Howa 1500 tactical question

[Lester53]

I just jailed a Howa 1500 tactical and now I need to start looking for a scope.

Does anyone know if the rail on the tactical is a standard Picatinny rail or is it something different?

This is my first bolt action (.308) and I'm looking to try some medium range target shooting. Any suggestions on scopes. One person suggested a Redfield and I understand they are pretty good. I want a decent scope, but it's obviously not a high-end rifle so I would like something reasonably priced.

[Xtracrispy]

Should be standard picatinny.

I recently bought a Remington 700 308 and mounted a Bushnell Elite Tactical 10x40 on it. From my research it seemed like a good scope to get my feet wet in long range and fit my budget. I'm happy with my choice.

But, be prepared to hear a ton of different opinions.

In before the "buy a scope that cost at least as much as you rifle" crowd

[CobraRed]

You'll be spending about a dollar for every yard you want to shoot accurately with it.

[Lester53]

Thanks man.

I know I've opened a can of worms by asking about scopes. I definitely don't want to spend a ton. This is my first scope and I don't know how frequently I will really get out to do med/long range shooting.

I'm looking for something decent that's affordable to, as you said, get my feet wet.

Should be standard picatinny.

I recently bought a Remington 700 308 and mounted a Bushnell Elite Tactical 10x40 on it. From my research it seemed like a good scope to get my feet wet in long range and fit my budget. I'm happy with my choice.

But, be prepared to hear a ton of different opinions.

In before the "buy a scope that cost at least as much as you rifle" crowd

[ar15barrels]

I'm looking for something decent that's affordable to, as you said, get my feet wet.

Define "affordable" using only numbers with a dollar sign in front of them.

[Lester53]

Define "affordable" using only numbers with a dollar sign in front of them.

That's a fair question, affordable is kind of open-ended.

I paid about $500 for the rifle and at this point I would definitely not want to pay more than that for the scope. I would probably prefer something closer to $250 - 350.

I fully understand that the price range I'm talking about is not going give me a super high quality scope. I'm sure that some would probably argue that I'm throwing away money and should save and put this toward a higher quality scope.

Basically I'm looking to test the waters and see if this is something I'm going to get into and do more frequently. If I love it, I'll upgrade gear in the future. If I don't, I won't be out that much.

I'm looking for something that is decent quality and gives me decent range. I would like something that will be good enough that scope quality won't turn me off (and scope won't fall apart after 10 shots), but at the same time, it doesn't have to be high enough quality to satisfy an expert marksman either. I certainly don't qualify as that. This is my first bolt action rifle and my first scope (other than a 1x red dot).

[jetman624]

http://swfa.com/SWFA-SS-Scopes-C1719.aspx

I don't know that these can be beat for the money.

I got the fixed 12x with MRAD adjustments for my 700P in .223. Haven't taken it to the range yet... If you do some research you will see that many agree these are REALLY tough to beat for the money...

One thing I did find in my research is that there were some complaints about some of the higher power SWFA fixed scopes being a bit fuzzy-- that is why I stuck with 12x.

[ar15barrels]

I paid about $500 for the rifle and at this point I would definitely not want to pay more than that for the scope. I would probably prefer something closer to $250 - 350.

My standard recommendation in that price range is a Nikon Buckmaster 4.5-14x40 with side focus and mildot reticle.
It's got good quality glass and most important is that the mechanics are very good quality.
That means that when you dial 2moa of elevation, the bullet actually moves 2moa on target.
When you dial back to zero, the scope returns to zero.
The scope is made in Japan so you won't have to worry about it falling apart like the chinese low-end scopes...

Stepping up to $350 gets you into a bushnell 5-15x40 tactical model.
This one is also made in Japan, tracks accurately and will have nicer target knobs than the Nikon, but the focus is moved forward to the objective.

I have used both of these scopes to win competitions and continue to use them on my budget-minded guns where I'm not going to spend $2800 for a US optics scope.

[sigstroker]

That's a fair question, affordable is kind of open-ended.

I paid about $500 for the rifle and at this point I would definitely not want to pay more than that for the scope. I would probably prefer something closer to $250 - 350.

You can get a budget Made in the U.S.A. Leupold for that much.

[ar15barrels]

You can get a budget Made in the U.S.A. Leupold for that much.

Show us a picture of the scope where it actually SAYS "made in the USA" on the scope.
There are govt regulations concerning marking products.
Products have to be produced with more than 51% USA sourced parts/materials.
The low-cost Leupolds are using so many foreign parts in them now that they can no longer be marked "made in the USA".

They might be marked "Assembled in the USA" which pretty much designates that more than 51% of the parts are foreign and that the scope was assembled here.

"Made" and "Assembled" are VERY different concepts...

[Lester53]

Thanks Randall. I really appreciate you taking the time to provide your inut.

My standard recommendation in that price range is a Nikon Buckmaster 4.5-14x40 with side focus and mildot reticle.
It's got good quality glass and most important is that the mechanics are very good quality.
That means that when you dial 2moa of elevation, the bullet actually moves 2moa on target.
When you dial back to zero, the scope returns to zero.
The scope is made in Japan so you won't have to worry about it falling apart like the chinese low-end scopes...

Stepping up to $350 gets you into a bushnell 5-15x40 tactical model.
This one is also made in Japan, tracks accurately and will have nicer target knobs than the Nikon, but the focus is moved forward to the objective.

I have used both of these scopes to win competitions and continue to use them on my budget-minded guns where I'm not going to spend $2800 for a US optics scope.

[sigstroker]

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Leupold-VX-1-2-7x33mm-Riflescope/22049020

Assembled in Country of Origin: USA
Origin of Components: USA

[ar15barrels]

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Leupold-VX...scope/22049020

Assembled in Country of Origin: USA
Origin of Components: USA

That's the best you have?
How abou just show me a picture of the scope tube that says "made in the USA" on it?

[Merc1138]

http://www.leupold.com/hunting-shooting/scopes/vx-1-riflescopes/

Sure, they're probably designed in the US. Sure, they're probably finishing(machining) some components in the US. Sure, they're probably assembling them in the US. Yet oddly enough, they can't simply state "made in the USA".

Even the box for my VX-3(which happens to be sitting on a shelf not too far from my computer) has zero

[Arnelcheeze]

your rifle is only as good as the optic that sits on it.
check this thread there is a good deal on a good value optic.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=805556&highlight=howa+1500