Help! Scope Minefield

[The Gun Pimp]

Basically - if you are looking to shoot out to 1000 yds with any kind of competency you'll appreciate at least 32 power. Most scopes these days are 'zoom' so look for an 8-32.

Up to £500 will only get you Chinese in this mag range - there are lots of £125 Chinese scopes with £500 price-tags - beware. You don't always get what you pay for!

If you can stretch to Japanese optics then Sightron offer exceptional scopes at reasonable cost with great after-sales.

Check out http://www.foxfirearmsuk.com for £125 Chinese 8-32 scopes and Aimfield Sports for Sightron.

As BamBam says - don't pay for illuminated reticles if you only shoot in daylight.

Are the Fox Firearms scopes any good? Almost seem too good for that price?

Do they come with a warranty?

Many years ago, Brian (Fox) and I went to the IWA Show in Germany to try and source a reasonable quality budget (Chinese) scope with good optics and reticle. We found one. We also found the same scope was already on sale in the UK, badged with different names, for outrageous price mark-ups! Brian's mark up is realistic and the latest generation is a ridiculously good 8-32 scope for £125. Lots of Diggle shooters start their long range (1000 yds) shooting career with one and, when you can afford something better, it makes a great spare scope.

Does it come with a warranty? Well, Brian has seen very few problems and he has sold hundreds. In the rare event that there is a build fault with the scope, he will usually simply replace it - but, be reasonable - this is a budget Chinese scope not a Schmidt & Bender!

[techguy]

Being a bit of an optics whore, I have tried all sorts in my time, I love S&B PM2's but during recent kit rationalisation I have looked at others also, the vortex vipers are fantastic scopes for the money and they are sometimes found on the forums for around £500 I would say if you see one snap it up quick.
Bushnell elites are very good the 6-24 models are good, we have one on our new club rifle and in the past I had one on my AR15, at the moment I have a 3-21 elite DMR on my .260 it is cracking and I can't fault it at all but slightly over your budget.
Now for budget scopes look at the MTC viper they do an 8-32 and a I think 6-25 tactical turrets all the bells and whistles andgood for the money around £300.
And don't discount the Hawke sidewinders of the same power range, my boy has one on his .308 and it works a treat picked it up second hand for £200

Kev, what do you think of the MTC viper? I bought one on a whim as I'd heard good things about them (for budget scopes) but not mounted it on anything yet..

My 2p is as follows:

Vortex are really good for the money and the warranty is unbeatable. Availability can be patchy, depending on which model you're interested in.

I have a few vortex optics and they're all great. But have I have started on the Leupold road recently. The glass is better, but at a price!

Hawke are also pretty decent for the money. Had a low power one before on my 15-22 and I'd have another!

[pe4king]

I very nearly went for the viper, but the Hawke came up at a better price, out of the 2 buying new I would probably go for the mtc, I would rate it as a lot of scope for the money.

[phaedra1106]

If you're looking at MTC the Genesis is a lot better glass than the Viper, the Viper is prone to "white out" at higher mags. I picked up a Sightron 8-32x56 in the USA a couple of years ago, just over £500 and well worth it, chalk and cheese compared to my previous Viper and Taipan scopes.