I admit, I have never owned a nice scope nor a nice suit. Every time I go shopping for a suit (like scopes, not that I have owned many at all!), I end up spending a modest/basic amount only to be disappointed down the road, feeling like I have blown a total $ over the years than I would if I would have broken down and done things right the first time.

I am finally ready to invest a nice chunk this time (even approaching a little under $3,000?) to do it right - or at least, something to be proud of and enjoy.

Putting the arguments aside like how being a better shooter, more practice, better gun, etc. is more important than a nice scope, I'm hoping for your opinions on what some of the nicest scopes would be for a new build I'm doing for a 6.5 PRC, Proof carbon fiber barrel, Defiance Deviant XM action, McMillan tactical stock.

My goal for this gun is a crossover of long range precision shooting (which I am learning but only tinkering) and mostly hunting (deer, antelope, and maybe elk with some larger loads with the help of a friend who is getting me into loading) in both central/south Texas and Wyoming.

While most hunting will be 100 to maybe 400 yards, mostly less, I would still like to enter into the long range shooting sport with 1,200+ shots.

Maybe I'm trying to do too much with such a crossover goal with one gun, but I'm hoping there is a scope out there that will do decent at both.

It appears that Vortex and Nightforce keep appearing in my searches. Schmidt & Bender and Swarovski scopes seem to be less bang for the buck and likely I wouldn't be able to appreciate their quality at my low-level experience.

I'm thinking a zoom of 2 or 4 on up to 20? First Focal Plane. Any shortcut turret innovation seems nice and reticle illumination is a plus. I'm chopping off weight in the rifle build so as to be able to afford more weight in the scope if that makes any sense (despite a "balance" issue that could result).

Some contenders:

Nightforce NX8 2.5-20x50 F1 (they have a 4-32 zoom which would be nice for my long range thirst, but am afraid I wouldn't use much beyond 20 that often?).

Nightforce BEAST seems overkill and too heavy? Quite pricey

Vortex has so many different models that I don't even know where to begin. Maybe their Razor HD AMG or HD LHT?

I'm sorry for the length and such a newbie question. Any guidance on anything here is so much appreciated!

Love my nightforce! You won't regret the purchase.
I have the older 8-32x56 and it's been great.

I have some high end scopes. I love my leupold VX6. It's nice and half the cost. Hard to tell that much difference between it and some of my higher end ones.

I also love Swarovski Z6i scopes. I don't care for vortex as much. Super heavy for their top of the line although great clarity.

Thanks for the feedback. Do you have any trouble with quickly finding your targets at short shots (say 70 yards) with the minimum of 8x?

JRizzle said:

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I don't care for vortex as much. Super heavy for their top of the line although great clarity.

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I was thinking about 35oz might be okay if I shave off a few ounces on the barrel and action? If so, would you still be avoid a vortex? Any things on the others besides weight that you like? Thanks for the tips.

Leupold Mark 5HD in the flavor of your zoom.

Vortex Razor HD gen 2 4.5-27x. Pair it with a 20MOA cant mount.

https://vortexoptics.com/vortex-razor-hd-gen-2-45-27x56-riflescope.html?vortex_reticle=21

Go get yourself a nice suit. You deserve it. Something really nice and shiny. Something NBA on TNT worthy. Stop denying yourself nice things.

CrockerCock00 said:

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Vortex Razor HD gen 2 4.5-27x. Pair it with a 20MOA cant mount.

https://vortexoptics.com/vortex-razor-hd-gen-2-45-27x56-riflescope.html?vortex_reticle=21

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...or get the 20moa built into the action.

If you want a Vortex...try Liberty Optics for the best price.

Wow, very nice looking setup. Could you please share the specs/components you have there?

I have the nightforce atacr 5 x 35 and I have the Swarovski z6. I absolutely love both scopes for different reasons.

The Swarovski z6 is lighter so I have it mounted on my mountain gun that I use on horseback or hiking hunts.. every ounce counts when climbing a mountains in Wyoming or Alaska. The glass is crystal clear however I do not fill it pulls as much light as the atacr does at dawn and dusk. Also, consider if using it for long distance shooting the turrent only makes one revolution. So for instance with my 28 nosler I can "only" shoot out to 850 yards. With this being my hunting gun that was not a concern for me because I will not take a animal past that distance anyway.

The atacr is a heavier scope and have it mounted on my "big" rifle that is design for stand hunts, bear hunts or Africa hunts where I wouldn't be hauling it on my back all day. It is much heavier scope but it's indestructible. I have shot it out to 1100 yards with ease and it is crystal clear.

I love both scopes and would buy both again in a heartbeat depending on what rifle I was building and why.

You can't go wrong with either the NX8 or AMG for the application you are wanting. I personally have the NX8 because I prefer the reticle I have as well as Nightforce's turret system. I would typically recommend the ATACR but for what you are wanting the NX8 is probably a better option. One other thing, the 2x20 & 4x32 are both 28 once's so I went with the 4x32 to get more magnification.

Edit.

Still asleep. Just realized you already mentioned the brand i had suggested.

Kahles is owned by Swarovski but caters more to long range shooting. They have a 3-18x that may be worth looking at

mhnatt said:

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It appears that Vortex and Nightforce keep appearing in my searches. Schmidt & Bender and Swarovski scopes seem to be less bang for the buck and likely I wouldn't be able to appreciate their quality at my low-level experience.

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Low light and high magnification performance and absolute durability are what you get when you step up to this level (also leica, high end zeiss, etc). Tough to throw those factors into the "value" equation imo

Swarovski x5i fits what you are looking for

I have a Schmidt & Bender Zenith on top of my hunting .308. Not high-magnification but a damn nice scope. Given the funds, I'd buy another.

if you really want to do it right, Nightforce is a great choice. but, i think i'd go Kahles, Swaro, Schmidt and Bender, etc.

Aggie Hunter said:

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I have the nightforce atacr 5 x 35 and I have the Swarovski z6. I absolutely love both scopes for different reasons.

The Swarovski z6 is lighter so I have it mounted on my mountain gun that I use on horseback or hiking hunts.. every ounce counts when climbing a mountains in Wyoming or Alaska. The glass is crystal clear however I do not fill it pulls as much light as the atacr does at dawn and dusk. Also, consider if using it for long distance shooting the turrent only makes one revolution. So for instance with my 28 nosler I can "only" shoot out to 850 yards. With this being my hunting gun that was not a concern for me because I will not take a animal past that distance anyway.

The atacr is a heavier scope and have it mounted on my "big" rifle that is design for stand hunts, bear hunts or Africa hunts where I wouldn't be hauling it on my back all day. It is much heavier scope but it's indestructible. I have shot it out to 1100 yards with ease and it is crystal clear.

I love both scopes and would buy both again in a heartbeat depending on what rifle I was building and why.

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How is that nightforce light wise say when you are in the last 5-10 minutes of legal shooting light?

Aggie_3 said:

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Aggie Hunter said:

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I have the nightforce atacr 5 x 35 and I have the Swarovski z6. I absolutely love both scopes for different reasons.

The Swarovski z6 is lighter so I have it mounted on my mountain gun that I use on horseback or hiking hunts.. every ounce counts when climbing a mountains in Wyoming or Alaska. The glass is crystal clear however I do not fill it pulls as much light as the atacr does at dawn and dusk. Also, consider if using it for long distance shooting the turrent only makes one revolution. So for instance with my 28 nosler I can "only" shoot out to 850 yards. With this being my hunting gun that was not a concern for me because I will not take a animal past that distance anyway.

The atacr is a heavier scope and have it mounted on my "big" rifle that is design for stand hunts, bear hunts or Africa hunts where I wouldn't be hauling it on my back all day. It is much heavier scope but it's indestructible. I have shot it out to 1100 yards with ease and it is crystal clear.

I love both scopes and would buy both again in a heartbeat depending on what rifle I was building and why.

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How is that nightforce light wise say when you are in the last 5-10 minutes of legal shooting light?

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Better than the z6 in my opinion

...and get it in a color that is unique to your personality. Everyone wears a gray, black, or navy suit. Try something in a lavender, mint, or the more sophisticated white. You do you.

But I've wondered what the marginal returns are on a $3,000 scope versus something half that price.

Is the NF Beast ($4k on opticsplanet) orders of magnitude "better" than a Leica or VX-6? I'm not an optics aficionado and am honestly curious..

Tangent Theta. Best scope money can buy

I am a Leupold guy. They have served me well in my 40 years of hunting.

I would check out the Athlon Argos as well, especially for long range. I little more expensive but worth it. Best warranty in the business as well.

Agreed. Tangent theta is the gold standard in high end long range scopes.

The job of a scope is to aim. At your budget, glass differences will be minimal. Choose the scope that has the best reliability track record and fits your size/weight/mag range requirements. Nice glass and good warranties don't mean **** if the scope doesn't track reliably and consistently, hold zero after impacts (this will happen if you are using it for hunting) and return to zero reliably.

I've experienced the joy of waking up at 3 am, driving 3 hours, sitting in a fun snow/rain mix until sunset, seeing a group of mule deer feed into the open a half mile away, bust my ass to get within 200 yds before last light, have an easy shot from prone, and clean effing miss due to a scope that proved to be defective on the range. Never again.

Have since killed with the same rifle/ammo/replacement scope at 40, 200, 300, and 465 yds.

If I were in your shoes, I'd be looking at NF NX8 or ATACRs. Don't neglect the mounting system either. Degrease everything, use a torque wrench and threadlocker when mounting.

I'd encourage you to go first focal plane (reticle subtensions are accurate at all mag levels) in something with a good zero stop or locking turrets. I prefer MILs, MOA or MILs don't really matter as long as you think in those units for your holds. Decimals in tenths are easier for me that 1/4 fractions, so I use MILs.

Tangent Theta/Schmidt and Bender are the two best imho.

I have both and have to give the slight edge to TT. I doubt you can find a TT in your budget but you can probably find a nice gently used Schmidt PMII 5-25 for less than 3k. They have them semi regularly on SnipersHide

steiner military 3-15 is whats one my 6.5. excellent low light visibility