Best scope under $1k

[ChemE]

I like Zeiss scopes and I thing the Z4s are best in class, best scopes for the money anywhere.

 

[Uncle_Moose]

My most recent scope is a conquest v4 6-24x50. Best glass per dollar I've spent thus far for this price range.

 

[roosiebull]

Trijicon Credo, Bushnell LRHS2, SWFA, NF SHV…take your pick

In no particular order, that would be my list… though your list is better than mine would have been

 

[roosiebull]

The meopta optika 6 is another consideration, I would go with it before I considered a leupold that fits budget

 

[galamb]

Maybe have a look at the mostly unknown and under rated Burris Veracity.

First focal scopes - the glass is Steiner - come in under a grand and have a "forever warranty" that even covers the scope if you trip and smash it.

The 3-15X50 might suit your needs and lists for about $850

 

[ptmn]

With a $1k cap, I agree with others on a Leupold. Their products and unconditional warranty are great bang for the buck. Graf and Sons has some VX-5HD's that barely meet your budget.

SigSauer Tango 4's are a little cheaper, $700 to $800 zone, that's what I'm running on my long range Grendel. Sig sometimes has specials where you can get them for $600, that's how I got mine.

If you are military or first responder, you can register for professional discounts on Expert Voice, then you may be able to access discounts with some scope companies.

 

[ktm450]

For dialing = zeiss v4
For Lightweight = Swarovski Z3 BRH

I own both and a bunch of others. These are unbeatable for the price and have been dead reliable on many rough hunts.

 

[dreamingWest]

I just bought a Trijicon Accupoint 2.5-12.5x42 Mil-Plex new for $800. Out of the box it seems near perfect for a non-dialing hunting scope. I haven't "used" it yet.

I use Nightforce SHV as my dialers.

 

[rjw4]

For any cheap scope I go with a Burris Signature HD with the E3 reticle. I have a few Nightforce SHV's and a Huskemaw and I have a hard time telling a difference in the quality of glass. You can also get a custom turret made if you're looking to shoot long range

 

[762 ULTRAMAGA]

I'm very impressed with my trijicon Credo 4-16x50, I like it way more than my vx5hd, which replaced a zeiss V4
I'd go Trijicon or LRHS2

 

[BjornF16]

Reliability is king!

1. Nightforce SHV - downside is heavy
2. SWFA 3-9HD - downside on back order; can find used occasionally
3. SWFA 3-15 - downside not HD glass, but good enough
4. Trijicon Credo - downside long term reliability unknown
5. Bushnell LRHSi/LRTSi 3-12x44 - downside no longer made, can find used

Do yourself a favor and check out the Scope Evaluation threads under the Long Range Hunting section here on Rokslide…

 

[Echo]

For dialing = zeiss v4
For Lightweight = Swarovski Z3 BRH

I own both and a bunch of others. These are unbeatable for the price and have been dead reliable on many rough hunts.

Thanks for the info - do you know if the V4 dial similar to the CDS that Leupold offers? I've only had experience with the CDS system for dialing scopes and have found it to be pretty slick

 

[Echo]

Thanks everyone - all of these recommendations have resulted in a lot of research for me over the past few days. I appreciate all of the help!

 

[Txtrapper10]

Leupold VX-5hd

 

[Wrench]

Reliability is king!

1. Nightforce SHV - downside is heavy
2. SWFA 3-9HD - downside on back order; can find used occasionally
3. SWFA 3-15 - downside not HD glass, but good enough
4. Trijicon Credo - downside long term reliability unknown
5. Bushnell LRHSi/LRTSi 3-12x44 - downside no longer made, can find used

Do yourself a favor and check out the Scope Evaluation threads under the Long Range Hunting section here on Rokslide…

I can help on the lrhs

Bushnell LRHS-2 4.5-18 x 44 G2H reticle

<p>BACK IN STOCK!!</p>

www.gaprecision.net

 

[ktm450]

The V4 is MOA. I agree the CDS can be a bit easier to begin with, but I think the loss of flexibility (one load) can be limiting.

 

[Sled]

My choice has been between the Bushnell lrhs, trijicon tenmile and the new tract toric. They are all near your price point. The ten mile is real close if you go sfp or drop down to the credo.

 

[Balderdash]

Interesting to see how fast (generic) Rokslide opinion went from must having “drop tested” scopes to run what you want.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but a fair amount of the recommendations have done well in such tests at some point. Every scope on ChrisAU's list has, IIRC.

There's certainly enough people who report having luck with scopes that haven't been drop tested and or scopes that haven't done well with drop or impact testing. Various Leupolds and the Vortex LH and LHT's come to mind; you see a lot of recommendations for them, but they don't seem to fair too well on impact-drop tests. Maybe some don't care? Or they figure if they have good luck with a scope, that's good enough. Years back, before I became aware of all the drop testing going on, I had troubles with a few models of scope that didn't do so well when impact tested, and I had good luck with some scopes that did well through these types of tests. Thus, when I became aware of the testing results, it was easy for me to see the validity in this type of scope testing.

As far as a recommendation, I'll pile on with the LRHS's. For sub 1k they are tough to beat if you like the reticle, which I personally do. I have quite a few, and they get a lot f things right. I've also had great luck the NF SHV 3-10, and while I've dialed on then a ton and trust them, they aren't set up as well for dialing as the Bushies, so it comes down to the use profile.

I'd also throw the SWFA 3-9 HD in as well, but they suffer from an availability problem these days. They have a great FFP reticle for hunting, they are reliable and they are rugged. Glass is way above their price point. They are a high value scope.

 

[Balderdash]

The meopta optika 6 is another consideration, I would go with it before I considered a leupold that fits budget

Roosie:

Based on previous great experiences with Meoptas, I'd have no problem giving them a recommendation; however, I don't have any first hand experience with the Optika 5's and 6's.

I did order an Optoka 6 3-18 MRAD FFP, mostly because I like the reticle, but also because the other Meoptas I own have been very solid.

Anyway, do you have a lot of experience with the Optika 6's? Based on your recommendation, I'd assume it's been positive. I'd usually run a high enough volume of shots through them and bounce them down enough rough roads to be confident that they're solid, but with ammo and components availability the way it is, I'm not sure I'll be able to do that until things loosen up a bit.

 

[BCD]

Reliability is king!

1. Nightforce SHV - downside is heavy
2. SWFA 3-9HD - downside on back order; can find used occasionally
3. SWFA 3-15 - downside not HD glass, but good enough
4. Trijicon Credo - downside long term reliability unknown
5. Bushnell LRHSi/LRTSi 3-12x44 - downside no longer made, can find used

Do yourself a favor and check out the Scope Evaluation threads under the Long Range Hunting section here on Rokslide…

This is a good list with the exception of the SWFA 3-15 in my experience. Maybe it's just my older eyes but I thought that reticle was really bad and too faint to pick up well in timber or low light. I wish the Bushnells had illumination