Good But Yet Inexpensive Scope Choice

I just finished building my AR 308, and am now looking for a good quality yet affordable scope for it. It will be used for hunting, plinkering around some some mid range shooting (600 yards, maybe a little farther) Trying to stay around $400 or less.

TM 308 lower
DPMS Upper
20" SS Fulton Armory M110 Barrel 1x12
YHM 5C2 Muzzle Device
Geiselle SSA Trigger
Troy TRX Extreme 13.6" Free Float Handguard
Fulton Armory LPK w/ ERGO Grip
DPMS 308 BCG
BCM Gunfighter Charging Handle
DPMS A2 Buttstock


These are the scopes Ive be looking at and have some good things about: Kind of leaning more towards the Millet TRS-1, Buckmaster, Viper or the Mueller Tactical. (All scopes and prices I found from SWFA)

Nikon Buckmaster 4.5-14x50 ––-$320
Weaver Grand Slam 4.5-14x40 ––-$400
Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 ––-$300
Vortex Viper 4-12x40 ––-$400
Mueller Tac II 3-10x44 ––-$290
Mueller Tactical 4-16x50 ––-$220
Mueller Tactical 4.5-14x40 ––-$170
Millet Tactical TRS-1 4-16x50 ––-$300
Burris Fullfield II 4.5-14x42 ––-$300
OR
Bushnell Elite 3200, Ive seen a few of these on Ebay fairly inexpensively


Any help or advice on a good scope would be greatly appreciated!

I would cut anything made in China off the list immediately. That's $400 that could be spent on something that will actually last, with click values you can feel, with gears that won't die on you right out of the box in many cases. I've seen way too many returns on Millet scopes that crapped in the bed within a few rounds of firing, if they even made it on to the rifle at all.

On the other hand, I have had nothing but great experiences with Vortex Optics if we're talking about Vipers and Viper PST's. The 2.5-10x44 sounds like the magnification range that will suit your stick really well, especially when you talk about switching from target work, to hunting, but you'll have to up your budget just a tad. You also need to factor in the price of a quality mount, which is no small figure.

On your list, the only scopes I would even allow on the list would be from:

Vortex,
Bushnell,
Burris,
Nikon

The Vortex Diamondback's are more appropriate for .22 LR, from what I've gathered listening to a lot of people who have bought them, as well as honest sales people who relate customer experiences to me when I ask them. The Viper & PST lines from Vortex are outstanding for the money. Burris is Made in USA in Greeley Colorado, and they make a decent product line, which keeps getting better for AR's year after year. Most Nikons are 1" tubes, so I ignore them.

The Vortex Viper PST has the most features for the price point of any scope line on the market right now.

http://www.snipercentral.com/weavergslam.phtml

http://www.snipercentral.com/weavergslam.phtml

made it hot

The scope is a nice low end scope and made in Japan. Very good glass for the money and mil-mil to boot. Sold by Midway.

Shouldn't this question be in optics section?

I will second the Vortex PST suggestion. I have not personally looked though the higher magnification models but my 1-4 has great glass for the cost and seams to have good clicks and the Zero stop should be useful.

I like the new redfields scopes.

Made in America, decent prices.

I have had good luck with Centerpoint and Firefield scopes. Both are very cheap and have high dollar features.
My centerpoint is on a Fal and handles the recoil fine so I could not expect much more.

Of the Muellers, the Tac II is not Chinese, it's Japanese glass and construction. A well built scope, good bang for the buck.

I have the Weaver Tactical Grand Slam 3-10x40 Mil/Mil scope as well. Again, very good scope for the money.

I'll second the weaver grand slam tac 3x10, this scope has been on several of my rifles from 5.56 to 7.62 both on the range and in the field hunting and has been very repeatable and decent glass. I also just acquired the another midway exclusive, the Vortex viper HS 5x15 and this scope is by far the best value I have ever seen at $400.

One more that deserves a look:

Simmons Whitetail Classic in either : 6.5-20x44mm or 6.5-21x50mm w/ Mil Dot recticle...

Japanese Optics, assembled in the Philipines...Lifetime Limited Warranty.

http://www.simmonsoptics.com/riflescopes/44_mag.cfm

midwayusa has an exclusive vortex hs for $399 this month only. It is a 5-15x44 and you won't find a better scope for that price. There are reviews on snipershide and they've been stellar.

The Vortex Viper 6.5-20X50 fits in that price range. Compared to Nikon, Bushnell and other name brands to you see on shelves, it has clearer optics IMHO. Mine has been on a Grendel and AR-10, continues to tract perfect.

I'm trying out a Alpen Apex XP, a 6-24x50 30mm, with side focus, multi coated Jap glass. My initial impression is this is noticeably better optically than the Vortex. Plus it's $80 cheaper. Passed the box tracking test with flying colors. It well be on a M1A this year, we'll see how it holds up. The M1A can beat up a scope if it's not well made.

I put the Millett TRS-1 4-16 x 50 on my .308 about 2 years ago. My plan was to get something affordable to start shooting and then upgrade later. Well, two years later and I am still using it. It handles the recoil and holds zero. I see no reason to spend more money to replace something that works great. I am using the ARMS 30 mm high scope mounts with the throw levers for quick release.

I can't believe I let that slip by. I got the Vortex Viper HS Tactical from Midway, and it is a great scope. It has the side focus and zero-stop, as well as PST turrets. That is your $400 scope all day long. I wish they had made it with a x50 objective, but that's my only gripe.

SuperSniper 10X Fixed.

IMHO, right now the best bang for the buck in a lower priced scope is Nitrex.

They are as cheap as the cheapest scope you mention and have the same glass as the Weaver.

I'm happy w/my Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16. Made in USA

I like my weaver 3x10 mil/mil scope.

. Are any of the Redfields any good (Revolution, Revenge Series)? They are pretty cheap and made in USA which is always a plus.

Whats the difference between the Burris Fullfield E1 and the Fullfield II? Is the MTAC any good? Its a little more but its a 3.5-10x42 with a 30mm tube and its $450.

I think I have it narrowed down to the Vortex Viper, Viper HS, Burris Fullfield II, Bushnell 3200 or the 4200 if I can find a good deal on one.

The elite series is a fantastic deal. I have a 4200 that has been my mule scop for years. It has survived various WSM rifles and my 308AR with no problems.

+10

I purchased mine 10yrs ago and have had nothen but the best out of it...clear as a bell....into the sun...at full zoom with no haze...what i would give if they made one with target turrets in this platform

I purchased a target scope at a gun show about 3 yrs ago for about $200.00..6x24x50. adjustable frt objective and fine tune focus at your eye, mil dot.

I bought it with a mind set of.... "hey, for the money"? why not....... turned out to be one nice scope....clear.....holds zero...


goes by the name of eagle eye optics and for the life of me, i have yet to find another at any of the gun shows ive attend,d

i can hit steels with it out to 1K

the gears are true and solid

I need to put a vote up for Burris. Clear glass and tough to boot. Made in CO. Awesome warranty service if you happen to need it. I'm happy with the 2 I have and know of half a dozen more owners that love them.

Big thumbs up for Vortex. I have a Viper PST on my M1A and it's positively outstanding. Their customer service is top notch, too.


I've also had a Burris Fullfield II on my .450 Bushmaster and had great luck with it. Price was good, glass was nice, and it held up to the pounding with no issues.

I just bought a Konus m30 and love it. It has a built in level inside the scope

Natchez has some awesome deals on Weaver scopes, I just got in a 2.5-10x50mm with illuminated reticle dot, thing works awesome, these are the Weaver Classic Extreme scopes, i'm very happy with it for the price, they also have the higher power ones for sale, can see them on the bottom of this link:

http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=WE800704

+1, best scope I own

I use a Centerpoint on my AR also bought it for a 22.lr I have, but its been on my AR for almost 2yrs now, No problems so far, holds zero well for a cheap optic($60 pawnshop score).

Thats a Walmart special. Its about the same price at the store

I second the Millett TRS-1 4X16 50mm. Its a good scope for the money and has a proven reputation thats only improving since run and operated by Bushnell.
let the import bashing continue.

They have a 6.5-20X50, Vortex # VPR-M-06FP

I'm looking at the Leupold ultralight at 9 oz. vs. ~20 oz. for the Elite. Available custom turrets and/or reticule for your round are a plus. The Firedots are also contenders.

Redfield is a Leupold IIRC - supposed to be cheaper but not really much difference if you shop well.

I recently bought one of the Weaver Grand Slam Tactical 3-10x40mm's from Midway for my LR-308 and like it a bunch. Good value for the $.

On sale now for $300

Yeah, but he said inexpensive, $700 + is not inexpensive to most peoples pockets.

agreed, I use the method of buy once, cry once, in most cases. I think that Weaver is the "whan-bam-thank you mam". If they made a anti-reflective lens cover that would thread into that objective tube, I would pick one up for my new varmint gun.

I have a Burris Fullfield 2 and I love it.

http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&brand=WE&prodID=WE94569&prodTitle=Nitrex%20TR%20One%203-10x50mm%20Rifle%20Scope%20Matte%20Finish%20TrexPlex%20Reticle

Half the price most of the performance.

Vortex or Falcon scopes is a very good choice.

I bought my Falcon scope from a local dealer:

RW Synder Gunsmithing

For a .308 shooting over 600 yards anything under 15x and you'll only be wishing you had more magnification!! Scopes are kind of like welders, you always buy as much power as you can afford and the best quality!!

Better hurry:

Vortex Viper HS 30mm Tube 5-15x 44mm 1/10 MIL & Mil-Dot Reticle -$399 - Sale ends 4/30/2012

Redfield is my vote for just punching paper @ less than 300. Cheap, made in the USA as Leupold's entry level, but still retain the lifetime warranty that every Leupold product has.

I was at the range yesterday and shot another guys rifle with a 5-20x Nikko Sterling. He had had it for about a year and siad no problems. I will say this, it was one of the clearest scopes I have ever used. It has a long eye relief too which I like.
Malcolm

A good all around hunting scope I have yet to get my hands on is a
Viper PST 2.5-10x44 Riflescope with an illuminated Mrad milhash retical.

It has a wider FOV at 2.5x than most 2x scopes.

http://www.vortexoptics.com/product/vortex-viper-pst-2-5-10x44-riflescope-with-ebr-1-moa-reticle

More than you are looking to spend, but I thought I would throw it in.

Any of the Leupold VX1 scopes are good to go and cheap with a great image fill on the eyebox.
I think we have four 2-7x VX1 scopes on rifles.

Had them on everything from a 223 to a 375 ruger 458 socom etc with no issues.

I finally went with this - only $240, 13 oz, and has an illuminated center dot. It says gloss in the title, and matte in the specs., but I called and mine is supposed to be matte.
Burris 3-9x40 Fullfield 30 European Riflescope 3P#4 LRS Electro-Dot Reticle Gloss
http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=BU200444&src=exrbSrch

I Have two mueller scopes one for my .308 and one for my shotgun both are great and they are made in Michigan

How far are you going to shoot? I have to adjust it all the way out to reach 850 yard on my .308

Centerpoint. Got one, worked fine, banging around in the back of a lease truck driven by a not to bright teenager. held zero. use it on a pellet gun used for target and small birds, so repeatability is a must.

Assuming you can deal with fixed power while hunting, you will get far better quality per dollar out of a fixed power scope than you will a variable.

No.

A little late on the post - I'm having good luck with the KonusPro #7259 6-24x44. It has an etched glass mildot reticle & has held up to almost 200 rounds of .308 on my BM ORC over the last 5 months. It's only $ 120 at Midway & SWFA. I also considered the Mueller 8.5-25x44 for $ 165 - which gets excellent reviews.

I got a BSA 6-24 44mm on my 308 paid only $145 for it. Yeah not top of the line, but works damn good for the money spent at 200 yds

I predict this scope will have issue with the turrets if you run a box test with it. What people tend to see with the Chinese scopes is that as you dial windage, the reticle will move for a few of the clicks, then stop, even though you're still dialing. Then, all of a sudden, it will jump a huge distance with your next click, and will never return to zero.

The way to test this is to shoot your zero with one round on a large cardboard target. Dial 10 MOA to the right, and shoot another round. Dial 10 MOA up and shoot again, then 10 MOA left...shoot...then 10 MOA down and shoot. Your final shot should be right on or within the accuracy potential of your blaster.

Unfortunatley for consumers, there are very few scopes that can actually perform this test repeatedly, which is a big deal if you think about what is going on with the gears. If the scope can't old zero, it is not worth buying.

It's especially important to me, since I shoot in sub-zero conditions, as well as 100 degrees + temps, at different altitudes, and in bad weather often.

Copyright © 1996 - 2013 :: AR15.Com LLC :: All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.