Help me decide.....

[spoiler559]

Currently using nikon Buckmaster 4.5-14X40 on my 223. Also using vortex crossfire II on my saiga 308. Looking to move those scopes onto other rifles that I have if it makes sense. My budget is about $400. Looking for distance and primarily target shooting. Three that I'm looking at:
SWFA 10X
Vortex viper 6.5-20X50. Or
Nikon monarch 4-16X50
Does anyone have any experience with these three and would you consider these to be upgrades from the two that I already have. I think one of these is about $450 so that would be my limit. Also would it matter which rifle I put them on. Any help is appreciated. These were the three that people had told me about. Your thoughts????

[spoiler559]

Looking for best scope for distance and clarity

[NordicDave]

I'm a believer in spending real money on great glass. Ironically, I've disappointed myself in not buying enough quality and have never regretted greater investments. I've never said I spent too much.

Once you learn the hard way about reticle shift, failure to return to zero, real resolution loss, etc. a person sees the difference.

I brought a professional scope resolution chart to the range and posted it at 100 yards. A handful of shooters took turns looking through each others scopes to test resolution.

A few people learned that brightness does not equate to resolution. Some people really like the Nikon. I believe they are not so good until you enter their higher end lines like Monarch. People think Nikon = good glass. It's true when it's not made in China. Even the high end is not what it used to be, and they are really milking the brand name.

In your price range, a great scope to consider for .223 is the Bushnell Elite in 6-24x40 for about $500 proved very nice. The very high power magnification is great for high accuracy target shoot, since you can actually see that little hole so far away for precise shot placement.

[Wanderlust]

Agreed on the Bushnell Elite and SWFA are generally a good value. Given what you are detailing out I would be patient and look for a good quality used scope. Its amazing the deals that can come up.

It also depends on what 'distance' means to you. If you really want to go out to 1,000+ yards then I might suggest you are going to be happier spending more. And for target shooting you might be better off with a SFP scope and sometimes those can be found for a little less as compared to the FFP scopes

[ExtremeX]

I'm a believer in spending real money on great glass. Ironically, I've disappointed myself in not buying enough quality and have never regretted greater investments. I've never said I spent too much.
.

Agree 100% and experienced the same when I first started out...

A few people learned that brightness does not equate to resolution. Some people really like the Nikon. I believe they are not so good until you enter their higher end lines like Monarch. People think Nikon = good glass. It's true when it's not made in China. Even the high end is not what it used to be, and they are really milking the brand name.

The Nikon name seems to help them a lot... and I agree with your observation.

Some fail to realize that their camera lenses with f/2.8 and larger apertures are upwards of 1-2k+... Good glass cost money.

OP: if you can work with the fixed mag scope the SWFA delivers a great value. If you can step up the cost and work into their HD line you would NOT be disappointed.

I use both the standard and HD fixed 10x scopes. Personally I think they are both excellent for their respected price points.

10x may not sound like much, but ill take more resolution over magnification any day of the week. Personally I haven't been happy with a lot of the high magnification scopes in lower price points.

Plus if you want to play out at 1k, a scope with solid tracking is even more important than just good glass IMO.

I do like Vortex scopes like their PST and Razor line, but i'm not a huge fan of their turret setup and reticle options on their Viper series... For example the only reticle I would be interested in is the mildot, but the scope is only available with capped MOA turrets.

[6mmintl]

I would go with a minimum 15-16x fixed mill dot reticle MOA knob scope to start out, 10x is a bit light out to 1000 (if that's your intent), 20x or higher variable is better (mirage in Ca. in summer is a potential problem at higher x) for longer shooting.

[Anthracis]

Monarch is a good one. Also, the Zeiss Conquest is what I run. But in 3-9x40. Clarity and brightness is amazing. I thinks it's a great scope for sub $500.