Hey,

I figure I am going to have about $800 to spend-out the door on a new rifle/scope. What do ya'll think, should I look for a $600 rifle and a $200 scope or a $500 rifle and a $300 scope. I know the varibles are endless, but I have heard not to skimp on optics, so I was thinking about setting my limit on the scope first then getting a rifle in the remaining price range. The rifle would most likely be a .308.

-Camp_13

I learned a long time ago that a gun,any gun is only as good as the optics it wears. Spend as much as you can for a QUALITY scope and you will never be sorry...<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Hunt Safe!

Jack

I agree with Pajack.

I have been told a scope should cost(in most cases) as much as the rifle it tops. Now I know very few who actually do this, but I would say if you have a budget spend as much as you can on the scope and limit the spending on the rifle to a point. The other option is save a bit more money and buy what you want in both areas. Remember a good rifle and scope will repay itself and last a lifetime with proper care.

It maybe a tough pill to swallow, but buying a cheap scope and 600 rifle, may work, but it also may result in you buying the more expensive scope you originally wanted and out the smacks for the one on top of the gun case!!!

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I have to disagree here. For 90%, of all hunters that buy a Leupold Vari-III, Burris black Diamond or Kahles or whatever over 400 dollars, I bet I could secretly change them to a lesser brand that looked alike and they wouldn't know the difference. When I say lesser, I mean to a point like around 200 dollars. I bet most couldn't tell the difference in a VXII an VariX III just by shooting and looking thru them. But recently I found the difference in a good one and bad. I have gotten into target shooting 500 yards to 1000 yards. And with my 4.5-14X40mm Vari-X III, I can change the windage and elevation back to its original position everytime with no zero change at 100 yards. But how many hunters are actually going to change elevation or windage. I bet less than 10%. Its probably less than that. I would say most will only shoot the guns once a year. It all depends on what you are using them for.

When setting my gun up for long range shooting, I got the elevation and windage centered on my scope and mounted it so that was my zero at 100 yards so I would have plenty of adjustment left. I then shot 3 round groups, and raised the scope up and to left 6MOA, then down 12 MOA, then to the right 12MOA, then up 12 MOA, then to the left and down 6MOA. It made a perfect box and returned to Zero. I tried this on a older VariXII, with friction adjustments, and couldn't get this. But like I said, most hunters never will ultilize this. I know poeple that kill boone and crockets with simmons, but they never plan on moving thier zero.

But there is a point, where you notice the difference in clarity. And that breaks around 200 dollars.

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I truly believe we have more EGO wound up in scopes than quality.

I've never found a correlation in scope price and reliability....or even warranty either. As a matter of fact I've found it inverse!!!

In a few months, I'm taking my .300 H&H to Africa to hunt plains game and that Tasco that sit's on it is not being taken off.

Any scope over $200 is a serious waste of money in my opinion.....!

I had purchased a Kahle scope with a 42mm objective lens. One thing I had noticed about the scope was that it had less glare when looking towards the sun. I was able to look nearly directly at the sun and still see without any problems... I do think the higher price scopes do make a difference and not just in the pocket.

i used to think cheap scopes were just as good as expensive ones...i put a cheap tasco on my mauser and it lasted a year...the next year it breaks and i dont know yet and loose 2 deer and miss one and thats at under 50yds! every time i changed the power of the scope the crosshairs moved somehow! i foudn that out that summer when i savedgrass cutting money all summer and bought a leupold varix II 3x9x40...ok it was used but its got a lifetime warrenty and how could i pass it up for 150bux not a scratch on it and crystal clear?? i was looking for say a expensive tasco or simmons until the guy told me he had something just for the money in my pocket and its a great scope..i shoot it 4 or 5 times(100+rds) and taken 2 deer with it since the summer and its crystal clear and holds its zero like it should...man you hold a used leupold up thats a year old and a used tasco up you will see the diffrence! my leupold you se what your eyes see...the tascos are kinda blurry and have like a white tint to them...if you buy a 500$ gun and a 300$ scope you should have a good setup...you can get a brand new leupold varix 2 for about 300 or so depending on magnification and such...thats a pretty good scope..there are a few others in that range also....

I would not set an upper or lower limit on the rifle or scope. I have always thought That I need spend only enough to get the job done and enjoy doing it. If a gut is happy flashing around some super expensive equipment then maybe that turns his crank. If a guy brags that he got the world for a song then more power to him. Here is what works for me. I usualy have to save every dime for many months to purchase a new rifle and scope. I don,t want to spend a bunch of money for a Brand Name that is not a good value. I buy the best I can afford and I have never found the need to spend more. I just bought a new 22-250 rifle which I have wanted for 25 years. I bought a 700 ADL synthetic rifle new. The price was 379.00. I put a Bushnell Banner 4x12x40 scope on it in Weaver mounts and bases. The cost was 110.00 total for scope and mounting hardware. This set up is extremly accuurate and from expierance with Busnell scopes I expect it will last at least twenty years with just decent care. I have never had a minutes trouble with any of the 700 Remington rifles or Bushnell or Tasco world class scopes. Will I ever pay more than I need spend for quality??? NOPE.