Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Scope Recommendations Wanted!

I am building a long range rig based on a Tikka Master Sporter in .243. It will have a 1:9 twist, and a 24-26" barrel. None of this will amount to a hill of beans unless I can decide on a scope. I would like something that is around 20X. I run VX-III on all my stuff now, but am willing to try something a little different on this one. Bushnell 6500, Nikon, Leupie, others? I would like to stay under a grand, but lets see what comes up.

Thanks.

R.

look at the Vortex line. i am shooting with a 6.5-20 x 50 Viper. so far i'm shooting out to 650yds with it and been very pleased. i hear their 09 line up will be better.

Go with the Sightron SIII 6-24x50, its a clearer, brighter scope than my VXIII's and has better turret repeatability - fact is, its just a better scope.

I've heard nothing but praise for the Bushnell 6500...

I use many of the SIIB and SIII scopes and feel they are very favorable and second slymule's comments.

I also have a 6500 and feel these 3 scopes are very simular. Figure out your needs and purchase accordingly. The 6500 is much scope for the money.

Rob

I understand you are a sightron honk and that is fine but maybe a bit overly optimistic
B

Rman: I have a full custom 240 Weatherby Rifle built on a pre-64 Winchester Model 70 action. It has a 27 1/2" barrel and I chose a Leupold 6.5x20 variable scope for it when it was new back in 1991! I have taken Whitetailed Deer, Antelope, Mule Deer, Rock Chucks and Coyotes with this wonderful rig!
I could not be happier with it!
I currently have around 20 Varmint and Big Game Rifles with Leupold 6.5x20 scopes on them - they work WELL!
If you can find a used Leupold 8.5x25x40mm scope for your 243 then that would be a fantastic scope as well for long range Hunting. I have 3 of these and they are splendid and reliable scopes. I have one on a Remington 700 Sendero in 270 Winchester and its my latest long range Rifle. I have killed Bull Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetailed Deer and Antelope with it at ranges out to 507 yards - to date!
Leupold no longer makes this scope in the 40mm version - shame that. So look for a used one.
Don't even consider the Sightron as being half the scope the high end Leupolds are - someones having a bad/misguided dream over them!
I have owned Sightrons and they are, at best, fill in scopes for a Rifle until something better comes along.
I agree that cost is an important concern anymore when buying scopes thats why a few years back I began shopping seriously and constantly in the used markets (gunshows, pawn shops, gunshops and on-line want ad venues etc) for used scopes.
But for your $1,000.00 you can buy the wonderful Leupold 6.5x20 scope new, and then buy a wonderful used Leica laser rangefinder - if you need one - with the left over monies.
One of the main reasons I use Leupolds on my Big Game and long range Big Game Hunting Rifles is their reliability under harsh conditions! I have never had a Leupold let me down and I have used them in 40 below zero conditions, blizzard conditions, in rain forests and in desert heat - the full gamut of conditions - nary a hic-cup!
Go with the Leupolds - if you can afford them, the chances of being disappointed with one of them is VERY small!
Best of luck with whichever scope you choose.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Thank you for your informative post. Do you run VX-III's or M4 series? How do you find the crosshair coverage at longer ranges, that is to say, do the crosshairs cover the smaller targets at the longer distances?

Thanks.

R.

To complicate things more, my first choice would be a Zeiss Conquest 6.5-20. Optics are awesome, and the tracking is as good as it gets. They are a great scope.

Nikon 6.5-20
Zeiss 6-20
Bushnell 4200 Tactical 6-24

Tall resettable turrets/easy to read/use is the answer
Calibrate your scope to your loads

Hi, I have a Tikka T3 in 243 and I bought this as an all round rifle, predators to pigs and deer. I therefore wanted an all round scope to go on it. I opted for the Bushnell 6500 in 2.5/16*40 and could not be happier. This is my favoutite rig and it has a lot of competition!!! The scope is very sharp, very bright and the most versatile scope I own. Great field of view at 2.5 times mag and crystal clear at 16. Perfect combination for me, scope cost me $590 including shipping.

For my money, Its hard to beat the VX-III's