which scope????

[gotmud21]

I am in the market for a new scope. I have a budget of $1000 but dont need to spend that much. I do however want a scope that is clear and easy to use at distance out to 800 yards. It will be mounted on a remington 700sps tactical rifle in 308.

Thanks for any help you may offer.

[Pukindog]

For the money you can't beat a Leupold VXIII Long Range Target Model.
a 6.5-20X50 with a 30mm Tube would be a good choice. Reticle choices are many.

Jeff

[gotmud21]

I was looking at those this mourning online and like what I see. Is there any benefit to going with the illiminated version or is this more than the average shotter needs?

[Pukindog]

I guess an illuminated reticle would be good under low light conditions. I have not had the need for an illuminated reticle.

Jeff

[Tomcat088]

Illuminated reticles can be pretty nice. I never use mine unless I'm spotlighting or hunting right when the sun is getting low and in the shadows. If you have a budget of $1k, I wouldn't buy the VXIII Long range, I would just spend the extra $200 or so and go with a Mark 4. The Mark 4 has better glass on it, better resale value (if you wanted to upgrade or the need to get rid of it). On optics planet you can get a customized Mark 4, some of the with the exact same features as the VXIII for maybe $100 more. I would get the Mark 4 with a tactical milling reticle and enjoy.

If you wanted to stay under $1K, or under even $800. I would consider the Bushnell Elite 4200 tactical. You can get them with side focus or adjustable objective, and lots of other features. I think the glass in the 4200 and 3200's are great for the money. I actually like the picture of the 4200's better than the Leupold VXIII's, but it might not have the features that you want. There is also the Bushnell elite 6500, but then you're looking at prices that right around the Mark 4 prices, so I'd go with the Mark 4. Rumor is that the 6500 has 4200 glass in it, but more features and prettied up exterior, etc.

I have a Millet LRS that cost me $450 shipped that so far I think is a great scope. I have not got it mounted on a rifle yet because I'm still building the rifle. The glass looks clear, it has a 35mm tube (so lots of travel without 20 moa bases), lots of nice features. You can look at pictures of it and the features if you search in optics for Millett LRS. I don't know how it's gonna hold up, but so far it looks to be a pretty decent scope for not too much money. If you can afford to spend the $1k, I'd buy once and cry once and go with the Mark 4. If you get serious into long range you won't outgrow your Mark 4, but if you go with the VXIII, some time you'll wish you had spent the extra $100 or $200 and gone with the Mark 4. Best of luck to ya.

[Pukindog]

Without shopping around the Leupold VXIII 6.5-20X50 LR can be had for about $800.00 Like Tomcat ( remember it's not my money or his ) says go ahead and spend another $300.00 for a Mk4, another $500.00 for a MK4 Tactical, or another $800. for a Nightforce. Don't think I would go with a Bushnell, glass quality is not quite there. I have used a Bushnell and was not thrilled. On the other hand I own several Leupold VXIII 8.5-25X50 30mm scopes and they are outstanding.

Jeff

[gotmud21]

I stopped by the local gun shop and ordered a VXIII 6.5x20x40 in matte finish to match the gun I ordered. I paid $550 for the scope.

[Tomcat088]

I wasn't aware that you had to spend $1300 or $1400 to get a Mark 4 with a TMR reticle and the tactical knobs. I didn't even have to shop around and found a price close to what I had mentioned. http://www.opticsplanet.net/custom-l...fle-scope.html . Right there is a 4.5-14x 50 mm objective (might be too big for your tastes) with the M1 knobs for $1099 shipped. My buddy Donnie at Big River Tactical sometimes has them priced better than that, you just have to call to check on the prices. I know for a fact that right now at sniper's hide, they're doing a group buy on the Mark 4's, and you can probably get one for $1K or less (depends on model). Gotmud, if you're interested, PM me and I'll send you a link to the group buy there. I am not saying that it's my money, obviously it's your decision.

Pukin, I wasn't trying to say that he had to buy a NF, Schmidt & Bender, Hensholdt, USO, or whatever other scope tickles some people's pickle. I was just saying that if he shopped around, for $200 more he could get a scope that was of better quality. It's his $200 so he can decide if he wants that or not. On that same page that I listed, if he likes 10x or a fixed power, he could get a mark 4 for even less.

I think that VXIII scopes are nice, I still think they're a little over priced. I'm not sure what Bushnell's you have used, but I have personally compared several Bushnell elite 3200's and 4200's (and Bausch & Lomb's, same difference) to VXIII's. Alot of the time I thought that the Bushnell elite had a clearer pictures, and sometimes better resolution. Everyone knows that everybody's eyes like different things and people have different opinions, I just wanted him to have some other things to look at and make his decision on if he likes the VXIII or Mark 4 for the money. My father swears by Leuy's, I have nothing against them, they're great, just trying to give him some other options to look at and prices to compare.

[Tomcat088]

Originally Posted by gotmud21

I stopped by the local gun shop and ordered a VXIII 6.5x20x40 in matte finish to match the gun I ordered. I paid $550 for the scope.

Lol, I was typing that while you were typing your response. Good price for the scope and I'm sure that you will enjoy it. make sure to drop some pics to us when you get your rig in.

[gotmud21]

I was really thinking hard about the mark 4 with the lighted retical but decide to try this scope out for know and if I dont like it I can always move it to one of my other rifles and get the mark 4 or something along those lines.
I will be posting up some pics when the new rig gets in on Friday.

Thanks again for all the comments and suggestions.