Scope Recommendations

[Tim K]

I've heard good reports about these, though I have no experience myself.

http://swfa.com/Millett-Tactical-Riflescopes-C133.aspx

I agree with Hoser on the Leupy recommendation with one caveat, their tolerances for the reticle being perpendicular to the erector are pretty huge. I have a Mark 4 LRT in 8.5 - 20 and my reticle is off by 5 degrees or so. I generally dial for both elevation and wind, so it makes no difference to me, but if you're planning to hold for wind, you could have some real error if the reticle in your scope is also canted.

Leupy customer service has offered to fix mine, I'm just not willing to send it back during the height of the season.

In every other respect, I'm very happy with my scope. I got mine used with Leupy Mark 4 rings for $1,000. Shop around.

[hobowh]

you will do well with a Burris, Leupold, or higher end nikon.

[hobowh]

I personally use the Burris Black Diamond, and Signature scopes, and have never had an issue with them, and they are local.

[henpecked]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/PENTAX+-...5513&st=pentax scope&cp=1&lp=1

or

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/PENTAX+-...5648&st=pentax scope&cp=1&lp=2

the bino scope package is nice, scope has BDC out to 500 yards

Internet sales only...not at your local Best Buy

[The1andOnlyKC]

I have a Nikon Monarch on one of my rifles and really like it.

I also have a Vortex Viper on another one of my rifles and it is a good scope as well.

The Nikon in my opinion has better optics.

[georgia boy]

I have a Burris 6-20 on my 223 and love it. While at the shot show I looked at all the scopes and the new Leupold scopes seem to lack a little in their quality to me, especially for the money.

[OgenRwot]

I've heard good reports about these, though I have no experience myself.

http://swfa.com/Millett-Tactical-Riflescopes-C133.aspx

I have a millett on my Rem 700 308 and use it for precision rifle. The glass is very clear, has a mil-dot reticle, easy to use BIG dials for windage elevation and are clearly marked. Big focus knob for getting approximate distance. Easy to change power as well. I highly recommend Millett for a "budget" optic. It's much better than the rest of the "budget" optics out there and it's made right here in the good ole usa.

ETA: I have one of these http://www.millettsights.com/scopes/trs/

[ridgewalker]

IMO it depends on what you want to use the rifle for. Examples: I have a Kimber Montana in .243 with a 3x9 Leupold...it is my "walking" coyote/antelope/deer gun; I have a CZ varmint heavy barrel varmint .223 with a 6-24x Bushnell 4200 elite with mil dots...it is my prairie dog gun.

The 3-9 on the .243 picks up coyotes to 400 yds and as close as 20 while running. The .223 is almost impossible for me to find a running coyote on 6x at less than 50 yds.
The 9x is difficult to distinguish a prairie dog at 250 yds and the 24x can suffer from mirage in the heat.
I think a 4-16 would probably be the best of both worlds.

I have had bullet drop compensators, adjustable range turrets, etc, but I like the simplicity of mil dots myself since I use a range finder. But I do need the adjustable objective and I like the turret type as on the Bushnell elite.

Enough said. Good luck. There will always be something better on the market as soon as you buy one.

[brokenscout]

The new Redfield(made by Leupold) for a basic scope made by a good company. For the price you can't beat them.
http://www.redfield.com/

[rforsythe]

You might check out the Vortex Viper scopes. A friend recently turned me onto them. I don't have any experience with them yet, but will likely be getting one of the 4-16x50 FFP's. Bang for the buck they seem hard to beat, the reviews and comments about them are great, and the company actively posts up in threads all over the place. The warranty is also hard to argue with - lifetime, no BS, transferable, no receipt needed, "you have a problem with our scope and we fix it".

They have a model at your $500 point, or if you can go just a bit higher there is a 2.5-10x44 that retails for $599 on opticsplanet - less if you have a hookup or can find one used. The FFP I want has features pretty common to a Nightforce for less than half the price, and if it doesn't suck should do just fine.