Rifle Scopes Scope help before my head explodes!

[prairiefire]

All my current rifles (Ars) have close quarter type scopes. I am purchasing a .224 Valkyrie and would like to get great glass to shoot out 600-1000 yards. There are so many options and perhaps I am over thinking my purchase, but I want something good for 68 year old eyes. I have always had a preference for S&B scopes having owned a 5-25 in the past. It seems that the prices on these are competitive to offerings from NF and the HD Razors - what is the group think regarding my needs here. This will be a bench rest used gun - for the majority of the time.

 

[Bender]

S&B, NF Or Razor. It’s going to be really hard to beat any of those. Can’t go wrong

 

[koshkin]

If you like S&B, can afford S&B and S&B reticles work well for you, go with the S&B.

For shooting off the bench, there isn't all that much difference between most of the better brands, so pick a brand you trust and a reticle that works for you.

Personally, I have a strong preference for Tangent Theta scopes when price is no object, but S&B is considerably less money ow that they lowered prices. Another design I really like is Vortex AMG 6-24x50, but a big part of that is weight which really makes no difference shooting off the bench.

Generally, my recommendations are here:
http://opticsthoughts.com/?page_id=94

ILya

 

[diverdon]

The HD Razors gen II are rugged and heavy. NF is hard to discuss until you pick a line, some like ATACR and Beast are top notch. S&B PMII is the gold standard. Just remember that the 5-25 is an old optical design that tunnels from seven power down to five. It remains very usable in spite of that but for new money you gotta think carefully about the 3-27. In my mind the 3-27 is a very nice scope.

 

[davsco]

hit a precision rifle match (or even f class). most everyone there will let you handle and look thru their guns/glass. nf nxs 5.5-22 will absolutely be enough glass and maybe even their 3.5-15 will be enough magnification for you.

 

[Glassaholic]

Have you considered the Schmidt & Bender Ultra Short series, I personally like these for AR rifles and think the 5-20 or 3-20 Ultra Short would be fantastic for a 224 Valkyrie. If you want to save a little bit the new Leupold Mark 5 3.6-18x44 sounds like it might be a great option for a short and lightweight scope with great eye box. The other options would be the brand new Kahles K318i 3.5-18x50 and ZCO ZC420 4-20x50 as both are ultra short designs and promise to have phenomenal glass and some great reticles, but neither have actually hit the market yet so will have to wait a bit for some thorough reviews. For all the specs, check out the post on 2018 Year of the Ultra Shorts, I have a full spec sheet where specs can be found... Since you mentioned something more friendly for you 68 year old eyes, something with a great eyebox and excellent glass would serve you well and I think all the scopes mentioned here will fit into that category.

 

[JS624]

I'm currently running the NF ATACR 7-35 On my comp gun and the 5-25 on my trainer.
Switched over from the gen 2 razor.
Both get the job done. NF just does it a tiny bit better.

 

[SRPowah]

Look at the reticle selection for the Razor Gen2, ATACR, and PMII. Pick the reticle you like the most.

They will all function fine and the benchrest nature of your shooting rules the weight and size out. That means it all comes down to the part you will look at the most: the reticle.

 

[brianf]

They are almost all the same when you are in that price range.
All glass is great.
They all track
The difference comes down to options. What ret you like best etc.

 

[predator308]

All are great scope for the Job but i will lean more to NF. my personal preference.

 

[EnXCess]

I would look carefully at the eye-relief of each option.

 

[brianf]

forgot to add, if its mostly a bench gun get a higher magnification. if your not running and gunning you dont need a very large field of view.
i was one of if not the first to put a 6mmbr barrel on my AX (not for PRS cmps but wanted to start shooting groups again, and absolutely no recoil for the little ones when shooting out of a 17 lb rifle).
Picked up a kahles 10-50 moak from europtic.
approx the same price as your looking and shooting at 4-500 yards with 50 power is a joke.
when the mirage rolls in i back it down to "only" 30-35x
great glass, perfect adjustments and built like a tank.