I need some help picking out a scope. Started looking today and oh boy Pages and pages of scopes. If money permitted it would be a $2500 Leupold but I'm limited to $500.Scope is going on a Remington 700 SPS Varmint in 233. I'll be using for target and varmint hunting out to 300 yards. I'm lost at whats good and whats not.

I use a Bushnell 4200 series 6-18x50 on my Winchester mod 70 22-250 and that would be more than enough scope for a .223. On my Rem 700 SPS SS 22-250 I have a tactical 10x40 mildot that works wonders for me. Both guns shoot better than I do and I have no misgivings about handing either of them to anyone who can hold on target and expecting a perfect hit. But I sure do like the idea of the Leupold. The only other scope that I have for large calibres is the Nikko-Stirling 4-16x44 LRX Night Eater that I haven't used yet but I have shot my friends 300WSM with the Night Eater and it is performing very good. Buhnells are fully warranted for lifetime which is great. You may also want to look at a Bushnell 6500 series scope. Good luck and keep your powder dry.

I have a Millet TRS-1 Mil-Dot 4x16x50 with side focus and illuminated reticule (10 brightness settings). It is a 30mm tube and comes with the front screw on sun shield. I mounted it on a Savage .223 10 XP Predator rifle using Weaver steel detachable rings and split mounts. Scope height is 2" above bore. Nice clear optics, smooth focus and zoom with external turret adjustments. The combination has been very accurate for me on paper. I haven't shot it in the field yet as our weather has been miserable all fall and early winter. Scope also came with lens covers and a cloth scope cover. I bought it from Frontier Firearms in Alberta and price was under $500 tax and shipping included.

www.frontierfirearms.c...ducts_id=4

You may do better elsewhere

I've got a Burris Fullfield 4.5-14X w/ Ballistic Plex on my Rem 700 VTR .223. I'm happy with it.

A 3-12x 42mm Nikon M-223 Rifle Scope with Side Focus BDC 600 Reticle is what I would put on it, in fact if I could I would probably put this on my .222. If money was not an option I would go with Leupold or Burris though.

$2500 ??? Sure the hell wouldn't be a Leupold...... Swarovski or Night Force is a better choice in that price range !!!

The Leupold VX II 6-18 would be my choice, it can be had in different variations ranging from $5-600 !!!

chambered221 wrote:

:wtf: $2500 ??? Sure the hell wouldn't be a Leupold......

ca.wholesalesports.com...51531.html

one right there $2539
Those are some excellent choices the Burris Fullfield and Leupold VX have my attention now just to pick one

I completely missed MacD's reply. That is a nice scope, price is right and it's in Canada to Never thought buying a scope would be so hard

I have a 3x9x40mm vx1 on my .270 and a 3x9x50mm vx2 on the .223 and for your $500 you can get a hell of a good leupold I have had loads of cheaper scopes and killed them all now I know my scope is good and will outlast me. 9 power is great for steady rested shots and paper, but 3 power is hard to beat for the up n bang times.9 power is heaps out to 300 yrds.

My allegiances are strongly in the Leupold camp though I have a Swarovski and a couple of Nightforce scopes as well.

As for power, 7X on the top end is adequate for 300 yard shots on varmints though I prefer 14X. Leupold scopes have a lifetime warranty the company actually honors so I see no downside to buying used on one of the forums I visit, off eBay, etc. Most of the Leupold scopes I have now were bought used and I've bought the VX-III 4.5-14X scopes for way less than $500.

Unfortunately the days of the old Tasco varmint/target scopes (of quality) are long gone...though I have a few hidden in the dark recesses of my cabinets. They were reasonably priced and of excellent quality for my uses. However, since today's Tascos are mostly junk, any of the scopes mentioned are excellent choices and I will certainly agree with MacD's suggestion of the Millet line. I have had a Millet 6-18 X 40 on one of my .17 Remingtons for a couple of years now and it is a solid buy. Optics are very good and adjustments are crisp and reliably repeatable.

Tastes differ, but I'm not a fan of objectives larger than 44 mm (though many love their 50 to 60mms) since it annoys me to have to hold my head out of position due to the necessity for high rings. Sun-glare also increases along with size. I would suggest that you try to find someone who owns any of the scopes you might be interested in and see if you can try them in "real world" conditions and not have to rely on advertising hype or hearsay. It sucks to spend serious money on something and then find that it isn't a good fit for your uses.

For the application you have specified.. Take a look at a Mueller sport dot. They are a sponsor here on the banner ads and make a great scope. I have the 3x9 x40 with an illuminated dot reticle. 1/8 moa clicks that are dead on repeatable in a box test.

You could get this scope and still have $300 for ammo to shoot through it.

looks like this at night...




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"....shoot through it"??? Now why would you want to buy a good scope and shoot through it?

I have one of the earlier Redfield 3X9X40 Compact on my Browning .30-06. It's one of the older ones before Redfield went belly up. I don't know the quality of them now, but this one has served me well in very adverse weather and rough treatment.

MRFixIT wrote:

chambered221 wrote: :wtf: $2500 ??? Sure the hell wouldn't be a Leupold...... ca.wholesalesports.com...51531.html one right there $2539

I'll rephrase that !!!
I sure the hell wouldn't spend $2500 on a Loopy...... I'd buy a Swarovski or Night Force !!!

Chamber, you don't know Zeiss nor Schmidt & Bender?