Visit the SWFA.com site to check out our current specials. |
scopes in the $1,000 range |
Post Reply |
Author | |
RobertLeary
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/06/2018 Location: Irmo. SC Status: Offline Points: 6 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Posted: September/06/2018 at 13:34 |
I'm sure this has be asked a million times. I'm a new member and I just need a point in the right direction.
I grew up next to Jarret Rifles. I've had countless conversations with the late P.O Ackley. I was a member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit at Ft. Benning but I was a shotgun shooter. I've competed for many years with High Power/ Service Rifle, Bullseye/ Precision Pistol and just about every other scooting sport there is. I've spent thousands of hours looking through scopes and spotting scopes. Things have changed dramatically over the past few years! Everything use to be simple. Buy a Leupold if you wanted the best for the money or buy a Swavorsky if you wanted the best. (I'm sure the spelling is incorrect but I'ts close enough for you to figure it out) I would like information from people who are actually shooters if at all possible. the scope I loved in the $900-$1,200 price range is no longer made and was replaced by a scope that is $2,000-$3,000 and I'm not interested in that particular scope in that price range. I'm now Retired and only shoot a few thousand rounds a year with a rifle. I'm looking for a brand I can trust and not a particular scope for a particular reason. I've built myself 5 rifles all for playing. Shooting plates and paper from 50 yds to a mile just for fun. Obviously they are all half minute or better rifles. The most important thing for me is that the vertical and horizontal adjustments actually work and work well for many years. They will be adjusted hundreds of times. Second is glass quality. I'm leaning towards the Vortex Viper series because they have now been around for a while and are in a price range I'm comfortable with for playing purposes. I have a considerable budget but I'm also cheap. I want the best for the money and not the latest toy. Any suggestions from informed people would be greatly appreciated. Brand please and series not a specific scope selection. The best brand for the money for a person that can immediately see the difference in optic quality and must have reliable adjustments. I know some here have already purchased or tested a 100 different brands under many different conditions and I would love to draw from that knowledge so that I do not have to do the same. Thank you, Robert Leary
|
|
supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Check out SWFA SS line. They are excellent scopes and the 6 i own/have owned where are very repeatable in the adjustment area.
|
|
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." |
|
RobertLeary
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/06/2018 Location: Irmo. SC Status: Offline Points: 6 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Thanks
I will take a look at them.
|
|
Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
The SS are indeed great scopes, with very good mechanical repeatability. The gold standard, at least on the military/law enforcement side, is Nightforce. I would be curious to know what the $900-$1200 scope was you liked so much back in the day?
|
|
Freedom is something you take.
Respect is something you earn. Equality is something you whine about not being given. |
|
RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
^^^^This times eleventy billion! Welcome to OT Mr. Leary!
|
|
Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
|
RobertLeary
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/06/2018 Location: Irmo. SC Status: Offline Points: 6 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Leupold VX-III-LRT then the MARK 4.
I have several Nightforce NXS models but they are getting right around the price that's starting to be annoying. I still might wait for a sale on Nightforce but since I'm scoping four rifles the lower priced scopes are worth a look. Especially since I'm doing nothing but playing. Same with spotting scopes. A kowa 60-65mm with a 27x eyepiece was under $1,000. Not now
|
|
RobertLeary
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/06/2018 Location: Irmo. SC Status: Offline Points: 6 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Thanks
|
|
Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Everything was cheaper 20 years ago, it is part of an economy's progression toward death. Without additional details, that's about all I can offer. If you are looking for "best bang for buck" in an intermediate range scope, I'd say it is the SWFA 3-15. It is a great deal on a scope with proven mechanical quality and okay glass. The turrets aren't my favorite (in feel) but have always been spot-on in adjustment. If the price of scopes upsets you compared to their price 20 years ago, don't even think about buying a new car, or a pickup truck. Especially a pickup truck.
|
|
Freedom is something you take.
Respect is something you earn. Equality is something you whine about not being given. |
|
supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
SIghtron also has a few tactical style scopes that are more affoardable but have a pretty good reputation. There is a member here who is selling a bunch of scopes who has both SWFA and sightron scopes for sale. He has serveral for sale in the for sale section. 338lapuaslap is his user name.
|
|
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." |
|
Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14964 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
U.S. Optics 3.2-17x50 B-17 34mm RiflescopeSWFA SS 16x42 Tactical 30mm RiflescopeSWFA SS HD 3-9x42 Tactical 30mm RiflescopeSWFA SS HD 5-20x50 Tactical 30mm RiflescopeYou cant go wrong with a US Optics but they are spendy. I have had a lot of the Super Sniper scopes and will note that the HD line (5-25, 3-9, 10HD) have a different type knob that uses one screw and is gear tooth type when you remove to re-set where most SS scopes use three hex screws. Love the scopes hate the three hex screw design personally but it is what it is. Pretty sure my Mk4 scopes have only one hex screw. The EREK system on a US Optics is a whole new learning experience with a zero stop so you don't get lost in the dial, (amazing system). I wanted one for years and thanks to a buddy here finally got one. One of my boys has a Nightforce and they are also nice. Edited by Urimaginaryfrnd - September/07/2018 at 16:53 |
|
"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do". Bobby Paul Doherty Texas Ranger |
|
RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Hey Wes, why would you recommend scopes that cost 2.5x and 1.5x what Robert said he’s willing to spend?
|
|
Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
|
koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
In the $1k and a bit under neighborhood, here are the scopes I like in different mag ranges, sorted by top magnification:
Burris XTR II 1-8x24 for accurate AR carbines SWFA SS HD 3-9x42 for general purpose use Burris XTR II 2-10x42 for general purpose use SWFA SS 3-15x42FFP for general purpose use leaning toward precision Vortex PST Gen 2 3-15x44 for general purpose use leaning toward precision Sightron SIII 6-24x50FFP for precision shooting Vortex PST Gen 2 5-25x50 for precision shooting If you will only be using some of the guns for target shooting and want to save some money, you should also consider the less expensive SWFA SS fixed power scopes. ILya
|
|
Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14964 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
He could make the choice to buy one top of the line scope and four moderately priced scopes for his 5 rifles. or pick up some good quick detachable mounts and run one scope on all five rifles. He could also watch for one on Samplelist used. He could look for a sale price on Black Friday on something. He has previously owned Mk4 Leupolds and has the financial means to do as he pleases so he might want to know options for future planning. Just to give you something to complain about TED. |
|
"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do". Bobby Paul Doherty Texas Ranger |
|
RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
But didn't he rule all of that out already in his thread title and the content of his post?
If you went to a car dealership and told the salesman you were looking to buy a truck for $50K, what would your reaction be if the salesman insisted you test drive a $150K luxury car?
|
|
Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
|
RobertLeary
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/06/2018 Location: Irmo. SC Status: Offline Points: 6 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
I appreciate all the information guys.
I went with: 1) SWFA SS combo deal they had here. If I do not care for it it's cheap enough to give away. 2) Also a Vortex PSA GEN 2 3-15x44 FFP 3-8) Then I found a guy through a friend with several 9 month old NF scopes. He accepted my offer of 50% of the competitor black Friday price he paid. I believe he had went a little gun crazy and needed to sell them. This was still considerably over what I planned to spend but they should retain some value. thanks again
|
|
Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Actually, you probably made out quite well. If you paid half what new NFS go for, you could turn them right now for a profit.
Let us know what you think of the new scopes. |
|
Freedom is something you take.
Respect is something you earn. Equality is something you whine about not being given. |
|
millsjack
Optics GrassHopper Joined: February/25/2018 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 9 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Vortex is a good one.
|
|
Post Reply | |
Tweet
|
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |