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I'm looking for riflescope recommendations for the following criteria:

# purpose is Elk hunting out to 400+ yds
# rifle calibre is 270 Win
# max magnification of at least 12x
# min mag of 3.5 to 4x (would like the scope to be usable for hog hunting and paper @ 100yds
# can I get something acceptable for < $500.00 ?

brands I'm currently considering: Leupold and Vortex, but willing to consider others

thanks

~ghostrider~

I have a leupold VX3 on my .270 I load a 140Gr bullet over Reloader19 powder. My furthest shot was in Colorado on a cow elk at 384 yards. I did need a second shot to finish her off.

Those are very good choices. I love my Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50 FFP, but it's about double the amount you mentioned.

You might want to look at Redfield also. They make some very nice budget-minded scopes. They're USA made, too.

If you're anywhere near Midlothian, you might want to stop in at SWFA. They carry a wide selection of scopes & accessories. They come highly recommended.

couple of Burris scopes that might be an option:

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hunting/ ... type%3DGNU" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


http://www.amazon.com/Burris-C4-Plus-30 ... B00J08FQU2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

In addition to the 6-24x50 FFP Viper PST, consider the 4-16x50 FFP Viper PST. (Don't waste time on the SFP versions, even though they are cheaper. They're not as useful for ranging, or for calculating hold-offs or elevation changes on the fly.) I was pretty easily ringing an 11"x14" steel plate at 500 yards with my 4-16X mounted on an AR15 DMR I built. View of the target at 500 yards was quite clear, and magnification was more than adequate for that distance. I could very clearly make out the details of the steel plate and its tripod at that distance. It's from the same line of scopes as the 6-24, has the same reticle and adjustment knobs, but about $50-$100 less (depending on where you buy it), and it weighs an ounce or two less and is 2" shorter overall length.....which might matter depending on how far you're going to be carrying that .270. Field of View on the 4-16 is 27.4 feet (@4X) to 7.4 feet (@16X) at 100 yards, and that is reduced to 17.8 ft (@6X) to 5.1 feet (@24X) at 100 yards for the 6-24. That might not matter much, or it might matter a lot, depending on your range to target, and how many other critters are nearby.

Both scopes share the same lens quailty, build quality, the same 4" eye relief, and other features — just different magnifcation levels for the same basic scope. Depending on your application, it is possible to be "over-scoped" on a rifle, and proper zeroing and proper use of the reticle are a greater aids to accuracy than magnification level. For years, snipers used 10X out to 1,000 yards. I don't want to talk the 6-24 down. It is a great scope at the price, and I could be happy with one in that magnification. But examine both scopes before you buy. You may find that a slighly smaller/lighter scope fits your profile better.

MSRP on the 4-16 is $999.00, and $1049.00 for the 6-24. I paid $899 for my 4-16 at Cabelas in Fort Worth.

I currently have mine mounted on my SCAR 17S, which I'm going to be taking out to 800 yards pretty soon. Like Pawpaw, I'm a believer in the Viper PST line at that price point. You can get better scopes, but not in that price range, with all those features.

Edited to add: The MSRP for the SFP versions of these two scopes are $800 for the 4-16X and $850, but honestly, don't do it. Instead of paying $850 for the 6-24x50 SFP, spend an extra $50 for the 4-16x50 FFP. Once you've had a FFP scope and learned how to use the reticle, you'll never go back to SFP. They DO cost more, but they ARE worth it.

I checked out MidwayUSA and found many good scopes in your price range.
http://www.midwayusa.com/find?usersearc ... xprice=500" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You can enter your price range and sort by reviews. Lots of Vortex and Leupold scopes and some good Burris ones too. And some in your magnification range. Spend a little more if you can, but I'm sure you can find something that'll suit you in your range. I have a Vortex Viper like Pawpaw mentioned and it's awesome, but that's the price range I was looking in. I did look at some that were more and drooled over them, but settled back into the price point I was looking for and don't regret it at all.

thanks for the good info, guys.....even if you're trying to get me to spend more money.


:-)

ghostrider wrote:thanks for the good info, guys.....even if you're trying to get me to spend more money.


:-)

I'm happy to spend your money!

The general dictum for a good bolt rifle is that you should be willing to spend at least as much money (if not more) on the optic as you did on the rifle. A .270 bolt rifle is a good flat shooter that will reach out some distance, and it deserves a commensurate scope. In my case, my $850 Remington 700 VSF in .308 - which is a VERY accurate rifle - is topped with a $1,500 scope. It used to be topped with a $550 Leupold. The difference shows. Leupold makes a good scope, and the one I had - a 4.5-14x50 VX-3 - was a pretty decent optic, but the one I have now is better, and it shows in the shooting.

I neglected previously to mention this one: http://swfa.com/SWFA-SS-3-15x42-Tactica ... 62238.aspx. At $699, it is closer to your price range, meets your magnification requirement, and it is a good quality scope. It uses the same milling reticle as my $1500 scope, but without an illumination option, and it does not have the HD glass of the more expensive scope.

I'm happy to spend your money!

I see that. :-)

The general dictum for a good bolt rifle is that you should be willing to spend at least as much money (if not more) on the optic as you did on the rifle.

I know; and this ia actually for an $1100 BAR......

ghostrider wrote:

I'm happy to spend your money!

I see that. :-)

The general dictum for a good bolt rifle is that you should be willing to spend at least as much money (if not more) on the optic as you did on the rifle.

I know; and this ia actually for an $1100 BAR......

Nice!

ghostrider wrote:

I'm happy to spend your money!

I see that. :-)

The general dictum for a good bolt rifle is that you should be willing to spend at least as much money (if not more) on the optic as you did on the rifle.

I know; and this ia actually for an $1100 BAR......

Browning BAR? I've never met a Browning firearm I didn't like.

this one:

http://www.browning.com/products/catalo ... 31&tid=536" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here is a scope I use and really like. Used this scope in Colorado for years and it works well. http://www.shepherdscopes.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I killed both of my elk with a 270 WSM topped with a Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14x44. Very clear class with excellent light gathering capabilities.

check out Hawke Scopes. Brownells carries them they are about $350. I have bought 5 of them in 4x-16x range.