Best sub $400 hunting scope?

Colorado S14 · Sep 15, 2019

Happy Sunday y'all. I have two buddies in need of a hunting scope that are both in the same boat of limited funds.

My first friend and I were at the range yesterday with his 30-06 sporting a Vanguard scope, we kept dialing elevation but could not get any on target change. Eventually the reticle even canted under recoil. This is a replacement from Vanguard for another broken optic. Needless to say he's done with Vanguard.

Another buddy is a brand new hunter, I talked him up budget a little to a Tikka T3X and now that rifle needs a scope.

Both have a budget of around $400. Anyone have a suggestion in this range? I am less familiar down in this range. A quick look on Midway shows options from Nikon, Burris, Bushnell, and Vortex. Any great closeout deals?

Riflehunter1776 · Sep 15, 2019

for long range, a SWFA fixed power for $250. For east coast style hunting (last minutes of dusk, first minutes of dawn), get a better quality used scope off gunbroker for as much as you can afford. 400 bucks new wont buy much light gathering.

PredatorSlayer · Sep 15, 2019

Colorado S14 said:
Happy Sunday y'all. I have two buddies in need of a hunting scope that are both in the same boat of limited funds.

My first friend and I were at the range yesterday with his 30-06 sporting a Vanguard scope, we kept dialing elevation but could not get any on target change. Eventually the reticle even canted under recoil. This is a replacement from Vanguard for another broken optic. Needless to say he's done with Vanguard.

Another buddy is a brand new hunter, I talked him up budget a little to a Tikka T3X and now that rifle needs a scope.

Both have a budget of around $400. Anyone have a suggestion in this range? I am less familiar down in this range. A quick look on Midway shows options from Nikon, Burris, Bushnell, and Vortex. Any great closeout deals?

You can usually find a used Vortex HS-T 4-16x44 for around that price. That is what I would do, in fact that that is what I have done - I own a couple of them that I bought used in that price range. They are a lot of bang for the buck.

SMK1000plus · Sep 15, 2019

Best deal I know of under $400.00 (with free S&H!)

MidwayUSA (unfortunately but, hell of a deal!)
Athlon Optics Ares BTR Rifle Scope 30mm Tube 2.5-15x 50mm Side Focus First Focal Illuminated APLR3 MOA Reticle Matte

Product #: 812085
Athlon Optics #: 212001
UPC #: 813869020900

$399.99
Free Shipping

These are usually twice this price. They are excellent scopes for under $1,000.00

gr8fuldoug · Sep 15, 2019

SMK1000plus said:
Best deal I know of under $400.00 (with free S&H!)

MidwayUSA (unfortunately but, hell of a deal!)
Athlon Optics Ares BTR Rifle Scope 30mm Tube 2.5-15x 50mm Side Focus First Focal Illuminated APLR3 MOA Reticle Matte

Product #: 812085

Athlon Optics #: 212001

UPC #: 813869020900

$399.99
Free Shipping

These are usually twice this price. They are excellent scopes for under $1,000.00

it would be our pleasure to assist you with this, https://cameralandny.com/shop/athlo...9b15-0135-d0eb-00163e90e196?variation=1614462 or another scope and you'd be supporting a LRH supporter at the same time.
Thanks for the opportunity to work together
Doug

PredatorSlayer · Sep 15, 2019

SMK1000plus said:
Best deal I know of under $400.00 (with free S&H!)

MidwayUSA (unfortunately but, hell of a deal!)
Athlon Optics Ares BTR Rifle Scope 30mm Tube 2.5-15x 50mm Side Focus First Focal Illuminated APLR3 MOA Reticle Matte

Product #: 812085

Athlon Optics #: 212001

UPC #: 813869020900

$399.99
Free Shipping

These are usually twice this price. They are excellent scopes for under $1,000.00

Are you sure? Even Amazon has them for $399. Maybe you are thinking of a different Athlon scope that is normally more money?

WeiserBucks · Sep 15, 2019

The only budget optic I would trust is SWFA

CVCOBRA1 · Sep 15, 2019

I got mine from Doug at Cameraland last week. A very nice piece and FFP to boot. Just to let you know it does have exposed turrets with zero stop. Mine is in mil/mil and I don't see MOA on there. Midway does list MOA. Not sure how exposed will work in a full blown hunting situation. Still can't beat half price.

SMK1000plus · Sep 15, 2019

PredatorSlayer said:
Are you sure? Even Amazon has them for $399. Maybe you are thinking of a different Athlon scope that is normally more money?

I just looked and you are correct on Amazon having them for $399.99 w/free two day shipping. They had been running $799.99 a few months ago.

kukusya · Sep 15, 2019

SMK1000plus said:
I just looked and you are correct on Amazon having them for $399.99 w/free two day shipping. They had been running $799.99 a few months ago.

Wonder why?

PredatorSlayer · Sep 15, 2019

kukusya said:
Wonder why?

This usually happens when they are coming out with a gen 2 - maybe that's why?

kukusya · Sep 15, 2019

It's tempting

Pulpwood · Sep 15, 2019

You can buy a leupold vx-3i for 399.00 just a yr or so ago you could buy a Zeiss Conquest 3x9x40 for 399.00 but I think it's discontinued. I bought a rifle from a guy yrs ago with that same scope and it's a nice scope for the money .

jpd676 · Sep 15, 2019

Another vote for a fixed power from SWFA.

Best sub $400 hunting scope?

Colorado S14

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