Best $500 Long Range Scope

TORCHRIDER

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Apologies in advance for the post as I am sure this has been asked in some variation before.

If you had $500 to spend on a variable power scope for long range (800-1000) target shooting/hunting, what scope would you buy and why?

It will be going on a .243 Ackley Improved.

(e.g. Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44 PA )

Regards,

Dave
 
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I am in need of a suggestion as well, i have a new .300 mag and need a good scope for under $500 (well as good of a scope as i can get for under $500). and would like it to be around the 6.5-20x power range.

I was looking at that vortex as well, i've never owned a vortex and haven't heard much about them, but like their lifetime warranty. how are they? good quality? accurate and hold zero? do the turrets travel well and return 0 well?

thanks in advance!
 
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I have two of the Vortex Viper 6.5x20x44 PA scopes. I am very happy with them. I have one on a Ruger old style model 77 in 7mm Mauser and one on a Savage model 12 target rifle in 6.5x47 L built by SSS. The Ruger has about 500 rounds down the tube since the Vortex was mounted. and the 6.5 about 200 rounds. Both scopes are very clear and when I shot the box with each they came back to the same point of aim. I have cranked them from my 100yd sight in up to 500yds and back several times with no problem. The side mounted turret for parallax adjustment works well. The elevation and windage turrets are crisp and positive when making adjustments. I will buy another one to mount on my 358 winchester.
 
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I would buy a leupold that fits the budget and then send it off to the leupold factory and have them put m1 turrets on it. then you would have the same adjustments as the mark 4 line of scopes. the cost to do this is $130 dollars.
 
i have 2 long range guns that don't want to cooperate so i broke out ole betsy, my go to gun of 30 years for long range hunting this year. i bought one of the 6-20-44 vipers as it just seemed like a good scope to have around for whatever. whatever happened and it's on my 30-06 and so far i'm very impressed. i don't care for the dot as it seems to big for me,i would say around a half moa. they claim much less but that's about what it covers on the target. holding zero is the most important quality of a scope and tracking is second. it does these vey well. glass is not top shelf but for the price it's good. all in all a very nice scope that will work as a long range scope.
 
Lamiglass, so tell me in your line of thinkiing, which leupold scope could a fellow purchase that would work for 800-1000 yards that has an adjustable paralax because you need one for that range.for 370 dollars. That is deducting the 130 for the M1 Turrets. Just curious
 
Dollar for dollar you can not beat a Nikon Monarch, period.

They been tops in photography for a looooong time because they make the best stuff. If Nikon made a $1500-$2500 rifle scope you could read a book at 1000-yards and you'd have to wear sunglasses when looking through it or the brightness would blind you - even at dusk.

In all seriousness - I once purchased a cheap Pro Staff scope for a 45-70 I was working up a load for and I was completely surprised how crystal clear, bright, crisp, and rock solid tough that scope was, compared to the Leupold VXIII and Mark4 scopes I had at the time - I no longer have any Leupold scopes because they are all Nikons now.

Better scope, less money, lifetime warranty.
 
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