Respected Budget optics to look for?

[Jamalen]

Morning all,

I have a question, I made the mistake of looking around for a replacement optic to shoot at 500 yards, as my x8 fixed is a struggle.. but when I went onto a well known optics seller it appears I have NO clue who out of these numerous brands has a decent reputation or not.. I know S&B, as I got practically given my x8 S&B Klassik… but out of the "budget" brands.. who is worth using, who has good glass and WHO gives a cash strapped newbie like me value for money?

Cheers,
--Alec

 

[NickJ]

I would buy used S&B, Swarvoski, Leica or Zeiss first.

Beyond that Meopta, GPO, Leupold and Minox seem solid for the money

 

[sh1kar]

Morning all,

I have a question, I made the mistake of looking around for a replacement optic to shoot at 500 yards, as my x8 fixed is a struggle.. but when I went onto a well known optics seller it appears I have NO clue who out of these numerous brands has a decent reputation or not.. I know S&B, as I got practically given my x8 S&B Klassik… but out of the "budget" brands.. who is worth using, who has good glass and WHO gives a cash strapped newbie like me value for money?

Cheers,
--Alec

Vortex seem to have a good reputation

 

[Koenig]

I rate the Lisenfeld Spezials. I have a 3-12 - 50mm which I could be persuaded to part with.

 

[Donkey Basher]

I’d say you’d do far worse than loom for a use Leupold - they have a lifetime warranty regardless of how many owners they’ve had. The optics are more than up to daytime target/long range shooting & they do various models with a variety of reticle. Personally I’d look for a VX-3 6.5-20x50 long range as a good starting point - it’ll have side focus/parallax & be more than up to shooting out to 1000 yards if that’s your thing. I’d also avoid the various ‘Xmas Tree’ type reticles as far too cluttered imo (Boone & Crockett I think they call them?). Be aware too that if you buy one with a mil dot reticle it will only be true at one magnification as the scope is second focal plane - oh, and you’ll be mixing Mils on the reticle with MOA on the turret!

That said, if you really want a good scope look for a Zeiss Diavari 6-24x56 with either a 43 or 63 (aka Rocking Horse Poo) reticle. Cheaper than an S&B but more than up to the job (but then I’m biased I’ve got three of them which I upgraded to from my previous Leupold VX-3s)!

 

[Jagged77]

Have a look at Sightron Siii scopes - glass is excellent and tracking spot on. Make great long range target scopes. Bushnell worth a look also for that price range. A Nightforce a bit out of your price range but they can be had for around £700 or so.

 

[Jamalen]

Vortex seem to have a good reputation

Friend of mine just said the same thing, something about a decent warranty on the scopes? But I assume that these are made in China?

 

[Jamalen]

Thank for the Replies guys... I would say that "About £500 - £600" is my budget I think.. in a few months time.. I was eyeing up the Vortex stuff, but you guys reckon that 2nd hand is a good shout for one of the "known" premier brands?

 

[Moaky]

Ive got a vortex and if you stay away from the crossfires, the rest of their mid tier range is actually really good value for the money. They are serious about their lifetime warranty as well which is fully transferable, so even more savings if you can find a second hand one. One thing I would recommend for that kind of range is get more objective lens than you think you need....50mm plus is what I recommend. Magnification just get what you're comfortable with. Arken Optics have been exploding in the US as well. Made in china but folk swear by them for the quality at the price point.

 

[moeggesit]

Used optics is always a gamble in my opinion. The only exception is Leupold since their great value and they honor the Lifetime warranty. Does not mean you should not but them, just know the risk.

 

[AndyMacs]

Just bought a new Vector Optics Continental 4-24x56 Tac VCT-34 FFP IR 34mm from Tactical Scope Ltd. for just over £400, including their online account set-up discounts. It has good reviews elsewhere on the forums and good glass, and at first sight it really does have good glass and great value for the price. Very happy

 

[Donkey Basher]

Thank for the Replies guys... I would say that "About £500 - £600" is my budget I think.. in a few months time.. I was eyeing up the Vortex stuff, but you guys reckon that 2nd hand is a good shout for one of the "known" premier brands?

You’ll easily get a Leupold VX-3 6.5-20x50 within that budget

 

[NickJ]

Thank for the Replies guys... I would say that "About £500 - £600" is my budget I think.. in a few months time.. I was eyeing up the Vortex stuff, but you guys reckon that 2nd hand is a good shout for one of the "known" premier brands?

If that's your budget then yes, I would go secondhand Austrian/German or Leupold

 

[NickJ]

Used optics is always a gamble in my opinion. The only exception is Leupold since their great value and they honor the Lifetime warranty. Does not mean you should not but them, just know the risk.

The top notch brands very rarely go wrong and tend to have very good customer service especially Swaro

 

[topscots1]

Morning all,

I have a question, I made the mistake of looking around for a replacement optic to shoot at 500 yards, as my x8 fixed is a struggle.. but when I went onto a well known optics seller it appears I have NO clue who out of these numerous brands has a decent reputation or not.. I know S&B, as I got practically given my x8 S&B Klassik… but out of the "budget" brands.. who is worth using, who has good glass and WHO gives a cash strapped newbie like me value for money?

Cheers,
--Alec

Alec,
What is your budget, I am quite local to you happy for you to have a look through a few of my scopes and see what fits. I would recommend Leica, cheaper or around the same price vortex. It all depends on the magnification level you are after and main use.

 

[Jamoy1993]

I would second Vortex, Element Optics gets a good write-up. Arken is okay too i guess.

 

[Rural Management Services]

Morning all,

I have a question, I made the mistake of looking around for a replacement optic to shoot at 500 yards, as my x8 fixed is a struggle.. but when I went onto a well known optics seller it appears I have NO clue who out of these numerous brands has a decent reputation or not.. I know S&B, as I got practically given my x8 S&B Klassik… but out of the "budget" brands.. who is worth using, who has good glass and WHO gives a cash strapped newbie like me value for money?

Cheers,
--Alec

Kind of depends on use really. Targets? Deer? Foxes? All of these?

Then its budget?

If it’s just daytime targets and cheap then Hawke Sidewinder 4-16x50. But this will be sub standard for deer in low light.

If it’s deer the a delta titanium 2.5-15x56. But this will be a compromise for target shooting as its hunting oriented. Or a GPO 2.5-15x56 or Leica Amplus 6 2.5-15x56 like below.

LEICA AMPLUS 6I 2.5-15X56 BDC ILLUMINATED RIFLESCOPE L-BALLISTIC RETICLE MOA

PRODUCT CODE: 50412

rmacleod.co.uk

In fact the Leica could be a good fit for targets and deer. Probably not the best at both but maybe a reasonable compromise.

Or totally left field HIK Alpex 4K LRF can do all of the above but not for everyone.

 

[Jamoy1993]

Kind of depends on use really. Targets? Deer? Foxes? All of these?

Then its budget?

If it’s just daytime targets and cheap then Hawke Sidewinder 4-16x50. But this will be sub standard for deer in low light.

If it’s deer the a delta titanium 2.5-15x56. But this will be a compromise for target shooting as its hunting oriented. Or a GPO 2.5-15x56 or Leica Amplus 6 2.5-15x56 like below.

LEICA AMPLUS 6I 2.5-15X56 BDC ILLUMINATED RIFLESCOPE L-BALLISTIC RETICLE MOA

PRODUCT CODE: 50412

rmacleod.co.uk

In fact the Leica could be a good fit for targets and deer. Probably not the best at both but maybe a reasonable compromise.

Or totally left field HIK Alpex 4K LRF can do all of the above but not for everyone.

I would try and get a 20 or 25 x for target shooting with a Christmas Tree style reticule personally. FFP is a must as well. Looks like a nice scope for deer.

 

[Rural Management Services]

I would try and get a 20 or 25 x for target shooting with a Christmas Tree style reticule personally. FFP is a must as well. Looks like a nice scope for deer.

He hasn’t actually said 100% targets and the Leica has a Christmas tree ret.

Haven’t heard of Leica?

 

[Jamoy1993]

He hasn’t actually said 100% targets and the Leica has a Christmas tree ret.

Haven’t heard of Leica?

I have not. And appologies I actually know Jamalen in the real world, and he is definitely going to use it for target. We have spoke about being able to shoot up to 1km potentially at Blairathol.