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Started By
Message
Looking at a new rifle scope, suggestions?
Posted on 6/13/26 at 5:45 pm
Posted on 6/13/26 at 5:45 pm
I've got a few hundred dollars burning a hole in my pocket. I think I've decided I want to get a new scope for hunting.
Budget is right around $500 or so. I hunt with a .308. For deer hunting. We hunt a lot of power lines. I'd say a majority of our shots are 100-200 yards, some more, some less.
I've looked at the Trijicon Huron, some Leopolds, and Burris online.
I've also read some of y'alls suggestions on previous threads, but I've hunted all of my life with the cheapest scopes possible. Either the cheap ones that come on a gun when you buy it, or just some $100 scope I found. Those have worked just fine and haven't caused any problems, so those who have actually spent money on scopes let me know what I've been missing
Budget is right around $500 or so. I hunt with a .308. For deer hunting. We hunt a lot of power lines. I'd say a majority of our shots are 100-200 yards, some more, some less.
I've looked at the Trijicon Huron, some Leopolds, and Burris online.
I've also read some of y'alls suggestions on previous threads, but I've hunted all of my life with the cheapest scopes possible. Either the cheap ones that come on a gun when you buy it, or just some $100 scope I found. Those have worked just fine and haven't caused any problems, so those who have actually spent money on scopes let me know what I've been missing
14
Posted on 6/13/26 at 6:18 pm to bradygolf98
What you’re missing and what you pay for is low light performance, accurate dialing if needed, and high magnification if needed. The more of those traits you add, the more expensive the scope.
Posted on 6/13/26 at 6:18 pm to bradygolf98
quote:
I've also read some of y'alls suggestions on previous threads, but I've hunted all of my life with the cheapest scopes possible. Either the cheap ones that come on a gun when you buy it, or just some $100 scope I found. Those have worked just fine and haven't caused any problems, so those who have actually spent money on scopes let me know what I've been missing
In my experience the glass doesnt improve that much between $100 and $500. I have a few Burris Droptines that were around $115. I cant tell that much difference between them and ~$500 Vortex and Leupold scopes I have.
Posted on 6/13/26 at 6:36 pm to Loup
That’s halfway my question. I currently have a $100 sig buck master on my rifle. It does fine until I have to zoom in to max power it gets hard with eye relief.
ETA: I’ve hunted for 20 years with scopes under $100 so I don’t know what I’m missing
ETA: I’ve hunted for 20 years with scopes under $100 so I don’t know what I’m missing
This post was edited on 6/13/26 at 6:38 pm
Posted on 6/13/26 at 7:01 pm to bradygolf98
You can find a Leupold VX-3 for less than $400 right now. I have several and you won’t be disappointed. Best bang for your buck by far. Pick the one you want and search the number on gun.deals.
Posted on 6/13/26 at 7:39 pm to bradygolf98
2 words for you bunkie
schmidt and bender…
oh, nevermind…
schmidt and bender…
quote:
Budget is right around $500 or so.
oh, nevermind…
This post was edited on 6/13/26 at 7:42 pm
Posted on 6/13/26 at 8:08 pm to bradygolf98
I just bought a Hawke I really like.
Posted on 6/13/26 at 8:32 pm to Theduckhunter
quote:
Best bang for your buck by far.
Is trijicon huron. Trijicon accupoint 3-9 is the best when you can get them on sale. Bombproof (unlike leupold) and good glass.
SWFA is best bargain if youre going to crank turrets.
Posted on 6/13/26 at 9:26 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
You’re the reason I started looking at the Trijicon
Posted on 6/13/26 at 9:45 pm to bradygolf98
I really like the Vortex scopes I own.
Posted on 6/13/26 at 9:51 pm to bradygolf98
Get one. They're great.
I have several leupolds, and I like them. Great glass and very light. I have a few 2.5-8 vx3's and they are fantastic deer hunting scopes IF you dont hit them or drop your rifle. They handle recoil fine. They do not handle rough hunts well.
I also have some SWFA's, and some friends have trijicons. The difference in durability is significant. We have tested them, and the trijicons and SWFAs can take a beating and hold zero and adjust perfectly. The leupolds do not. The scope is a sight, not an observation tool. Reliability >>> glass and light weight.
Dont live your life with a rifle you have to tata and stress out about. Its so wonderful to have one that you can beat on and not worry about being off zero.
I have several leupolds, and I like them. Great glass and very light. I have a few 2.5-8 vx3's and they are fantastic deer hunting scopes IF you dont hit them or drop your rifle. They handle recoil fine. They do not handle rough hunts well.
I also have some SWFA's, and some friends have trijicons. The difference in durability is significant. We have tested them, and the trijicons and SWFAs can take a beating and hold zero and adjust perfectly. The leupolds do not. The scope is a sight, not an observation tool. Reliability >>> glass and light weight.
Dont live your life with a rifle you have to tata and stress out about. Its so wonderful to have one that you can beat on and not worry about being off zero.
Posted on 6/14/26 at 6:16 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
Dont live your life with a rifle you have to tata and stress out about. Its so wonderful to have one that you can beat on and not worry about being off zero.
You’re obviously very passionate about this, but your concerns are overblown.
Also Trijicon Huron is an excellent deal, except the eye relief isn’t all that great.
Posted on 6/14/26 at 7:02 am to bradygolf98
Move your head back away from the scope and see if that works ok. You might just need to remount your scope.
There’s a guy on Hunttalk that has a small shop, predator optics, in Wisconsin. He’s always been great to deal with and will get you the best price. Get in touch with him and tell him what your price range is and he’ll suggest something.
Also, consider a quality pair of binos if you don’t own a pair already.
There’s a guy on Hunttalk that has a small shop, predator optics, in Wisconsin. He’s always been great to deal with and will get you the best price. Get in touch with him and tell him what your price range is and he’ll suggest something.
Also, consider a quality pair of binos if you don’t own a pair already.
Posted on 6/14/26 at 8:01 am to Theduckhunter
quote:
obviously very passionate about this, but your concerns are overblown.
Because for my entire life I thought that needing to check zero after bumping your scope was just something that came with using scopes. Spend the money on the glass, etc. All the crap everyone in Louisiana says about scopes.
Now that I know better, im trying to spread the word. Having a reliable scope is an amazing quality of life improvement when it comes to hunting. No more zero shifts. No more tapping on the turrets to make them work. No more wondering if you should check zero or not. No more adjusting every season. I still own and use several leupolds but when I am going on a trip, I bring the good stuff.
Posted on 6/14/26 at 8:17 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
Trijicon huron vs Trijicon accupoint:
Which is preferred and why?
One illuminated and the other not, correct? Consistent otherwise?
Which is preferred and why?
One illuminated and the other not, correct? Consistent otherwise?
This post was edited on 6/14/26 at 8:19 am
Posted on 6/14/26 at 9:13 am to Goldensammy
quote:
One illuminated and the other not, correct? Consistent otherwise?
Pretty much
Posted on 6/14/26 at 9:46 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
You bought off on the rokslide test where they drop rifles/scopes and try to break them. I don’t drop my scopes.
Posted on 6/14/26 at 9:57 am to bradygolf98
Does anyone have an experience with Tract optics? Supposedly it’s German glass but the scope is constructed in Japan to keep costs down.
Posted on 6/14/26 at 12:35 pm to bradygolf98
I've got the same exact question you do but may be willing to go up another couple hundred. For father's day I'm looking for a new scope. I'm looking at the Leupold vx-3hd in either 3.5-10x or the 4.5-14x to go on a Savage 110 vsx. I am having some second thoughts after seeing other suggestions for trijcon and swfa. Any thoughts?
Posted on 6/14/26 at 12:55 pm to 257WBY
You have never, in your entire life, had to adjust the zero on your rifle?
Kudos to you if so. I hunt with about 50 people and every year somebody has some scope drama from taking a fall or even for apparently no reason. Everybody has to check their rifles at the beginning of the season, and every year somebody's rifle is off. Almost always a leupold or vortex, sometimes its mine.
Mine new rigs can ride on the floor of the boat or in the back of the truck or on rough four-wheeler rides and I dont worry about it. Never have to worry about the flyer in the group because I dont have them anymore. Ive tested it myself and those guys are right. Some scopes are dramatically more reliable than others and reliability is the most important thing.
Kudos to you if so. I hunt with about 50 people and every year somebody has some scope drama from taking a fall or even for apparently no reason. Everybody has to check their rifles at the beginning of the season, and every year somebody's rifle is off. Almost always a leupold or vortex, sometimes its mine.
Mine new rigs can ride on the floor of the boat or in the back of the truck or on rough four-wheeler rides and I dont worry about it. Never have to worry about the flyer in the group because I dont have them anymore. Ive tested it myself and those guys are right. Some scopes are dramatically more reliable than others and reliability is the most important thing.
This post was edited on 6/14/26 at 2:53 pm
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