Rifle Scopes Budget vs Time

[fvalmostthere]

I am in the market for a new scope and am completely lost as too what route to go. A little background info, I am building up a prs rifle off of a savage 12fv 6.5 creedmoor. I have the rifle but still need to buy a scope, rings and chassis. Now obviously like everyone, I am budget concious, but the money isn't as big of an issue as time. I don't mind saving up for quality but I also want to start competing as soon as possible. I can save longer to get what I truely want but might not compete in 2018. Has anyone else ran into this problem? What did you do? Did you regret it? If I saved I would at least have it forever...

I am considering: (Prices are from Cabelas, I will be using points and giftcards)

Athlon Ares BTR - $850 - Not super carried away with the alternating hashes on the reticle, but could almost buy now.
Athlon Ares ETR - $1300ish - Not available yet, reticle is better though ($450 for reticle preference? am I nuts)
Athlon Cronus BTR - $1800 - At this point should I just save for the Gen 2 Razor?
Vortex Gen 2 Razor - $2500 - What I would get if price and time didn't matter.

 

[spife7980]

Could you use the cards on other stuff? Because you can take 15-20% off of all of those prices by calling the forum vendors like cameralandny or cst tactical etc and have it just as quick. Its at least worth a call to see what Doug could do for you. 300 in savings on a cronus isnt anything to scoff at throwing away just to use up a giftcard when you could use it for ammo etc

 

[gr8fuldoug]

It would be our pleasure to work with you on this. Please feel free to give us a call, 516-217-1000.

 

[CRT2]

Do you have anyone at Cabela's that can assist you to get their employee discount? Well if they still get one under their new owner. Or check this: http://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/vortex-call-in-deals.6869882/

 

[davsco]

i'll start by saying i love my nightforce nxs 5.5-22x56, zero complaints out to 1200 yards which is the farthest i've shot so far. looks like right around $2k list and seeing 5-15% from time to time, plus used options here and elsewhere even "cheaper." so if you've got some $800 now, you're roughly $1k short +/- and more/less if you already have mount etc. personally i'd just wait (and work OT, skip bars and restaurants, tone down your data plan, etc to not wait much) til i had the funds. you drop around half that now, then you have to work to save up that much more again plus the loss on the 'cheap' scope you buy.

 

[natdscott]

You have defined the need/want for short-term financing.

All you have to do is decide whether, and by how much, the interest paid will be worth the time you're receiving.

 

[DrainTheSwamp]

I shot an athlon athlon Argos until I got a nf atacr.
Doing the same with my stock. Using a Magpul until I can afford a decent chassis. I wanted to compete right away and I tried to buy stuff I wouldn’t loose a bunch of money on, or I could repurpose it for some other project

 

[Apnea]

You said "new scope" but I don't know if by that you mean that you want a brand new scope or just need one that you don't have.

I personally think you lose anything buying a good used optic, and it might expand your options, and you won't lose as much reselling when you move up if you didn't buy it brand new.

 

[man32ahan]

Gen 2 razors can typically be had on here for 1800-2000 used. Instead of 2500 new for one. Just a consideration for you

 

[athanasios23]

If you don't buy what you truly want then you will always want it. I would take into consideration how much you can actually save per month and then how good your credit is. Ton of 0% offers from 12 to 20 months. buy it on the card. Put down whatever you have saved in the first payment and then pay the monthly payment and pay it off before your 0% offer ends. Done it plenty of times. You can call and lower the available balance on the card so you don't get tempted to spend more on it.

 

[j741]

I think you might be 1 day late for Cabela's Visa offer of 0% interest for 6 months.

 

[PBWalsh]

Good ideas here, even with credit stuff (personally leer of it). I am going to be in your shoes hopefully at the end of the year. I’d like to buy a NF ATACR or a S&B US, but I don’t want to wait another 1-1.5 years for an optic (who wants to have a shiny new rifle sitting around for a year).

My solution is to buy a very proven, robust, economical optic that can serve as a backup later when I can afford Tier 1 glass. I am considering picking up the SWFA SS 10x42 classic. Its a great scope for this use, plus I’ll always have an extremely reliable backup optic is something drastic happens. Plus, while they are only $300 new, I’m sure I could find a used one in the PX for a bit under $250.

Never stop saving for the “dream” scope, but get something and start shooting now. You’ll be a better rifleman with an SWFA at $300 and $2200 worth of training than $2500 worth of XYZ glass and $0 of training.

 

[mrvideostore]

Hey FV, go get a swfa ss 10 x or 12 X and start shooting this year. The scope, mount and rings should run you 400 bucks or better yet pick a used one here at the PX and save a couple more bucks. That's what I was using for last year. The 12 X got me out to 954 yards the max at the range I shoot at with the FV .223. My buddy ranged his FV 6.5 C.M last week using the same scope very clear scope for the price and you'll end up keeping it until you upgrade and save it for the next rifle you pick up. Use the gift cards and points for ammo. Have fun with your new FV, i'm sure it will shoot as good as the 2 we picked up 2 weeks ago.

 

[fvalmostthere]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. A lot of great ideas, and a lot of stuff to think about.

I think I am going to save up for what I really want. I already have a 4-12 redfield on the rifle in some cheap simmons rings I had laying around. I think I will just work on load development with those and maybe shoot some f class matches with it. Hopefully by late summer I might have enough saved for the scope and chassis and make it to some end of the year prs matches, if I can find some. Not to many close by up here in Maine.

I am intrigued by the credit card financing but I have always paid my statements in full. Don't want to mess up my credit over a rifle scope, but not really sure how that works, just don't want to take chances.

 

[natdscott]

How big is your bank, and how cool is your banker?

Call him/her and see what's available on a short-term note. Like 12-24 months or less.

 

[Hank McMauser]

I would never go into debt for a scope, and I would definitely support a forum sponsor like Doug. I just ordered a Helos 6-24x50 from him and the boys. It's going to go on my POF gen3 P-308. I will post up a review as soon as it arrives. From what I've read it's the same scope as the Argos, except has locking turrets. And all the reviews I've read have pretty good praises for the Argos. Give Doug a call and I'm pretty sure you'll be pleasantly surprised at what he can offer you on the Ares scope, and use the extra money for ammo, and gas money to get to the range.
I know this is my first post here, and you can take it or leave it, but Athlon or not I'd damn sure never make a monthly payment on a scope, buy what you can afford, and make it work.

 

[CRT2]

Buying over time with interest not so much; however, 6 months (or more) same as cash is a decent approach - no interest or other charges if you make minimum monthly payments and pay the loan off in time.

 

[pineoak]

Don't put it on the card if you can't pay it off immediately. That is the kind of thinking that trades short term glee for long term misery.

Get what you can afford within your budget and save your pennies.

Be an adult.

Unless your loan is on an income generating investment, it's a poor long term decision.

 

[natdscott]

Don't put it on the card if you can't pay it off immediately. That is the kind of thinking that trades short term glee for long term misery.

Get what you can afford within your budget and save your pennies.

Be an adult.

Unless your loan is on an income generating investment, it's a poor long term decision.

In general, there's some good advice there, but in specifics, some of your statements are too broad to hold true.

First, who said anything about a card? Banks make loans for equipment purchases, and your loan need not be purchase money interest anyway...just offer a piece of collateral that is worth enough to equate to 25% down, and roll on.

Howeved, some CC companies are still offering extended term promo periods of 0% interest provided you pay off the initial principal within that period.

Know what that sounds like to me?

Free money. You take out the card, treat it as a loan, and pay $X per month to make sure it's done a full month early.

I know a lot of guys that could happily afford $100 per month in principal, and even at only a 12 month promo, that is a pretty decent stack of dollars to assist with assist equipment purchase, ya know?

Look at the tier differences between a $500 scope and a $1,500+ scope.


Just do not be late getting it paid off.

-Nate

 

[pineoak]

I'm not disagreeing with you that the percentage rates can be great

But we're talking about only a few thousand dollars here

If someone can't afford to pay with cash

They probably can't really afford to be borrowing money even if it's free for something that is quite literally a luxury/hobby item

I am the first guy to tell people to buy quality especially on glass

But I know too many people that have put wants ahead of financial sense and paid MUCH more for things tomorrow for toys they can play with today

Not that different from the jumbo loans with the ballon payment at the end

Doesn't make much sense to save $200 on the scope today and end up paying interest on it for a year after

If someone is not in the financial situation to save up for a bit and buy it outright, they may be in a really tight pickle when they buy the scope and other more pressing matters pop up

Ultimately, we're all big boys and can make our own decisions and take our own responsibilities

I would simply encourage people to acknowledge the truth about their finances and what they can honestly afford rather than "keeping up with the Hide" which given people like the guy with the Viper & AXMC... would be impossible for most of us

Either you work for your money, or your money works for you.

If you are borrowing money for anything other than a house, that better go toward an investment that pays a dividend greater than what you're paying in interest.

Not trying to be a wet blanket, just being realistic

Wealthy is having the time to shoot and not worry about the price of ammo

Not owning a rifle that you are in debt for, shooting less because you're paying interest on that rifle

That said, I NEED a 3-20US!!!!

 

[NewsShooter]

Nothing wrong with the Cronus BTR and it can be had for quite a bit less than what you posted, bought a second one last week. I like the .2 mil wind holds vs the Vortex .5. Seekins rings are IMO the best for the price, that being said I'll be buying ARC rings from now on.