Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Help me pick a 1" varmint scope

Senderos are all long action. Swift is short, so it is either a VS or VSSF, not a Sendero. Technicality, but details do matter.

I had an early 700 VSSF in .220 Swift. I put a 6.5-20X AO, 40MM, fine duplex on it. I think toward the end of its days with me I moved that scope to something else and put a Burris 6-18X somethin-or-other II on it. Leupold was the better scope. Good rig, didn't like 55s or up, but 50 grain ballistic tips went in the very high 3900s giving 5 shot sub half inch groups. Vicious summabitch on the receiving end.

If it was me, I'd look for a similar scope .. 6.5-20X or even possibly a bit more. I'd try for twisty knobs and/or ranging reticle though. I'm not sure if Leupold offers the 6.5-20X or 6-18X in a 1" tube anymore. To me it would be worth getting 30mm rings to get the right scope for the gun.

Thanks guys. Got her all sorted out.
Stopped at the lgs (general gun and supply in Windsor ON) and got hooked up with some medium 30mm rings (they talked me out of low).


Fits perfect. Just got to get to trying it out now.

[img]http://[/img]
Can't post pics...

Big Green did do some blued fluted but dunno what they coded em as. Was non catalogued run IIRC. Did it in short and long action.
I had a 22 250, coworker a 25 06

The Athlon Heras 4-20x50 has a 1" tube and zero stop. A pretty good eyebox, a nice reticle, and comes with second focal plane which I like for varminting. They're well priced at Cameraland. I have a few.

Also have several Arken EPL4 6-24x50 which have very good glass, the equal - to my eye - of a Zeiss V4 with the same power. The Arken is a great buy anyway and with the current 25% off sale it's a no brainer. Varminting can involve a lot of time scanning through the scope and glass quality really does matter. Especially when seeing something out there a ways and being able to tell if it's a critter or a rock or dirt clump. Finding a target partially hidden by grass or a bush is easier with good glass. The clearer the picture, the better.

Ended up sticking the 30mm bushnell Nitro 2.5-15×50. Has a simple illuminated dot reticle that I really like.
Wish I could figure out pics. Got a heavy 16th clearance on the bell to barrel.

Here's my suggestion

Learn to use the reticle

Burris Fullfield E1 4.5-14x42mm Long Range MOA Reticle scope $156

This is what I’d suggest. I put one in a 25-06 and it is a nice scope. I have the Burris signature 3-15 as well which I have no complaints about so far, but the Meopta is nicer in my opinion.

IME, both the Weaver and Burris are good scopes for the money but unfortunately those Jap Weavers are history. For a new scope, the Burris Fullfield II 4.5-14x with a Ballistic Plex reticle work fines on a couple of my varmint rifles. And there is a seller on Amazon right now that's offering their earlier model for only $129: Burris FFII 4.5-14x BP Amazon $129
However, I doubt you can get that scope to clear the barrel in a set of low rings.

I sure like my Swarovski Z5 3.5-18x44 on my long range groundhog gun.