Long Range Scope

Lots of scopes to choose from in that price range. Would definitely recommend a 20 MOA rail if you plan on shooting at those distances. Have Warne rings and rail on my McMillan and very pleased with them.

Weaver Grand Slam 6.5-20 is a great value, excellent optics for the price. Natchez Shooters Supply usually has the best price on them. Lot's of people will tell you that you don't need 20 power for 600 yards, but mostly they aren't trying to shoot tiny groups at that range.

Weaver or EGW 20MOA base
Burris XTR 30mm low rings
Vortex Viper HS 5-15x44 (MidwayUSA special)

If you are patient and keep an eye on gun forums, you can easily find a Bushnell 4200 Tactical 3-12x44, Weaver 3-15x50, or Vortex Viper PST 4-16x SFP in that price range.

Bought a Simmons 6-18 many years ago and have liked it very much on my 223 for varmint hunting. It makes up into a heavy varminter quite accuate but no light walking around rifle.

PS a woodchuck looks pretty small at 2,3 or 400 yards.

I'd like suggestions on quality scopes in the $5-600 range. I don't mind gently used for better value/lower cost. The rifle has Leupold twist in rings/base that I'm considering changing to a 15 or 20 m.o.a. picatinny style base. I haven't decided on rings yet.

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If you think you well shooting to 1k yds adding a 20moa base is the first thing I would do.

The Vortex Viper PA scopes are in your price range. I use a 6.5-20X50 on a Grendel. Alpen Optics has a very nice 6-24X50 scope. I've been using one on a 7.62 AR all summer and I'm very pleased with performance. Equals the Vortex and is $200 less. Warne QD rings are my choice.

As mentioned, there are a lot of scopes that fall in your price range. I really like the Vortex scopes in their respective price ranges.

You just really need to check all of the specs and get what fits your needs. If punching paper is what you want to do at differing distances, you're going to want something with good internals, good glass and a reticle that isn't too thick. Lots of "tactical" scopes fall within this range, but many have pretty thick reticles.

The Bushnell 6500 series is a good choice...you just want to make sure whatever scope you look at has enough elevation adjustment (at least 65MOA, IMO) for shooting a 308 to 1000 yards.

I have a 4200 6-24x50 FFP and previously owned a 4200 3-12x44 FFP; both are very good scopes and considered by many to be "underrated". I also have the Viper HS 5-15x44 I mentioned previously, and for the money it is a great value.

I didn't realize the 4200 is a FFP. That's (I believe) more desirable.

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For paper punching, a FFP is not all that more desirable than a SFP; sometimes it is even less desirable.


Take a look at this link that shows the pros and cons of each.

For what you are wanting, I would not dish out the extra money for a FFP riflescope.

Here are the main points pertaining to your question:

Benchrest competition, or any other target shooting in which the targets will be at a fixed predetermined distance would be another instance where a SFP reticle would be of benefit.

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The number one situation where FFP reticles show their strengths is in tactical shooting, and what I mean by that is situations where you have limited time and one shot, or if you are lucky you might get a follow-up shot. For most of us this means running through a precision rifle competition. At these events you are presented with targets of various size at known or unknown distances in virtually every position imaginable. Shots can be from 11yds to well over 1000yds and you may only have a matter of seconds to find and engage targets. In these circumstances are where optics with FFP reticles really shine.

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I agree that the Bushnell Elites are great scopes... I have a 4.5-30x50 Elite Tactical on my 50 and love it. Vortex also makes great optics.. Jdillon is right, a 20 moa base will help you reach your goals.

Sightron SIII Fixed 10x or 16x. The glass quality on the Sightron is better than any of the scopes mentioned so far, tracking is great and they're very well built scopes.

ffp scope also lets you make adjustments off your retical easier without having to worry about what mag its on.

the ffp bushnells are awesome scopes for the money, with the addition of the new g2 retical now offer makes them even better. There is also the vortex pst its a great scope for the money

Luminox ART

+1 for the Sightron SIII...I have a fixed 20 power SIII that I have used successfully out to 1000 yards. They are very good scopes for very reasonable prices. I paid around $550 shipped for mine a year and a half ago and still have it mounted on a Rem 700 in 243 Win. Very good windage and elevation tracking and large range of adjustment as well.

chaser_2332 said:

ffp scope also lets you make adjustments off your retical easier without having to worry about what mag its on.

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Only really true if the turrets graduations match those in the reticule. Otherwise you have to do conversions (mil to MOA). Fortunately the Bushnells with the FFP rets. are 0.1mil adjustments.

I have one of the 3-12s, one of the 6-24s with illum ret and FFP and one of the 6-24 SFP. The SFP has MOA turrets and is on a varmint rifle for that reason. The other 6-24 is on a medium range (.223) rifle because it has very limited adjustment. With a 20MOA base, I ran out of adjustment before I could get a 100yd zero with a .243.

Mine are the older 4200s not the newer Elite Tactical models. The newer ones have more adjustment, but still not enough IMO for a long range scope. The 3-12 is much better in that regard and is by far my favorite of the 3. It will be going back on my .308 when I finally decide to bit the bullet and get a .338 Lap.

The 6500 tactical models have a decent adjustment range but are in MOA. Not a deal breaker but limits the utility of the mil-dot reticule. With MOA based adjustments, I'd rather just have a basic plex reticule.

Also in your price range are the various (non-HD) SWFA SS scopes. They are available with mil or MOA turrets. The mil turret versions have a rather unique reticule with very fine stadia marks. Some people don't like the reticule because it isn't the USMC standard, but as long as you know the subtensions (the scope comes with a plastic reference card) it's a lot more useful. The fixed powers run $300 and are one of the best deals going for that money. A fixed 10 or 12x would suit your needs just fine.

I agree but most ffp scope have mil/mil moa/moa adjustments. All of the bushnell ffp match

Check out the Bushnell Elite series scopes. They're offering a $70 rebate on any of them. I have a 5-15x40mm Elite 3200 Tactical mounted on an AR and love it.

chaser_2332 said:

I agree but most ffp scope have mil/mil moa/moa adjustments. All of the bushnell ffp match

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Actually you'd be surprised how many don't.