$500 rifle scope. Best bang for your buck?

[Kyguy]

I swear, some of you folks get on here just looking to argue

You think this is bad, go get on 24hr Campfire. At least things stay pretty civil on here. Over there, a lot of times it's a bunch of 12 year olds having a pissing contest and throwing temper tantrums.

 

[rdramsey8]

Your standard for "compromise" is not really useful.

There are many hunters who cannot afford anything more than a Ruger American with a simple 3-9 scope. If they could afford a custom rifle and a NF scope, it would be a choice. Otherwise, it is a compromise.

I’m a guy that absolutely can’t afford a Nightforce scope and a custom rifle. But tons of great options were thrown out at all price ranges.

SWFA-badass scopes, durable, reliable, and modestly priced. I’ve had two fixed 10’s, both had serviceable glass, I just didn’t love the turrets.

Trijicon- tons of great options depending on your desired feature set that can be found for good prices.

Burris XTR II and III can be found for great prices, both used and new. These haven’t been evaluated by Form, but do have solid reputations for tracking accurately and being reliable.

The scope evaluations are really worth reading through. It’s amazing how poorly some of the scopes do. Also the Hunt Backcountry podcast interview with some guys from Nightforce is really interesting and worth a listen. Every scope that leaves the factory is impact tested and confirmed to be fully functional.

 

[alexnelon]

Your standard for "compromise" is not really useful.

There are many hunters who cannot afford anything more than a Ruger American with a simple 3-9 scope. If they could afford a custom rifle and a NF scope, it would be a choice. Otherwise, it is a compromise.

I’m sure that guy exists, like I said. And he should get what he can afford and hunt within the limits of his equipment.

But every single person who has ever rolled their eyes and told me it must be nice to be able to “afford” a Nightforce scope has spent more money on rifles and scopes than I have. They just have 5 $300 scopes and I have one $1,200 scope.

 

[Hnthrdr]

I’m sure that guy exists, like I said. And he should get what he can afford and hunt within the limits of his equipment.

But every single person who has ever rolled their eyes and told me it must be nice to be able to “afford” a Nightforce scope has spent more money on rifles and scopes than I have. They just have 5 $300 scopes and I have one $1,200 scope.

Facts… honestly a ruger American with a 3-9 Swfa or Huron is probably a decently solid set up for like 98% of hunters.

Im in the boat of having too many sort of expensive rifles and scopes haha but I’ll see a full custom or gun works and go awww hell that’s expensive, but if I sold my 6 hunting rifles I could easily just have picked one of those up…

 

[Mike D Texas]

Ive got a friend that swears by the vortex diamondback tactical. He uses them in competition and wins

Just, no!


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[Swamp Fox]

You think this is bad, go get on 24hr Campfire. At least things stay pretty civil on here. Over there, a lot of times it's a bunch of 12 year olds having a pissing contest and throwing temper tantrums.

I'd gladly take the pissing matches if their search function would work ... LOL

 

[JGRaider]

You think this is bad, go get on 24hr Campfire. At least things stay pretty civil on here. Over there, a lot of times it's a bunch of 12 year olds having a pissing contest and throwing temper tantrums.

Rough crowd over there, thin skinned people don't last very long. BS walks......but there's loads of very experienced hunters/shooters/outdoorsmen over there too.

 

[MuleyFever]

I swear, some of you folks get on here just looking to argue

Sir, this is the internet.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Sir, this is the internet.

It’s not a Wendy’s?

What the hell am I doing here?!?!

 

[Steve300xcw]

Rough crowd over there, thin skinned people don't last very long. BS walks......but there's loads of very experienced hunters/shooters/outdoorsmen over there too.

I used to be over there a bunch. Turned into old people throwing shit at each other Mainly go over there if I'm looking to spend money. Those classifieds move a lot of stuff!

 

[JGRaider]

It’s not a “what if” game if you hunt in the mountains, it’s when. If you’re actually running around big western mountains chasing animals, you will test your equipment. I’ve used both Leupold and vortex scopes before and they aren’t even guaranteed to hold zero during the drive to the mountains, let alone during real field use.

Put your rifle in the rack in the back of a Toyota Landcruiser truck, hunting Africa for 10 days/10 hours a day over hundreds of miles. Your equipment will get the ever-lovin' hell beat out of it. That seems like more of a torture test than you described, especially with all of the reports around here of rifles losing zero just sitting in the safe or in the back seat of a pickup truck.

 

[Kyguy]

Rough crowd over there, thin skinned people don't last very long. BS walks......but there's loads of very experienced hunters/shooters/outdoorsmen over there too.

100%. There's a lot to learn if you can wade through the chest deep BS. Lol.

 

[rdramsey8]

Put your rifle in the rack in the back of a Toyota Landcruiser truck, hunting Africa for 10 days/10 hours a day over hundreds of miles. Your equipment will get the ever-lovin' hell beat out of it. That seems like more of a torture test than you described, especially with all of the reports around here of rifles losing zero just sitting in the safe or in the back seat of a pickup truck.

I own one rifle and have zero doubt that it would be up to that task. I throw my rifle in the back seat of my Tacoma and it drives all over western Wyoming, washboard roads, high clearance two tracks. Gets hiked up into the high country, laid in the snow, rained on, tipped over on granite rock outcroppings, strapped to a pack walking through thick timber, willows, etc…

I have 100% confidence in my rifle system because it’s been tested. The equipment that survives the tests is the equipment that won’t fail you in the field. I installed a Nightforce base on my action, torqued with locktite. I use Nightforce rings (yes they’re worth $190) they maintain the integrity of your rifles aiming device. I use purple vibratite on my ring cap screws and torque to slightly above spec.

I shoot about 500-700 rounds a year through my one rifle system. I shoot and hunt with the same ammo. I would absolutely fly my rifle around the world and take it into any situation will full confidence.

 

[Rich M]

I have a trijicon huron and really like it on another rifle. I really would like to find something I can dial with though.

Thats what i was gonna recommend. Just got a huron and mostly like it. $350 and it is a decent buy.

 

[nm.otter]

Just got a huron and mostly like it. $350 and it is a decent buy.

To be fair -- they're SFP, with capped turrets and no reticle subtensions. For that money, I'll take a SWFA 6x all day long.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

To be fair -- they're SFP, with capped turrets and no reticle subtensions. For that money, I'll take a SWFA 6x all day long.

And MOA…

 

[goalie]

And MOA…

But, SFP, with capped turrets and no reticle subtensions, does it really matter?!?!?!

 

[Fartrell Cluggins]

I swear, some of you folks get on here just looking to argue

Nuh-uh.

 

[Fartrell Cluggins]

It’s not a “what if” game if you hunt in the mountains, it’s when. If you’re actually running around big western mountains chasing animals, you will test your equipment. I’ve used both Leupold and vortex scopes before and they aren’t even guaranteed to hold zero during the drive to the mountains, let alone during real field use.

I have subjected my scopes to more torture on a ATV handlebar mounted gun rack than I ever did out west.

 

[UnckleBob]

I’m a guy that absolutely can’t afford a Nightforce scope and a custom rifle. But tons of great options were thrown out at all price ranges.

SWFA-badass scopes, durable, reliable, and modestly priced. I’ve had two fixed 10’s, both had serviceable glass, I just didn’t love the turrets.

Trijicon- tons of great options depending on your desired feature set that can be found for good prices.

Burris XTR II and III can be found for great prices, both used and new. These haven’t been evaluated by Form, but do have solid reputations for tracking accurately and being reliable.

The scope evaluations are really worth reading through. It’s amazing how poorly some of the scopes do. Also the Hunt Backcountry podcast interview with some guys from Nightforce is really interesting and worth a listen. Every scope that leaves the factory is impact tested and confirmed to be fully functional.

I just bought a Trijicon Huron from @EuroOptic. They are great to do business with.

@Formidilosus had recommended the Huron to me in another post a while ago. I could not buy one until I was sure of s small windfall.

It fit my needs best (I wanted a max magnification range in the 15-18x range) in my price range. I have vision issues and I am gradually replacing my 3-9 and 2.5-10's on most of my hunting rifles.