Scope choice - Aaaargh!

[User702]

Thanks to Mike357 of these hallowed corridors I have a shiny rifle sitting in my cabinet waiting to go out and play in the sun. It's lovely and I owe it the best extras I can afford to make it shoot well.

With that in mind, I'm currently trying (and failing) to choose a scope that fits my budget but which has the best quality that I can afford. I've searched the fora, asked people in gun shops, e-mailed shooter friends and have a shortlist (of sorts) to choose from. That shortlist is dictated by price. Whilst I did get some money back to the budget by selling one of my rabbit rifles, I'm stil not "flush", so I was only really working with a budget of about 600 quid.

Currently the shortlist is;

Second hand Leupold VX3 target scope for £700
New Minox ZA-5 for £625
New Vortex Viper PST for £620*
New Sightron SIII for £800+

All the scopes are in the 6-24 magnification range with a 50mm objective and all have their supporters and detractors. People both here and on targetshooter magazine seem to love the Sightrons, but I've not had a chance to play with one. I've never heard of Minox (apart from making spy cameras) so I'm initially suspicious, but the chap that recommended it is trustworthy and a hooter. The Vortex scopes have been slammed on here before, but seem to have a following in the US. They are also on special at Riflecraft.

The Leupold. Well...

It's a quality brand. Of the ones that I could buy if I had the money, those were up there with Nightforce, Swarovski, Zeiss and Schmitt & Bender. That said, I don't see many people using them and that gets me worried. It does seem like a nice scope though and this is likely to be the only way that I am going to be able to afford something quality. This is a three year old example if that makes any difference.

So, in the finest traditions of the modern age, I'd like to throw this open to the masses to help me decide. Arguments and information for and against are much appreciated and the finished rifle may well be seen at The Phoenix this year so _you_ may have had a hand in making it work.

Thanks all.

[Gun Pimp]

Thanks to Mike357 of these hallowed corridors I have a shiny rifle sitting in my cabinet waiting to go out and play in the sun. It's lovely and I owe it the best extras I can afford to make it shoot well.

With that in mind, I'm currently trying (and failing) to choose a scope that fits my budget but which has the best quality that I can afford. I've searched the fora, asked people in gun shops, e-mailed shooter friends and have a shortlist (of sorts) to choose from. That shortlist is dictated by price. Whilst I did get some money back to the budget by selling one of my rabbit rifles, I'm stil not "flush", so I was only really working with a budget of about 600 quid.

Currently the shortlist is;

Second hand Leupold VX3 target scope for £700
New Minox ZA-5 for £625
New Vortex Viper PST for £620*
New Sightron SIII for £800+

All the scopes are in the 6-24 magnification range with a 50mm objective and all have their supporters and detractors. People both here and on targetshooter magazine seem to love the Sightrons, but I've not had a chance to play with one. I've never heard of Minox (apart from making spy cameras) so I'm initially suspicious, but the chap that recommended it is trustworthy and a hooter. The Vortex scopes have been slammed on here before, but seem to have a following in the US. They are also on special at Riflecraft.

The Leupold. Well...

It's a quality brand. Of the ones that I could buy if I had the money, those were up there with Nightforce, Swarovski, Zeiss and Schmitt & Bender. That said, I don't see many people using them and that gets me worried. It does seem like a nice scope though and this is likely to be the only way that I am going to be able to afford something quality. This is a three year old example if that makes any difference.

So, in the finest traditions of the modern age, I'd like to throw this open to the masses to help me decide. Arguments and information for and against are much appreciated and the finished rifle may well be seen at The Phoenix this year so _you_ may have had a hand in making it work.

Thanks all.

Chris Parkin reviewed the Vortex Razor for April's Target Shooter magazine and he liked it. But, if you only want 6-24 mag. I'd go for a s/h Leup. I recently bought a mint Mk4 Leupold in 8.5-25 for £475 - and don't forget their lifetime guarantee. Plus - when you want to sell it, you won't have a problem.

[ukrifleman]

ONLY 600 quid, Bl--dy Hell!
ukrifleman

[Sim G]

Leupold. That's the beginning and the end as far as I'm concerned.

[TJC]

Vortex PST. Very very popular on the other side of the pond.

[waterford103]

Leupold ,don't mess with the unkn own .

[User702]

Cheers all. I'm going for the Leupold and should have it in my sticky mitts on Tuesday night. Then it's just a case of putting scope on rifle and surviving a long weekend of running around a dodgy Yorkshire military training area for four day before I can use it.

ukrifleman, I been told by a lot of people that you should spend on glass what you spend on the rifle, if not more. I can't stretch as far as I would liek to and this is likely to be the only scope I ever put on the .308, so I see it as a critical choice. If I could have spent more, maybe I would have done. I don't think a cheap scope would have worked out well at all. Buy cheap, buy twice and all that.

[Sim G]

Don't forget a good set of rings...

[Blu]

Don't forget a good set of rings...

And mounts, both of which I'd go with Leupold.
Blu

[Dannywayoflife]

Thanks to Mike357 of these hallowed corridors I have a shiny rifle sitting in my cabinet waiting to go out and play in the sun. It's lovely and I owe it the best extras I can afford to make it shoot well.

With that in mind, I'm currently trying (and failing) to choose a scope that fits my budget but which has the best quality that I can afford. I've searched the fora, asked people in gun shops, e-mailed shooter friends and have a shortlist (of sorts) to choose from. That shortlist is dictated by price. Whilst I did get some money back to the budget by selling one of my rabbit rifles, I'm stil not "flush", so I was only really working with a budget of about 600 quid.

Currently the shortlist is;

Second hand Leupold VX3 target scope for £700
New Minox ZA-5 for £625
New Vortex Viper PST for £620*
New Sightron SIII for £800+

All the scopes are in the 6-24 magnification range with a 50mm objective and all have their supporters and detractors. People both here and on targetshooter magazine seem to love the Sightrons, but I've not had a chance to play with one. I've never heard of Minox (apart from making spy cameras) so I'm initially suspicious, but the chap that recommended it is trustworthy and a hooter. The Vortex scopes have been slammed on here before, but seem to have a following in the US. They are also on special at Riflecraft.

The Leupold. Well...

It's a quality brand. Of the ones that I could buy if I had the money, those were up there with Nightforce, Swarovski, Zeiss and Schmitt & Bender. That said, I don't see many people using them and that gets me worried. It does seem like a nice scope though and this is likely to be the only way that I am going to be able to afford something quality. This is a three year old example if that makes any difference.

So, in the finest traditions of the modern age, I'd like to throw this open to the masses to help me decide. Arguments and information for and against are much appreciated and the finished rifle may well be seen at The Phoenix this year so _you_ may have had a hand in making it work.

Thanks all.

Chris Parkin reviewed the Vortex Razor for April's Target Shooter magazine and he liked it. But, if you only want 6-24 mag. I'd go for a s/h Leup. I recently bought a mint Mk4 Leupold in 8.5-25 for £475 - and don't forget their lifetime guarantee. Plus - when you want to sell it, you won't have a problem.

How do you find a leup for £475!???