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Hello all, I am looking for some advice on a scope. I have been shooting for 40+ years and I am very comfortable with iron sights, but when it comes to scopes, I am a total noob.
I have decided to give the long(er) range shooting a try, but want to get started on a bit of a budget until I figure things out and decide where to go next. I really only get out a couple of times a year to shoot at any distance greater than 200 yards, so I am using the 200 yards as a baseline to start with and stretch out from there.
I purchased two budget rifles that came with cheap scopes, but the scopes really suck. Then again, since the rifle and scope combo only cost me $280 brand new, I did not really expect anything from them. The rifles are both Remington 783’s; one in 223 and the other 308. The scope on the 223 broke last weekend so I thought I would upgrade to a decent budget scope in the $300 - $350 range.
So bottom line, here is what I want in a scope;
1) I want it to be as clear and bright as my budget will allow. My middle aged eyes need all the help they can get.
2) Want to be able to shoot paper target to get good groupings out to 200 yards (max distance at the range I go to the most)
3) Want to be able to ring steel out to 400 yards when I have the chance to get out to the dessert a couple times a year. I have 10 and 12 inch steel plates.
4) I will start with this on my 223, but would like to be able to move it to my 308 if I decide to do so at some point.
5) I would like to stay in the $300 to $350 range.
6) This will be used for bench rest shooting only. I am not a hunter and have no plans to start.
So, with my bachelor’s degree from youtube university, class of Friday evening; I am leaning towards the Bushnell Engage series of scopes. They seem to have great reviews, lots of nice features, and are in my price range. They are SPF scopes, but for my use I think that will be fine. I like the MOA reticle and turrets, I like the exposed locking turrets, and I like the third turret for parallax adjustment. All the reviews claim it holds zero well, so it sounds pretty good to me. What is the general consensus on these scopes?
Should I be looking elsewhere, or is this a good choice?
Also, what power range should I be looking for? They have a 2.5-10x44, 3-12x42, and 4-16x44. I like the idea of the 3-12, but nobody has it. So what do you all think? Should I go the 2.5-10, the 4-16, or keep looking for the 3-12?
My thought is that I will keep the 223 (the rifle this scope is for) optimized for under 400 yards (primarly 200 yards), and set up the 308 for longer range. With that being said, the price difference between the 10x and the 16x is only about $60, so money really isn’t an issue. I just don’t know if the 16 would be any real advantage for the purposes and distances I am talking about. What do you all think?
Or should I skip the Bushnell all together and look at other scopes?
Any advice would be awesome! Thanks in advance!
I have decided to give the long(er) range shooting a try, but want to get started on a bit of a budget until I figure things out and decide where to go next. I really only get out a couple of times a year to shoot at any distance greater than 200 yards, so I am using the 200 yards as a baseline to start with and stretch out from there.
I purchased two budget rifles that came with cheap scopes, but the scopes really suck. Then again, since the rifle and scope combo only cost me $280 brand new, I did not really expect anything from them. The rifles are both Remington 783’s; one in 223 and the other 308. The scope on the 223 broke last weekend so I thought I would upgrade to a decent budget scope in the $300 - $350 range.
So bottom line, here is what I want in a scope;
1) I want it to be as clear and bright as my budget will allow. My middle aged eyes need all the help they can get.
2) Want to be able to shoot paper target to get good groupings out to 200 yards (max distance at the range I go to the most)
3) Want to be able to ring steel out to 400 yards when I have the chance to get out to the dessert a couple times a year. I have 10 and 12 inch steel plates.
4) I will start with this on my 223, but would like to be able to move it to my 308 if I decide to do so at some point.
5) I would like to stay in the $300 to $350 range.
6) This will be used for bench rest shooting only. I am not a hunter and have no plans to start.
So, with my bachelor’s degree from youtube university, class of Friday evening; I am leaning towards the Bushnell Engage series of scopes. They seem to have great reviews, lots of nice features, and are in my price range. They are SPF scopes, but for my use I think that will be fine. I like the MOA reticle and turrets, I like the exposed locking turrets, and I like the third turret for parallax adjustment. All the reviews claim it holds zero well, so it sounds pretty good to me. What is the general consensus on these scopes?
Should I be looking elsewhere, or is this a good choice?
Also, what power range should I be looking for? They have a 2.5-10x44, 3-12x42, and 4-16x44. I like the idea of the 3-12, but nobody has it. So what do you all think? Should I go the 2.5-10, the 4-16, or keep looking for the 3-12?
My thought is that I will keep the 223 (the rifle this scope is for) optimized for under 400 yards (primarly 200 yards), and set up the 308 for longer range. With that being said, the price difference between the 10x and the 16x is only about $60, so money really isn’t an issue. I just don’t know if the 16 would be any real advantage for the purposes and distances I am talking about. What do you all think?
Or should I skip the Bushnell all together and look at other scopes?
Any advice would be awesome! Thanks in advance!
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