mwsenoj, after I posted recommending the Vortex Viper 2-7x32, I noticed that you are looking at shots out to 500yds. Although I would rather sacrifice some power in favor of glass quality, 7x might be a little short for your application.

I'm no expert on varmint shooting but I think most would claim that it's a tall order to get a decent long range scope for $250. You might want to consider the Vortex Crossfire line. The glass and build is not as good as the Viper, but you can get a 6-24x50 scope for 99 bucks at SWFA, which is 70% off retail. I don't have one but most seem to be happy with them. Lifetime transferrable warranty along with great CS.

At $99, you can then save up for something a little better down the road.

I'd also recommend one of the Vortex Vipers. A best buy in their price range imo.

Thanks again for the advice all. I ended up going with the Redfield 4-12X40 with the Acu-Range reticule. The tipping points for me to pick this one were the reticule having the different aim points and the zoom range. I also liked that Redfield is a sibling company of Leupold. After getting the scope, the only thing that I do not like is the click on the scope adjustments. It is not crisp and has play when it goes back the opposite direction. Overall, I am happy with my purchase, but next time I will go into a gun store to look at the scopes hands on. I live in a small rural town and there is not a decent gun shop near so I made this order online.

The Vortex is a good scope, as are the Bushnesll Elite series (although there customer service is terrible). I would personally stay away from 50mm objective scopes as they require high rings that make a good cheek weld impossible. As far as "power" needed for long shots, the longest shot I ever witnessed was an antelope my dad shot at 550 yards +/- a few. He was using a straight 6x scope and had no problems. He had a friend shoot a large Mule Deer in Colorado across a canyon one year using a 4x scope at what they estimated to be near 700 yards (before rangefinders). Scope power doesn't make up for lack of practice.

I've stated this in about 100 threads so far. Just check these out.

http://www.muelleroptics.com/

Especially this one...

http://www.muelleroptics.com/products/MU41650IGR

You can get them for...

http://swfa.com/Mueller-4-16x50-Spor...ope-P9135.aspx

Now, I'll re-tell my story about my friend who owns a sporting goods store and can (and HAS) have any scope on the planet on his rifles. He has had Leupold, Swarovski, Zeiss, Nikon, and all the others on his rifles and ended up prefering Springfield which now are unavailable because of building scopes for our military. He ended up putting the Mueller's on all his rifles. He swears by them. So I got one and agree with him. (Mine replaced a Nikon Monarch). I just ordered another one.

http://www.muelleroptics.com/reviews

Are these guys new? I couldn't find many reviews on opticsplanet.

That's not a good site at all to check for reviews. I've heard reports from guys that have tried to leave a negative review on that site, and they wouldn't approve it, so it seems like they don't post negative reviews quite often and only positive ones. That being said Mueller has been around a while and they are popular on rimfirecentral.com

Mueller doesn't advertise and goes by word of mouth. If you want reviews from gunwriters and other publications (then Meuller's site) here's a couple...

http://www.muelleroptics.com/media/img/cms/189.jpg

Smoking Gun Shooting Team, Shane Hurkmans

The scope I tested was the Mueller 8.5-25×50 AO red dot. Here is what I did in my shop with the scope. First I put it on my bench 22lr rifle and sighted it in. then I shot the scope for square. This test is five shot groups, then I turned the scope left nine clicks and shot five more then up nine clicks and right nine then nine down. When the last five were right in the same place the first five were not to bad for having five miles an hour winds . When I took the scope off the 22 and put it on my 375 H&H. I took the rifle and put it on the bench that I use for test actions in a vise, strapping the gun down and the butt of the gun up tight against a block wall so the recoil of the gun would not go back. This way the scope has to take all the force of the recoil. After 100 rounds from that, I shot the scope for groups on the 22 again. Then I put it on my 50cal BMG and shot 20 rounds through it. Then back to the 22 for the final test to see if it held center. After this test, I think this scope will hold up to just about anything you can do to this scope. Most scopes in this price range would not hold up to all this.

Dear Mueller guys and gals,

I have to admit, I was skeptical. Life is too short for bad optics and ruined hunts, but my pockets aren’t deep enough anymore for the super-premium scopes with their price tags of $700 and up. I first discovered Mueller optics on eBay and then did a lot of searching various websites for reviews. I even contacted you at one stage to talk about coatings. Finally, I just did it. I bought Tac II to put on a Browning A-Bolt in 338 Win.

The image quality of this scope is superb. Color and light transmission are equally superb. It’s well made and well finished. Best of all – it shoots, man does it shoot. Check out the photo from my efforts at the range at 100 yards. This group size is phenomenal for a hunting rifle. Even more impressive is the final shot, the lowest of the three – I adjusted the scope ¼ down and ¼ left and guess what? That is EXACTLY where the Tac II put it – and if I hadn’t moved it, the group would be even smaller again.

I have a couple of mid-range Nikons and a top of the range Burris Black Diamond – they’re good scopes, but this one is better, and much cheaper. My buddy who witnessed the group has a number of high-end Zeiss and Leupold scopes – he felt the Mueller was equal to or better than anything he has, and now he wants one!

I am convinced and very very happy. Thanks.

Tim

http://www.snipercentral.com/muellertac.htm

http://scopesguide.com/Mueller-Optics-overview.html

Would I rather have a Zeiss Conquest? Certainly. But not for awhile. This sun shield (Mueller) costs $14.00. The Zeiss costs $58. They both work. And also find a Conquest or most other big dollar scope with the lighted dot. That is a sweet feature in early morning and late afternoon hunting.