Glass suggestions on a budget

[MF'nLeadFarmer]

I can't say enough good things about the Vipers and Viper PST's for the price. I had a Viper 6.5-20x44 Mildot that a friend bought off me, and I still wish I had that scope really. The glass is more than decent, and they retain zero and track well through extreme temperature shifts and pressures. I used mine in the high desert in summer conditions in Utah, to sub-zero temps at sea level with high humidity in Finland, and it still prints the same group at 100m after working with it out to 700m.

I didn't even know they had a Viper HS in that price range for the 4-16x44. That's a tough scope to beat really.

I also have a 2.5-10x44 Viper PST that is great, and my next purchase will be a 4-16x50 PST for the .260 Rem AR10. The turrets on Vortex Viper PST's are great, plus they have zero-stop.

I will be doing a long distance shooting class later in 2012 and have dreams of being on steel at 1000. I plan to hunt with this rifle as well as take 100-300yd shots from prone or a bench. Have you taken shots farther than 500 with the viper 6.5-20? If so, how far out? Also, if so, how was the clarity of the glass? I know realistically I'll have to pony up and get a nicer piece of glass for greater clarity at my dream of 1000. This scope will serve as my daily middle distance optic.

[independentrider1]

I personally have this one https://www.primaryarms.com/Primary_Arms...04-16x.htm and I'm very happy with it. I had a problem with the first one (it had 1/4" elevation clicks but the windage were 1/2"). I called them and they sent me a brand new one no questions asked. great customer service.

[fastpat]

I'm big on spending as much as you need to spend on a high quality optical sight. Yes, I mean top of the line Leupold, Swarovski, or Trijicon. I still have a Redfield scope I bought 40 years ago which functions just like it did new. Buy quality, leave it to your children or grandchildren.

I have a Trijicon TA-11 308 which can be used with the 6.5 Grendel. While illuminated, it uses no batteries and gives you 3.5x magnification. No, it's not a budget scope, but the brightness rivals scopes costing a lot more.

[jessegibson1978]

Check out longrangehunting.com a lot of the guys on there are using vortex scopes and making clean hits well in excess of 1000 yards.

[Faeruss7]

You should take a look at the Zeiss Conquest series of scopes, especially if you are in the market for a 3-9x40 scope. They usually go for around $400 (Z-plex). I sold scopes for years (I worked retail), and I compared, tested and bought Nikon scopes, Leupold VX-2 and VX-3 scopes, and Zeiss Conquest scopes. Zeiss has better color and light transmission, than the VX-3 (both old and new). The VX-3 is lighter though. There are obviously other scopes, reticles, etc..., but all I am saying is that you may want to give Zeiss a serious look.

[Mattw]

I went ahead and got the Votex Viper HS 4-16x50 Dead-Hold BDC ordered last night. Seeing as we will probably get our barrels about the same time I won't have much time to tell you what I think of it. But I'll give my thoughts on it after I take it to the range, for those with the same question later down the road. As for the 1/4-1/2 clicks. It's the LR "Long Range" version on the HS series that has 1/2 MOA elevation clicks. I of course stayed with 1/4. I'll be a guinea on the HS series, someone else can go for the HS LR.

[6BRshooter]

I think you will like the vortex. Anymore the only leupold that is worth the money,IMHO, is the VX-3 LRs. The mark4, which I have one that I picked up 7 yrs ago for 900ish new, are way over priced now and in NF territory. The lower grades of loopy's like the vx-2 ans vx-1, while carrying a good warranty, they are really subpar when compared to other scopes in their price range like the straight vortex viper, nikon buckmaster(not a monarch fan), and 4200elite bushnell. I have used several different AR specific mounts and do like the price, quality of the PEPR. I have not had a ssalt mount , but can attest to the quality of a Larue,ADM, and GG&G mounts. Recently I have been putting sightron S3 8-32x56 LR on my match rifles, while not NF tough they survived a few hunts and several matches and track perfect with one of the best Paralax systems going.

[elkbow]

two choices, either a Vortex or a Bushnell Elite 4200 or 6500, I have a Bushnell Elite 6500 and it rivals my Leupold and Nightforce scopes

[6BRshooter]

I have a viper HS 4-16x44 LR on my CMMG 308. With its current load of 155NCC at 2650 (shoots in the .7s) the BDC hash marks are with in 1/4moa of POI at every point to 500 yds. I need a 20moa rail as I only have 24 moa from a 100yd zero, enough to get to 800ish, i believe. The reticle on that scope is finer, prefered, then the 6.5-20 vipers mil-dot.