Choosing a scope

[JDBraddy]

Hi, I'm new here, and just getting aquainted with this sport. Most of my airguns and firearms have low powered variables 2-7X, 3-9X, for hunting. My highest magnification scope is a Weaver V-16 wich I use for most of my accuracy testing. I don't hunt much anymore, most of my shooting is from the bench trying to shoot tiny groups, and I'm starting to get interested in SB Metalic Sillouette. I want to get some higher power scopes. I don't want to sink my whole bankroll into one scope, but do want something nice, not some gunshow special or cheap import. Here are a few I found on the net that interest me, help me narrow the field and choose one that represents the best value, keeping in mind, I will eventually want more than just the one. This scope may also be moved between multiple guns, airguns, rimfires, and Centerfires. Thanks in advance for your imput.

Swift Premier 8-32X50 $304
Weaver V-24 $375
Weaver T-36 $435
Hawke Sidewinder 8-32X56 $430
Bushnell Elite 4200 8-32X40 $435
Nikon Monarch 8-32X50 $699
Leupold VX-3 6.5-20X40 EFR $799
Sightron SIII 8-32X56 $840
Burris Black Diamond 8-32X50 $849
Leupold VX-3 8.5-25X50 $1,020

[Joaquin B]

The Bushnell Elite 4200 8-32X would be the best value IF the adjustments in the turrets are in 1/4 MOA increments.

[ppkny]

Check out Chicken George, 'Chickens Shooting Supply' for a good price. Add on top of this forum. I've always had good luck with his price and delivery.
ppkny

[silhouette13]

4200 is a big scope so could limit you weight wise, honestly if you like the v16 that is a great place to start until you decide if you like silos enough to make the investments. i think a v24 would be a great choice as well, as mentioned in other replies make sure you get 1/4 adjustments. of you could go past 0 when you dial up for rams, not a real issue until you dont remember if you reset back to chickens or not.

i think the best "value" would be a weaver t 24 IF they still offered 1/4 inch.

bushnell, sightron,weaver and leupold are the 4 big names in this sport, repeatability followed by good glass is what matteres here. so a reticle you can see with out looking for it would also be a consideartion. small dots and fine cross hairs are for precision work not high magnification off hand.

i am a march to a different drummer guy, i like rugers, need i say more???? that being said i use a 30x fixed leupold silo scope. some things do not need monkeying around with. industry standards are standard for a reason, with any of the above mentioned you will end up with a solid product that will retain value and give a lifetime or more of service.

welcome to the fray.

dave

[Heavybarrell]

Bushnell 4200's are 1/8 min clicks and are god awful long. I bought one for my new CZ 452 American, which by the way shoots like a house on fire! Awesome scope but only listed with duplex. It will be off to TK Lee in the fall. Glass is very nice.

[edgehit]

Use your Weaver V16 at first and while you're at a match, look thru other's scopes. Only trouble is you'll look thru something you really like and discover it's discontinued. But the point is, scopes last a loooonnggg time and you can look at this as an investment.
My latest new scope purchase is a Sightron 6-24 Big Sky Silhouette model. Im really happy with it. It is perfect for use on everything from air pistol (10 yds) to hi-power (500 yds). Just don't get confused by all of Sightrons offerings, there's only one Silhouette model and it should cost less than $625 delivered.

[BCloninger]

You might also consider the Sightron Silhouette; use the link for information and then contact George for pricing.

[Innocent]

One word of advice on scopes...tend to stay away for anything over 42 mm diameter, you will run into mounting issues with that can really alter your position. Try differnt scopes your eyes and what power you are comfortable holding are a personal preference.

Mary

[CZforlife]

To keep the price range right in the middle I'd go with the Bushnell 4200 and the Weaver V24. Both are very nice scopes. A step up in my opinion your next best are Luepold and Sightron. Also, keep an eye in the classified sections as I found a very nice Luepold 24x with a 5/8dot for $400. I think for the money if one presents itself you should look into something like that aswell. Used scopes can offer great deals opposed to new.

[Mt_Medic31]

The Bushnells and the Weavers would be my suggestion for quality and value. 2 things to watch for. You may want to steer away from the 8-32x as usually those scopes, especially in 1" tubes, have very small adjustment ranges. I know the higher power Nikons only have 20moa adjustment. You can get away with it at 40 or 50, but may have to shim the back ring. a 6-24x should be plenty as to magnification. Depending on how picky you are, something else to consider is that most Side Focus scopes usually start at 50 yards for parallax. I'm not home or I'd look, but I think the 4200 4-16x goes down to 25 yards and is side focus. I use a 4200 4-16x on my SB Standard, and have great luck with it (I did have to shim it to get to 100 meters even with 50moa adjustment). Very repeatable, and 1/4" clicks. Another brand you may consider is Vortex. I use Vortex vipers on a couple other rifles of mine, 6.5-20x, and I am very happy with them, very reasonable, good clicks (1/4), and great clarity/light gathering. Also, they have an adjustment range of about 70moa, so no problems or shimming. They run about $450-$500 depending on reticle. The side focus only goes down to 50 yards on them, but I have had no problems shooting chickens with mine. Lifetime warranty on it, so when the clicks wear out I will send it in. As of yet have had no negatives with the scopes, so I have no customer service experience with them to report, though I hear really good things. OH! And one more little tid bit I have found in my trials. With Bushnells, if it doesn't COME WITH a sunshade, they don't make one that will fit. My 4200 didn't come with one, and I bitched and complained enough until they sent me one from another model to try (both 50mm 4200's), and sure enough, not even close. I may have gone a different route had I known that. I put a crapload of plubmers tape on the threads of the one I did get, and it sticks enough to use it, so I get by.

Hope this helps, and WELCOME! You will have a good time! -Johnny

[JDBraddy]

Well, I found a Leupold VX3 6.5-20 AO-EFR with fine duplex rhetical at a gunsow in very good condition no ring marks or anything for $475 so I went ahead and bought it. I also managed to sell one of my Leupold 3-9X33 AO-EFR's for $325 so the difference was only $150, and I now have one of each. Wich leaves me a few bucks to direct elsewhere.

BTW, I shot my first SB sihouette match today. I used the Weaver V-16, on my Kimber 82, I only had zero's for 50 and 100yds, so I had to do a little guessing there. The central Texas wind was gusting 20-30mph and swirling direction wich made it difficult for all. The match director spotted for me, and I had 8moa of windage dialed in by the time I finished the rams. I didn't do great, but I did better than I thought I would once I saw the course set up and felt the wind gusts. I finished in the middle of the pack with a 16/60, wich to me didn't sound very good, but the other shooters told me today was difficult shooting conditions. The guy who won the match was a AAA shooter, and he won the match with a score of 28/60 so I don't feel too dissapointed.

[BCloninger]

You did really well.

[Jerry G]

Now all you have to do is send it back to the factory for either a 3/8 or 1/2 minute dot. You have a great scope.

[durant7]

I appreciate the OP's delima is resolved but many times I believe (hope) newbies are lurking and soak up this info. In the context that the OP asked the question, he listed only one 4200, the 8-32x40. But, it should be clear to newbs that the 4200 Elite is actually a family of optically excellent scopes and there are other good options beyond the 8-32x40 in this family. There are also 4-12x40, 4-16x40, 6-24x40. The 6-24 being an solid option for a newb. My fleabay observation is supply is high allowing for the occasional deal. And yes, the OP got one heck of a deal for an EFR 6.5-20.