Sub-$400 scope for deer

SloppyJ

WKR
Joined
Feb 24, 2023
Messages
1,642
There's a credo 3x9 in the classifieds for just a bit more. 100% worth it.
 

jcaud

FNG
Joined
Apr 29, 2022
Messages
56
Back when I was in college, I bought a Burris Fullfield on a big sale. I’ve since upgraded on several rifles but I gotta say I really do think that Burris is one of my favorites. It’s been solid on several different guns.
 

GavinM

FNG
Joined
Aug 25, 2024
Messages
10
Location
Northern Illinois (not Chicago)
Iv picked up a couple leupold vx-3’s on gunbroker for around that $400 range before, never had any issues with them. I also have been hearing a lot about arken optics being good scopes, but no personal experience with them. Maybe something to check out.
 

pharmfisher

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Nov 23, 2023
Messages
142
That’s a matter of opinion, international/ African hunters seem to trust leopold
On dangerous game
I would not buy any thing with a turret to dial in moa for LDH except a couple that
Are in the $2000-3000 price bracket ( only a few will track right when dialing a lot)
A Burris signature has been on my .300wm and it hasn’t changed in 20+ years of bouncing around in my truck
Have you seen the drop tests done on this forum? Vortex and Leupold consistently performed awful, on top of all of the personal accounts of failures. What more does it take?
 
Joined
Jun 15, 2016
Messages
2,828
Ive got a Patriot 6.5 that was given to me by my FIL. It will be my son's first rifle to learn on and do some eastern deer hunting. FIL put a super crappy scope on it so I want to put something better but im not going to spend a bunch on it, as the title says under $400. ill probably stick with the typical 3-9x40, maybe 3 or 4-12. I have a VX-Freedom I like so I could get another one. Vortex Diamondback is an option, I feel like the Bushnell R5 or Engage would be good as well, if a bit below the Leupold. Burris has slim pickins in this range, but they could be an option.

Do you have another option? If not, out of those, which would you choose?
Two good options from Burris:


 

Macintosh

WKR
Joined
Feb 17, 2018
Messages
2,723
Heck, Ive got a 1 year old trijicon credo 3-9 duplex scope Id sell for $400, cuz I really want a 1-6 on that gun.
Id look for a trijicon of some sort though, so far best bang for the buck Ive found. Europtic seems to have the best prices 99% of the time and theyve been great to deal with ime.
 

Seuss

FNG
Joined
Nov 28, 2022
Messages
55
Location
Over by there
Ive got a Patriot 6.5 that was given to me by my FIL. It will be my son's first rifle to learn on and do some eastern deer hunting. FIL put a super crappy scope on it so I want to put something better but im not going to spend a bunch on it, as the title says under $400. ill probably stick with the typical 3-9x40, maybe 3 or 4-12. I have a VX-Freedom I like so I could get another one. Vortex Diamondback is an option, I feel like the Bushnell R5 or Engage would be good as well, if a bit below the Leupold. Burris has slim pickins in this range, but they could be an option.

Do you have another option? If not, out of those, which would you choose?
Bushnell Elite 4500 2.5-10 or 4-16 are in the $300-340 range, great glass, not Chi-com.
 

MEwaters

FNG
Joined
Oct 1, 2024
Messages
11
I’m in the same boat. 556 within 200 yards. Around $500. Most everything recommended OOS and seem to be SFP. From my reading I would think I would want FFP?
 

hereinaz

WKR
Rokslide Sponsor
Joined
Dec 21, 2016
Messages
3,244
Location
Arizona
IMO, buy a gently used optic from a reliable person on a forum like this. You get way more for your money.
 

MEwaters

FNG
Joined
Oct 1, 2024
Messages
11
My hunting will be woods / thicker brush in Maine. Low light am and pm often. I was looking at meopta optika 2-10 and zeiss 2-10 used but concerned about reticle visibility where I will be. Any input?
 

MEwaters

FNG
Joined
Oct 1, 2024
Messages
11
Heck, Ive got a 1 year old trijicon credo 3-9 duplex scope Id sell for $400, cuz I really want a 1-6 on that gun.
Id look for a trijicon of some sort though, so far best bang for the buck Ive found. Europtic seems to have the best prices 99% of the time and theyve been great to deal with ime.
I’m interested lol
 

WesM

FNG
Joined
Aug 3, 2024
Messages
18
My hunting will be woods / thicker brush in Maine. Low light am and pm often. I was looking at meopta optika 2-10 and zeiss 2-10 used but concerned about reticle visibility where I will be. Any input?

I cannot comment on the zeiss, but the meopta has a fairly fine/thin reticle. For me its ok in low light, but the reticle is tough to see in heavily shadowed areas.

The Trijicon Huron I looked through had a thicker/better reticle for heavily shadowed areas.
 

MEwaters

FNG
Joined
Oct 1, 2024
Messages
11
I cannot comment on the zeiss, but the meopta has a fairly fine/thin reticle. For me its ok in low light, but the reticle is tough to see in heavily shadowed areas.

The Trijicon Huron I looked through had a thicker/better reticle for heavily shadowed areas.
Snagged the credo from Macintosh. Zeroing with the 8 year old next weekend hoping he can put something down on youth day
 

mxgsfmdpx

WKR
Joined
Oct 22, 2019
Messages
5,776
Location
Outside
For that OP's stated application there is no better scope to buy than the SWFA Fixed 6 with the MIL reticle. No messing around, no fuss... Just zero it, shoot the crap out of it, point it at the deer and kill. Easy button.
 
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