Scope Education

[462]

I need some rifle scope education.

Qualifier:
I plan on purchasing a .223, within the next two months, and the Ruger American will probably get the nod. I don’t hunt, the local range’s maximum distance is 200-yards, and my rifle shooting has been with iron-sighted ex-military and lever actions, except for the very inexpensively scoped Swede and 10/22.

What I think I know:
Because of the range’s 200-yard limit, I don’t need a reticle anymore complicated than a crosshair.
Leupold and Nikon are quality brand names I’m familiar with.
Vortex seems to be new, Bushnell’s been round a long time, but I’m not familiar with Sightron.

Educate me:
Given a maximum of $200 (less is better!) what do you recommend?

Thanks in advance.

Michael

 

[KeithB]

No advice just curiousity, do you want a variable or fixed power? What level of magnification do you think you need?

 

[waco]

Vortex Crossfire II
4x12x50 for $199
Glass is as good as lower end Leupold stuff. I have half a dozen of them. Lifetime no BS warranty no matter what happens to the optic.
They track well. Clear. Rugged. I can't say enough good about them foe the money.

 

[Ian]

Walter said what I was going to.

 

[Idaholewis]

I know some love, and Swear by Vortex, I Personally Don’t like them at all. I bought 1 for my Knight Mountaineer this Year, it made it out just a Few Trips and Fell apart? Wouldn’t hold Zero anymore? Mine was the Vortex Viper PST Gen 2 5-25X50
This one https://vortexoptics.com/viper-pst-gen-2-5-25x50-ffp.html?vortex_reticle=22

I got mine on Sale for like 800 Bucks. My Best Friend here, and Sport Shop owner (Vortex Dealer) Sent it back for me, They sent a Brand New Replacement Scope with a note Saying that my old Scope “Had broken internally” I didn’t Want the Replacement Scope! My Sport Shop friend traded me out for it since it was Brand new

Had i of Seen this Video, i would NEVER have bought one of these. Go to 5:45, This guy is on Number 4 of These Things!! Listen to this Video, this guy is as Honest as they Get, Even after 4 of these Scopes he Stil wouldn’t say Anything Bad about them, Vortex is Lucky that wasn’t me, I would have been BRUTAL! This is UNREAL for a Scope that Sells for a 1,000 Bucks! Scroll down in the Comments of this Video to the Very Bottom, up 1 from the Bottom, Some guy by the Name of Jim C Comments, and you can See MY reply to him

 

[waco]

I have a $1000 PST and swear by it. MOA groups out to 1800 yards. Nothing wrong with Vortex. Top notch products.

 

[Idaholewis]

Looking Back, Knowing what I know now, My Vortex Scope fell apart RIGHT HERE on this Shoot. I came home to Re Group, So I could go back and Finish this. I stopped to Check my Zero at the local Sandpit, The Scope was ALL OVER the Place “Windage Wise” I packed up and Went home, It would have been another Waste of Time, Powder, and Lead

 

[Idaholewis]

I have a $1000 PST and swear by it. MOA groups out to 1800 yards. Nothing wrong with Vortex. Top notch products.

Mine shot GREAT as well, But only a Few times, And it Broke internally? I guess my .45 Cal Muzzleloader was more than it could take?

 

[waco]

Well I run my PST on a .338 Lapua Magnum. 500+ rounds so far with no issues. Maybe you just got a bad scope. Good thing their warranty is top notch.

 

[462]

Keith,
At a 200-yard maximum distance, I figure a 3-9X40 would suffice.

 

[Idaholewis]

The Smokeless Guy’s have destroyed a Boat load of Vortex, I don’t know any of them that Run them? But they are Also Cranking out some MASSIVE HORSEPOWER, FAR and away Beyond your .338 Lapua

On a Side note, i know a Guy in Southern Idaho that has a Vortex Crossfire on a .22 Cal Springer Air Rifle, That thing has held up great, And a Springer Air Rifle is the HARDEST BEAST there is on a Scope. Of all things, the Crossfire is their Cheapest Scope, Made in China. Go figure?

 

[waco]

I have 6 or 8 Crossfire scopes. They are mounted on everything from .22LR to .308
Great little optics for the money.

 

[Ian]

I just counted, I have six Crossfire IIs and one Diamondback. They have all served me well. So has my SWFA scope, Bushnell, and old Japanese Tascos, scads of Weavers both old and new, and couple of midpriced Nikons. Oh, and one Leupold. So far, the CFII is the first scope not to get destroyed by my Model 70 Featherweight .270, out of three. It killed an old Apollo, a Bushnell, and Leupold VX-II.

For under $200 you're going to be hard-pressed to beat a Vortex.

 

[Idaholewis]

I just counted, I have six Crossfire IIs and one Diamondback. They have all served me well. So has my SWFA scope, Bushnell, and old Japanese Tascos, scads of Weavers both old and new, and couple of midpriced Nikons. Oh, and one Leupold. So far, the CFII is the first scope not to get destroyed by my Model 70 Featherweight .270, out of three. It killed an old Apollo, a Bushnell, and Leupold VX-II.

For under $200 you're going to be hard-pressed to beat a Vortex.

SWFA gets RAVED about by the HEAVY HAMMERS (Smokeless Muzzleloader Guys)

 

[Idaholewis]

I know i was SICK over my Viper PST Gen 2 Falling Apart, I thought i was gonna be Stuck with an 800 Dollar Piece of Junk? I got REALLY Lucky on the deal i ended up With, Since Vortex Replaced it with a Brand new Scope, That allowed my Sport Shop Friend to Take it off my Hands, He put it under his Counter to Re Sell.

 

[Ian]

SWFA gets RAVED about by the HEAVY HAMMERS (Smokeless Muzzleloader Guys)

They're excellent but a lot more than $200.

 

[RicinYakima]

Or find a used Weaver steel K-4 or K-6 made in El Paso on Evil Bay and don't look back. New is not better, but has a warranty, if that is important to you.

 

[RKJ]

I've got a Nikon Buckmaster 4x12x40 for (IIRC) $109 at Academy. At 200 yards (my local ranges max also) and it is crystal clear, seems sturdy enough and fits your budget. I haven't had it on this rifle (a Rem 700 ADL .223) very long but I'm pleased with it. I've got 2 other Nikons (3x9x40) and they all compare to a 20 year old Leopold I've got.

 

[fiver]

the leupold patriot scopes are about 200$ and would be real hard to beat.

I got the vortex hat, jacket, window sticker, and tee shirt too.
but after digging through half a table of them the other day and walking out without purchasing one, I'm gonna call the Vortex honeymoon officially over.
I'd still buy one but it would be more in the 300+ dollar area unless I could find an ONS one to look at.

Nikon's are on sale right now since they are closing the doors.
get one now if you want it, but don't expect anyone to repair or replace it if you break it.

 

[waco]

They're excellent but a lot more than $200.

My SWFA 10x is only $299
I shoot steel out to 1250 with it.
I have shot a 4" plate at 1000 yards with it. Excellent optics.