Scope for .223

[Dogga85]

I'm struggling to find a Leupold with similar specs at a similar price :s

[bigtone]

i will add my vote for the Zeiss if your budget goes there. i have a 3-12 x 50 on my 223 but sometimes could do with a little more magnification but maybe that is just my old eyes! had a 3-9 x 40 originally but wasn't as good as the rifle could shoot.

[juststarting]

And you have been shooting for how long and how many scopes have you used in that time?

Two scopes, about 7 months shooting

If you are directing your comment at me

I have, indeed. More in a conversational way though, I wasn't having a go or anything.

I do not own anything European, out of my budget

This is subjective.

and generally too heavy to enable my rifles to make weight for the disciplines I shoot.

Brands you listed below suggest that this is not true.

I reckon you might be like a lot of newbies who are drawn in by Vortex's slick advertising, they must have learnt something from Harley Davidson

I would love to have a Harley!
Anyway, I understand optics - nothing to do with shooting. And I have done a lot of research before I dropped $1000+ on a scope. Everything I read lead me to Vortex, mind you I haven't seen any ads or heard about them before hand. I think it's time to stop clutching to old school brands and explore something new

personally I buy scopes that suit the intended purpose regardless of name

No, because you just discounted Vortex entirely, again, kind of contradicting yourself. They do have a big selection, you know. I think you just don't like them. That's cool though, each to their own. I personally, really dislike LG - but their latest phones are amazing.

that's why I have everything from a Sabre, Nikko Stirling, Leupold, Sightron and Nightforce, will not own a Vortex as I think they are over-rated and a person can do better with their money

Put your money where your mouth is... Show me the same specification at the same price on Leupold or Nightforce? Maybe on usedguns.com - but I haven't seen anything brand new with warranty. They are a new company and they sell stuff cheap and back it up by solid warranty. Not because they are s**t, but because they are a disruptor. I have no issues with that. Some people prefer to go with established old boys, me on the other hand, like you said, use my money wisely and chose right tool for the job.

[juststarting]

Dogga85, anyway been there, done that not very long ago... this was my thought process: http://myshootingjourney.com/2015/09/13 ... selection/ - perhaps links here will help you decide on what you need and what you should spend.

[happyhunter]

.

[Strikey]

Two scopes, about 7 months shooting

FMD, I wonder why I bother with forums at times

[Dogga85]

Since these recommendations i've been doing a lot of research across reviews and heaps of other forums. There is so much praise for the Vortex Viper scopes, I'm defiitely going to grab one for my .223, most likely the VIPER HS 4-16X44 VMR1 MOA RETICLE, perfect price for me at $800

[juststarting]

FMD, I wonder why I bother with forums at times

Don't know mate, maybe so you can rock-up and tell people how awesome you are, instead of using this as a collaborative forum that it is and answering OPs question, factoring in all variables set out by the OP and basing it on your worldly experience.

[MalleeFarmer]

Also look at Bushnells elite tactical series they are well priced and very good quality for the money I have an ET6245FG with the G2 reticle great scope with a great reticle I would definately recommend.

Edit: I have 4 bushnell scopes all the elite series. 3-9x40 duplex reticle (x2) 5-15x40 mil dot reticle great scope but reticle is too thick. The 6-24x50 Has the best reticle check out the G2 reticle

[brett1868]

Strikey & Juststarting - Relax / Rasslabsja

Has anyone on the forum had a bad experience with Vortex or know someone who has? I don't own any of their scopes apart from a spotting scope and have no exposure to their rifle scopes even though I have a dealer account with the importer (ExtraVision). Like yourself Strikey I'm a horses for courses type and fit the best possible scope to the rifle for it's intended purpose, Juststarting has never held himself up to be anything other then an enthusiastic shooter willing to openly share his learning experiences so that others don't fall into some of the same traps he did. Never wise to do the chest beating and bragging about how good you are or how many titles you've won cause as we all know, without proof / pictures it's all B.S.

The interesting thing about scope lenses is that the bulk of them are made in china, very few companies make their own glass these days. Leupold openly admits on their sight to procuring lenses from third parties.

https://www.leupold.com/about-us/americas-optics-authority/

Good reference to all sorts of things from the precision rifle blog about what the "Pros" use....Vortex was third most popular in 2014 which really surprised me. I was researching benchrest barrel choices in case Lilja won't make what I'm after.
http://precisionrifleblog.com/2013/12/22/best-rifle-scope-what-the-pros-use/

Where scope lenses come from....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nX-yMr0__Q

Enough of the chest thumping and back to playing nice, lest the mods get involved.

[juststarting]

Rasslabsja

I am impressed.

[Gwion]

As I keep saying. Both my Vortex scopes are good to look through and even go pretty good under a light. I found that the diamond back are great for repeatable tracking performance. The PST on the rifle used as a club rifle is on and off the rifle each week, soaked back and forth for range and windage; it is good and clear to look through and has held its zeros perfectly for the last year at least.

I don't think you will be to disappointed. If it suits your needs and budget, go for it.

[ebr love]

Rasslabsja

What now?

[brett1868]

Rasslabsja

What now?

Vodka...of course

[juststarting]

lol

[AusC]

Speak strayan dammit it!

[MalleeFarmer]

Yeah what is this rasslabsja

[brett1868]

Yeah what is this rasslabsja

Rasslabsja = Relax in Russian

Juststarting understands Russian and me being married to a Russian Princess I thought I'd "speak" to them in their own language

I speak a little Russian and speak enough Swedish to get a feed, get drunk and get my face slapped. My attempt at bringing a little multiculturalism to the forum

[MalleeFarmer]

Ok cool! I'm all for multiculturalism if the imports are happy to call themselves Aussies and live peacefully and in that case I recon the more the merrier. My brother in law is from chile. Me I'm a 5th generation Aussie so I don't understand anything other than Australian I mean English!

[Oldbloke]

"Ok cool! I'm all for multiculturalism". +1
Where would we be still eating crap canned spaghetti.

[Gwion]

I'd be in trouble if I didn't support multiculturalism. Dutch, Scottish, Spanish...... Etc, etc. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for cross cultural relations.

[MalleeFarmer]

Agreed! Though I'm less of a bitser. Mostly German for me. Mum is all German blood and dad is German Pommy cross.

[Oldbloke]

Convict stock here. Came over in chains. And proud of it.

[Oldbloke]

Convict stock here. Came over in chains. And proud of it.

[juststarting]

Oldbloke, we heard you the first time.

[sandgroperbill]

to be sure

[sandgroperbill]

to be sure.

Nah, it happens to the best of us, as well as myself occasionally. your internet connection lags for a moment and then it sends twice.
No harm in the occasional double post. And not too bad anymore. At least these days the mods don't follow him around deleting the double posts...

[brett1868]

I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for cross cultural relations.

Neither would my son...I tried some cross cultural relations tonight but got a knock back, I never figured the princess as a racist

[juststarting]

Oh dear, think we need to move into later night forum thread

[MalleeFarmer]

I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for cross cultural relations.

Neither would my son...I tried some cross cultural relations tonight but got a knock back, I never figured the princess as a racist

It happens to the best of us!