APOD Firearms

Help me choose a scope please

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  • vmax

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    Apr 15, 2013
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    Savage 25 Lightweight Varminter -204 Ruger
    Definatley going to hunt prairie dogs with it plus any other critter like fox, and yotes

    25lv_copy-660x1800.jpg


    My budget is $400-500 and I am partial to Nikon and Vortex
    I don't think I would like anything with less than 16X for prairie dog hunting
    Also I don't plan on doping the scope, because I will know the ballistics of my loads so I will depend on a good BDC for holdover, so I want more of a set and forget scope
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    DwnRange

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    Jan 5, 2015
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    I'd be watching this EBAY auction here, (1D, 19H left) - https://www.ebay.com/p/Vortex-6-5-20x50-Viper-Rifle-Scope/129322310?iid=112855072909&_trkparms=aid=888007&algo=DISC.MBE&ao=1&asc=50526&meid=ee7e1e79c9774ba99112bf125e136d52&pid=100009&rk=1&rkt=2&sd=312015503279&itm=112855072909&_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982

    Ya can buy these scopes there for $428,9-470 every day new, just like this, lightly used Vortex Viper 6.5-20x50 PA Matte Riflescope with Mil Dot Reticle VPR-M-06MD, but this one "If" ya win the auction comes with a FREE 4" SunShade and FREE Warne Rings, (med or high) your choice.

    I realize ya said ya wanted some sort of BDC, but as someone that has hunt'd P-dogs in N. Texas and assuming you are planning on knowing your ballistic path of your rounds, as ya stated - then Mil-dot is the way to go IMHO. It a simple non cluttered recticle, that won't obscure the "dogs" but yet still allow the adjustments on the fly - (myself and the folks I hunt with all use mil-dot Leupolds, but then they are well above the budget ya listed above - whereas this Vortex may go at a bargin, even w/ the shipping cost and while I mostly prefer high-dollar Leupys, my one Viper is well worth what I paid for it - Vortex is a good product).

    Ya could possibly get this one well under the cost listed above - but even at $428-9 as I see several new, it is a good deal - no extras tho......

    ps - it's current had 1 bid for $350 + the $16 ship would be at $366 right now, wait until the final hour and check it then, ya might snipe a bargain
     

    vmax

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    I'd be watching this EBAY auction here, (1D, 19H left) - https://www.ebay.com/p/Vortex-6-5-20x50-Viper-Rifle-Scope/129322310?iid=112855072909&_trkparms=aid=888007&algo=DISC.MBE&ao=1&asc=50526&meid=ee7e1e79c9774ba99112bf125e136d52&pid=100009&rk=1&rkt=2&sd=312015503279&itm=112855072909&_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982

    Ya can buy these scopes there for $428,9-470 every day new, just like this, lightly used Vortex Viper 6.5-20x50 PA Matte Riflescope with Mil Dot Reticle VPR-M-06MD, but this one "If" ya win the auction comes with a FREE 4" SunShade and FREE Warne Rings, (med or high) your choice.

    I realize ya said ya wanted some sort of BDC, but as someone that has hunt'd P-dogs in N. Texas and assuming you are planning on knowing your ballistic path of your rounds, as ya stated - then Mil-dot is the way to go IMHO. It a simple non cluttered recticle, that won't obscure the "dogs" but yet still allow the adjustments on the fly - (myself and the folks I hunt with all use mil-dot Leupolds, but then they are well above the budget ya listed above - whereas this Vortex may go at a bargin, even w/ the shipping cost and while I mostly prefer high-dollar Leupys, my one Viper is well worth what I paid for it - Vortex is a good product).

    Ya could possibly get this one well under the cost listed above - but even at $428-9 as I see several new, it is a good deal - no extras tho......

    ps - it's current had 1 bid for $350 + the $16 ship would be at $366 right now, wait until the final hour and check it then, ya might snipe a bargain
    Thanks for the tip
    I've never had a BDC obscure my view of the target
    I used a Nikon with a BDC last year and did fine
     

    DwnRange

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    Jan 5, 2015
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    I've never had a BDC obscure my view of the target

    One of the things you'll find when stepping up to expensive optics, beside the clarity of the expensive scope is that FFP (first focal plane) scopes recticles are not like SFP (second focal plane, such a the Vortex I linked above) scopes.

    One of the benefits of FFP is the recticle is always "true" - ya can range with "it" on any variable power, ya can trust that the mil distance between the dots are proper, that said the scope above as the manual will state should probably be set on 14X (IIRC, some scopes use 10x, but I believe this one is 14) in order for the mil-dots to be perfectly space as they should be.

    As ya simply have to to shoot your rifle load at say 4 distances, 100-400 yards (which is about max for the 204 as the lite bullets, while flat shooting run out of gas between 400-500 yards) it is quite easy to shoot 3 rnd groups of your "load" at 2, 3 & 400, with no hold-over, just "cross-hairs on the POA and let the bullet drops ring the steel or fall where they will on paper - then see which mil-dot below the crosshair fits that range and "know" (even on the max 20X power) clearly which mil-dot ya'd need to holding for the range ya need. The recticle expands as the power increases on FFP scopes.

    I use a cheapo walmart mil-dot scope to do the same with my custom Ruger 10/22 and have ranges taped to the stock out to 250 yards for shooting crows - no turret adjustments necessary, simply hold over and let the shot go (granted past 150 yds. the Wolf Gold Match I run in the 22LR is mostly a matter of luck past that range, but I have used this method to kill crows past 200 yards when lady luck showed up). Whereas if I'm using say a custom Rem 700 in 223 I range the crow from the back porch w/ the Leica RF, "dial" the come-up and if the loose nut between the seat and the steering wheel does it's part correctly, the crow is dead even tho he's over 600 yards away.

    I have shot a box and from 1-700 yards and back with a similar Vortex Viper using a Noreen BN36 they track proper in my book and do not carry the 1500-3K price tags of some of my more expensive optics.

    BDC recticles work well when are "key'd specifically" for the custom load you are shooting - most are close, but learning to use mil-dots properly will always be more accurate down-range. :)
     

    avvidclif

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    Aug 30, 2017
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    Van Zandt County
    I'd be watching this EBAY auction here, (1D, 19H left) - https://www.ebay.com/p/Vortex-6-5-20x50-Viper-Rifle-Scope/129322310?iid=112855072909&_trkparms=aid=888007&algo=DISC.MBE&ao=1&asc=50526&meid=ee7e1e79c9774ba99112bf125e136d52&pid=100009&rk=1&rkt=2&sd=312015503279&itm=112855072909&_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982

    Ya can buy these scopes there for $428,9-470 every day new, just like this, lightly used Vortex Viper 6.5-20x50 PA Matte Riflescope with Mil Dot Reticle VPR-M-06MD, but this one "If" ya win the auction comes with a FREE 4" SunShade and FREE Warne Rings, (med or high) your choice.

    I realize ya said ya wanted some sort of BDC, but as someone that has hunt'd P-dogs in N. Texas and assuming you are planning on knowing your ballistic path of your rounds, as ya stated - then Mil-dot is the way to go IMHO. It a simple non cluttered recticle, that won't obscure the "dogs" but yet still allow the adjustments on the fly - (myself and the folks I hunt with all use mil-dot Leupolds, but then they are well above the budget ya listed above - whereas this Vortex may go at a bargin, even w/ the shipping cost and while I mostly prefer high-dollar Leupys, my one Viper is well worth what I paid for it - Vortex is a good product).

    Ya could possibly get this one well under the cost listed above - but even at $428-9 as I see several new, it is a good deal - no extras tho......

    ps - it's current had 1 bid for $350 + the $16 ship would be at $366 right now, wait until the final hour and check it then, ya might snipe a bargain

    To save time and money I use Auctionsniper. Set the max price you are willing to spend and turn it loose. It will bid 30 sec before the auction ends up to your max amount. If your max amount or less gets it, great, if not you didn't get caught up in a bidding frenzy and spend more than you wanted. Sometimes I win, sometimes I loose, but I never spend more than I want to or spend time checking back every day.
     
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