Cost of a new scope?

Look at Vortex Razor or AMG. Razor gen II is very good put heavy. AMG is very good and lighter.

For the last ten years or so most all my scopes used for LRH to 1200 yards have run from $1400-$3000, about the same as the cost range of my rifles...about 1:1 ratio in average. They have all had max magnification in the 20-25x max magnification range. All but two has been SFP/MOA with objectives in the 50-56mm range. Weights have run 24-39oz. All have had very precise turrets/hold zero, a high priority. All except one has been totally reliable, never requiring service repair. My Vortex AMG required service for a sticking turret. It's been fine since being repaired...great service from Vortex! I listed them from lowest to highest In price. Interestingly, the optical quality (at least to my eyes) follows cost quite closely. The more I paid, the better the glass, with my S&B PMII noticeably superior to the rest. I will say that they have all gotten the job done quite well.
2 Huskemaws 5x20x50
1 Nightforce NSX 5.5x22x50
1 Vortex AMG FFP/MIL 6x24x50
1 March 2.5x25x52
1 Nightforce ATAC-R 5x25x56
1 S&B PMII FFP/MIL 5x25x56

djfergus said:

What's your price range? Are you wanting to stay fairly lightweight?

Click to expand...

First priority is good glass. Priority 1A is light weight. This is my first foray into dialing with a big game rifle so it needs to work so I know any problems are me.

lancetkenyon said:

Hensoldt ZF 3.5-26×56 will get you there at $7800+
S&B PMII 5-45×56 Hi-Power @ $5600+
Tangent Theta TT525P 5-25×56 @ $4700+ if you are a cheap as$.

Click to expand...

lance the S&B is a good one

Rich Coyle said:

I heard one should spend 1 1/2-2X as much on a scope as for the rifle. I'm scraping together enough to get a Weatherby titanium 6.5 RPM for over $3,000. I have never heard of a $6,000 scope. What do I do now?

Click to expand...

Is not the first time. I eard that.. who initiated me to rifles , hunting and blq bla bla said the same thinh, he had a tikka 270 wsm with a nice vortex viper... top of the line paid double of the rifle and it was shooting at 250 300 yard bullseye.. not like me with my shi...ty own builted rem 700 ( 900 Can) equipped with a cheap used millet lrs at 175 $ that shoot only atb1200yards...hello?!!! Is not the scope ( don't be too cheap it needs to hold zero repeatable. And enough clear) but the way u are able to use it.. practice and passion.. i tried vortex ( my friend ) and did like it... leopold found it to expensive for nothing..i was happy with a bushnel doa 800.. and sent back a Swarovski.. not enough clicks for my use... do your math... and go with you budget... i always prefere spend more money for reloading and learn than buy a scope so expensive and shoot only 1 box of ammo every month....

Rich Coyle said:

First priority is good glass. Priority 1A is light weight. This is my first foray into dialing with a big game rifle so it needs to work so I know any problems are me.

Click to expand...

Get the march

Hensoldt Riflescopes can easily cost $6k

Orange Dust said:

Mine track ok. Poor low light performance and a really tight eyebox has regulated them to range rifles for me.

Click to expand...

you said it! Rifle deer season really brings home the point to me. So many people are out in the woods with scopes that are dim and dimmer like Vortex and lower end Leupolds; on a dark and overcast day they are legitimately DONE even before legal hours are up. It's sad that laws are invariably made for the lowest common denominator, and in this case the dimmest, cheapest, and oldest scopes determine the cut off time.

Riflehunter1776 said:

you said it! Rifle deer season really brings home the point to me. So many people are out in the woods with scopes that are dim and dimmer like Vortex and lower end Leupolds; on a dark and overcast day they are legitimately DONE even before legal hours are up. It's sad that laws are invariably made for the lowest common denominator, and in this case the dimmest, cheapest, and oldest scopes determine the cut off time.

Click to expand...

Yes the difference between mid range and high end optics is striking, not just low light, but resolution, and they have a much more forgiving eyebox. On a good day (clean contacts) i can see 7mm bullet holes in a white paper target at 600 yds with my Kahles. K525i

Red Hawk Rifles sells untouched demo Zeiss V4 and V6 scopes for an great discount . I bought two V6 for under $1500 and they rock !

Sadly no matter what you get, someone will have something better. I think there has to be a point of diminishing return. I am sure a $3000 optic is better than a $1000....but how much? For the $2000 difference I can have another rifle or two. But I'm a practical type of guy. Whatever works is good enough for me.

Hal The Slayer said:

lance the S&B is a good one

Click to expand...

I own four S&B PMIIs, just not the Hi-power.

I think the shooting hours are set to give game animals a rest and a chance to eat and re-produce. You can shoot pigs and coyotes and raccoons and possums all night long. I have a swaro 1.5-6x42 that is great for such non- sporting critters.

Rich Coyle said:

I heard one should spend 1 1/2-2X as much on a scope as for the rifle. I'm scraping together enough to get a Weatherby titanium 6.5 RPM for over $3,000. I have never heard of a $6,000 scope. What do I do now?

Click to expand...

Stop paying attention to halfwits like that, never heard of garbage like that ! Pic a good quality scope you like and go with it.