Help me decide on a new optics please.

[LRRPF52]

Here is a place worth a click http://opticsthoughts.com/index.php?opti...ut=default

There are a lot of go-to scope models missing from this guy's recommendations, especially USO and NightForce NXS series in his $2000 and below recommendations. If you want long-range optics and money is not an issue, look at Hensoldt 3-12x56 FFP Mildot for the best glass.

For features and top-end glass, look to Premier Reticles and Schmidt & Bender.
For customizeability and excellent glass, look to USO.
For reliability and excellent glass, as well as great features now with the addition of FFP/Zero-stop, look to NightForce.

I recently did a side-by-side of a NightForce NXS and a Vortex Razor HD 5-20x50. I have to say that the glass quality was really close, but the NF appeared to be slightly clearer to me. I compared them on same power settings, but I was limited to indoors inside the Sportman's Warehouse. The Razor HD has a 35mm tube, and tons of elevation adjustment for calibers that reach past 1000yds easily. I wish it had 56mm objective and at least 10 MRAD per elevation turn, versus 5 MRAD, but it has zero stop and huge target knobs with positive click values, and fiber-optic dial indicators.

For scopes under $1000, look at the Vortex Viper PST's. They simply have too many features and reliability that cost at least $1500 starting in other scope lines. The glass is not Zeiss, but it is clear throughout the field of view and works well under adverse weather conditions. I've heard good things about Sightrons, but have no experience with them.

I wish I could drop Hensoldt glass into a PST, but Hensoldt glass alone would probably cost $800 to $1200 just for the lenses, and is tightly-controlled. You gotta pay to play with world-class glass.