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Affordable long range scope options

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Optics GrassHopper
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    Posted: November/10/2016 at 12:54
short:
I am looking at buying this scope:
http://swfa.com/SWFA-SS-3-15x42-Tactical-Rifle-Scope-P98738.aspx

wanted to know if there are any competitive options to the scope linked above. The scope will be used for fun on a 308 rifle to shoot 1k yards, and possibly hunting at like 1-200 yards. May also play a dual role and be put on my .22 from time to time.

Requirements for competitive options.
1. glass quality equal or better
2. price same or within 50-100$
3. same or better adjustment
4. adjustable parallax, that is able to adjust down to 50 yards/meters.
5. mil/mil (meaning dials are in mils and so is the reticle)
6. reticle with dots/hasmarks/whatever for wind and holdovers/unders
7. Not a Nikon scope

Long:
current scope:http://www.primaryarms.com/primary-arms-4-14x44mm-riflescope-mil-dot-pa4-14xffp

I am new to shooting long range and I have been doing some reading on different scopes and options. I don't have a lot of money, but I spent 500 on my rifle and want to spend aboutt that much on a scope. I've heard good things about this scope and SS scopes in general, but before I pull the trigger on it I wanted to know if there were any other competitive options that I should consider. I really like the reticle on this one, since the major problem I have right now with my current scope is that the mil dots are to large and cover some of the smaller targets my bud and I shoot at, like golf balls.

Some reasoning for the requirements above, I wants to be able to focus close so that if I end up putting this on my .22 I can still use it on closer targets. I want Mil/Mil because that is what I am used to, what I have learned, and what the spotting scope we use is in. Makes it easier to call out corrections without having to worry about math. I want a reticle with marks because I use them often when working up different loads and when shooting groups to get more shots on a single target. For instance, holding 1 mil right of center, then left, then high, then low, and then going center would give me five 5 shot groups where as if I am using a vplex of some sort that sort of thing is difficult. No Nikon scopes because I have purchased one in the past that was sent back to them 7 times, and still won't hold a zero on anything more powerful than a .22, tracks like garbage, and is nearly impossible to change the magnification due to how tight the adjustment is. Not one of their cheap scopes either, one from their .223 line of scopes. I have more faith in my 15$ tasco air rifle scope when compared to my Nikon.

Would I just be wasting my time with this scope given what I currently have? Would it be better for me to just save up for another year or two and get one at the $1k price point? It would take that long to save up as I have two kids that I love even more than shooting my rifles and they usually get my "fun money".
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeltFed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/10/2016 at 13:09
I have the SS 3-15x42, and I don't think your going to find a better scope for the money. If they ever make it in HD glass and a 50mm objective, I'm going have to abuse my credit card.
Life's concerns should be about the 120lb pack your trying to get to the top of the mountain, and not the rock in your boot.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/10/2016 at 13:27
The scope in your link is the SFP version of the 3-15x42.  For what you are looking to do, I would strongly consider the FFP version:

I do not think you can find anything better for the money.

ILya
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sparky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/10/2016 at 13:39
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Optics GrassHopper
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mouse Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/10/2016 at 13:55
Originally posted by koshkin koshkin wrote:

The scope in your link is the SFP version of the 3-15x42.  For what you are looking to do, I would strongly consider the FFP version:

I do not think you can find anything better for the money.

ILya


I have thought about that, but I am not entirely sold on the FFP being worth the extra 270 bucks. The scope I have now is a FFP but to be honest i'm not sure how much I like it since when I dial down the magnification to shoot closer it makes if difficult to make out the mil dots so it pretty much becomes a plex.

What are the benefits for the FFP that warrant the extra cost? To me it seems to be a nuisance but I admit that I do not know much about FFP vs. SFP other than the reticle changes sizes.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/10/2016 at 15:10
Originally posted by Mouse Mouse wrote:

Originally posted by koshkin koshkin wrote:

The scope in your link is the SFP version of the 3-15x42.  For what you are looking to do, I would strongly consider the FFP version:

I do not think you can find anything better for the money.

ILya


I have thought about that, but I am not entirely sold on the FFP being worth the extra 270 bucks. The scope I have now is a FFP but to be honest i'm not sure how much I like it since when I dial down the magnification to shoot closer it makes if difficult to make out the mil dots so it pretty much becomes a plex.

What are the benefits for the FFP that warrant the extra cost? To me it seems to be a nuisance but I admit that I do not know much about FFP vs. SFP other than the reticle changes sizes.

In an FFP scope, the reticle features are the same size with respect to the target regardless of the magnification.  If you want the reticle to match the turrets, you need a FFP scope.  In a SFP scope, the reticle only matches the turrets at one magnification (15x in the case of the 3-15x42 SS).

At low magnification, it looks like a plex.  Once you get to 6x or so, you can see the subtensions fairly easily, so when you shoot, you can adjust the magnification for the conditions: target, lighting, position, etc and be confident that you can hold for elevation or wind and use the reticle to correct your shots at any magnification.  In an SFP scope, you always have to be aware of what exact magnification if you want to use reticle features and be ready to do some mental arithmetic to figure what the subtensions are at the magnification of your choice.

I have both FFP and SFP versions of this scope and use them for somewhat different things.  For long range shooting with a centerfire scope, the FFP is definitely the way to go for me.

The scope you linked, has a very fine dot aiming point and I really like it on airguns and rimfires: when shooting at very small targets having that kind of an aiming point works well and close focus of this scope makes it an excellent fit.  This is, basically, known distance shooting for me.

The SFP scope with the MQDM reticle (http://swfa.com/SWFA-SS-3-15x42-Tactical-Rifle-Scope-P87717.aspx), is at its best where you need a bolder reticle.  With that diamond and a choke style rangefinder, it is easier to go fast, especially for turret twisters.

ILya
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