Wanted: Recommendations Variable Power Scope

[TheMoneyPit]

Looking for a rifle scope, considering the Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6x24...anyone have one they can provide feedback on?

I love the idea of a $300 scope that’s decent but have heard some mixed reviews on glass clarity out by the edges.

Other consideration Leupold VX-R Patrol 1.25-4x20mm but it’s twice the price. Is it worth it?

any other recommendations?

I’m a recreational shooter and will be using it between 50 yards and 200 both standing and on a bench.

 

[96coal449]

@GOPerfect made a recent purchase of a Swampfox that seams like it would fit your bill. Right on par with the Vortex line up.

I checked out their site, and like he said, they have a ton of great reviews.

 

[Saltwater60]

The vortex strike eagles I’ve looked at are nice. I’m not scope expert but I like them.

 

[Curmudgeon]

That leupold was just on sale at Midway last month. $369 with free mount and free shipping.

I got one and love it

 

[BuffNiag]

Nikon was the best scope for the money but they pulled out of the market, unfortunately.

 

[meketrefe]

What rifle and round are you shooting?
Size, weight, fitting considerations?
Do you shoot from the bench and prone?
Do you use a secondary optics or someone to help you or do you want to see your impacts all the way to 200yards?
Do you change loads/bullets and want something that you can adjust with predictable adjustments or rather to
have some stadia marks in the reticle that can be used to provide predictable easy to guess holdovers? not
needed for many calibers since you can hold on the target but that is why we need to know what you are shooting
with. Like a 44mag is very different form a 223 for example.
I think once you figure what you need and why then the how to do it is easier.

 

[Vapor]

So, the scope brought up right away was a 1-6 strike eagle. Bases on that, I would assume you're looking for a scope for an MSR.

I'm probably about to piss some people off.

The Strike eagle is probably ok. Same Chinese OEM as Primary arms. Literally the same scope body, turrets, etc. My primary arms 1-6 was heavy, had a loose ocular, and had sub par glass. Held zero okay, the reticle was decent. I would choose the PA over a strike eagle.

Vortex sure has a really great warranty. You may want to ask yourself why. They break. A lot. Go on the PRS style shooting forums and you'll see how many failure guys are seeing in the VIPER line. It's a lot. (This is excluding the excellent viper line) ALSO KNOW THAT SOME VORTEX SCOPES ARE MADE WITH THINNER TUBES. NEVER TORQUE YOUR SCOPE MOUNTS OR RINGS PAST 15-18 INCH LBS.

Leulpolds are good as set it and forget it scopes. The glass is chinese, but the rest of the scope is American. Very light weight with usually generous eye relief. They can't track to save their lives, and I have experienced the infamous "Leupold shuffle" from their sub par internals where getting a rifle to perfect zero is a real headache. I have a VX-2 that is flawless, a VX-3 that exhibits "shuffle" , and a VX freedom that seems ok. Again, most serious turret twisters avoid them (Yes, even the $2,000 Leupolds)

I have no experience with some the new variables out there like the swampfox.

Nikon's are decent. They usually hold zero and are eaiser to get correct zeroed over say, a Leupold.


Burris scopes I have been impressed with. Their entry level scopes are even very robust with acceptable glass. I also have a tactical scope, a 1-4 from one of their mid tier lines. They are robust, zero easily, and seem to adjust precisely. The glass is superior to the mid tier vortex and primary arms offerings. Sometimes the tactical offerings are on sale for $300 ish.


I have not personally had a Trijcon, but their 1-4 and 1-8 scopes have excellent reps. The 1-4 lines can be had in the $400 range on sale.


The best scopes I've had for clarity or tracking by far are anything made in Japan. Regrettably, they are more expensive. I have had light optical works scopes branded under Weaver and Bushnell Elite that were superior in every way for similar offerings in the price range. If you can afford Japense optics, go for it. They are my favorite, and often get shuffled from rifle to rifle when I need a optic I can depend on with the best clarity. LOW now has moved upscale with the less expensive chinese scopes taking the lower budgest market. You'll find LOW occupying the catalogues of names like Nightforce now. Still, some of the other offerings are out there, either as old stock or used. Unless you can afford a Nightforce...

I also have had good success with SWFA branded scopes. They are not made by LOW, but speculation placed them at a well know Japanese optics company that makes microscopes.

Lastly, another option is a red dot with a magnifier.

You can never go wrong with an aimpoint
Holosun with an acss reticle and a 3x magnifier can also accomplish a lot.


I may add more later, and another poster Meke, is right. We can best help.you when we know exactly what you're looking for.

 

[Vapor]

That leupold was just on sale at Midway last month. $369 with free mount and free shipping.

I got one and love it

That was a good deal. Do you find the exposed turrets easy to knock though?

 

[Tisto]

Take a hard look at an EOTECH VUDU. I bought the big one ( 8-32 x 50 ) a year ago and it is incredible. Super clear glass and it tracks perfectly. Mind you, it was a $ 1700 optic, and probably not what you would mount on an AR, but they do have models suitable for that.

As others have said, to better help you, we need to know what it's going to be mounted on and what purpose it needs to serve.

 

[togmaster]

I have the Strike Eagle 1-6. I've run it in a bunch of shooting classes without any problem. I also had it at Sheep Dog and was ringing steel at 600 yds. with it. Maybe not the best scope on the market but it works for me.

 

[Curmudgeon]

That was a good deal. Do you find the exposed turrets easy to knock though?

They have a very solid detent and can reset to zero so you'll notice if they get moved. That being said I have yet to notice an issue.

 

[Saltwater60]

Nikon was the best scope for the money but they pulled out of the market, unfortunately.

Also not honoring warranty on any scopes anymore from what I heard. If they honored the warranty sure get one but a lifetime warranty is a big part of the sale to me.

 

[TheMoneyPit]

Thanks everyone for the comments you have given me a bunch of areas to consider as well as brands. I’ll let you know where I land.

 

[Vapor]

Here is an example of trijcon

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