Balancing rifle/scope cost

[hoogle]

Hi,

I'm not made of money obviously so when looking at a rifle in a new calibre I've to set myself a budget and stick to it.

If you had to set a percentage like 60%/40% for rifle/scope where do you think the right balance is?

Obviously the best quality you can afford for both is ideal, and I get that if you spend a little more now you get something better to last you longer, but you've gotta draw the line somewhere.

What's the balance do you think?

[Zilla]

I reckon a rifle shoots better than it's shooter in a lot of cases, but if you can't see what you're doing it doesn't matter with way.

Good scope and a decent rifle works better than some stunning rifle with a crappy scope IMO.

I'd be swinging it for quality optics where possible.

[Grated]

That's pretty board mate.

Got a budget in mind you are working with?

[Spooner]

I reckon a rifle shoots better than it's shooter in a lot of cases, but if you can't see what you're doing it doesn't matter with way.

Good scope and a decent rifle works better than some stunning rifle with a crappy scope IMO.

I'd be swinging it for quality optics where possible.

I reckon that's pretty good advice. I know this is painting with a pretty broad brush, but I reckon about $400 is where scopes started getting 'decent' for low magnification stuff. 4-12 or whatever, your typical hunting ranges.

For higher magnification stuff I reckon around the $600 mark as a start.

A good scope will last you forever.

[headspace]

Mate I'm going for a Howa 308 sporter with a blued fluted barrel (around $650) and putting a Leopold 3-9x50 on it for a bit under $400. As pointed out before, most rifles will shoot better than the shooter, but your chances are vastly improved with a decent scope. I'm also getting a Howa 24inch heavy barrel 223 and it will have a Redfield 4-12x40. I have no doubt both of those will shott better than I can hold them, and it's not huge money,
JD

[Wobble]

Mate I'm going for a Howa 308 sporter with a blued fluted barrel (around $650) and putting a Leopold 3-9x50 on it for a bit under $400.

That's the VX-I scope? I reckon those are tops for the money.

[Member-Deleted]

Just buy what you can afford. You don't need a expensive scope/rifle if your only hunting anyway.

[Lorgar]

Just buy what you can afford. You don't need a expensive scope/rifle if your only hunting anyway.

I must say, when I was starting out it always gave me the s**ts a little when you're speaking to someone about a scope or rifle and looking (as an example) at a Tikka, or Ruger, or whatever in the $1,000 - $1,200 area for a rifle, and they say "you really should get something like this..." And they pick a $2,800 Sako or something off the shelf.

Same for scopes, I just picked up the Bushnell Elite 8-32x40 which was $600. It's just for my 22LR and will only be used for 50-100m shooting. When I said to the guy at my local after I chose the rifle that I needed to looks at scopes, he basically turned around and said "you want this" and turn back with a $1,400 top end Leupold.

Nothing wrong with the Leupold obviously, but it was twice the price and half the magnification I wanted. In the end he gave up trying to convince me away from the Bushnell because I was pretty set on it. Anyway, I love it so it was the right choice in this case, not the expensive choice.

[Member-Deleted]

Any salesman worth his salt will try & sell you what he has, not what he can get. If they can sell 30 a-bolts at a better margin than they can sell 30 howas they will stock more a-bolts & try to push those as the weapon of choice.

[Lorgar]

I appreciate that; I worked in retail sales for a lot of years and know how it goes.

There comes a point though when your battling with the customer for something they don't want. Some sales guys can't recognise that point.