scope recommendations

[rupak]

Just purchased a 457.  Primary use is going to be target shooting with perhaps some small game hunting in the future.  Any recommendations for a quality scope that doesn't break the bank?

[wagon]

Depends on the size of your bank [emoji38]

I will probably look for something ~16x for target shooting, with AO or SF allow me to dial down to (preferably) 10 yds.

Weaver 4-16x  (better yet, 5/20x) Grand Slam would be a very good choice, Classic V16 would be good too...  if you can find them new, or used.

Vortex Diamondback HP 4-16x or 3-12x is another good one mbut IIRC the low end of SF is 35 yds (also an old model line up)

I lately been buying Sightron S-Tac, 30mm tube, 4-16x, SF to 10 yds.   I believe they are on sales on OpticsPlanet.

Clearidge has quality Japan made scopes, most are AO, I had a 3-9x in the past, but they do have something in 12x or 16x.   Check them out.

I have stopped looking into scope made in China, but recently bought an Athlon Argos 24x Gen 2 for my Ruger Precision Rimfire.  My first FFP, fully of features, wind/elev adjustment is solid are precise, glass is a pleasant surprise ...  did not expect such quality level from its country of origin.

Of course, Leupolds...  too many more to name.  Fantastic customer service, so us Burris, Vortex , etc....

If you have $500 to spent, Meopta is on sale, check out Cameraland.

Happy shopping.

[wagon]

Found this for OP (not mine nor associated):

https://www.ar15.com/forums/Equipment-Exchange/WTS-Vortex-Diamondback-HP-4-16x-42mm-BDC-Scope-with-1-inch-tube/163-2005974/


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[rupak]

Please excuse my naivete, as I am new to this hobby. 

I typically spend a lot of time doing research to buy the best I can within a budget (as in any hobby, it is easy to go down the deep end). Whenever possible, I try to buy items that I wouldn't regret down the road.  Or, things that I can hand over to my son as they stood the test of time.  When it came time to buying a rimfire rifle, I went through this process - many deep dives on options, pros-and-cons, time on forums, youtube, etc. I narrowed down my choices to the CZ457 combo and the Tikka T1x and acquired the 457 combo (got two calibers and liked the old school walnut stock). 

Coming to the optics, would you spend more on the scope than the rifle?  I would think for me even 50% would be too much.  Probably 30% or $200 in my case would seem reasonable. 

Thoughts?

[Jim E]

Nice rifle. What distance do you expect to be targeting out to?

[rupak]

Nice rifle. What distance do you expect to be targeting out to?

Have my "sights" on 100 yards for now

[JAS]

Hi,

"Breaking the bank" is a very relative term.  That said, one really important thing I've found out is that for rimfire you must have a parallax adjustment on whatever you buy.  And, the minimum shouldn't be 50 yards. 25 yards is good, 15 is even better. Most people think of parallax adjustment as giving you an image that doesn't shift around when you move your head. While this is true, in reality parallax adjustment is really a target focus adjustment. You have two focus adjustments on scopes, parallax and diopter. Diopter is on the eyepiece and it focuses only the reticle. Parallax adjustments focus the target. They work together and the game is to balance both out for perfect focus on both target and reticle. Reticle focus is the critical one.

Most lower end scopes don't have a parallax adjustment. Parallax is set at 100 yards by default. Don't get those unless you have REALLY good eyesight. 

Find reputable manufacturers that have both and on which parallax goes down to at least 25 yards.

Lastly, if you are going to do more target shooting than hunting than you will need more magnification. A good balance for both is 16X, depending on your eyesight. That said on less expensive scopes pushing them to the 16x limit will result in a less than optimal image, so think of them as 14x scopes.

This is because lesser optics do not focus all three RGB colors in the same place. lesser scopes are at best achromatic. They only focus one color. Very, very expensive scopes should all be apochromatic - they focus all three RGB colors on the same plane. All achromatic lenses (scopes) will show color aberrations manifested as color rings around objects, mostly red rings. High end achromatic scopes less so.

Best advice, go to a brick and mortar store and look through them. Now you know what you're looking for!

How do I know all this? Well, I'm a photographer and also do astrophotography with higher end telescopes. It's all optics baby  . I'm attaching an image of the Rosette Nebula taken from my backyard below.

Best,

JAS

[rupak]

Hi,

"Breaking the bank" is a very relative term.  That said, one really important thing I've found out is that for rimfire you must have a parallax adjustment on whatever you buy.  And, the minimum shouldn't be 50 yards. 25 yards is good, 15 is even better. Most people think of parallax adjustment as giving you an image that doesn't shift around when you move your head. While this is true, in reality parallax adjustment is really a target focus adjustment. You have two focus adjustments on scopes, parallax and diopter. Diopter is on the eyepiece and it focuses only the reticle. Parallax adjustments focus the target. They work together and the game is to balance both out for perfect focus on both target and reticle. Reticle focus is the critical one.

Most lower end scopes don't have a parallax adjustment. Parallax is set at 100 yards by default. Don't get those unless you have REALLY good eyesight. 

Find reputable manufacturers that have both and on which parallax goes down to at least 25 yards.

Lastly, if you are going to do more target shooting than hunting than you will need more magnification. A good balance for both is 16X, depending on your eyesight. That said on less expensive scopes pushing them to the 16x limit will result in a less than optimal image, so think of them as 14x scopes.

This is because lesser optics do not focus all three RGB colors in the same place. lesser scopes are at best achromatic. They only focus one color. Very, very expensive scopes should all be apochromatic - they focus all three RGB colors on the same plane. All achromatic lenses (scopes) will show color aberrations manifested as color rings around objects, mostly red rings. High end achromatic scopes less so.

Best advice, go to a brick and mortar store and look through them. Now you know what you're looking for!

How do I know all this? Well, I'm a photographer and also do astrophotography with higher end telescopes. It's all optics baby  . I'm attaching an image of the Rosette Nebula taken from my backyard below.

Best,

JAS

That picture is unbelievable!! Wow.

[Luvdog]

The "rule of thumb" is spend as much on the optics as you can... and often equal to the rifle.

That being said, I rarely follow that rule since ranges near me are limited in distance.

Vortex usually is a good option for price vs features vs quality and warranty.

[JAS]

That picture is unbelievable!! Wow.

Thanks rupak!  I looked around and the best scope for the lowest price is the Vortex 4-16x44 Diamonddback.  It's got a 20 yard parallax minimum, a 30 inch tube (better brightness and more adjustment), great illuminated reticle, comes in both MOA and MRAD adjustments, First Focal Plane (unheard of at that price point) and a great Vortex warranty. 

It's 24% off retail at opticsplanet.com for $349 and free shipping. Best deal on the planet for an inexpensive full featured scope...

Best,

JAS

[rupak]

Passing along an amazing secret deal on the Vortex Diamondback to my fellow forum members.  This scope is available on sale in quite a few places for $349, which is a great deal in itself.

I was able to get it for $275!

go here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/123632764606

Put in your best offer for $275.   

Enjoy!

BTW, the seller is an authorized Vortex seller.

[Rhoadsy]

That picture is unbelievable!! Wow.

Thanks rupak!  I looked around and the best scope for the lowest price is the Vortex 4-16x44 Diamonddback.  It's got a 20 yard parallax minimum, a 30 inch tube (better brightness and more adjustment), great illuminated reticle, comes in both MOA and MRAD adjustments, First Focal Plane (unheard of at that price point) and a great Vortex warranty. 

It's 24% off retail at opticsplanet.com for $349 and free shipping. Best deal on the planet for an inexpensive full featured scope...

Best,

JAS

I have 3 diamondbacks, 1 4-16x44 and 2 6-24x 50, have one on my 457 and for the price I have to say I am very pleased with the optic. Has the features I need best of which is the parralax adjustment going down to 15 yards, normally shoot 50 to 200 yards, but being able to focus in that close is a bonus, also a ffp scope for that price point is IMHO a really great deal.

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[Joe L]

Midway has the Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-16x on sale right now, so I ordered one for my AR-15.  But I ordered the wrong rings.  The sight and rings fit my Savage .22 just fine so I installed them and went to the range this morning to test the scope on the .22.  I really like it.  I wanted a first focal plane milrad scope to match my Bushnell on the .308 and the little Vortex is perfect.  I decided to leave it on the .22 and I ordered a second one for the AR-15.  I'll try it next week. 

I didn't like the 1-4x and 2-8x Nikons I had been switching back and forth between the AR and the .22 anyway, so the two Vortex sights will be good for me.  I will have similar optics on all three rifles.  All I need to remember is .35 inch at the 100 yard target is about one click 0.1 mil at the sight, 2 inches is about 0.1 mil at 500 meters, etc.  Gppd pricing now for the Vortex as well.  Don't ask about the pricing on my Bushnell DMR, the original model without the zero stop. 

Joe 

[Joe L]

A followup on this post about the Vortex Diamondback.  I now have two, one on a Savage .22 and one on an AR-15.  Both mil radian versions bought during the Midway sale.  I love'em, after several hundred rounds through both rifles and maybe 6 range trips, shooting at 100 yards.  Very repeatable, very clear, knob tension is about right.  Good buy.  I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one but I don't need another one right now.

Joe

[bman940]

Literally, bang for your buck, I do not think you can beat what Meopta brings to the table. I have a MeoPro 6-18 on one CZ 455 Varmint that is amazing. I have an Optika6 3-18x50 on another. I concur that having parallax adjustment is key to getting all you can out of rimfires. Meopta has a new Optika5 coming out that has a much more friendly price, 1-inch tube, parallax and great Meopta glass. $ for $, I don't think they can be beaten for what you get.