Rifle Scopes Scope Selection

[Dragonetti]

I have a few options for scopes, I have about 1500 dollars to spend. This will be on my newly minted 6.5 creedmoor Remage with a 20 MOA rail. I can save some money and purchase a new Vortex Viper PST Gen 2 5-25 x 50 FFP for about 850 or Bushnell XRS 2 4.5-30 x50 for about 1500. I was wondering what other optics I can choose that would be better buy for money? I still need to buy rings, but that can come a little later. Any suggestions?

 

[gr8fuldoug]

Steiner T series or P4xi
Athlon Cronus or Ares ETR

 

[fvalmostthere]

I just got a used Sig Tango 6 5-30 from the PX in that price range.

 

[jinxx4ever]

I've got a Steiner T series that u might like

 

[Dragonetti]

Hmm the PX, I should check there sometime tomorrow. They have an excellent gun selection there last time I checked.

 

[Glassaholic]

What kind of shooting do you intend to do, check out this thread for some tips that will help us better answer your question: https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/tips-for-asking-advice-about-rifle-scopes.6252657/

 

[ChadL]

I just got a used Sig Tango 6 5-30 from the PX in that price range.

Hmm the PX, I should check there sometime tomorrow. They have an excellent gun selection there last time I checked.

I may be wrong, but I think fvalmostthere was referring to the PX here on Sniper's Hide. There's a classified section on this site. One of those sections is just for Optics and some great deals can be had on optics there.

 

[Fred @ Bison Tactical]

I have a Schmidt & Bender close to your price range just listed in Optics. FFP with a GenIIXR reticle for $1700. Schmidt glass is very good, but it depends on what other features and what magnification range you need.

https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/smoking-deals.6909156/

 

[Groll]

I have a few options for scopes, I have about 1500 dollars to spend. This will be on my newly minted 6.5 creedmoor Remage with a 20 MOA rail. I can save some money and purchase a new Vortex Viper PST Gen 2 5-25 x 50 FFP for about 850 or Bushnell XRS 2 4.5-30 x50 for about 1500. I was wondering what other optics I can choose that would be better buy for money? I still need to buy rings, but that can come a little later. Any suggestions?

Dragonetti - New Guy from New Jersey, and hoping I am not breaking any rules, but just found this deal on Cronus BTR MIL FFP 4.5-29 Illuminated $1327.79 on Amazon. I have the original Cronus, and just bought this BTR.

https://www.amazon.com/Athlon-Optic...TF8&qid=1540939328&sr=8-1&keywords=cronus+btr

 

[Fred @ Bison Tactical]

In terms of the Athlon scopes (which I sell) - I actually prefer the Ares ETR turrets to the Cronus BTR turrets. If you have time, I suggest waiting for an update to the Cronus turrets. The Ares ETR are significantly better than the BTR's feel...

 

[Groll]

Thanks Fred, I have read the ETR turrets are much better but not handled them personally. Any idea when they will be updating? I really like the glass on my original Cronus (with all of its relative turret weakness). I can easily return the new Cronus BTR to Amazon as it has not arrived yet, but wonder if I can come close to that $1327 price with the updated turrets. If it will be @ the $1,800 price point, I wonder if the turret upgrade will warrant the 33% up-charge. Thanks for the insights and sharing experience..

 

[Fred @ Bison Tactical]

Thanks Fred, I have read the ETR turrets are much better but not handled them personally. Any idea when they will be updating? I really like the glass on my original Cronus (with all of its relative turret weakness). I can easily return the new Cronus BTR to Amazon as it has not arrived yet, but wonder if I can come close to that $1327 price with the updated turrets. If it will be @ the $1,800 price point, I wonder if the turret upgrade will warrant the 33% up-charge. Thanks for the insights and sharing experience..

I think it will be months before any new Cronus' are out. I suspect they will all be closer to MSRP as well. The Ares are selling well at the higher price as well. The difference is pretty significant between the Ares and current Cronus. Not sure if your around Boulder, but I have the Ares in the shop if you want to stop by to check out the Turrets?

 

[Dthomas3523]

I have a few options for scopes, I have about 1500 dollars to spend. This will be on my newly minted 6.5 creedmoor Remage with a 20 MOA rail. I can save some money and purchase a new Vortex Viper PST Gen 2 5-25 x 50 FFP for about 850 or Bushnell XRS 2 4.5-30 x50 for about 1500. I was wondering what other optics I can choose that would be better buy for money? I still need to buy rings, but that can come a little later. Any suggestions?

If weight isn’t a big deal, and you can swing it, save up another $200 or so and look around for a used Vortex Razor Gen 2 4.5-27. You can find them around $1700 used.

 

[patriot07]

If weight isn’t a big deal, and you can swing it, save up another $200 or so and look around for a used Vortex Razor Gen 2 4.5-27. You can find them around $1700 used.

In terms of pure value, it's hard to beat this one. I think you can get them for $1800 new from Liberty when they run their sales. I would call/PM them.

 

[Eoddave27]

I feel like a broken record because it seems like I post this daily. Look at the 4-20x50 30mm Tract Toric UHD. You can pick one up for around $1100. I have two and the glass is as good as any $3k scope I have. It has really nice locking turrets with a zero stop and daylight bright illumination. For the money I don’t think there is a nicer optic on the market.

 

[patriot07]

I feel like a broken record because it seems like I post this daily. Look at the 4-20x50 30mm Tract Toric UHD. You can pick one up for around $1100. I have two and the glass is as good as any $3k scope I have. It has really nice locking turrets with a zero stop and daylight bright illumination. For the money I don’t think there is a nicer optic on the market.

Where are these made?

 

[Glassaholic]

Where are these made?

They are made in Japan by the same group that is responsible for the Razor Gen II's, Tango6 , LRHS and some others. Very well made, very good glass, I don't think they are $3k glass good but they are better than most in their price range and punch above quite a bit.
http://opticsthoughts.com/?p=2354

 

[Bender]

Where are these made?

LOW

http://www.light-op.co.jp/english/

 

[Eoddave27]

Where are these made?

Here is a pretty good review of the Toric. In the article he says he compared to to two big name scopes that cost more than twice as much and it’s glass was better. I can say compared to a Nightforce NSX and a Sig Tango6 I personally think the Toric has better glass but image quality is very subjective.

https://www.shootingillustrated.com...tract-optics-toric-uhd-4-20x50-mm-riflescope/

 

[honuswagner]

I'm a firm believer in QD scope bases. Spend as much as you can on an optic, get a quality QD base, and use the best glass you can get on multiple rifles.

 

[Kickin45]

I love my Cronus, but I love the reticle on Ares ETR. Thatd be my vote

 

[ken4570tc in WY]

another helpful review link

https://rifleshooter.com/2018/05/tract-toric-4-20x50-uhd-30mm-rifle-scope-review/

 

[Dthomas3523]

I'm a firm believer in QD scope bases. Spend as much as you can on an optic, get a quality QD base, and use the best glass you can get on multiple rifles.

Unless it’s somthing like an ARC thumb wheel, QD bases take more time to set up properly on different platforms than just bolting/unbolting rings/base onto the rifle.

QD bases are typically not designed to move an optic from one rig to another. They are designed to keep the optic on the same rig and quick release for storage or emergency situations.

Nothing wrong with using the same piece of glass across different platforms, but a QD mount is not the way to go for that.

 

[supercorndogs]

Here is a pretty good review of the Toric. In the article he says he compared to to two big name scopes that cost more than twice as much and it’s glass was better. I can say compared to a Nightforce NSX and a Sig Tango6 I personally think the Toric has better glass but image quality is very subjective.

https://www.shootingillustrated.com...tract-optics-toric-uhd-4-20x50-mm-riflescope/

"Fortunately, both of the Toric 30 mm scopes have first-focal-plane reticles, so line thickness increases as you zoom to higher magnification."

Am I misunderstanding his statement, or does he misunderstands the basics of FFP?

 

[Bender]

"Fortunately, both of the Toric 30 mm scopes have first-focal-plane reticles, so line thickness increases as you zoom to higher magnification."

Am I misunderstanding his statement, or does he misunderstands the basics of FFP?

Lots of “gun writers” have no idea what they are talking about. I read one article not too long ago where a “writer” said 30mm main tubes are better because they let in more light.

Dunning-Kruger has it right...

 

[supercorndogs]

Lots of “gun writers” have no idea what they are talking about. I read one article not too long ago where a “writer” said 30mm main tubes are better because they let in more light.

Dunning-Kruger has it right...

Also think about what a small amount of time you would have to spend with a scope, to not realize the reticle was not covering more target as you turn up the mag.

 

[Bender]

Mouth breathing neck beards need jobs too.

 

[Eoddave27]

"Fortunately, both of the Toric 30 mm scopes have first-focal-plane reticles, so line thickness increases as you zoom to higher magnification."

Am I misunderstanding his statement, or does he misunderstands the basics of FFP?

What heis saying in the article is with the scope zoomed all the way out he has a hard time seeing the reticle. Since it is a first focal plane though the reticle size increases with the magnification which makes it a little better for his old eyes. He knows what FFP is he just may have said it in a awkward way.

 

[SatCong]

For the money, the Burris 5x25x50 is a very good scope.

 

[supercorndogs]

I would expect that some of it effected by workload.

What heis saying in the article is with the scope zoomed all the way out he has a hard time seeing the reticle. Since it is a first focal plane though the reticle size increases with the magnification which makes it a little better for his old eyes. He knows what FFP is he just may have said it in a awkward way.

I see, I left where they split the paragraph with the pictures, then came back to it and finished up. So when I jumped back in, that was the first line I saw. I should have scrolled back up. I might have been able to put two and two together then.

 

[jinxx4ever]

Thanks Fred, I have read the ETR turrets are much better but not handled them personally. Any idea when they will be updating? I really like the glass on my original Cronus (with all of its relative turret weakness). I can easily return the new Cronus BTR to Amazon as it has not arrived yet, but wonder if I can come close to that $1327 price with the updated turrets. If it will be @ the $1,800 price point, I wonder if the turret upgrade will warrant the 33% up-charge. Thanks for the insights and sharing experience..

wonder how the glass compares. Got my cornus BTR a few weeks ago, and super impressed. With that quality of glass, i can live with the turrets

 

[David Melton]

Have anyone faced an ATN branded optics(https://www.atncorp.com/range-finder)? I am on the way of choosing rifle optics, do you know this company? Is it good enough for the beginner?