Most important features on a budget scope?

[NATEWA]

https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?p=20424432#post20424432

Good suggestions

[wpod]

This is a lot of scope for the price.
I'd put the quality and features in the $2-300 range, at just over $100.

https://www.amazon.com/Mueller-Rifle-Scope-Black-4-5-14/dp/B000SULCTA

It was much better than the Barska it replaced. Tho not even close to the Steiner I recently bought.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

[Droppin Deuces]

So, after thinking it over, I think I want a 1-4x. It should be more than enough to see holes in paper at 100 yards, and I do have a spotting scope for when I want to go out further. A 10x fixed would make things easier, but at the end of the day I'd be learning to shoot a not-particularly-useful gun.

Unfortunately, the ones mentioned in this thread have been largely out of my price range, or at least the range I had in mind when I set out.

Leatherwood one is $400 about, Vortex about $500. I had initially been hoping to get something around $200, stretching towards $300.

I guess at this point I'm wondering how much more I'm getting for those versus a $200-$250 Bushnell or Black Spider or some such. I've seen various complaints about the Bushnell and Black Spider scopes, ranging in severity from "not as good as my Trijicon" to "package contained actual black spider instead of a scope," but a lot of people also seem to really like them and they mostly have positive reviews with the "for the price" caveat.

I'd consider a fixed 4x if that got me a little more quality in the price range I'm looking for, but they seem to come exclusively in "$5 air rifle scope" and "$1500 Trijicon" varieties.

Well, if it's a prism scope you're interested in, then Burris, Vortex and I think Primary Arms all sell basically the same one with their own respective reticles. They will not have the same glass quality of an ACOG, but they will function very similarly. The Primary Arms in particular has a very nice reticle. Just keep in mind that you will lose a lot of eye relief compared to a standard telescopic sight.

https://www.amazon.com/Burris-300210-AR-536-Sight-Black/dp/B0074YSVFQ

https://www.amazon.com/Vortex-Optics-SPR-1303-Spitfire-EBR-556B/dp/B00HYRGNLM/ref=sr_1_3?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1503286304&sr=1-3&keywords=vortex+prism+scope

http://www.primaryarms.com/primary-arms-3x-compact-prism-scope-w-the-patented-acss-5-56-reticle-pac3x-acss-5-56

[67Cuda]

http://www.primaryarms.com/primary-a...ac3x-acss-5-56

I have an earlier version of this and really like it, Primary Arms 3X Compact Scope PAC3X. Awesome for the price.

https://www.amazon.com/Primary-Arms-Compact-Prism-Riflescope/dp/B01BOTJGIM

[crufflers]

If I had one to scope right now I'd try a Burris RT6 1-6 for about $325 street price... I'd want to look through it first. Preferably with other scopes like a Strike Eagle 1-6, 1-8, Viper PST 1-4, 1-6, etc...

I almost tried a Millett DMS-2 1-6x24mm... they sounded pretty decent for the price ($250-$270).

[Bushwack44]

I'm no expert but sounds like you'd be happy with a $129-$149 Nikon 3x9 or 4x12 (have both and prefer them over comparable Vortex scopes in same price range). Take your savings and buy ammo.

I'm looking to get my first "real scope" to put on a mini-14. When I bought it I slapped a $50 Barska on it and haven't had any real problems besides not tightening it enough (never put a scope on a centerfire rifle before) and the reticle being a bit out of focus sometimes.

I'd like to get something a bit better, possibly up to $300, or more if there's absolutely must-have features on the line. I realize that this puts me well in the "budget" range when it comes to real scopes, but considering that I've never used anything but cheapo rimfire scopes before it's still a big step up for me.

What I'm wondering is what are the absolute must-haves on a scope that I plan for target shooting between 50 and 300 yards, both sitting and standing? What brands should I look at or stay away from?

I'd also love to get it in a silver finish, to match with my mini, but if push comes to shove I'll take function over form.

[madjack956]

SWFA Super Sniper - $300-$400 stout and repeatable.

[dwalker]

For $350 bucks, get the Burris RT-6. Excellent glass, very dependable and it will work for what you need.

[stevebla]

Vortex great warranty, good value. I like side parallax and low dispersion glass.

[crufflers]

SWFA Super Sniper - $300-$400 stout and repeatable.

These are very good. I see the basic fixed power model hit $260 on big sales like Black Friday type sales - for the price they are very clear and bright, super tough.

[hermosabeach]

I have not owned a mini in a very long time...

What options do you have for mounting the scope?

Does the Mini have a built in base so you just need a quality pair of rings?


I have been amazed at the clarity of Nikon scopes.

I am not a fan of many 1-4 power scopes as they tend to have small lenses and have limited light and field of view

Leopold make a few nice scopes that fall into the 2-7 or 3-9 power choice.


For any range where you need 1 power, you can point the rifle and hit fur at 25 yards or less...

Where you want to be able to better identify a target, I want more than 4 power....


It depends on the purpose.

[michaelthepsycho]

Check out the Sightron S-Tac / SIII line. The eye box beats out SWFA's SS, and most of Vortex's similarly-priced offerings. Vortex doesn't really get good until the Razor IMHO, but everyone's eyes are different.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

It always seems to get overlooked, but I really like the Redfield Battlezone. When I mounted one on my AR and took it out to the range, I bought a second one almost immediately for a different rifle (both 20" AR's)

The scope and the Burris P.E.P.R. mount were less than $300, IIRC I bought both from SWFA.

[crufflers]

One more for you in the price range... Nikon Monarch 1-4x20 or M-223 1-4x20... that seems like a great scope for a Mini IMHO... size and magnification, probably clear as hell. I have two P series and always wanted to try an M. I've seen those hit $220 but looks like $238 right now.

[Flatinfifth]

Scope

These are very good. I see the basic fixed power model hit $260 on big sales like Black Friday type sales - for the price they are very clear and bright, super tough.

Ditto. I have two SWFA scopes. Both are excellent in both holding zero, tracking consistency and glass clarity. The 10X is hard to beat.

Flat