arguing with you. We have different priorities. I'm not shooting competion. I just wanted something maybe better than my 3.5-14 Nikon Prostaff 5 or 6-24 Viper HST. The HST is fine for me until I get close to max magnification. At that point the PS5 is actually better. For my local recreational and hunting purposes, optically I could shoot either of these two scopes mentioned out to 500-800 yards. I just wanted to treat myself to something a little nicer if I ever stretched this new gun out to 1000. I just want a decent optic with reliable dependability backed by good Customer Support.
I'm not arguing with you either. However, when you say your budget goes up to $xxxx, don't get upset when people tell you to buy the nicest thing your budget will allow, because you said you wanted to treat yourself to something nice. Then when you decide to drop your budget, they tell you that by doing so, you're going to sacrifice quality and potential for NOT needing to use that warrant and customer service that you are so adamant about. Quality costs money, and with said quality, and dedication to taking care of your gear (I do know shit happens out of our control sometimes) your odds of ever needing to utilize that customer service for a genuine manufacturing defect, are exponentially decreased (nothing man-made is ever zero).
If you aren't keen on the XTR3 then I'd strongly suggest the PST Gen2 3-15.
. I may opt for a 5-25x for the bolt gun.After a lot of digging I think I found a new Viper PST Gen 2, 3-15x with the EBR-2C mil reticle for $513. Optics Planet has it available in 1-4 months.
I'll run my 3.5-14x40 Prostaff 5 temporarily on a flat trail to see if I need more magnification or base tilt. Luckily I can cancel the order if I need more magnification. For this price I think it's worth the wait. Thanks for the suggestion. Best of luck… Optics Planet is a scam. They tell you things are in stock that really aren’t, they take your money then never ship the items, getting a refund is a pain in the ass. Been there, as well. Most of us here won’t do business with them, as well. Look up the thread “Optics Planet Sucks”. They’ve screwed thousands of people with shitty and sketchy business practices.After a lot of digging I think I found a new Viper PST Gen 2, 3-15x with the EBR-2C mil reticle for $513. Optics Planet has it available in 1-4 months.
Ron
Well aren't you a bucket of sunshineBest of luck… Optics Planet is a scam. They tell you things are in stock that really aren’t, they take your money then never ship the items, getting a refund is a pain in the ass. Been there, as well. Most of us here won’t do business with them, as well. Look up the thread “Optics Planet Sucks”. They’ve screwed thousands of people with shitty and sketchy business practices.
https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/optics-planet-sucks.7016052/
I've heard the horror stories. For ten years I've had pretty good luck with them and DVOR which I believe is the same company. At worst, I'll cancel if I get tired of waiting or find some better deal. I won't be out anything but time.He maybe right. I'm willing to roll the dice when there's no money to lose and a good bargain involved. I'll use the waiting time to see if the magnification range really works for me. In the interim I may learn a second focal-plane might be better or the magnification insufficient. If that happens or I get tired of waiting, I can cancel with nothing lost. There's really no downside here that I can see.
If you don't have money tied up with it then no loss really.Well aren't you a bucket of sunshine
Thanks I looked at that. I didn't feel confident the site was legit. I think the PST deal might be better if it works out. My impatient nature would like to piece this gun together yesterday but optics planet slowing me down might help me make a better decision. The same impatient nature brought me a second ex wife, two children and decades of poverty.
