Bolt .308 Optics

[CGRifleman]

What type of scope would you prefer on a bolt-action .308 precision rifle?
I'm looking for something with at least 18x max power and am willing to pay for quality. I've been looking at Leupold's Mark 4 LRT and the Trijicon Accupoint, but before I spend money on a rifle and glass I want to hear what others are using first.

What scope do you use for long range, and why?

 

[helotaxi]

I have a pair of SWFA SS 5-20x50 scopes. Mil-mil reticule to turrets (unlike the Mk4). FFP mil-quad reitcule (unlike the Mk4). One of them has illumination the other does not. HD glass. $1300 for the non-illum and $1500 for the illum. They run sales, or at least have in the past; I paid considerably less for both of mine. If you look in the classifieds on the precision shooting forums, they come up for sale used.

All my other target/tactical-type scopes are Bushnell Elites.

 

[taliv]

for value, the bushnell HDMR 3-21x with the G2 reticle

in the ridiculously priced but worth it category:
S&B PMII 5-25x56 CCW, MSR reticle, DT
USO SN3 TPAL 5-25x58 MPR reticle


whatever you do... get FFP, with mil/mil or moa/moa and not mil/moa. and get decent rings

 

[CGRifleman]

I have a pair of SWFA SS 5-20x50 scopes.

That SS looks like it is exactly what I'm looking for. Thank you both for your input.

 

[USSR]

I have 2 of the Leupold LR Tactical scopes. One is a 3.5-10x40 M3 which is on my .308, and the other is a 6.5-20x50 M1 which is on my .30-06. Great scopes.

Don

 

[joed]

For 35 years I've owned nothing but Leupold. In that time I've broken none, not had to send one to the factory and never had a complaint.

A few years ago a bought a few Weaver Target scopes. They have served me well and no complaints. But these I've only had for 6 years.

 

[slowr1der]

The SWFA SS 5-20x50 is also what I would get if you want a great value for the money. Another good choice, but not quite as good in my opinion are the Vortex Viper PST's. I'd take either over a Mark 4 in a heartbeat. For slightly more than the SWFA you can get a Nightforce which is the next step up.

If you want something better than those, you will likely end up paying twice the price for something slightly better in which case I'd take a look at S&B's and USO's. There is also Premier, but I will not recommend them just because of how they treated Liberty Optics.

IMO any of those are leaps and bounds better than the Mark 4's.