Rifle optics: a blue collar spending perspective for cost / benefit

Droptine w max of 14X should work on a little .22 K Hornet, sub 200 yard chuck rig LOL.
Been nuking them w 10X max on a .22-250 (which at my age of 60 seems a little low on magnification LOL).
 
FL-NC said:
For the $ and customer service policies/warranties, its hard to beat a Vortex. I have much nicer scopes from companies like Leopold, Horus, trijicon, etc., but those just aren't necessary for something that I hunt with in the SE US.
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Got a couple of 3-9x40 Crossfire II's, on Mossberg Patriot Combo rifles gifted to my sons.

If they hold up, really like them.

If not? Warranty.

Win/Win.
 
Historically, I’ve been kind of cheap when it comes to glass, but I am learning the error is those ways. With that said, the rifle’s intended use plays a big role in how much I am willing to spend. I’m not putting a $1200 scope on a $300 plinker. If we’re talking about one of my Target rifles, the budget goes up.
 
mgmorden said:
"Spend as much on the scope as the rifle" is just a pointless axiom. If taken literally and you bought a $350 Savage Axis and put a $350 scope on it that worked well, would that same scope NOT work on a $2000 rifle?
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:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
The $300 scope I put on my $3,000+ custom-built "retirement" rifle has served me just fine for 14 years and counting. ;)
BTW, over the years, my "go to" scopes for big game hunting rifles have usually been variable power Leopolds. However, when I scoped my .308 Norma Mag (my "retirement" rifle), I spent over an hour outside the store comparing a 3-9 Leopold to a 3-9 Weaver, and there was no doubt about it - the Weaver was clearer around the edges. They were both the same price ($300, or there abouts), so I bought the Weaver. :thumbup:
 
.308 Norma said:
:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
The $300 scope I put on my $3,000+ custom-built "retirement" rifle has served me just fine for 14 years and counting. ;)
BTW, over the years, my "go to" scopes for big game hunting rifles have usually been variable power Leopolds. However, when I scoped my .308 Norma Mag (my "retirement" rifle), I spent over an hour outside the store comparing a 3-9 Leopold to a 3-9 Weaver, and there was no doubt about it - the Weaver was clearer around the edges. They were both the same price ($300, or there abouts), so I bought the Weaver. :thumbup:
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The only "weaver" scope I ever had was one of their nitrex branded scopes. I loved it. But one day I was shooting my 308 and the windage knob sheared right off. They replaced it (pro rated) with a legend series scope. I had to kick in a little money. That scope is just OK. I haven't seen anything else from Weaver that interests me.
 
Burris Fullfield ll on 2 my rifles, and I wanted Leupolds to begin with, but I'd bought several guns, and needed best scope for the least$. Did Lotta homework, that being over 2 years ago, and everything pointed to Burris FF, ?159$?, so got one on my 30-06. Wasn't long another on my 270. Now, wouldn't spend more money for an equal scope, they're more than worth their money!
 
Hookeye said:
Am not a collector or competition shooter.
Certainly am not wealthy.

While the Leupold Freedom series may be their "blue collar" line, I'd consider the VX3HD to also be in that realm.
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Id agree they arnt cheap, but they are at a reachable price point for most. I can see the difference in glass and turrets on thr 3hds, its worth the extra layout IMO.....

IF they do what you want, and the VX-F (etc dosent)
 
I have a Zeiss Conquest V4 4-16 on my Tikka 6.5CM Tac A1. Very nice, clear scope. It was my first higher end scope. All I do is target practice, and I do quite a bit of it.

I have a Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25 56mm on my Tikka .223 T3x Super Varmint action in a KRG Whiskey 3 stock. It is just as clear as the Zeiss. Both have lighted reticles. If I were to do it again, I'd have the Vortex on both rifles. A big part of that is magnification though. I am not happy with 5 shot groups at 100yds that exceed .3", and the the 25 power just makes that a little easier compared to the 16, IMO. But even if I had the Zeiss in the 24/25 range, owning both, I can't see spending the extra. For me, there just is no extra bang for the extra bucks. BassPro has 15% off on the Vortex right now, and the next step up in magnification in the Zeiss is $1400. So an $800 swing in the Vortex's favor. A big win-win in my book.
 
Mini30SS said:
A few years I would have recommended a Nikon Pro staff 7 as a good base level, for a good quality scope. Since that is no longer a choice, I think a good Current Baseline choice would be a Vortex Diamondback, or Strike Eagle. Burris also makes some good quality baseline scopes. All of these are in about the $250 - $300 range. Also, the Leupold Vari-X scopes are also right there. Goto Euro Optics or eBay for best pricing. I am very happy with any of these. I don't own any hunting , or sporting rifles ( that are scope ready), that are worth more than $1200, so I am good with these, which are all second focal plane scopes.

The cheapest scope I have mounted, is a Bushnell dusk/dawn 1.5- 4x variable on a beater Marlin 336 in .35 Remington. I got a 400lb Black Bear with that combo about 15 years ago. I will not own a cheap Tasco, Simmons, or Weaver scope for any of my center-fire caliber rifles... Maybe for a rimfire.

For my next step up in quality, I am thinking about a variable power Vortex Diamondback first focal plane scope. This particular scope cost about $400, is really good, but I hear they may be discontinued soon by the manufacturer. I think I will go shopping online now..
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Bought a Vortex Diamondback Tactical, 4-16X40 FFP to go with my Savage Model 12 LRPV in .223 when I joined a club with a 500 yard range. 1,000+ rounds through the gun and no issues with the scope ( or gun ). Been very satisfied with both.
 
redneck2 said:
Rifle optics: a blue collar spending perspective for cost / benefit

Today one can get nice scopes far cheaper relatively than products 40 years ago In actual total dollars and particularly when inflation is figured in
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Right now, perhaps the best "blue collar" best bang for the buck "Deal of the decade" could be unfolding as Viridian Optics is closing out their previous flagship scope Serac 6-24x50 (Product lines are Eon/Venta/Serac and they added Antero/Mylex/Xactus with Optics Planet now being exclusive distributor) with Natchez likely being the last closeout vendor priced at $95 (MSRP was like around $500 with Viridian selling them retail for $150 on Amazon) - https://www.natchezss.com/viridian-serac-rifle-scope-6-24x50-30mm-sfp-etched-vfd-2-black

If you are unfamiliar with Viridian Weapon Technologies and Viridian Optics, they supply Ruger with OEM weapons light/laser/optics and Eon 3-9x40 for 10/22 and actually manufactures quite a bit of their products in the USA (Scopes are rebranded) - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...g-range-reticle-for-150.900740/#post-12191635

You are essentially getting comparable lens quality of Vortex Crossfire II 6-24x50 with better "positive click" locking external turrets than Vortex Strike Eagle 4-24x50/Athlon Argos 10-40x56 turrets, 1/8 MOA adjustment, 25 yard to infinity side focus parallax, flip covers and "Iron Clad" lifetime warranty - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...x50-30mm-tube-natchez-tax-refund-sale.929399/

And consider this - If your "blue collar" sentiment is to keep more of hard earned tax payer dollars in the USA, Viridian is US based company paying US workers to assemble "globally sourced components" for weapons light/laser/optics (Rebranded scopes are made in China) in the US unlike others like made in Philippines Burris which was bought by Beretta in 2002 and your money will go to Italy/Philippines. Mine you, I have nothing against Italians or Filipinos, but at "blue collar" scope price range, we could be talking about made in South Korea Bushnell scopes but Bushnell is a US based company (Who just split off and sold Alliant Powder/Federal/CCI/Speer/Hevi/Remington ammunition companies to a Czech based company CSG who is parent company to Fiocchi).

So buying Viridian products may keep more of "blue collar" dollars in the US than buying other competing products in the similar price range with lifetime warranty. ;)

If you simply do not want made in China scopes, then made in Philippines Burris or made in South Korea Bushnell may be the only viable option in the "blue collar" price range. If you want more US dollars to go to US based companies paying US workers, then Viridian/Vortex/Bushnell in the "blue collar" price range.
 
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LiveLife said:
Right now, perhaps the best "blue collar" best bang for the buck "Deal of the decade" could be unfolding as Viridian Optics is closing out their previous flagship scope Serac 6-24x50 (Product lines are Eon/Venta/Serac and they added Antero/Mylex/Xactus with Optics Planet now being exclusive distributor) with Natchez likely being the last closeout vendor priced at $95 (MSRP was like around $500 with Viridian selling them retail for $150 on Amazon) - https://www.natchezss.com/viridian-serac-rifle-scope-6-24x50-30mm-sfp-etched-vfd-2-black

If you are unfamiliar with Viridian Weapon Technologies and Viridian Optics, they supply Ruger with OEM weapons light/laser/optics and Eon 3-9x40 for 10/22 and actually manufactures quite a bit of their products in the USA (Scopes are rebranded) - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...g-range-reticle-for-150.900740/#post-12191635

You are essentially getting comparable lens quality of Vortex Crossfire II 6-24x50 with better "positive click" locking external turrets than Vortex Strike Eagle 4-24x50/Athlon Argos 10-40x56 turrets, 1/8 MOA adjustment, 25 yard to infinity side focus parallax, flip covers and "Iron Clad" lifetime warranty - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...x50-30mm-tube-natchez-tax-refund-sale.929399/

And consider this - If your "blue collar" sentiment is to keep more of hard earned tax payer dollars in the USA, Viridian is US based company paying US workers to assemble "globally sourced components" for weapons light/laser/optics (Rebranded scopes are made in China) in the US unlike others like made in Philippines Burris which is owned by Beretta and your money will go to Italy/Philippines. Mine you, I have nothing against Italians or Filipinos, but at "blue collar" scope price range, we could be talking about made in South Korea Bushnell scopes but Bushnell is a US based company (Who just split off and sold Alliant/Federal/CCI/Speer/Hevi/Remington ammunition companies to a Czech based company CSG who is parent company to Fiocchi).

So buying Viridian products may keep more of "blue collar" dollars in the US than buying other competing products in the similar price range with lifetime warranty. ;)

If you simply do not want made in China scopes, then made in Philippines Burris or made in South Korea Bushnell may be the only viable option in the "blue collar" price range. If you want more US dollars to go to US based companies paying US workers, then Viridian/Vortex/Bushnell in the "blue collar" price range.
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I have no use that I know of for a 6-24x scope but as much as you love yours I have been ready to pull the trigger on one for several days now with the thought that maybe I’ll find a use for it later.
 
Mosin77 said:
I have no use that I know of for a 6-24x scope but as much as you love yours I have been ready to pull the trigger on one for several days now with the thought that maybe I’ll find a use for it later.
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I have used Burris FF II 6.5-20x50 for my 10,000+ round break-in and ammunition comparison for new out of the box 10/22 and T/CR22 and while very happy with the 1" tube Burris scope, for me to try and replace with 30mm tube Viridian Serac should say a lot about the scope. (Fellow shooter with Savage 110 Precision in 300 PRC and Arken EP5 was pleasantly surprised when he saw clear 22LR holes at 100 yards through Viridian Serac in very dark no sun late afternoon condition under the shadows of 150' trees)

At $95 and lifetime warranty from well known Viridian company, for me is a good risk/safe bet.

Based on my experience of hard bench use with plenty of bumping around, I now recommend Bushnell Trophy/Leupold American Marksman 3-9x40, Burris FF II 6.5-20x50, Vortex Crossfire II 6-24x50/Strike Eagle 4-24x50, Athlon Argos Gen II 10-40x56 and now Viridian Serac 6-24x50.
 
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@LiveLife
Thank you for the information on the Viridian scopes. I was completely unfamiliar with them when I read your post a few hours ago. After doing some research I went ahead and bought the Serac 6-24x50 on Natchez’s web site.
I don’t have a gun for it yet, but I will. I am considering a CZ 457. I think the Viridian Serac scope I just purchased will go nicely on my rifle once I get it.

Again, Thank you. I appreciate it and all the information on scopes. I am not a scope savvy shooter, but I am learning. :thumbup:
 
Pat Riot said:
@LiveLife
Thank you. I appreciate it and all the information on scopes. I am not a scope savvy shooter, but I am learning. :thumbup:
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I actually got most of my scope related knowledge from lurking/gleaning information from other THR members here. 😁😇

I blame @CoalCrackerAl for making me attend Optics Anonymous meetings by getting me started with Burris FF II 6.5-20x50, which BTW is a great 1" tube scope - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...lfield-e1-6-5-20x-50mm-169-9-shipping.893341/

Then a bunch of members sang praise of Vortex scopes and I went to the store and did comparison and was impressed with being able to clearly read small print on opposite wall that was like around 75 yards in low light compared to other scopes so I bought Crossfire II 6-24x50 and Strike Eagle 4-24x50 with 30mm tubes.

Of course, Leupold fans said anything with gold ring was good so when Cabelas ran exclusive American Marksman 3-9x40 at a great price, I picked one up and turned out, I was impressed by brightness of lens that produced clear field of view even in dark shadow where I was able to read Coffee Mate container at 50 yards better than all other scopes I had (Yeah, that bright and clear ... Don't know what "Multicoat 4® lens coatings" is but it sure worked (I ended up PIF to a hunter who found the scope REALLY worked with his eyes ... 😁 and Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40 was working out really well that I bought several on killer Black Friday sale).

And when hunters I shot with and fished with talked about finding a place to shoot at 600-800 yards, I did some forum search and Athlon Argos Gen II 10-40x56 was mentioned by many (having addressed all the issues from Gen I) so I bought one and PIF another to a THR member who started shooting matches.

Viridian Serac was my contribution to Optics Anonymous meetings as being familiar as OEM weapons light/optics supplier to Ruger and having just started offering Eon 3-9x40 for 10/22 package, I thought I give it a try at $150 to support a USA company that actually manufactured in the US. 11,000 22LR rounds later having used on both 10/22 and T/CR22 for 47 brands/weights/lots comparison at 50/100 yards, it's going to be my reference 22LR bench testing scopes for 10/22 and T/CR22 and I may test it for .223 55/62/69/75 gr 0.1 gr incremental load development at 100 yards and beyond where I was planning to use Athlon Argos 10-40x56 for.

I think I will bring cookies to the next Optics Anonymous meeting. 😆🥹
 
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LiveLife said:
I actually got most of my scope related knowledge from lurking/gleaning information from other THR members here. 😁😇

I blame @CoalCrackerAl for making me attend Optics Anonymous meetings by getting me started with Burris FF II 6.5-20x50, which BTW is a great 1" tube scope - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...lfield-e1-6-5-20x-50mm-169-9-shipping.893341/

Then a bunch of members sang praise of Vortex scopes and I went to the store and did comparison and was impressed with being able to clearly read small print on opposite wall that was like around 75 yards in low light compared to other scopes so I bought Crossfire II 6-24x50 and Strike Eagle 4-24x50 with 30mm tubes.

Of course, Leupold fans said anything with gold ring was good so when Cabelas ran exclusive American Marksman 3-9x40 at a great price, I picked one up and turned out, I was impressed by brightness of lens that produced clear field of view even in dark shadow where I was able to read Coffee Mate container at 50 yards better than all other scopes I had (Yeah, that bright and clear ... Don't know what "Multicoat 4® lens coatings" is but it sure worked (I ended up PIF to a hunter who found the scope REALLY worked with his eyes ... 😁 and Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40 was working out really well that I bought several on killer Black Friday sale).

And when hunters I shot with and fished with talked about finding a place to shoot at 600-800 yards, I did some forum search and Athlon Argos Gen II 10-40x56 was mentioned by many (having addressed all the issues from Gen I) so I bought one and PIF another to a THR member who started shooting matches.

Viridian Serac was my contribution to Optics Anonymous meetings as being familiar as OEM weapons light/optics supplier to Ruger and having just started offering Eon 3-9x40 for 10/22 package, I thought I give it a try at $150 to support a USA company that actually manufactured in the US.
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“Optics Anonymous” 😆

Lurking. That’s what I have been doing in regards to scopes.
I have one other scope. It’s a Leupold 3-9x33 Compact I bought in 2002 for a Remington 673. I still have the scope. It’s mounted on my SFAR. It’s not “tactical”. I have crummy eyesight even with my glasses. That scope is good enough for me.
In the past I have had really bad Murphy’s Law luck with inexpensive scopes from Simmons and Tasco and some Chinese and Russian SKS scopes.
That Leupold on my SFAR is the only decent scope I have ever owned. At some point I may put a different scope on the SFAR and I’ll put the Leupold on something else.

1713833983764.jpeg
 
LiveLife said:
I have used Burris FF II 6.5-20x50 for my 10,000+ round break-in and ammunition comparison for new out of the box 10/22 and T/CR22 and while very happy with the 1" tube Burris scope, for me to try and replace with 30mm tube Viridian Serac should say a lot about the scope. (Fellow shooter with Savage 110 Precision in 300 PRC and Arken EP5 was pleasantly surprised when he saw clear 22LR holes at 100 yards through Viridian Serac in very dark no sun evening condition under the shadows of 150' trees)

At $95 and lifetime warranty from well known Viridian company, for me is a good risk/safe bet.

Based on my experience of hard bench use with plenty of bumping around, I now recommend Bushnell Trophy/Leupold American Marksman 3-9x40, Burris FF II 6.5-20x50, Vortex Crossfire II 6-24x50/Strike Eagle 4-24x50, Athlon Argos Gen II 10-40x56 and now Viridian Serac 6-24x50.
Click to expand...

I bought it. The $5 shipping today tipped me over the edge. There aren’t a lot of good scopes available for $100, and realistically a powerful scope with adjustable parallax so I can use it with a rimfire at the range does make a lot of sense.
 
Mosin77 said:
I bought it. The $5 shipping today tipped me over the edge. There aren’t a lot of good scopes available for $100, and realistically a powerful scope with adjustable parallax so I can use it with a rimfire at the range does make a lot of sense.
Click to expand...
You paid $5 shipping? Mine was $18 plus tax.
 
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