mid power scope $500-1k

[penguinofsleep]

Looking for a FFP mid power scope around 3-15, 4-16, or 3-18 to put on a 6.5 grendel. Will be for plinking paper and steel, possibly hunting. Think of a typical SPR / DMR-ish "accurate enough" and not a trying to make a gas gun hit sub MOA targets consistently out at 1000 yards build.

Priorities will include a useful mil reticle at low and high power but moa reticle is acceptable if needed, forgiving eye box and parallax, not too narrow FOV, good clarity / transmission at dusk / dawn, <32oz ideally, ideally with illumination but not absolutely necessary.

Right now it's most likely going to be a Meopta Optika 6 3-18x50 mrad or Athlon Ares ETR 3-18 but am wondering if I'm missing anything else that may work in this price range. Other options I saw but haven't looked through before would be a 3-18 Strike Eagle or a Toric 2.5-15 although just looking at the reticle on paper I would prefer the meopta mrad reticle designed by DLO here.

I would also consider a(nother) Burris XTR3 (probably the non-ilum given the budget here) if I can find one for around or under $1k. I know the 3-18 Trijicon Tenmile was available for about $1100 a year or two ago but I missed that - not sure if either of these can be found for <$1k anymore. Also have an ATACR 4-16 (and a few other similar optics) and definitely acknowledge it's "better" than the above but not worth the $ to me here.

 

[vash522]

Just saw #6 in the below, might just fit the bill:

Optics - Huge Scope Purge Element/GPO/Maven/Athlon/Burris/Trijicon

Selling a bunch of scopes, all as new minus the Trijicon and come in the original boxes with all paperwork and accessories as shipped new. 1) Element Nexus Gen 2 4-25x50 FFP APR-1C MOA reticle. $1150 shipped 2) GPO Centuri 3-12x44I C super compact G4I reticle. Brand new $350 shipped SOLD 3)...

www.snipershide.com

Good Luck with the hunt!

 

[brazz04]

I would go with #4 on that list without a doubt. The helos 4-20 is on my 6 ARC and its a killer scope in that price range.

 

[FuhQ]

Looking for a FFP mid power scope around 3-15, 4-16, or 3-18 to put on a 6.5 grendel. Will be for plinking paper and steel, possibly hunting. Think of a typical SPR / DMR-ish "accurate enough" and not a trying to make a gas gun hit sub MOA targets consistently out at 1000 yards build.

Priorities will include a useful mil reticle at low and high power but moa reticle is acceptable if needed, forgiving eye box and parallax, not too narrow FOV, good clarity / transmission at dusk / dawn, <32oz ideally, ideally with illumination but not absolutely necessary.

Right now it's most likely going to be a Meopta Optika 6 3-18x50 mrad or Athlon Ares ETR 3-18 but am wondering if I'm missing anything else that may work in this price range. Other options I saw but haven't looked through before would be a 3-18 Strike Eagle or a Toric 2.5-15 although just looking at the reticle on paper I would prefer the meopta mrad reticle designed by DLO here.

I would also consider a(nother) Burris XTR3 (probably the non-ilum given the budget here) if I can find one for around or under $1k. I know the 3-18 Trijicon Tenmile was available for about $1100 a year or two ago but I missed that - not sure if either of these can be found for <$1k anymore. Also have an ATACR 4-16 (and a few other similar optics) and definitely acknowledge it's "better" than the above but not worth the $ to me here.

The new Vortex Viper HD is always a solid option.

 

[brazz04]

I have the viper HD 3-15, and would take the Helos 4-20 over it as well. Also the Viper HD 3-15 is SFP only.

 

[rhinofoot]

I'll recommend the Leupold vx3HD 3.5-10x42 cds-ZL and it will do everything you need to do out to 500 yds. If you can stretch your budget a bit, the Leupold vx5HD 3-15x44 cds-ZL2 is an almost perfect hunting scope.

 

[FuhQ]

I have the viper HD 3-15, and would take the Helos 4-20 over it as well. Also the Viper HD 3-15 is SFP only.

I have the Viper HD 5-25x50 FFP model, and it's pretty solid. The glass is nice for the price, too.

 

[Sossa]

I have successfully shot steel at 500 and mule deer out to 300 with the SWFA 6x on multiple rifles. This season, I witnessed my hunting partner shoot a mule deer at 400 yards with a single shot while carrying the SWFA 6x on his rifle. Based on my personal experience the SWFA 6x would be a great choice. No personal experience with the other choices you listed.

 

[Hondo64d]

Looking for a FFP mid power scope around 3-15, 4-16, or 3-18 to put on a 6.5 grendel. Will be for plinking paper and steel, possibly hunting. Think of a typical SPR / DMR-ish "accurate enough" and not a trying to make a gas gun hit sub MOA targets consistently out at 1000 yards build.

Priorities will include a useful mil reticle at low and high power but moa reticle is acceptable if needed, forgiving eye box and parallax, not too narrow FOV, good clarity / transmission at dusk / dawn, <32oz ideally, ideally with illumination but not absolutely necessary.

Right now it's most likely going to be a Meopta Optika 6 3-18x50 mrad or Athlon Ares ETR 3-18 but am wondering if I'm missing anything else that may work in this price range. Other options I saw but haven't looked through before would be a 3-18 Strike Eagle or a Toric 2.5-15 although just looking at the reticle on paper I would prefer the meopta mrad reticle designed by DLO here.

I would also consider a(nother) Burris XTR3 (probably the non-ilum given the budget here) if I can find one for around or under $1k. I know the 3-18 Trijicon Tenmile was available for about $1100 a year or two ago but I missed that - not sure if either of these can be found for <$1k anymore. Also have an ATACR 4-16 (and a few other similar optics) and definitely acknowledge it's "better" than the above but not worth the $ to me here.

Bushnell LRHS-2 4.5-18 x 44 G2H reticle | G.A. Precision

New feautures for LRHS2

www.gaprecision.net

John

 

[Magnetic]

I've been very pleased with my new 3-18 MP ED.

https://www.eurooptic.com/bushnell-match-pro-ed-mrad-3-18x50mm-illum-ffp-black-riflescope-mp31850dmi

 

[Rob01]

I have a Vortex Strike Eagle 3-18 on my .308 AR and it works great. Good solid optic in that price range. If you like the reticle you can save a couple hundred over the Meopta.

 

[penguinofsleep]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

So far, it looks like I would still prefer the Meopta with the DLO mrad reticle, especially at lower mag. I do like the reticle enough that I'm willing to spend the $100-200 extra for it. It looks like there are no more Ares ETR 3-18 with mil reticles at this time (which makes sense given that the ETR 2 is supposed to be coming out soon-ish). Would have bought the XTR3 above immediately if it wasn't their SCR MOA reticle (not just b/c MOA, I just don't like the differences in the MOA reticle).

I've been very pleased with my new 3-18 MP ED.

https://www.eurooptic.com/bushnell-match-pro-ed-mrad-3-18x50mm-illum-ffp-black-riflescope-mp31850dmi

How's the reticle working out when actually looking through the glass at the lower and upper ends of magnification?

On paper, it looks like a blend of the NF mil XT and APRS series of reticles. Both are well done Christmas Tree reticles IMO, but I have a few minor dislikes with each reticle: With the NF mil XT, the "big" 1 mil dots on the tree are slightly too big and obstruct ability to see impact slightly or downrange conditions at times. With the APRS, I like it slightly more than the XT at higher magnification, but I don't know how much I would like the reticle as a whole at lower / middle magification for something that I may want to be able to "shoot faster" sometimes (i.e. same reticle would be fine for a bolt action for me). Are you able to "roughly" use the entire top half of the illuminated reticle as a "giant red dot" if you turn the brightness up (knowing that you may not hit dead center in the reticle if you do such a thing).