Best 500yds scope.$400 and under

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CptnAwesome

CptnAwesome

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Starting to shop for my next rig. Just wondering what suggestions THR has on good scopes for shooting out to (and maybe a lil beyond) 500yds. Max budget will allow is about $400.

And before anybody suggests... I know I can just save up and get a better scope that costs more. lol
 
The best pre-owned Leupold you can find in the power range you desire.

$400 might get you into a 16 max power VX3.

My next suggestion is to cut corners on your rifle to free up more cash for the scope.

In my world, the scope costs at least half what the gun cost and usually more.

I have a $150 scope on my $250 22 Mag

$250 scope on my $400 12 ga Deerslayer

$400 scope on my $800 .308

All those prices reflect used guns and scopes. The 22 scope is a VX1 and the other two are Vari-X III.
 
Any decent 3-9X40 will do just fine out to 600+ yards. If you are only going to be shooting long distance a fixed 10X or bigger wouldn't be a bad idea, but I still like a variable for the versatility. The fixed power SWFA scopes are good scopes. My brother has one of their fixed 6X scopes on his Ruger Predator 6.5. He has shot it out to 450 with good results.

Honestly, I'd just as soon have a 3-9X40 Burris FF-II priced at $200 as anything else priced $400 or less. I don't see anything significantly better until you get over $500. And that includes the $300-$400 Leupolds.
 
one thing i can say about the swfa ss10 is, even tho it's a fixed 10 power scope it can be used at close range to. the first time i brout out this 308 i was sitting over a field. there was about 400 yards worth of shoots, it was snowing just before last light a big doe came out next to me less the 10 yards away. i was still able to see the deer and take the head shot.

i can vouch for its toughness to, on that same day as i was dragging that doe down a step hill. i fell with the rifle on my back, the ground was frozen and the turrets left two large scratches in the frozen ground. the scope did not even get a scratch on it.
 
Plus one on the fixed 10x SWFA. If you're just doing range work fixed power shouldn't be too much of a detriment (if any, I really never changed the magnification on my variables) and the SWFA has good and repeatable adjustments.

Just make sure you get one where the reticle matches the adjustments. I got a great deal on mine because it's a Mil reticle and MOA adjustments. It works for me because most of my shooting is at a range where the targets have rings graduated in MOA, so it's easy for me to see my target and adjust by MOA clicks. Anything outside that specific shooting range though means I have to do calculations for adjustments. My next scope will definitely be Mil/Mil.
 
Telekinesis said:
Plus one on the fixed 10x SWFA. If you're just doing range work fixed power shouldn't be too much of a detriment (if any, I really never changed the magnification on my variables) and the SWFA has good and repeatable adjustments.

Just make sure you get one where the reticle matches the adjustments. I got a great deal on mine because it's a Mil reticle and MOA adjustments. It works for me because most of my shooting is at a range where the targets have rings graduated in MOA, so it's easy for me to see my target and adjust by MOA clicks. Anything outside that specific shooting range though means I have to do calculations for adjustments. My next scope will definitely be Mil/Mil.
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they are good for the money and just plane simple. i see you are from birmingham. i lived there for 2 years, i should have never left AL.
 
Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-16x44 349.99
Or
Vortex Diamondback Tactical 6-24x50 399.99

Either in MRAD or MOA / nice etched reticle / first focal plane / both come with sunshade / 30mm tube / outstanding warranty

Huge value for this pricepoint IMO. Have the 4-16 now and the 6-24 on the way

Screenshot_2019-01-20 Vortex Optics - Diamondback Tactical 6-24x50 FFP EBR-2C (MOA) Tactical.png
 
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For target shooting I like as much power as I can get. I have a 4-14x40 VX-3 on my target .22 and it’s not too much

I’d probably get a used VX-III 6.5-20x40 for 600 yards. That’s what I had on my 1,000 yard gun and have on my Varminter AR
 
Thanx for the replies everyone. Some really good options given.
2ndtimer said:
Depending on how much recoil you are planning on, one of these might work. Decent glass, mil-dot reticle, 30mm tube, on sale for $299.99. Only drawback is short eye relief. Works great on my Stag Model 6.
https://www.sportsmans.com/hunting/optics/scopes/rifle-scopes/vortex-viper-rifle-scopes/p/p12654
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I really like this one but gonna check out the Diamondback Tactical, SWFA and Athlon scopes too.
 
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jmr40 said:
Any decent 3-9X40 will do just fine out to 600+ yards. If you are only going to be shooting long distance a fixed 10X or bigger wouldn't be a bad idea, but I still like a variable for the versatility. The fixed power SWFA scopes are good scopes. My brother has one of their fixed 6X scopes on his Ruger Predator 6.5. He has shot it out to 450 with good results.

Honestly, I'd just as soon have a 3-9X40 Burris FF-II priced at $200 as anything else priced $400 or less. I don't see anything significantly better until you get over $500. And that includes the $300-$400 Leupolds.
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I have a Burris FFII 4.5-14x44 and I love it. Was wanting something with a little higher power but it's still an option
 
Not what a person would use for hunting, but I have 6X-24's on my 22's for 50 yd work and a 36X fixed on my 223 for the 100 yd.

I believe the T36 Classic was just a touch over 4 Ben on sale.

Shortly after I got the T36, an RO came over to me once at the hundred,,, Told me he thought I was shooting at a blank piece of paper until he used a spotting scope and saw my 1 inch paster's,,,
 
Skgreen said:
Not what a person would use for hunting, but I have 6X-24's on my 22's for 50 yd work and a 36X fixed on my 223 for the 100 yd.
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Yeah. This is what I was trying to get across

If you’re just gonna bang at steel plates that’s one thing. If you’re trying to shoot 1” groups and you can’t discern within a 1/2”, you’re gonna get poor results

You can only shoot as well as you can see
 
On another site there was a NIB Weaver 36X Target Scope for $385 shipped. They usually sell for some over $400. I almost bought it because that scope comes highly recommended among long distance shooters. But, I dilly-dallied too long and someone else jumped on it. When you see target pics along with the gun that shot the group (Cooper) it's always with a Weaver 36X scope. These are highly coveted scopes and well worth the money. SWFA has them on occasion and the prices are good. Saw a used one for $320 recently. Let us know what you buy.
 
Straight 36X scopes are good for shooting tiny groups at 100 to 300 yards. That is their primary role. If the conditions aren't too bad they can be used for long distance shooting, but if the conditions are bad to real bad, it's too much power. I have a Weaver 36X sitting on a shelf in a closet at home, alongside an extra Leupold 36X, as well as the Leupold 36X on my Bench gun.

You'll want a nice variable for all purpose long distance shooting, or a lower power fixed scope.
 
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