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I've got $400 rifles and $2500 rifles and most of my scopes are in the $200-$450 range. If you like to spend more money on glass and it makes you feel good and does the job I have no problem with that. Lots of guys are overscoped with blister pack Bushnells in my experience. But when it comes to looneys like the guys who inhabit this site, anything is going to work 99% of the time regardless of what we choose because we know what we are doing....

When I went to Africa I took a $400 B&L 4200 2.5 x 10 and a back up Leupold 3.5 x 10 in QC rings that I think I picked up for $275 and it was a good thing I did. Bent the scope tube in the back of the truck on the B&L and had to mount my back up scope and went back to hunting... I'm pretty rough on my rifles when I hunt- besides being a klutz at times, I also don't fear getting down and crawling on rough ground, rocks, or whatever is in my way to sneak up on a deer, elk, bear, etc.... and I don't want to worry about my rifle, scope, or other things like expensive clothing while doing it. I've replaced a couple scopes because of this and refinished a couple rifles, but buying a more expensive scope wouldn't have made much difference in the outcome, so I stay with what brung me....

I must say, however, that I have had a hankering for a SWFA 3-15 or a Bushnell LHRS to put on my new 26 Nosler one of these days... I may have to break my own rules soon.... wink

Bob


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Originally Posted by Tesoro
Originally Posted by RHutch
The cost of the rifle doesn’t factor in how much I’ll pay for a scope.

I buy scopes that have the feature set needed for the application.

I have $2500 scopes on $900 rifles, $1000 scopes on $3000 rifles, and a $500 scope on $1800 rifle.


The correct answer!


I don’t know if I could say it any better than this. I do know that my budget for scopes has doubled or tripled in the past 5 years, more so than my rifles (but that may change soon with one big rifle purchase possibly). I used to think spending $2,000 for a scope was absolutely insane, but then I started long range shooting and finding limitations of scopes quickly - poor resolution, poor tracking, haze in certain lighting conditions, etc. I now run a ~$2,000 Steiner T5xi on a $900 Tikka CTR. Worth every penny, and I would still spend more.

What I have really found though is that my “time value of money” has greatly changed. For years I could hunt 20 or 30 times in a season with a $200 S&W I-Bolt 30-06 with a Burris FF2 3.5-10x50mm with LRS (a killer deal on a closeout I snagged from Natchez I believe for $219 or something silly). I laid down a fair number of deer, coyotes, and armadillos with that setup, but found some limitations at first and last light. Did not score on what would probably have been the largest deer of my life at 1 minute into legal shooting light with scope ring zoomed too high, very stiff to turn due to extreme cold, glass fogged because of cold weather. All at 30 yards and less than 10 seconds. Now I only get to hunt 2 to 4 times a season so my gear has gotten more reliable (and expensive). Browning X-Bolt stainless fluted 30-06 with a Leupold VX6 3-18x44mm with Alumina caps. So a $1,500 scope on a $1000 rifle. And I would have no problems upgrading the scope, Excited to see what comes out in 2022. I am really hoping Leica listened to customers about their Amplus 6 3-18x and put a hunting reticle in it instead of a christmas tree. I want it to be light above all, bought a Nightforce NX8 2.5-20x but returned it as it totally messed up the balance and feel of the rifle I tried it on. Embarrassed to say what it was, but an elephant riding a tricycle would be a good description of the setup. Since then weight has become a critical factor in all future scope purchases.


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I’ve never understood the ratio concept for determining what you should spend on a scope for a rifle. Buy good scopes, buy good rifles. I’d still be happy with a swfa 6x or 3-9 on a very expensive rifle. I haven’t seen another scope that offers more for me for hunting purposes at any price, considering tracking/zero retention, reticle design, and weight.


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My used $260 300 Weatherby has. $1,000 Zeiss HD5 that makes an effective combo for elk at longer ranges. My $200 Ruger bolt 22 wears the Leupold Vari-X 3 1.75-6 x32 that used to be on my 375H&H probably triple the rifle price. More of a functional choice than a price ratio. I have a few scopes on kids & grandkids rifles that didn’t have a home after an upgrade. Never owned a $2,000 scope but haven’t needed one yet. Primary hunting rifle cost $179 in 1977 has worn 7 different scopes in 45 years may get another one this year.

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Originally Posted by Teal
No set number.

I buy a rifle I like, scope I like but don't "pair" them to cost.

Bergara with a Leupold
Ruger with Nikon
Montana with SWFA



That's my outlook on it too. My rifles have specific purposes and I scope them accordingly. Big game rifles get 2-8Xs or 3-10Xs, sometimes 3-12X. Varmint rifles are outfitted with 6-20X or 6-24X, or maybe a 5-20X in one case. I like very accurate rimfires fo paper punching and mine have 3-15X Super Slams on them. My .375 Big Bore is set up with aperture sights and my muzzle loader wears a 1.5-5X.

I prefer simpler reticles, so there are a couple of varmint type BDC reticles, and everything else is a plain old duplex. I find complex reticles somewhat distracting.


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On the rifle I use most, I currently have a scope that costs $800 and the rifle cost $1500. I’ve never wished for more rifle but I’ve often wished for more scope.

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depends on which gun

Have a cheap RAR with a 2k scope

Have some $1500 rifles with 3k - 4k optic.

They all shoot better than I could ever live up to.

Have a 1022 with a $250 scope that shoots great too.

I'd rather have a cheap gun and put all the money in the optics...


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According to my spreadsheet..

$5800 over 8 rifles or average $725
And 1/4 of total cost.

Fixed scopes only
Kahles: 4x36, 6x42, 8x50, 10x50
S&B: 10x42 PMII, 10x42 PMII
Leupold: 2,5x20 & 16x40
Aimpoint: Micro H-2


The US in the last 40 years:

Socialism for big corporations and military industrial complex

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Rugged individualism for the individual.
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This is a question I'd ask myself, if I had insomnia at 3 AM and was sitting on the toilet constipated, with nothing around to read at the time....

just last night, before I went to bed... I put on a Burris scope I picked up for $150 at our local Bi Mart on a Howa Mini in 223, in a set of Weaver Steel rings.... after taking the other scope off of the rifle. I have to admit, cost NEVER crossed my mind about any of it... and tightened it down with a Quarter, and a T 15 Screw Driver I paid $2.00 for at Ace Hardware like a couple of years ago. If truth be known. I feel like such a cheap ass....


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You are high rolling.... WTF would have used a 'Quarter', when a nickle would have worked cheaper.....

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Originally Posted by huntsman22
You are high rolling.... WTF would have used a 'Quarter', when a nickle would have worked cheaper.....


They have different torque ratings

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Originally Posted by mjbgalt
I buy scopes that are proven to be good...doesn't have to be expensive. Honestly doubt I could see a difference between a $400 and $2500 scope. And also doubt it's 6 times as good or as reliable.

Burris ff2 or mid range vortex or Leupold for me. Never spent more than about $250.

How good does it have to be to shoot deer at 200 yards?

Not that good since you can easily shoot a deer at 200 with iron sights


We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Originally Posted by cotis
Originally Posted by Tesoro
Originally Posted by RHutch
The cost of the rifle doesn’t factor in how much I’ll pay for a scope.

I buy scopes that have the feature set needed for the application.

I have $2500 scopes on $900 rifles, $1000 scopes on $3000 rifles, and a $500 scope on $1800 rifle.


The correct answer!


I don’t know if I could say it any better than this. I do know that my budget for scopes has doubled or tripled in the past 5 years, more so than my rifles (but that may change soon with one big rifle purchase possibly). I used to think spending $2,000 for a scope was absolutely insane, but then I started long range shooting and finding limitations of scopes quickly - poor resolution, poor tracking, haze in certain lighting conditions, etc. I now run a ~$2,000 Steiner T5xi on a $900 Tikka CTR. Worth every penny, and I would still spend more.

What I have really found though is that my “time value of money” has greatly changed. For years I could hunt 20 or 30 times in a season with a $200 S&W I-Bolt 30-06 with a Burris FF2 3.5-10x50mm with LRS (a killer deal on a closeout I snagged from Natchez I believe for $219 or something silly). I laid down a fair number of deer, coyotes, and armadillos with that setup, but found some limitations at first and last light. Did not score on what would probably have been the largest deer of my life at 1 minute into legal shooting light with scope ring zoomed too high, very stiff to turn due to extreme cold, glass fogged because of cold weather. All at 30 yards and less than 10 seconds. Now I only get to hunt 2 to 4 times a season so my gear has gotten more reliable (and expensive). Browning X-Bolt stainless fluted 30-06 with a Leupold VX6 3-18x44mm with Alumina caps. So a $1,500 scope on a $1000 rifle. And I would have no problems upgrading the scope, Excited to see what comes out in 2022. I am really hoping Leica listened to customers about their Amplus 6 3-18x and put a hunting reticle in it instead of a christmas tree. I want it to be light above all, bought a Nightforce NX8 2.5-20x but returned it as it totally messed up the balance and feel of the rifle I tried it on. Embarrassed to say what it was, but an elephant riding a tricycle would be a good description of the setup. Since then weight has become a critical factor in all future scope purchases.


30 yards point and shoot down the barrel would have killed that deer stone dead. going anywhere with a scope on max is not smart. For extra X you always have time to turn it up. You never have time to turn em down.

Free lessons but you bought the more expensive ones. Just wanted to point that out because even with an expensive scope things can happen. Close deer doesn't take much. Always go with the lowest power setting. Always return it to such.


We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Originally Posted by Sheister
I've got $400 rifles and $2500 rifles and most of my scopes are in the $200-$450 range. If you like to spend more money on glass and it makes you feel good and does the job I have no problem with that. Lots of guys are overscoped with blister pack Bushnells in my experience. But when it comes to looneys like the guys who inhabit this site, anything is going to work 99% of the time regardless of what we choose because we know what we are doing....

When I went to Africa I took a $400 B&L 4200 2.5 x 10 and a back up Leupold 3.5 x 10 in QC rings that I think I picked up for $275 and it was a good thing I did. Bent the scope tube in the back of the truck on the B&L and had to mount my back up scope and went back to hunting... I'm pretty rough on my rifles when I hunt- besides being a klutz at times, I also don't fear getting down and crawling on rough ground, rocks, or whatever is in my way to sneak up on a deer, elk, bear, etc.... and I don't want to worry about my rifle, scope, or other things like expensive clothing while doing it. I've replaced a couple scopes because of this and refinished a couple rifles, but buying a more expensive scope wouldn't have made much difference in the outcome, so I stay with what brung me....

I must say, however, that I have had a hankering for a SWFA 3-15 or a Bushnell LHRS to put on my new 26 Nosler one of these days... I may have to break my own rules soon.... wink

Bob

Good post Bob.


Originally Posted by raybass
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style.
Originally Posted by Pharmseller
You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole.

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Originally Posted by Seafire
This is a question I'd ask myself, if I had insomnia at 3 AM and was sitting on the toilet constipated, with nothing around to read at the time....

just last night, before I went to bed... I put on a Burris scope I picked up for $150 at our local Bi Mart on a Howa Mini in 223, in a set of Weaver Steel rings.... after taking the other scope off of the rifle. I have to admit, cost NEVER crossed my mind about any of it... and tightened it down with a Quarter, and a T 15 Screw Driver I paid $2.00 for at Ace Hardware like a couple of years ago. If truth be known. I feel like such a cheap ass....

Now the real truth comes out.


Originally Posted by raybass
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style.
Originally Posted by Pharmseller
You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole.

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Over the years, I have learned from my betters that when considering either a rifle or a scope, one should never consider the cost. The only way to go is to acquire the best possible of either without consideration of cost. If one must have some dollar figure upon which to operate, the determining factor should be which is the most expensive. I think that pretty well covers the position of the experts on the matter.


Not a real member - just an ordinary guy who appreciates being able to hang around and say something once in awhile.

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I cannot afford -or- justify a $1800 scope on all my rifles. I have nightforce on a couple and everywhere inbetween on guns I just consider toys. No big deal if a scope dies while banging steel on a Saturday. It's a big deal if a scope dies while I'm on a hunt I've waited for all year or longer.

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Originally Posted by SKane
Originally Posted by RHutch
The cost of the rifle doesn’t factor in how much I’ll pay for a scope.

I buy scopes that have the feature set needed for the application.

I have $2500 scopes on $900 rifles, $1000 scopes on $3000 rifles, and a $500 scope on $1800 rifle.


Same.

Right, I agree.


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Interesting conversation, I hunt a lot usually 3 or more days a week with rifles from October to April. Much of it off a motorcycle bouncing around the desert. I still haven't had a scope fail and I use the least expensive scope to get the job done.

My AR has a $150 Konus Pro 1.5-6x40 with a circle dot reticle for fast target acquisition on called coyotes

My Mini Howa wears a 1.5-6x40 Meopta Artimes

My open country Savage in 20 Practical has an Athlon 2-12x

My drilling wears a Weaver K-1.5 a far better scope in it's application than the Hensoldt that came on it.

I think what you actually can use and works for you is far more important than the cost.


Last edited by erich; 01/20/22.

After the first shot the rest are just noise.

Make mine a Minaska

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I will definitely go for a nicer rifle, because the better the rifle the better the target. In my opinion.

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