FFP hunting scopes

[Longleaf]

I really like my March F tac 3-24x42

Rifle Scopes - Review: March-F 3-24 x 42 FFP

This year at the SHOT show I made a point to stop by the Kelbly's booth to check out the March scopes that I have been hearing about so much. I spoke with Jim Kelbly about Tactical Precision competition and how in the 8 competitions I have shot I have seen every high end scope except a March. He...

www.snipershide.com

 

[ResearchinStuff]

I have seen a few mention a Tangent Theta, haven't posted this anywhere else yet but I mounted a TT315H to a 300PRC I put together for my dad with a prefit barrel. I torqued the ring cap screws to 18in/lb and will admit that the manual states to only torque to 15in/lb. A couple weeks prior to a big hunt the scope went tits up and the parallax quit working which left us scrambling to mount and work out a new scope.

The scope was sent back to Tangent Theta and they did fix the issue and return the scope in a reasonably timely manner. They stated that the reason it probably broke was because I tightened the ring cap screws over the 15in/lb limit. Pretty disappointed because I loved the features of the scope but I have never had an issue with any other scopes tightening the screws to 18in/lb or higher on some. For the money I will never buy or trust one again. Could it be a fluke? Sure, but for me it's a 1 for 1 failure so I'm done.

Please add this story here: https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/tanget-theta-3-15x50mm-scope-evaluation.242527/

 

[Dobermann]

I'm looking for my ideal hunting scope.
The features I'd like to have:
FFP
3-18ish mag range
30mm+ tube
locking elevation turret
capped windage turret
illumination would be a plus but not necessary
weight is not a huge factor to me
MOA preferred but MIL is not a problem

I had been set on getting a 3.6-18 mk5 but all the negative reviews have changed my mind on it, I think. So, what other options are out there? The lower power, FFP, and locking elevation/capped windage are the main features I am after. I browse optics often, but I feel like there has got to be something out there that compares to the mk5 with a better track record.

For those parameters, perhaps consider a Bushnell LRHS2 4.5-18?

Otherwise, I'd recommend taking a long, hard read through the following two threads:

Minox ZP5 5-25x56mm THLR Field Evaluation

This is a field evaluation of the Minox ZP5 5-25x56mm with THLR reticle scope. This scope was purchased for an evaluation, to determine the merits of the THLR reticle in October of 2021. Being that the purpose was to determine the suitability and function of the reticle, the risk of the scope...

rokslide.com

Q&A for Minox ZP5 5-25x56mm THLR scope

Questions and answers for the Minox ZP5 5-25x56mm THLR Field Eval

rokslide.com

Watch all of @THLR's embedded videos in those threads.

Then go back to the beginning, and read and watch all over again.

You might feel your brain rearrange itself. Don't panic; there's nothing wrong with your brain; it's just that most reticles made for hunting scopes aren't great ... The THLR Hybrid might just rock your world.

 

[TheGDog]

I have 3 Burris Veracity FFP scopes. They are really nice. I prefer SFP but I've used mine for elk hunts the last 3 years and they worked awesome.

I second the Veracity! I have the 3-15x50mm. I bought it so I'd have a scope that reaches out just as far as my 15x Binos. And I really dig on the reticle lines too! Eye picks them up real fast!

 

[mi650]

Since no one else has mentioned it, the Meopta Optika6 is an incredible scope for the money.

Pretty sure it ticks all of your boxes for less $$$ than just about everything else suggested. Exception being the Veracity, and possibly the SWFA.

 

[Mthomas90]

Since no one else has mentioned it, the Meopta Optika6 is an incredible scope for the money.

Pretty sure it ticks all of your boxes for less $$$ than just about everything else suggested. Exception being the Veracity, and possibly the SWFA.

I've looked at them a couple times and know I should consider them, but man they are ugly looking scopes. I should probably get past that.

 

[nksmfamjp]

My order would be:
ZCO 4-20
TT 3-15
Kahles 3-18/Atacr 4-16
March 3-24x52
Nx8/Trijicon
SWFA

How many of those have you owned?

Personally, I’d be looking at the TT 4-20X or the PST Gen 2 3-15x or the SWFA 3-15x. I own each of those and while I’ve never made a shot with the most expensive that the cheapest wouldn’t make, each represents a level in good, better, best.

There are others around these I would try, but I hate recommending things I haven’t had my eye behind much or at all.

 

[nksmfamjp]

I've looked at them a couple times and know I should consider them, but man they are ugly looking scopes. I should probably get past that.

These are ones I want to recommend, but haven’t test driven myself….I did put the 3-18x50 on back order for 9 months, but just dropped it and bought the PST Gen 2 without remorse.

 

[rootacres]

I made a post similar to this a while back. I learned some people are pretty invested in their brand of scope and are willing to take it to the mat. Try not to get too tied up in the posted horror stories on the higher end optics. At the end of the day they are all pretty good. I just watched a bunch of NRL Hunter match vids. There are 3 scopes that appeared to dominate in popularity. Leupold, Nightforce, and Vortex. Most the Leupolds appeared to be Mark 5s, most the Nightforces were ATACR with some NX8s mixed in, and ton of big Razors.

I think you could go ATACR or Mark 5 and be very happy. I was down between the NX8 2.5-20 and the Mark 5 3.6-18 and decided on the Mark 5 route. I heard the NX8 eye box can be a little finicky with the 8x multiplier. A year later, and a successful off season / hunting season behind it Im happy with the purchase. Good luck.

** there were some Kahels, S & Bs, Zeiss too obviously but it seemed there were more of the others.

 

[Grillnugz]

I have seen a few mention a Tangent Theta, haven't posted this anywhere else yet but I mounted a TT315H to a 300PRC I put together for my dad with a prefit barrel. I torqued the ring cap screws to 18in/lb and will admit that the manual states to only torque to 15in/lb. A couple weeks prior to a big hunt the scope went tits up and the parallax quit working which left us scrambling to mount and work out a new scope.

The scope was sent back to Tangent Theta and they did fix the issue and return the scope in a reasonably timely manner. They stated that the reason it probably broke was because I tightened the ring cap screws over the 15in/lb limit. Pretty disappointed because I loved the features of the scope but I have never had an issue with any other scopes tightening the screws to 18in/lb or higher on some. For the money I will never buy or trust one again. Could it be a fluke? Sure, but for me it's a 1 for 1 failure so I'm done.

If touquing the rings 20% over spec ruins a scope, you probably don't want to buy that brand. Considering none of us in the rokslide community calibrate our fat wrenches as wells as some use loc Tite while others dont, a +/-20% spec in ring torque seems reasonable as a minimum for an engineering specification. When manufacturers blame customers for such small infractions of the spec the manufacturer is usually to blame.

Also consider the situation where a rifle is bumped or dropped, the scope tube is probably exerted with a force greater than 3in-lbs.

As someone who has worked in manufacturing as an engineer for 15+ years, blaming the customer for small spec infractions are usually the fault of the manufacturer. Such blame is often the flaunt of uninspired engineering.

 

[Cynoscion]

For what it’s worth, I own the smaller NX8, the smaller MK5 and a ffp Tenmile 3-18. So far (multiple trips over seas/years with the NX8 and MK5), no issues at all. I will say that the tests here on Rokslide give me a bit of concern with the Leupold and prompted my decision to try the Tenmile. Time will tell but I really like everything about it so far.