New Scope Help!!!!

[rdt270]

Hey Guys,

Still saving for my new scope. Was looking to replace my Pentax Lightseeker XL 3x9x40 with a Viper PST. But the more I read on here the more confused I get. Seems that some of you guys are favoring the Sightron Glass over the PST. I like the features (bells and whistles) that the pst line offers but would appreciate the better glass more. My questions are:

1) Is the Sigtron SIII Glass that much better than the PST ?
2) How much better are either compared to the Pentax ?
3) Since must of my shooting/ hunting will be at 0 - 800yds(only steel and paper over 400yds) would I be better with the 4 x 16 or is the 6 x 25 to much at these ranges?

Sorry for all the questions at once but dont get to set down at the computer much right now. Really enjoy and appreciate yalls input and experince on these topics.

Thanks in Advance.

 

[C.O. Shooter]

I feel your pain! I'm also looking at the Vortex 6x24-50 pst and recently started looking at the Huskamaw 5x20-50 Blue Diamond. $899 vs $1349!

 

[SidecarFlip]

Well, me being a devout Leupold person and reading all the various blather here and elsewhere, I went and bought a Vortex 4-16x50 SFP MilDot.

The optics jungle is loaded with fantasy and opinions so I decided to deviate a bit.......

I will say the scope is heavy. It just came this afternoon from Optics Planet. Was going to go with SWFA but OP had free shipping. Pricing is stagnant across the board so free shipping made the deal breaker....and it came with the sunshade (like SWFA touts on their site but OP don't plus a nice lens cleaning cloth (I use a Lens-pen anyway) and a scope bikini to cover the ends (I prefer flip up caps but it was boxed with so I'll use it until the elastic cords break and then flip covers go on.....

Got a free Vortex logo'd hat to. Realtree Camo, would have preferred Hunter Orange but free is free.

Peering down the tube in the kitchen (looking out into the woods outback), the glass appears as clear as any Leupy I have. The reticle is very sharp EBR1. I like the illuminated cross lines in red, subtle red that is.

It's a quality made instrument in appearance. After I get the rings lapped and the optic mounted and sighted, then I'll see what it will do and won't do.

It was 500 bucls cheaper than a Leupy Mark 4 LRT.

500 bucks is a lot of brass, primers, powder and cigaretts (I prefer Marlboro reds).....

Would be nice in this day and age of inflation and devalued currency to find a viable alternative to the increasing cost of a good optic.

A Husky or a Schmidt and Bender or a top end Swaro is the price of a new (used) used ride or a new motorcycle. One has to make choices. I'm too old to walk when I can ride......

I could buy a Tasco but I might as well close my eyes and touch her off.....

 

[rdt270]

It seems that about the time I made up my mind on the scope, I started seeing all these posts. And if I come into more money than what I'm able to save up between now and time to buy, Huskemaw is definately on the short list. Havn't heard anything but good about them. My problem is no one within several hundred miles of me carries any of these that I know of anyhow. It would be nice to be able to look through them. Although I did get to look through a $3200 Premeir Reticle about two weeks ago Havn't fully recovered yet.

 

[SidecarFlip]

RDT... Go peer through a S&B and think Rolex. Better yet, think payment book.

It's economy of scale with me.

Just how many times does one need that ultimate pristine, over the top glass?

Maybe once, possibly Twice?

I'd like to be Donald Trump too.... Well maybe have his money.

 

[rdt270]

Never seen a S&B in real life thank there just a myth around these parts. Although I did try on a Presidential Rolex back when i was about 25. Should have seen the guys face when i asked to see it. And when I took it off and handed it back to him seemed like he spent 10 minutes wiping the thing down. Made me fill dirty. But it was fun. Besides my arm got tired trying to hold it up and look at it (top heavy like those big scopes).

 

[joseph]

It seems that about the time I made up my mind on the scope, I started seeing all these posts. And if I come into more money than what I'm able to save up between now and time to buy, Huskemaw is definately on the short list. Havn't heard anything but good about them. My problem is no one within several hundred miles of me carries any of these that I know of anyhow. It would be nice to be able to look through them. Although I did get to look through a $3200 Premeir Reticle about two weeks ago Havn't fully recovered yet.

I was going to buy a Huskemaw, but went with a 6-24x50mm PST FFP MOA with Illuminated reticle and had Vortex make a Custom Turret for an extra $100. The PST was $899.95. gun)---------------------------

Testing new Vortex custom turret. - Georgia Outdoor News Forum

Vortex Viper PST mounted with pics. - Georgia Outdoor News Forum

gt40

PS: SidecarFlip I'd like to have Donald's money & hair.

 

[SidecarFlip]

I just bought the same but a SFP. I want to be able to range with the scope. FFP makes that basically impossible. It's heavy. Actually too heavy for packing.

 

[joseph]

I just bought the same but a SFP. I want to be able to range with the scope. FFP makes that basically impossible. It's heavy. Actually too heavy for packing.

How do you figure a FFP makes ranging basically impossible? With a FFP you can range at any power setting, but with a SFP you have to adjust your power at the manufactures power setting for ranging. Also the FFP reticle stays the same thickness in relationship to the target at all powers. As for weight my rifle weighs 14.7 pounds and I packed it all over the place in Wyoming.

joseph

 

[SidecarFlip]

How do you figure a FFP makes ranging basically impossible? With a FFP you can range at any power setting, but with a SFP you have to adjust your power at the manufactures power setting for ranging. Also the FFP reticle stays the same thickness in relationship to the target at all powers. As for weight my rifle weighs 14.7 pounds and I packed it all over the place in Wyoming.

joseph

You must be a young buck, I'm not. I want as light a rig as possible for a couple reasons, one, I'm a flatlander so out west, where the air is thinner, it's harder for me to carry additional payload and two, anything over 10 pounds or so means leaving something behind, like granola bars. For lightness, I'm looking at a Savage 111 Lightweight Hunter in WSM. 5.5 plus a light scope is ideal for me.

You reside there, I don't. Not only is the terrain markedly different here, so is the atmospheric pressure.....

FFP optics have a constant reticle magnification throughout the magnification range, SFP scopes do not. Not saying you can't, just saying it's more involved. At some point I may buy one to add to my collection. Took me a while to advance from iron sights to optical glass as it is.

Results may vary with the individual. What is ideal for me may or may not be ideal for you. Thats what is great about forums like this. Allows one to 'test drive' options without doing a First Article, real world test and laying out the FRN's.

 

[davewilson]

i fall into the old fart catagory although i'm in pretty good shape i still try to keep weight down. but as with most things, there's a trade-off. these high end optics are heavy but also VERY rugged. they'll take more abuse than the lighter ones. generally speaking. same with optical quality. you pay a lot more for a little extra. is it worth it, each will have to decide that for themselves. personally i value functionallity of the scope over the picture quality. i think you are on the right path with the PST scopes. they are a great value for the money. many people, not just Joseph, lol, had to say that, are very impressed and happy with the performance of their PST scopes. personally i don't want the illuminated reticle. i have a viper HS and am very impressed with it's function. i've done 2 tracking tests with it and it repeats with the best of them. a great scope for the money as i think most of the Vortex scopes are.i have a fairly lightweight carry gun that i need a scope for. i'm seriously thinking about the Bushnell 2-16. seems to be a good scope for my needs.

 

[SidecarFlip]

Dave...

I'm thinking along the same lines. Savage in short action=light weight and a light weight optic.

95% of my shooting is done at low power (the lowest setting on any scope I own) because the field of view and light transmission is better at low magnification. My LR shooting would be/will be very limited becaue there just isn't any place around here to do LRS... Maximum yardage without obstruction on our property in northern Michigan is around 300 yards, most shot opportunities range from 8 feet to 100 yards maximum.

I can easly get by with a lower power lower priced optic (because it's apparent from perusing the ads for scopes of all brands, price is dictated on magnification more than any other attribute), with FFP coming in second....

Frankly I can't remember a time where I've dialed my magnification above the low setting except when fiddling with a scope. All field use is on the low end.

I suspect a 2x on the low end and 18x on the high would be fine for my uses.

I have a Leupy 4.5x20x50 and 4.5 is a bit much.

I looked at Len's offerings as far as pre-built rifles on his (attached to this forum) Internet site and all are what I would consider to be excessively heavy. Excellent shooters without a doubt, but I don't want to or need to lug an anchor around, which is maybe why I like a sidearm more, especially around here. My 44 magnum is very carryable and capable.

We've been discussing a November hunt out west and one of my shooting partner's comment was..."You'll need an extra pack mule just to carrythat 'howitzer' you have"... referring to the 111-.338 Lapua.....

Maybe I can con my wife into coming along..........................lol

 

[Loner]

FFP optics have a constant reticle magnification throughout the magnification range, SFP scopes do not. Not saying you can't, just saying it's more involved. At some point I may buy one to add to my collection. Took me a while to advance from iron sights to optical glass as it is.

You seem to have your terms backwards. FFP grows and shrinks the reticle with the
power setting. Much easier to range with.

 

[davewilson]

Flip, you have to understand this is a long range hunting forum. most comments are geared with that in mind. if you're only shooting 300 yards once in a while, i would think a 2.5-10 power scope would be the ticket. the only reason i'm considering a 16x scope is because i intend to shoot to 1k and farther. i was seriously considering a Swaro 3-10 because it has a great reticle and is very light and compact. but, i just wanted more magnification to shoot with and look at things way out there. my suggestion would be a 2-10 viper HS. they have a ballistic reticle that you could shoot 6-700 yards with and 10x is plenty for most to shoot big game with. there are quite a few scopes in this power range that are reasonably priced. then again March makes a 2.5-25 that's quite small also. it may be a compact scope but the price is not!