Best scope for .308 around $500.00 ?????
 

I recently added a Savage model 10 .308 to my arsenal... I have traditionally used Leupold scopes but the last scope I bought was a Zeiss 3/9 x 40 Conquest ( put on a Tikka .25-06). I like that scope ok I guess. I will say it is tricky at times at the highest power to acquire an optimal view ... I am no optics expert but I think it may be a noticeable decrease in eye relief causing the decrease in ease of target acquisition at the highest power.

My question would be ... What scope for the Savage model 10 .308 ? It has a fluted bull barrel and will be used to punch paper and possibly some intermediate range ( nothing over 300 yards ) bean field white tail hunting...

What I have been considering... Zeiss Conquest, Leupold, and Vortex Viper.

I am willing to spend a little more if needed..

Thanks for reading !!!

I think your choices are probably the best out there and for the money. I like a little more magnification than most guys for those little bit longer shots. I would suggest around 12-15x power so you can zoom in and make a cleaner shot out to that 300yds range.

Thank you for your response Stapher !!! I think I am going to go with the Vortex Viper HS in a 4-16 x 50... just don't know as much about them as I do the other brands...

When you mount your next scope, put it on high power before tightening the rings and find your best eye relief position. You can always move your head back on low power and still have a good cheek weld, not so much the other way around.

Thanks OC !!! That's great advice !!!

Looks like ur all set:rock::rock:

Thanks for the reply Edward..... Not sure I am set but I think I am going to try that Vortex... Hope its not a mistake !!!!!

I have a friend who bought 2 of the vortex vipers, both are on long range shooting rifles, they both track amazingly well, we shoot out to 1100 yards.
RR

Does anyone here know where the Vortex scopes are manufactured now? Does the Viper line come from China? I believe their top dollar (Razor) imports are still from Japan.

The Zeiss Conquest scopes have fixed eye relief, the 3-9x is 4" at all magnifications. The tradeoff is your eye has to be in just the sweet spot each time. Leupold's eye relief varies depending on magnification. As a result, it is a little more tolerant to eye position, or as they put it I think, "eye box". There are a lot of good scopes in the $500 range, you can't really go wrong. I run a 3.5-10x Leupold on my 7mm mag, and for hunting it would be fine to 300 yards easily. I personally love that scope. My 300rum carries a 4.5-14x leupold, and I find the eye relief a little more fickle than I'd like. It seems to be isolated to my scope as a lot who run the same glass don't have that issue. At times I find it limiting for hunting, 4.5x doesn't allow a lot of close up shots if they happen. If or when I replace it, it'll be a VX6, or some other 5 or 6 factor zoom scope.