Best scope under $2500

[Jon_G]

Looking for opinions on the best scope under $2500.

Just in case someone asks, it will only be for hunting. Where I live there really aren't any long distance ranges I can go to. The longest distance I can shoot is a 300 yard range like an hour away. There's a spot I know of that I go to only once a year if that where I can shoot like 600 yards.
With my level of expertise I wouldn't shoot past like 450ish yards at an animal though. Maybe if I get more comfortable later things will change.

I'm looking for something like a duplex or maybe a TMOA reticle.
Also somewhere around 4-20X52.

Im also no expert on firearms. I've spent the last 2-3 years or so learning as much as could about archery and I neglected learning more about firearms. Once I get into something I go into it full steam. So I'd like to learn more and about why some scopes are better than others and what your opinion is as to why I should stay from some and go with so and so.

Lastly, the rifle will be a seekins. I'm just not sure which one yet but that's a different topic.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Matt5266]

Nightforce NX8 4-32x50 I dont think you will get a better scope for up to that price point. With that being said you dont need to spend that much for a good scope either.

For the ranges you describe shooting you can save money and get a Maven or a swfa, trijicon ect.

 

[gr8fuldoug]

As a long standing supporting vendor here it's always our pleasure to assist the members here. Please feel free to give us a call, 516-217-1000, so we can assist you personally with different available options and special opportunities .

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Here's the data source you asked for:

Rifle Scope Field Evaluations

rokslide.com

Given your use case, a Schmidt and bender would probably be a great choice.

 

[KoolBreeze]

For a hunting scope at that price point and use range, I'd jump on one of the S&B Polar T96 scopes on sale at Eurooptic.

https://www.eurooptic.com/756-911-72d-sb-3-12x54-polar-t96-sfp-d7-illuminated-posicon-

https://www.eurooptic.com/755-911-72d-sb-4-16x56-polar-t96-sfp-d7-illuminated-posicon-

 

[HootCamo]

At that price point I would look at the new Swarovski z5i+ 5-25x56 which last I checked was around $2300 if you go with lower magnification the price gets lower. The glass is amazing and the new turret is solid.

 

[kickemall]

Shoot2 Hunt has a podcast on best scopes. Abbreviated version is Maven RS 1.2, Trijicon Tenmile and NF NX8 4-32 are the top three. All FFP. If you want SFP NF NXS 2.5-10 is a very good scope and you can find them used for around $1300.

 

[BluMtn]

You can get the Nightforce and Trijicon in SFP also. Which in your case I would recommend.

 

[Jon_G]

At that price point I would look at the new Swarovski z5i+ 5-25x56 which last I checked was around $2300 if you go with lower magnification the price gets lower. The glass is amazing and the new turret is solid.

I highly considered this one. I wondered why swaro doesn't dominate the market based on their glass quality but I found that they use plastic internal parts and this makes their durability their Achilles heel. Any idea if they fixed these issues with the z5i+?

 

[Jon_G]

You can get the Nightforce and Trijicon in SFP also. Which in your case I would recommend.

I assume FFP becomes more important at much longer distances correct?

 

[Jon_G]

For a hunting scope at that price point and use range, I'd jump on one of the S&B Polar T96 scopes on sale at Eurooptic.

https://www.eurooptic.com/756-911-72d-sb-3-12x54-polar-t96-sfp-d7-illuminated-posicon-

https://www.eurooptic.com/755-911-72d-sb-4-16x56-polar-t96-sfp-d7-illuminated-posicon-

Holy hell the regular price on these things is insane. There's some for $8k lol. I did mention I don't know much about scopes but I had never heard of this brand. Is it safe to assume this is pretty much as good as it gets?

 

[ResearchinStuff]

unlike a lot of other things, cost and performance are not correlated in rifle scopes.

 

[TxLite]

Nightforce NX8 4-32x50 I dont think you will get a better scope for up to that price point. With that being said you dont need to spend that much for a good scope either.

For the ranges you describe shooting you can save money and get a Maven or a swfa, trijicon ect.

It’s my humble opinion that a 4-32 nx8 is not ideal for his situation. With a 300 yard max I’d be looking at something with a better reticle for low zoom applications.

Swfa 3-9 would be perfect I think, and save roughly $1800.

 

[Jon_G]

Here's the data source you asked for:

Rifle Scope Field Evaluations

rokslide.com

Given your use case, a Schmidt and bender would probably be a great choice.

These scopes look amazing. I will have to do more research on these. What makes these so expensive? I would assume their reliability must be very good. Thanks for sharing this information.

 

[Jon_G]

It’s my humble opinion that a 4-32 nx8 is not ideal for his situation. With a 300 yard max I’d be looking at something with a better reticle for low zoom applications.

Swfa 3-9 would be perfect I think, and save roughly $1300.

I definitely see your point and I am considering all options. I would like the ability to be able to zoom in at longer ranges. But yes I did mention I don't have that option often unfortunately. And I do hunt big open country so perhaps I should stick to something with more zoom power. Although my comfortable shooting distance of about 600 yards isn't much anyway. Like I said I am considering all options so thank you for sharing.

 

[BluMtn]

I assume FFP becomes more important at much longer distances correct?

Personally, for a pure hunting scope, especially at the ranges you are talking about a SFP is your best bet. If you were going to be concerned with long distance shooting and dialing or hold overs and wind, then maybe a FFP would be advised. I bought a FFP just to try and found it is not my style of scope; I am going to be getting rid of it. When on low power the cross hairs are very difficult to see even with a lighted reticle. But these opinions are just that, Mine, somebody else's may be different. I am old school, I can figure hold over and wind without having to dial for elevation and wind, but again that is just me.

 

[JohnJohnson]

Another mention would be the NightForce ATACR F1 4-16x42 if you're going with FFP for your longer-distance stuff.

 

[Jon_G]

Personally, for a pure hunting scope, especially at the ranges you are talking about a SFP is your best bet. If you were going to be concerned with long distance shooting and dialing or hold overs and wind, then maybe a FFP would be advised. I bought a FFP just to try and found it is not my style of scope; I am going to be getting rid of it. When on low power the cross hairs are very difficult to see even with a lighted reticle. But these opinions are just that, Mine, somebody else's may be different. I am old school, I can figure hold over and wind without having to dial for elevation and wind, but again that is just me.

Great info. Although I have not experienced FFP I would assume based on what I've used that SFP may be a better option as well. Even in the longest of distances where I've spotted animals, I doubt anything has been over 700 yards because of all the mountains where we usually hunt. I hunt the mountains of CA and there isn't much flat land to even see that far.

 

[Jon_G]

Another mention would be the NightForce ATACR F1 4-16x42 if you're going with FFP for your longer-distance stuff.

The ATACR scopes look great. I have to do more research if FFP would be more useful for me. I am adding every single scope here to a list and I will dive deep into more research. I usually spend countless days going over every piece of info I can when I make a purchase like this lol. So all of this info helps thank you!

 

[pirogue]

You hear this a lot, “I usually don’t shoot long range, but I might, or, I don’t really need to dial, but I want it”. I think many people buy riflescopes, with the same justification as insurance—better to have and not need, than need and not have it.