scopes ?

[rebs]

what brand and power scope do you guys prefer for shooting a 223 at 50 to 300 yds ?

[603Country]

Almost too many options and just as many opinions. I have a Leupold VXII 6-18 on my 223, and it's fine. That said, if I was gonna buy something new just for hunting, I suppose I'd go with a Leupold 4.5-14 or a high quality 4-16. I have a 6.5-20 on my 220 Swift and I'm sure fond of it, and I used it this morning on a coyote at 80 yards. If you want or need turrets, my Vortex PST FFP in 4-16 is a good option. I like it. Burris has some new scopes that look interesting and I might try one of them. And if I could make myself spend the big bucks, a 5-20 variable might be nice. Geez, too many options...

When you do pick one, let us know what you got.

[rebs]

I have a Nikon prostaff 3-9 x 40 but am not really all that impressed with it. Its ok but not as clear and sharp as others I looked at. I also have a Leupold rifleman 3-9 x 40 and am not all that happy with it, its just ok, so so. I want something brighter and sharper. Maybe a 4-18 in a better scope. Would like to stay under 500.00

[603Country]

Well, that VXII 6-18x40 has been a good scope and I think is somewhere close to your target price, and that scope replaced a 4-16 Nikon Monarch. I never liked the Nikon. Also I have a Burris 4.5-14 Fullfield II that was only $300. Trust me that it's a lot of scope for the money. I'd see what Burris offers in your price range. Or, step up to the Leupold VX3 in 4.5-14. I have one of those too, and am real fond of it. If you need turrets, then look to Vortex and maybe to Burris, who has a long list of new scopes that look interesting and are reasonably priced.

[jmr40]

On my AR's I prefer Leupold 1-4X20's. At 1X the FOV is huge and it is easier and faster to get on target with anything including iron sights. 4X gives me enough magnification for hits on deer, or human size targets out to at least 300-400 yards.

On my bolt rifle I have a Redfield Revolution 3-9X40. A little more magnification. I don't think it offers any more effective range, but the greater magnification makes hitting smaller targets easier.

As to brand, Leupold VX1 or VX-2 are my preference although the Redfield Revloution or Burris FF-II are very good and a little less expensive. There are other brands that are decent scopes, but these 3 have the features that are most important to me and at reasonable prices.

[BumbleBug]

I recommend a Leupold 6.5x20 . It's a prevalent model, excellent scope & with Leupold's warranty I wouldn't be shy of buying used. I have 4 of them! The only scope I have that is better (in all regards) is a Pentax 6x24 Lightseeker. Note the name as Pentax also makes a "Gameseeker" model, which isn't even close in quality. When I bought the Lightseeker it was $100 less than the Leupold. I'm not sure if they still are available, but I haven't seen any Lightseekers lately(?)

A good clear scope is a real joy!

IMHO...

...bug

[snolden]

I will give a +1(00000) to the 1-4 thing. A good 1-4 or 1-6 can be had for $300-$600 new. They can be had weighing 13-14 oz. And they are fast. I just shot a 4" 300m group this morning with an FAL with my viper PST. From prone with a bipod.

But if you are shooting prairie dogs or soda cans past 100 yards, 1-4 will leave you wanting more power.

[4runnerman]

8-32 x 56.

[skizzums]

I prefer to have at least a 14x out to 300, but have done it with a 9x just fine for a couple years

whats you price range? be real, if your low on $$ there are decent scopes to be had under 200$. but if you can pony up over 350 you can get a really nice piece. is this for hunting or target?

[rebs]

I am looking at a Nikon Prostaff 5 4.5-18 x 40 BDC for 330.00 plus tax.Does anyone have one that can tell me about it ?

[Magnum Wheel Man]

I have 16 sporting bolt action rifles, in the rack that I use for hunting, & informal bench use... half are short action, half are long or magnum actions... most wear 4-12X scopes

scopes those rifles wear ( in order of quantity of scopes )

Burris ( 3 of them are the 4.5 - 12X Preditor Quest ) ( 6 total )
Luepold ( most are vari X 3's ) (4 total )
Nikon ( all Prostaff 5's ) ( 3 total )
1- Redfield 4 - 12X
1- Vortex Crossfire 4.5 - 16x
1- Weaver 4 - 12X

[skizzums]

I can't say I have shot the exact Nikon you are speaking of, but have used a lot of prostaffs of different magnifications and all have been nice

[Magnum Wheel Man]

IMO... there is a pretty big difference between the regular Prostaff & the Prostaff 5's

[rebs]

Magnum
can you say more about the difference between the two ?

[Magnum Wheel Man]

mine are older ( before they went to 18X ) & the 5's just had a better "quality feel" looking at the listed data on Midway's website, the 5's now have the 18X magnification & the regulars have 14X ( my 3 - 5's were all 14X, when I bought them last year ) also noted... the 5's are parallax adjustable, & the regular Prostaff's do not have parallax adjustment

here are the descriptions of both, from Midway's site...

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/132...12x-40mm-matte

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/132...18x-40mm-matte

[rebs]

Thank you for the information, I appreciate it.
Is the 5 brighter in low light ?

[Magnum Wheel Man]

that would be hard to say... without looking through both in a low light situation...

I usually look at exit pupil size, ( which is normally bigger at the lower magnifications ) since the power range is different 4-14 & 4.5-18, the exit pupil sizes are also different... if the lens sizes are the same, & basic construction matches, I'd suspect that the regular Prostaff would be brighter, because at the lowest power setting, it's only 4X & has a larger diameter exit pupil... if you were comparing matching powers... ( say 9X on both scopes ) there is not enough info presented to tell, short of looking through each...

[rebs]

I bought the prostaff 5 4.5 - 18 x 40 from wally world for $330.00 plus tax. Iam nopt sure I like it because the BDC reticle is quite a bit thicker than on my 3 - 9 x 40. I use 1" red dots for targets and the 4.5 -18 reticle covers it up. I like the finer reticle in my Nikon 3-9 better.
Why would they make the reticle thicker in the 4.5 - 18 ?

[Unlicensed Dremel]

What would I prefer that I cannot afford?

Or what I prefer that I can afford, and thus actually use?

If the latter, I have a Sightron S2, 4.5-14x40 AO on one. I have a Nikon Prostaff 2-7x32 on another, that I'd like to upgrade to at least a 3-9x40 or preferably a 4-14ish.

[Unlicensed Dremel]

wrong place; sorry.

[Gary L. Griffiths]

FWIW, I'm completely happy with my Primary Arms 1-6 X 20. Unless you're hunting varmints at 300 yds it covers everything from CQB to fairly precision 300-yd shooting.

[Unlicensed Dremel]

I need to check out that Primary Arms 1-6....heard about it in several places now.

[rebs]

the problem I have with the prostaff 5 4.5-18 is that the BDC reticule is too thick and covers the target, also when sighted in at 18 power the POI changes when I change power setting. The problem with the prostaff 4-12 is that there is no a parallax adjustment and at 100 yds everything is fine but at any other range either the BDC or the target is blurred. For the time being I am back to using my Prostaff 3-9x40 BDC. From 50 to 300 yds the BDC and target are both sharp and clear. I am guessing that anything over 9 power needs an adjustable parallax

[bamaranger]

Depends alot on what type of rifle, and what you'll be shooting at. And....I'll say right up front, unless the rifle is a dedicated heavy varminter or match type (F-T/R) rifle, I'm not a fan of a lot of X power past 12 on hunting rifle. While I'm at it, it seems these days that the 4-12x, and the 3.5-10x, is quickly replacing the 3-9x as the GP hunting scope in my neck of the woods.

BAck to my objections to big glass. One reason is size and bulk. I've got a Burris XTR 6-24x on a match rifle, (.30) but the thing is akin to the Palomar telescope and would be all out of place on an AR carbine, or my tidy Mini-Mauser. And the more X you have cranked in, the more you need some type of support to shoot from or the perceived wobbles will drive you nuts. Thus either a bipod is attached (more weight and bulk) or one begins to get limited in how and where you shoot the rifle (or you dork with the scope).

I'll give a +1 to the low end variables on the AR carbnines. A 1-4x, or, a 1.5-5x, works really well for me and bamaboy on an AR carbine, both in 3 gun, and knocking around the back 40. I put a fixed 6x on the mini-mauser, but honestly, it is NOT enough X power for it and the intended smaller pest type targets out to the rifles max range, so the little bolt rifle is getting a 3x9x40 in the immediate near future. A compact model would be ideal, or even a model with 36mm bell, but the 40mm is on hand.

If I were setting up some type of urban counter sniper, or DMR rifle, say for an SO or PD, I might consider a fixed 6x with turrets, and a piggyback or offset dot for up close. Not really my baliwick though.

As a general rule, the bigger the rifle, the more willing I am to clamp on a bigger scope, but I do not want to spoil a tidy, portable rifle, with a huge telescope.