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Rifle Scopes What’s the BEST long range scope?

SlimBlundt

Accuracy through volume
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 26, 2017
350
149
North Dakota
I’m asking as a guy who doesn’t shoot long range. My “craft” is horsing around between 50 and 300 yds. So, what’s the pinnacle of long range or precision shooting scopes?

S&B?
Hensoldt?
Kahles?
NF ATACR?
Vortex Razor HDII?
Tangent Theta?

Eventually I’ll buy a LR scope, so
I’m curious,
 
Uhm, you might want to get a bit more specific for “the best”. Glass, tracking, durability, use, size, wieght, reticle, etc. all matter for YOUR “best”.

All of those listed are great optics, pick with one has the reticle and feature set you like the most and don’t worry about it.
 
Uhm, you might want to get a bit more specific for “the best”. Glass, tracking, durability, use, size, wieght, reticle, etc. all matter for YOUR “best”.

All of those listed are great optics, pick with one has the reticle and feature set you like the most and don’t worry about it.

Good point. Let’s say combination of:
- Glass
- Tracking
- Durability
- eyebox

Weight and price are no factor.
 
Based on the brief responses, it’s a relief to see that 1) the optics market has reached a point of extremely high quality across many producers leaving no clear “best” and 2) no one who actually uses these scopes has genuinely suggested Athlon.
 
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You asked for the pinnacle of long range scopes, not scopes directed at the budget minded. Some scopes you mentioned costing 2-3 times more than the Athlon Cronus, just saying. The Athlon Cronus is as popular as it is for very good reasons and price is not the only consideration of why people buy them.

What you don't understand is buying scopes that expensive to shoot to 300Y is totally unnecessary. Actually there's a plethora of sub $1000 scopes perfectly capable for your purposes. But it's a free country, buy this if you have the money, it's easily up there with "the best" and might be the best for you. https://www.hensoldt.net/solutions/land/optronics/sights-and-targeting-optics/35-26x56-ff/

The more expensive scopes will be more refined in different ways, but don't expect perfection with any man made object, not only that but sometimes there can be things about expensive scopes that can be very annoying, that is, depending on your preferences. At this point you don't know, what you don't know.
 
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Based on the brief responses, it’s a relief to see that 1) the optics market has reached a point of extremely high quality across many producers leaving no clear “best” and 2) no one who actually uses these scopes has genuinely suggested Athlon.
Some people believe there is a "best", but I think "best" encompasses a few different items in anything, including optics. You might want to reword as "amongst the best". In that case, you named a few scopes yourself in your first post. However, these days you are probably better off buying a scope with your favorite reticle. I have a couple of Hensoldts, and the glass, tracking and durability on them is top tier. however, there are guys who wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole because the reticles are standard army mil dot. Another thing to note is that despite having the "best" glass, in heavy mirage I still cannot see shit with them. A good scope will not make you a better shooter unless your last scope was such a piece of junk that it couldn't hold a zero