Rifle Scopes budget scope advice

J

jdutton24

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Minuteman
Nov 17, 2011
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alabama
#1
ok so i bought an 700 5r and was fixing to purchase a scope when i found out my wife and i are having another baby. so needless to say to budget got cut. now to offset the budget cut i sold a shotgun. top budget is 400. so here are the ones im torn between

1) http://www.opticsplanet.net/vortex-riflescopes-vpr-m-05fp.html
vortex scope. as much as i can spend. i hear its really nice

2) http://www.opticsplanet.net/millet-tactical-riflescope.html
millet trs1. not a whole lot of reviews on here about it but seems to get good reviews elsewhere. also this place has the camo one on sale for 239!
http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=MIBK81001A
3) http://www.opticsplanet.net/mueller-optics-4-16-x-50mm-adjusted-objective-tactical-riflescope.html
mueller its on sale for 209.95. im not real familiar with mueller but seems to get a good vote around here for budget scopes. there maybe more mueller scopes that could be better than that im not sure.

4) http://www.midwayusa.com/product/962234/...t-reticle-matte
i know its a bsa but its got great reviews and could be what i need just to get out and shoot and learn more. like i said im not gonna be in any comps or shooting 1000yrds.

anyways i need some help here because its eating at my very soul because i cant make a decision. ive almost just got the bsa and save money up for a big boy mark 4. the caliber is 308 and probably wont be shooting over 500 yards in the foreseeable future but i dont want to throw my money away. please help!!
 
#2
Re: budget scope advice

take a look for a nikkon monarch with a mildot reticle. I bought mine for < $400 through alfa weapons:

http://alfaweapons.com/nikon-monarch-rifle-scope-416x-42-mildot-matte-1-side-focus-8-p-24025.html

With shipping, it will be just over your $400 limit. If you want, they have a BDC version (which is the one I have) or a nikoplex reticle.

This is a good quality scope and it goes up to 16X and has parallax adjustment. I like it. I also recommend 1" burris signature zee rings with the nylon insert to go with them.
 
#6
Re: budget scope advice

Out of your choice of the four? The Vortex is the winner IMHO. I now own Vortex scopes from Crossfire to PST and the clarity and sharp picture is hard to beat. I make my modest living working as a RO and am lucky enough to check out a lot of scopes. In your price range I think your 5R will do well with a Viper.
Just my .02 cents? Good luck and congrats on the new addition to the family!
 
#7
Re: budget scope advice

Nothing wrong to me with any of the scopes you've showed, even the BSA one. Here is one you might want to consider that is bargain priced....very good optics.
http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=WE94580&src=tpSlrHm

Google the brand/scope and you should get a fair number of hits on it in scope sections of gun sites. About only thing negative about it is probably the number of clicks for elevation, not that good for long range shooting. But like I wrote, good optics in it.
 
#8
Re: budget scope advice

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dgw</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Nothing wrong to me with any of the scopes you've showed, even the BSA one. Here is one you might want to consider that is bargain priced....very good optics.
http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=WE94580&src=tpSlrHm

Google the brand/scope and you should get a fair number of hits on it in scope sections of gun sites. About only thing negative about it is probably the number of clicks for elevation, not that good for long range shooting. But like I wrote, good optics in it. </div></div>

unless i read somthing wrong that scope is more than the viper.

imo the viper is tops on your list in terms of quality
 
#14
Re: budget scope advice

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 42769vette</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dgw</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Nothing wrong to me with any of the scopes you've showed, even the BSA one. Here is one you might want to consider that is bargain priced....very good optics.
http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=WE94580&src=tpSlrHm

Google the brand/scope and you should get a fair number of hits on it in scope sections of gun sites. About only thing negative about it is probably the number of clicks for elevation, not that good for long range shooting. But like I wrote, good optics in it. </div></div>

unless i read somthing wrong that scope is more than the viper.

imo the viper is tops on your list in terms of quality </div></div>


Guess you read it wrong....his viper was $399......the Nitrex is $190, did sell for alot more.
 
#15
Re: budget scope advice

I have 2 of the BSA Tacticals from Midway. Honestly, you can't beat the scope for the price. It does get a little dark on 24X, so I keep mine to 20X at max. It is good to go.

DK
 
#17
Re: budget scope advice

I always think that its best to buy a nicer used scope rather than a budget new scope. You can probably get a decent used Leupold, Busnell, Vortex, or Burris for around $400. Most guys selling one of these spent $600-$700 and maybe deer hunted with it a few times or took it to the range a handfull of times and lost interest.
 
#18
Re: budget scope advice

thanks for the replies. midway has the millett for 289.99
mil/mil. i found out that i can get a ziess 4.5-14x50 for 595 out the door. its a demo but they have them in stock regularly. i like the vortex but its not a side focus. that kind of bothers me. i can do alot with that 300 dollar difference between the millett and ziess but its such a good deal. my wife would kill me if she even knew it costs 300 bucks lol. but as of right now i sold s gun for 200 and got christmas money so i would not have to dip into funds to get it. just have to get mounts. for a 308 i think 14 power should be plenty.
 
#19
Re: budget scope advice

Be aware of many, many bad reviews on the Millett scopes TRS-1 and LRS-1 ... the complains are loose parts inside , not able to focus after 40 or 50 rds, etc etc etc . I initially thought about getting a Millett because of the great price , but after reading all the bad rap , I went for the Mueller . It seems that Bushnell bought Millett and it is honoring the warranty without problems , but still , I didn`t want to get on the return wagon , so I chose different . It is your call .
 
#21
Re: budget scope advice

How do u like the mueller? Im gonna look hard at them. Hear good stuff about them just havent heard alot of it. Yeah im kinda gathering that about millett. On some sites they are awesome and others they are junk. At the very least seems to be QC issues. So I think im gonna stay away from millett. Is there a mueller model that is in that style of scope?
 
#23
Re: budget scope advice

I have the Mueller 30mm APT Tactical 4.5-14x40 . I also ordered the 30mm Target type 8-32x44 that will arrive next week for target range shooting on muy Savage 10FCP 5R . I think that these Mueller scopes are the best bang for the buck . I also heard that they are great on the warranty , which is lifetime . The glass on mine is great side to side and the parallax objective is very precise and down to 10 yds. This is not your average cheap scope . The target type scope has a side focus parallax so it is even better.
 
#24
Re: budget scope advice

Ok im prolly gonna get the viper 6.5-20x44. Ive done some searching on here but it mostly turns up the pst. Everything i read says they are good starter scope and good bang for the buck. Way better tgan millett. Anyone please post what u know/opinions! I could also get a used wotac 4-14x50. Looks good but i know nothing of them either.
 
#25
Re: budget scope advice

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: rammerjammer</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ok im prolly gonna get the viper 6.5-20x44. Ive done some searching on here but it mostly turns up the pst. Everything i read says they are good starter scope and good bang for the buck. Way better tgan millett. Anyone please post what u know/opinions! I could also get a used wotac 4-14x50. Looks good but i know nothing of them either.</div></div>

I'd get the Viper for the 308. Top glass at that price point. Another scope I like under $400 is the Zeiss Conquest if you can live with 3-9x. The SS 10x or 16x is a good deal for $299.
 
#26
Re: budget scope advice

Just keep saving and buy what you wanted in the first place. Many people will tell you to go ahead and buy so you can start shooting, but trust me you will just end up wondering what it would have been like to got the scope you wanted.
 
#27
Re: budget scope advice

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: drb5r</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just keep saving and buy what you wanted in the first place. Many people will tell you to go ahead and buy so you can start shooting, but trust me you will just end up wondering what it would have been like to got the scope you wanted. </div></div>

This is some good advice. I always find that I end up with what I initially wanted, even if I purchase something else to hold me over. Only trouble is, it usually sets you back twice as much as it would've had you been patient to begin with.
 
#28
Re: budget scope advice

What the hell is going on in this thread? How can anybody recommend a BSA, Mueller, or Millett with a straight face? Let alone to a man on a budget with a bun in the oven?

The only halfway decent recommendations in this thread is the bushnell and the super sniper. The bushnell is a great option for the price because it gives you matching mil/mil knobs and reticle, acceptable glass, and good quality. The SS is a great scope but lacks matched knobs and reticle.

OP I'd recommend looking at the Weaver grand slam tactical mil/mil at midway for $300. It's by far the best scope for the money right now. IMO to beat it you have to move up to the 3-12 or 6-24 elite tactical at $700+. Plus its made in Japan so you get great quality.
 
#29
Re: budget scope advice

I have the super sniper on a .308 and love it. Dead-on whendialing between ranges. I was on a 450m range in Ft Polk and zeroed at 50m just to try and test it. Dialed it up to 450 to hit some ram shaped metal plates, down to 200m for their hanging man sillouette, and back to 50m to check it back on target. First shot hits on all. I know 450m isn't a lot, but its all I had to work with. Not to mention it gets compared to scopes 3x its cost in most scope reviews.
But it doesn't have the magnification the scopes have on his list. And I didn't see what you were going to be doing with the rifle. I just punch paper, so a fixed power scope is fine for me, but if you're hunting animals and you get a close shot a 10x fixed might not be the best. And Hopefully (if you hunt) you don't use your scope to glass the field, but if you do then the fixed 10x might not give you the best FOV.
 
#30
Re: budget scope advice

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: redneckbmxer24</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What the hell is going on in this thread? How can anybody recommend a BSA, Mueller, or Millett with a straight face? Let alone to a man on a budget with a bun in the oven?

The only halfway decent recommendations in this thread is the bushnell and the super sniper. The bushnell is a great option for the price because it gives you matching mil/mil knobs and reticle, acceptable glass, and good quality. The SS is a great scope but lacks matched knobs and reticle.

OP I'd recommend looking at the Weaver grand slam tactical mil/mil at midway for $300. It's by far the best scope for the money right now. IMO to beat it you have to move up to the 3-12 or 6-24 elite tactical at $700+. Plus its made in Japan so you get great quality. </div></div>

Thank you finally some good advice. The new weavers are really impressing me lately
 
#31
Re: budget scope advice

Well ive found the vipee for 339. Is it that bad? I do like that weaver. Everything ive read has been good about the vortex. But u may be right because weaver is stepping it up. But in all honesty ghe best scope uve ever had is a tasco world class on my hunting rifle. Killed alot of deer with it so either scope im sure would blow me away.
 
#34
Re: budget scope advice

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: rammerjammer</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Link? </div></div>

Don't waste your time on that crap. It's a chinese scope and very overpriced for being a chinese scope. If you want a chinese paperweight you can get 5 in the form of barska's for the price of a falcon and hold down 5 different stacks of paper.

To answer you question about the viper vs. the weaver, the viper isn't a bad scope but the weaver is better all around. Japanese scopes beat phillipino scopes in quality every time and the weaver has better features and costs less to boot. The viper is mil reticle with moa knobs whereas the weaver is matched mil/mil which is what you want on a long range rifle.
 
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