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Long range varmint scope

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jbarnes405 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jbarnes405 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Long range varmint scope
    Posted: December/12/2013 at 08:48
I have a Marlin X7VH .223 with a 20moa base, that is shooting under .5 moa. I currently have a 6-24 Tasco made in Japan which has a pretty good picture, but doesn't have target turrets for long range shooting.

I mostly am going to use this gun for long range target shooting and a few times a year, prairie dogs, with the occasional coyote or rabbit as targets of opportunity. I eventually will most likely re-barrel to something with a little more capacity for longer range.

-I need a mil/mil or moa/moa setup because I don't think it makes sense not to for simplicity sake.
-I really want FFP reticle but I can live without it if I have too.
-I also need at LEAST 20x magnification on the top end for prairie dogs but a fixed power is not going to give me much versatility.
-I mostly shoot during mid-day so I am not sure I need the best glass in the world.

These are the two main choices as of right now. I have other scopes I am looking at in other price ranges, but these two seem like a good compromise.

Falcon Menace 5.5-25x50

http://swfa.com/Falcon-Menace-55-25x50-Tactical-30mm-Riflescope-P57242.aspx

+ $450
+ 19 mils of internal adjustment should be enough
+ I like the mil hash reticle
- I worry about the limited warranty
- Some negative reviews about these scopes

Blackhawk!(Weaver)4-20x50

http://www.samplelist.com/Blackhawk-4-20x50-BHP-Tactical-Rifle-Scope-DEMO-A-P65324.aspx

+ Weaver tactical glass made in Japan for $200 less = $560
+ More versatile zoom range
= 16 mils is probably as low as I would take
- Not crazy about the simple mil-dot

Is the Weaver $110 better? Any else in between $400 - $600 that is better than both?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SVT_Tactical Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/12/2013 at 08:55
Whats your max budget?
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jbarnes405 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jbarnes405 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/12/2013 at 09:08
Max budget, lol, realistically, about $400. I have pushed it up to 600 because I really like what the Weaver has to offer.

I looked at this too

http://www.samplelist.com/Bushnell-6-24x50-Elite-Tactical-Rifle-Scope-DEMO-B-P67537.aspx

one of these used for 750
http://swfa.com/Sightron-6-24x50-SIII-30mm-Riflescope-P48419.aspx

and of course the viper pst

But I feel like the Weaver could do well for $200 less.

I also have a few choices that are closer or under 400 but not FFP.

I am really just trying to narrow things down so when the time comes, the choice is decided.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SVT_Tactical Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/12/2013 at 09:42
The list of wants is limiting, I don't know of one that meets those in your budget. 
 
IF you could swing it this would be a great fit,
SWFA SS 3-15x42 Tactical Rifle Scope SWFA SS 3-15x42 Tactical Rifle Scope
Stock # - SS315X42MQ
  • Matte Finish
  • First Focal Plane
  • Patented Mil-Quad Reticle
  • 30mm Tube
  • Side Focus (6m-infinity)
  • OK for .50cal
  • .10 Mrad Turrets
$699.95 
Add SWFA SS 3-15x42 Tactical Rifle Scope to Cart
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Its has allot of what you want but its not 20X.  That said I've never felt I needed more with mine and I've taken it way out on my 6x45.  It will give you all you need for a 223 I can assure you.  Its a bit over budget but they pop up on the samplelist at $599 often so keep a look out.
 
I think you'll have to sacrifice to meet your budget. 
 
If it were me and I wanted to keep around $400 and do with it what you want, this would be a choice -
Vortex 6.5-20x44 Viper 30mm Rifle Scope Mil-Dot Vortex 6.5-20x44 Viper 30mm Rifle Scope
Stock # - VPRM05MD
  • Matte
  • Mil-Dot
  • 30mm
  • Side Focus
$429.95 
Add Vortex 6.5-20x44 Viper 30mm Rifle Scope to Cart
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I think this will do everything you'll want.  I think for the price its a sacrifice of some of you wants but it still is a great scope and works great for you intended purpose.
"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sparky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/12/2013 at 10:04
What ranges are you most likely going to shoot? Shortest and longest ranges.

The Bushnell or the Sightron you listed would be much better choices than the other two you listed. Not only do they have better glass they also very likely have better tracking. Which is important in your case since you want to dial in adjustments and then go back to your zero.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sparky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/12/2013 at 10:07
+1 on what SVT said.
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jbarnes405 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jbarnes405 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/12/2013 at 16:10
The vortex with a BDC reticle does have matching turrets and reticles and is probably the only thing I am looking at at that price range.

The ss3-15 I looked at and of course it is a great scope. But I can get a weaver blackhawk mil/mil 3-15 for $450. What am I loosing for 250?

I do understand that if I spend 250 more I can get a better scope(bushnell, sightron), but it just isn't what I am asking.

Range is going to be anywhere from 50 to as far as possible on dogs, could eventually be re-barreled to a 6 or 6.5mm so I want to have a versatile scope.

Targets as far as I am able to. I would at least like to be able to hit something at 1000 eventually. I know I could do that with a 10x but I need to be able to prairie dogs against a brown background.

What I really want to know is which of those 2 scopes in my first post is better.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/15/2013 at 15:10
Weaver beats Falcon.
Vortex has a no fault warranty.  The Viper is a good solid recomendation.
1000 with a .223 is less than ideal
1000 with a 6.5x284 is more realistic but you wont be rebarreling the .223 gun into a 6.5x284 just buy a different rifle and rebarrel the .223 into 204 Ruger for the prairie dogs.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote billyburl2 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/20/2013 at 22:24
The Falcon just might be a menace... With any Chinese scope, you are going to be the only real QA tester! And I really doubt that the Blackhawk is identical to the Weaver, for less money! Usually, if it sounds to good to be true, it is. It might have the same glass, and/or the same tube, but I doubt it is the same internals(mechanisms that adjust the scope). Buy a scope from a reputable manufacture, that way IF it breaks your butt is covered. 

 My suggestion would be the SS 3-15, or the Vortex. Both have good glass, the SS being much better, and both have great adjustments with rock-solid return to zero. The Vortex's are developing a bit of a reputation for having to USE their great warranty, but they will cover their scopes... 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 3_tens Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/21/2013 at 05:16
For distance PD's you have to have good glass, with excellent contrast, if you hope to pick the PD's out of the grass. They can be extremely hard to pick out the way they blend into the background. Good glass trumps magnification every day. The Vortex Viper has good glass to me. Comparing the Falcon in the same sentence is a joke.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/21/2013 at 08:38
Originally posted by 3_tens 3_tens wrote:

For distance PD's you have to have good glass, with excellent contrast, if you hope to pick the PD's out of the grass. They can be extremely hard to pick out the way they blend into the background. Good glass trumps magnification every day. The Vortex Viper has good glass to me. Comparing the Falcon in the same sentence is a joke.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Maverick2 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/05/2014 at 12:48
I don't know if the OP is still looking or not, but ran across this close-out and thought of this thread.


$500 for a Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14x50 w/ target turrets and target reticle. (If you're patient, you'll find good prices on Zeiss' previous Conquest line popping up -- you'll see their 6.5-20x50 as well. Great, quality scopes, but they've been replaced with Zeiss newer HD5 series...) Doesn't fit some of your criteria, but may fit your needs. I shoot Zeiss 6.5-20x50 on my .204 Ruger for varmints, and would be perfectly happy with the 4.5-14x50 with the target reticle for what you are asking of it.

I'll echo some of the thoughts above:
-- there are better scopes out there for what you want to do than the initial two you listed.
-- for target shooting, tracking and functionality of the turrets is probably more important than mag range.
-- for long range prairie dogs, glass quality and clarity is probably more important than mag range.
-- a high mag range isn't very useful unless you have the optical quality to go with it.

Hope you enjoy whatever you choose!

Edited by cheaptrick - January/05/2014 at 13:33
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/05/2014 at 13:34
Maverick, posting links to other optics vendors than SWFA is a NO GO.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Maverick2 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/05/2014 at 13:48
Aaaaugh! My apologies -- wasn't thinking. Thanks for correcting my mistake.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/05/2014 at 14:32
No problem. It happens. Thank you for your cooperation. 
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