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Scope for casual shooter |
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Rs130754
Optics GrassHopper Joined: June/01/2017 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 21 |
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Posted: June/25/2018 at 10:17 |
I am just a casual shooter who punches paper and several times a year thins the coyote population ahead of calving and lambing time. I have been doing a lot of reading and figured I don't need to spend a ton of money to serve my purposes. I am just looking for clear glass and repeatability and realize that it is a give and take proposition. I don't really have a budget but would prefer to stay under $1000, as I need to scope a couple an AR and .22lr as well. I mentioned in another post that the riflescope world has changed tremendously in the last 15 years.
The rifle is a Savage 10 FCP-SR with a 24" barrel in 6.5 Creedmoor. The stock was replaced but other than that it is a stock rifle. Typical ranges are from 0-500 yards with 90% from 100-250 yards. Here are my choices in no particular order: 1) 5-20 Trijicon Accupoint with duplex and green dot 2) 4-16 Trijicon Accupoint with duplex and green dot (backorder) 3) 3-15 SWFA either MOA or MIL 4) Vortex PST Gen II 3-15 either MOA or MIL I have no way to get my hands on any of these scopes in my area so I am hoping someone here could offer some of their experiences so I am not relying on a wing and a prayer. Thanks in advance.
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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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I had the trijicon 5-20, sold it because the reticle was really thick. Mine was the mil dot with center dot. In low light, it was okay, just the dot illuminated, but hated it for target shooting. It also didn’t have much elevation adjustment.
The SS3-15 is good for the money, but not illuminated, and the reticle gets pretty small at 3X. The caliber and rifle have some legs, I think you are in the right magnification range. I don’t do tons of yote hunting, but do know they like low light movement - at least in south Texas, so an illuminated reticle would be good. |
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Rs130754
Optics GrassHopper Joined: June/01/2017 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 21 |
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Everything I have read points to decent clarity for the SS line of scopes. How do you think they compare to the accupoints?
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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The classic line glass is not quite as good IMO. But the HD line is as good if not better than my Trijicon's
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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do you do any low light shooting? I ask only to know if illumination is needed and or wanted.
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"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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As others have said, there is a classic line and an HD line. The HD is appreciably better glass, but both are more than serviceable.additionally, the HD line has better turrets. Comparing the classic 3-15 to the 5-20Accupoint, i’d take the 3-p15 almost every time - and probably every time for a 6.5CM. The Trijicon has illumination, the SS does not. The Trijicon dosn’t Have much elevation, the SS does. If you plan to do much low light shooting, Trijicon wins. For almost all else, the SS is better. Again, just these 2 scopes. I have no background with the 4-16 or the PST. |
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Rs130754
Optics GrassHopper Joined: June/01/2017 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 21 |
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Thanks for all of the replies. I am leaning towards the SS 3-15 because I like the price. I still can't help but wonder if the PST GENII 3-15 with illuminated reticle and first focal is worth spending the extra $300. I could get a fixed 6x for my .22LR with the savings. I like the HD line but doubt I would notice a big difference at the ranges I am shooting at. Someone mentioned I should look at the Swarovski Z3 4-12 as they fall in my budget range.
I don't do much low light shooting so although nice I probably wouldn't use the illuminated reticle. I have a 20+ year old Nikon Monarch UCC in 6.5-20x44 so that is the extent of my "nice" higher powered riflescopes. I am sure anything will be an improvement over the Vortex Diamondback 4-16 I currently have mounted on it for break-in. Thanks again. |
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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As far as noticing a big difference between classic and HD. Yes there is a big difference, it is very noticeable in everything about the scopes. But the classics lines are still great scopes. If it were me I would spend a little extra and get this one. Its better than any scope you have listed so far. https://samplelist.com/swfa-ss-hd-5-20x50-tactical-30mm-riflescope-demo-b-178641.html |
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Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.
"A Liberal is a person who will give away everything they don't own." |
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Sakoshooter
Optics Apprentice Joined: May/07/2018 Location: Alberta, Canada Status: Offline Points: 87 |
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https://swfa.com/vortex-3-15x42-razor-hd-lh-rifle-scope-3.html
Full disclosure, I have never owned or used this scope, but I have looked through it and the reticle is very nice for a 150-200yd occasional 400-500yd scope. I hate busy reticles personally, I'm sure I could get used to one, but I feel like it's a situation where you compromise ease of use on every shot, just for the increased capability on the rare longer shot. The reticle here, while not a fully capable long range tactical type, is clean amd simple, with basic holdover capability for the odd long shot. I'm not a huge Vortex fan, and have passed on the above scope for my last couple of purchases, but it would probably be at the top of my list in your price range for a range/coyote rifle at moderate distances. Optically it will be better than Trijicon for sure, and is much easier to the eye from my (in store only) experience. I would definitely take it over the Trijicon for eyebox alone....unless you need the illumination. Swarovski z3 is also good in you price range as you mentioned, but the eye relief is more sensitive, and the BRH reticle is nowhere near as good in my opinion. |
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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+1 |
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"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
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Rs130754
Optics GrassHopper Joined: June/01/2017 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 21 |
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Sounds like the extra cost gets me to a new level of optic compared to that of the 3-15. Thanks for the replies, like I said this is all new to me.
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Tip69
Optics Master Extraordinaire Tip Stick Joined: September/27/2005 Location: Nebraska Status: Offline Points: 4155 |
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i find it very interesting that a "casual shooter" scope has gotten to the $1000 price level.. but hey, whatever floats the boat.
I do pretty much the same thing as you... I have a Bushnell 4200 3-9x40 on my coyote rig and its been plenty good in all light conditions that I shoot yotes in. and I haven't had any issues with paper either... but I can't see the tiny .20 holes my .204 leaves at 100 yds. all the scopes mentioned above will more than fill your needs... but I highly recommend actually looking thru them to make your final decision.
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take em!
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Rs130754
Optics GrassHopper Joined: June/01/2017 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 21 |
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I agree Tip69. I haven't gotten anything yet but at my LGS I was looking at a Leupold and was told "for a little bit more you could get..." and a couple hundred more than that would get you a Swaro Z5. I think I will hold off until Black Friday and keep shooting with the Vortex Diamondback HP 3-12. It isn't the best but will make me appreciate better glass.
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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If u want to shoot multiple distances and do it accurately then you need something with target type turrets. And you want a good quality scope so those adjustments are a curate and consistant. Which is why you will want to spent a little more. The SS 3-15 fits that bill, and the SS HD 5-20 fits it better. Just comes down to the pocket book
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Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.
"A Liberal is a person who will give away everything they don't own." |
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Rs130754
Optics GrassHopper Joined: June/01/2017 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 21 |
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I think I am going to try to pick up an illuminated 5-20. I don't think I need it but times may arise where it is nice to have. Is the whole reticle lit or just the center? I even considered picking up a fixed 10 or 12 power for the time being as I get used to the rifle.
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