long range scope for $500-$700

[madjack956]

+1

If you can live with a fixed magnification option SWFA is pretty awesome. Good no frills scope at about $300-400 bucks.

They have variables as well but its out of your price range.

The only thing I dont like about the scope is the cheesy name. Its tough, the turrets are positive, it has very decent glass, and after 7 years on my .308, it still returns to zero during box drills.

They did everything right with this scope, until they came up with the mall ninja-like name for it. I'm really happy I took the time to see past that and read the testimonials.

[DirtyDave]

thinkin about goin with the vortex viper 6.5-20x44 what u guys think? good scope?

More magnification in a lesser quality line is not the way to go. You would be better off with a PST with less magnification for the money. Dont get hung up on having a ton of magnification. You dont need that much magnification to shoot 600yds. Guys shoot 1000yds with a good quality 10x scope all day.

[GeoffLinder]

More magnification in a lesser quality line is not the way to go. You would be better off with a PST with less magnification for the money. Dont get hung up on having a ton of magnification. You dont need that much magnification to shoot 600yds. Guys shoot 1000yds with a good quality 10x scope all day.

This ^^^

If you can't make a 500-800 yard shot at 5-7x mag, you won't make it with 10plus mag either. More mag = more noticeability of hold wobble and spending extra time dressing it up. You may even shoot worse with more mag.

3.5-10x with large objective and crystal clear optics is the right way to go IMHO

[madjack956]

Mirage was always more prevalent when I used a scope over 10x mag.

[moger]

This ^^^

If you can't make a 500-800 yard shot at 5-7x mag, you won't make it with 10plus mag either. More mag = more noticeability of hold wobble and spending extra time dressing it up. You may even shoot worse with more mag.

3.5-10x with large objective and crystal clear optics is the right way to go IMHO

makes sense..i never done long range shooting. but i do sum shooting with my 22lr and i notice i do better with iron sights than i do with the scope..unless i shooting rabbits..scope comes in handy..some of those rabbits blend so well with their surroundings that sumtimes its hard to spot em with the naked eye..

[moger]

More magnification in a lesser quality line is not the way to go. You would be better off with a PST with less magnification for the money. Dont get hung up on having a ton of magnification. You dont need that much magnification to shoot 600yds. Guys shoot 1000yds with a good quality 10x scope all day.

Any of these will work for ya

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/152494/vortex-viper-pst-rifle-scope-30mm-tube-4-16x-50mm-side-focus-illuminated-ebr-1-moa-reticle-matte

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/853032/weaver-tactical-rifle-scope-30mm-tube-3-15x-50mm-1-10-mil-adjustments-side-focus-mil-dot-reticle-matte

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/836556/vortex-viper-pst-rifle-scope-30mm-tube-4-16x-50mm-side-focus-1-10-mil-adjustments-illuminated-ebr-1-mrad-reticle-matte

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/211906/weaver-tactical-rifle-scope-30mm-tube-3-15x-50mm-side-focus-first-focal-mil-dot-reticle-matte

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/795...-reticle-matte

oh ok.. didnt know that.. i never used a high power scope..so i dont know how far u can see with a 16x magnification. just figured the more magnification the better.. so for my price range and target shooting, i should stick to one of these scopes?

also whats the difference between target and huntings scopes? im gonna guess target scopes has more fine tune adjustments to get tight shot groups at long range while hunting is still accurate,, its simple so that u have more time to make that kill shot n instead of screwing with the knobs n losing ur chance of makin that kill

thanks everyone for responding to my post and helping me out.. hope i can get good enough and gain enough knowledge that sumday i'll be one the helping out others n givin advice..

[moger]

whats ebr-1 moa and ebr-1 mrad?

[ExtremeX]

whats ebr-1 moa and ebr-1 mrad?

The Viper PST is avalible with two different reticles, and turrets to match...

Just pick what you prefer to use... MOA or MRAD.

Reticle Subtension examples for the 6-24x50 SFP

MOA

http://www.vortexoptics.com/uploads/sub_pst_s_6-24x50_ebr1_moa.jpg

MRAD

http://www.vortexoptics.com/uploads/sub_pst_s_6-24x50_ebr1_mrad.jpg

[FMJBT]

If you add $36.00 to your budget, you can get a Bushnell 3-12X44 FFP with the G2DMR reticle. The G2 reticle is far better for long range shooting than a standard mil dot. You can easily use the reticle for elavation and windage holds out to the effective range of most calibers without having to dial in adjustments. If you feel the need to dial anyway, the Bushnell has flawless tracking and .1 mil adjustments that match the reticle dimensions. One of the deciding factors for me to go with this scope on my SPR was the side parallax adjustment. Many of the scopes in it's price range lack this feature, which IMHO is a must have for a long range optic. It doesn't matter how clear the glass is on a scope, if you can't dial out the effects of parallax at varying distances, it will end up limiting the rifles potential accuracy.

http://www.thedigitaloasis.com/BUS-ELITE-TACT-3-12X44-G2-DMR-Bushnell-ET3124FG_p_18051.html

[ExtremeX]

If you add $36.00 to your budget, you can get a Bushnell 3-12X44 FFP with the G2DMR reticle. The G2 reticle is far better for long range shooting than a standard mil dot. You can easily use the reticle for elavation and windage holds out to the effective range of most calibers without having to dial in adjustments. If you feel the need to dial anyway, the Bushnell has flawless tracking and .1 mil adjustments that match the reticle dimensions. One of the deciding factors for me to go with this scope on my SPR was the side parallax adjustment. Many of the scopes in it's price range lack this feature, which IMHO is a must have for a long range optic. It doesn't matter how clear the glass is on a scope, if you can't dial out the effects of parallax at varying distances, it will end up limiting the rifles potential accuracy.

http://www.thedigitaloasis.com/BUS-E...G_p_18051.html

http://www.howardcommunications.com/images/stories/2012/bushnell/images/G2DMR.jpg

[FMJBT]

http://www.howardcommunications.com/...ages/G2DMR.jpg

One interesting thing I've noticed with the G2 reticle: In addition to the 10 mils of holdover points marked on the inner portion of the reticle, there are more holdover points at each mil spacing down the entire length of each leg of the reticle as well. In the image, the legs of the reticle look pretty solid, but in fact, you can actually see through them to a certain extent. By dialing back on the magnification, you expose more holdover points due to the FFP function of the reticle. When dialed back to 8X, you could conceivably hold around 20 mils or so of elevation. This would be enough to lob a 308 to a considerable distance. Granted, the reduced magnification would also reduce the precision at extended ranges, but you could still throw lead out past ranges you could dial out to with a standard mil dot reticle.

[SoCalXD]

If you add $36.00 to your budget, you can get a Bushnell 3-12X44 FFP with the G2DMR reticle. The G2 reticle is far better for long range shooting than a standard mil dot. You can easily use the reticle for elavation and windage holds out to the effective range of most calibers without having to dial in adjustments. If you feel the need to dial anyway, the Bushnell has flawless tracking and .1 mil adjustments that match the reticle dimensions. One of the deciding factors for me to go with this scope on my SPR was the side parallax adjustment. Many of the scopes in it's price range lack this feature, which IMHO is a must have for a long range optic. It doesn't matter how clear the glass is on a scope, if you can't dial out the effects of parallax at varying distances, it will end up limiting the rifles potential accuracy.

http://www.thedigitaloasis.com/BUS-E...G_p_18051.html

You are wind's ***** at distance, and the only way to tame it quickly at tactical speeds is within the scope's retical, which is why it's worth going with this G2 based Bushnell if tactical use is a consideration.

If you don't really care about tactical speed for LR shooting, then you shouldn't really care about milspec durability either, which is why I would then suggest a much cheaper solution for occasional range use:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/456482/bsa-tactical-mil-mil-rifle-scope-30mm-tube-4-14x-44mm-side-focus-1-10-mil-adjustments-first-focal-mrad-reticle-matte

[ExtremeX]

You are wind's ***** at distance, and the only way to tame it quickly at tactical speeds is within the scope's retical, which is why it's worth going with this G2 based Bushnell if tactical use is a consideration.

If you don't really care about tactical speed for LR shooting, then you shouldn't really care about milspec durability either, which is why I would then suggest a much cheaper solution for occasional range use:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/456...-reticle-matte

https://www.primaryarms.com/Primary_Arms_4_14X44_FFP_Scope_p/pa4-14xffp.htm

[FMJBT]

https://www.primaryarms.com/Primary_...pa4-14xffp.htm

I haven't had a chance to handle one of the PA versions, but they do look very similar to the BSA scope, which I have. The BSA is a pretty decent scope for a low end tactical style scope. Decent glass, and the reticle is spot on for ranging and holds. It's more of an MP-8 style reticle rather than a standard mil dot. The additional hash marks on the lower leg are good for holdover points out to around 900 yards or so with a 308, depending on bullet type and velocity. The internal travel is somewhat limited though. I wasn't able to dial it out to 1000 yards on my 308 AR. Total internal travel on mine is slightly less than 20 mils, or around 65 moa.

[Anti-Hero]

Vortex viper PST with MRAD reticle. Or the bushnell elite 6500 with mil-dot.