Shopping for a new target scope

[bigHUN]

I have tried over two dozen scopes in my recent years, bought and traded many until I settled finally what I am sure I will keep for a while.

Along the line I have learned and built my preferences, I like the best a high power glass that can zoom in and see the .22 holes at least 100 meter rings. In all weather conditions.

Currently dual purposing my Falcon X50T (Japanese glass - Long Range scope) between my Impact MK2 100 meter BR airgun and my new to me W308 f-class project gun.
I like this scope clarity very much, I can clearly see the 308 holes @ 300 M in a sipping rain and when the light conditions are right @ 500 M as well.
No need an external spotter with this scope.

Tinkering about permanently mounting this X50T on the 308 PB, and searching now for the next glass that I would dedicate to my MK2 for 100 meters BR.

My hope was to get the new Falcon T50i, but my favourite source at Krales removed it from inventory.
The T50i is slightly cheaper but reviews telling the glass may be even crispier then the X50T.

My benchmark is - place a business card @ 100 and read it.

A reticle something like this?

Any suggestions?

 

[Franklink]

"benchmark is to place a business card at 100"

I don't have any "this is the perfect scope for what you want to do" suggestions for you, but just wanted to comment how much I like your idea here. Scopes are so subjective...one guy will claim high IQ and another says blurry and trash image. Not much empirical data in "high IQ" or "blurry" or "hazy" etc. BUT, your idea of the business card is an awesome one. Could be further validated by a standardized font size on the card.

PS, I've also got an X50 and really like it for certain uses.

PSS, I can see .20 caliber holes @ 175 yards on 24x with my Athlon Midas Tacs. If you haven't yet had a fling with a Midas TAC, you might consider them.

 

[manabeknives]

what's the budget?

 

[thomasair]

There are lots of scopes that people recommend highly and I happen to own as well and find them complete trash for seeing at 100 yards. You're just gonna get a bunch of subjective answers that may mean nothing in your situation.

If you don't have mirage to deal with, then most scopes will seem great. Lots of scopes that look great when shooting over grass are completely useless when shooting over hard surfaces and mirage is bad.

Mike

 

[jps2486]

I've been using Sightron S3s for years. They work for me, but I have never had the chance of comparing them with Falcons although I've heard they are kind of the same. There are more expensive scopes out there if you want to spend more money. I just want to hit what I'm shooting at.

 

[thammer]

I love my Athlon 15-60x56 on the higher end of my personal scope budget. I also love my Vector Minotaur 46x60 34mm tube. It's a little less expensive but very crisp glass.

 

[bigHUN]

I have compared side by side couple Sightrons with Falcon in my gun clubs around, I have not seen any keeping a clarity at full power.
Rumours are both these coming out from the same assembly line, the Sightron metal cosmetically looks prettier, but the Falcon glass is Made in Japan vs the Philippines. Also some minor differences in glass coatings as well.
The X50 is rated as long range scope.

Mike, absolutely agree with you, along my years I got rid of at least two dozen brand new scopes because of reviews all over the spectrum. Lucky me I was researching prices well so not much loss on my pocket.
In contrast to your shooting places my ranges are green grass surrounded by tree lines, best to go shooting about noon when the moisture and Temp stabilizes and lasts about 4-5 pm. Temp stabilizes the wind is calming down.

Not much mirage at noon, my 100-200-300 meters BR I am facing East, I can handle it, but the wind is swirling like in a valley and that is bad. Late afternoon the sun is exactly behind my back, the target is full Halo, time to mount a good sunshade.
The 500 M range has a mirage and I am facing West, not good to go there in early morning or late afternoon.
Also I learned long ago, I prefer to shoot in sipping rain more then fighting windy days

 

[JW652]

You might want to check out Leapers. They have an offering with Schott glass at a relativelyaffordable price. Various reticles available. Good American company in Michigan.

 

[boscoebrea]

I find it frustrating at times to read scope recommendations.I will just say, why not stick with what you know you like? Another advice is to read all the info you can on the scope you are interested in. Oh, yeah, at times, I may seem hypocritical.
With so many opinions about scopes, it may be easier to "weed out". It is the glass that makes the scope,it is the precision this glass is installed, and the "pride".
What I know you need is the best coatings on great ED glass.
Why does each so-called manufacturer have over 4-6 different price ranges? What do all the manufacturers' top-of-the-line scopes have in common?

 

[bigHUN]

I last my train mid last summer for this T50i scope.
It was a group - preorder in Canada for some bigger volume, and the worst thing - incredibly priced at $640 CAD.
Today I cannot find any on shelfs in US or Canada, the British prices are skyrocketed, my favorites like Krales out of stock.
Yes, I can wait, but.... itching me

About a same situation happened to me a while back when I was buying my X50T.... the Brexit was a thingy, and I got this - NATO regulated scope - through a crack, from Netherlands. Later months some volume surfaced in Canada as well, but more then a double for a sticker price.

 

[boscoebrea]

Because I felt I may have been a little rude, today I looked through 22 of my scopes,which is about half of what I own....I learned a lot,I think the most important thing I learned was I was crazy for not keeping track of them,not selling the ones I am not ever going to use again, and number one thing= should have waited and saved up my money to pay for a lot better scopes that I would actuall use ans not worrying about replacing...
Ok ,here is a battleship scope I have Arken SH-4 GEN2 6-24X50,nice but too large for my liking ,the Aztec Emerald 5.5-25x50 I may like better,it is not better than the Arken,but it is smaller.
I have a Primary Arms scope I like,it does not have enough mag.X power for what you need though. Hawke Airmax and Sidewinder,both good,but I found the Sidewinder has a most stupid Xmas tree.I will stop there.
I have read good reports on Falcon,so the expensive Kahles. I am a Leupold fan, and I like the Bushnell Elite scope. Also, Check out the bigger Arken scope. Also, the top Sightron scopes have Japanese glass and are great scopes.
I want someone to get the top-of-line Discovery scope and report back.I like Discovery scopes.
So, you see, I am a hypocrite.

 

[JEFFPPC]

If mirage is your problem you need one of the Sightrons with the dual Parallex/ Focus knobs.I have a pair on long range rifle. Excellent repeatability and very bright..The dual knob set up is far superior to what everyone else has.

 

[steve123]

I'd go for the Athlon Heras 15-60x56 as far as best bang for the buck. Reported by higher level shooters I know - is you get ETR grade IQ but doesn't have illume.

Though I couldn't be happier with my Ares ETR 15-60 because I use the illuminated center dot more than I initially thought I would.

 

[JimD]

I don't know how it compares but I like my Athlon 10-40. But my main reason to reply is Pyramid has the t50i for $599.

 

[bigHUN]

....Pyramid has the t50i for $599.

That is $860 CAD after the currency conversion.
Also, I did not check it yet, but during previous US administration most of the "gun" scopes were ITAR regulated = me personally refused to pay $300 USD to a middleman for doing a export paperwork for Canada.
The madness? even the Made in China (USA) imported scopes were ITAR export regulated.
So, the math is a math, I keep searching...

 

[greenbeans]

The largest scope I have mounted to a gun (or vice versa in this case) is an ep5 g2 7-35 on my impact. Scope is awesome. It’s heave and big (as expected) but the glass is really nice. Turrets as well. Great bang for your buck imho.