Another "Help Me Pick a Scope" Thread....

[sonofeugene]

Gentlemen,

I'm looking for my first scope since I was 16 and bought an inexpensive Weaver for my father's Monkey Wards 22. In 10 days I'll be picking up my new Mossberg MVP Patrol in .308. I bought it without a scope and would like the scope I buy for it to be a good one. Here are some particulars:

I don't hunt but I might some day.
I'd like an illuminated scope.
I like a wide field of view if I can get it so I'm thinking 40 to 50 or so on the objective.
I'd like to have a reticle designed to zero at 100 yards if I can
Most of my shooting will be at ranges of 100 and 200 yards, though I may shoot further out from time to time.
I don't mind spending 500 or a bit more, but 600+ starts to stretch the budget.
I'm thinking a Leupold VX-3 or VX-R would be sweet.
And I'm thinking 3-9 or 4-10 would be a good range.

Also, which reticle style can you recommend?

Most importantly, if a Leupold is not in the cards, what brand/model is 2nd and 3rd best? Nikon? Other?

Finally, the rifle comes with a picatinny rail so I'm thinking either Leupold or Warne quick release rings. Recommendations?

Thanks!

[Lightstrider]

My friend went with this or the $599 one for his AR. Good quality, meets your needs and price. Perfect for all situations unless you prefer to have more magnification.

http://www.vortexoptics.com/product/vortex-viper-pst-1-4x24-riflescope-with-tmcq-moa-reticle-capped-turrets

EDIT: I don't think it's illuminated though. I run Leupold optics, a Mark 4 4.5-14x and the Mark 4 LRT 8.5-25x with the illuminated ret but it's also nice to have a red dot or something.

[kcheung2]

Not trying to be mean, but you need to really read up on scopes since your questions indicate you know very, very little about them.

[Librarian]

Moved to the Optics forum

[RobertMW]

Do you really need QD rings? Unless you get some of the high end ones for $200+ a set, that is going to be a spot of error in the future, as cheap QDs tend to loosen or shift as things get bumped around. If you don't think you will actually be switching scopes back and forth, just get a cheaper, stronger, set of wrenched down rings that will stay put.

If you are talking about zeroing at 100 I'm assuming that you mean you would like a Ballistic Drop Compensation reticule so that you can easily set up your shots at distance. Make sure you find one that matches your ballistics as close as possible, otherwise it is pretty much useless. Or just get your exact ballistics, look at a drop table, and dial it in.

Do you even need Drop compensation? Out to about 200 yards your round is hitting within 4" of your 100 yard zero, elevation at least. If you ever decide to go past 200, say maybe 500, you are probably going to want to dial in the drop anyway

[JMP]

Not trying to be mean, but you need to really read up on scopes since your questions indicate you know very, very little about them.

Agreed. Maybe read some stickies and go shooting with a friend. Scopes don't illuminate, except for some very high end ones, but reticles do. Also, reticles aren't made for 100 yard zeros, you set that. Just a large objective won't necessarily provide a large field a view, the list goes on and on. Scopes are tough to shop for because what you read about on the internet doesn't mean beans. You need to try them in real life and understand the different features.

[sonofeugene]

Thanks, all, for the feedback. After a few visits to gun shops and looking through a few scopes, I was still quite taken with Leupold's VX-R series so I just finished ordering their VX-R 3-9x50 Firedot with CDS and the duplex reticle. Perhaps a bit overkill but I haven't spent much money on myself in recent times so I decided to splurge.

As for the quick release rings, I'm still going to get them as I'd like to easily remove the scope so I can use the iron sights which is fun. I've pretty much decided on Warne.