$400 budget for scope

[mcoulter]

I'd like to stay under $400. Which one and why?

• Arken SH4 4-14X44 ($350)
• FX Element Helix 6-24x50 ($400)
• Athlon Optics 4-14x44 Talos BTR ($300)

I currently have a SWFA SS 16x and like it. If it was *just* a bit brighter and handle high-contrast lighting better, I'd not be asking this...

What I like:

• MIL not MOA
• Prefer smaller and lighter where possible
• Illumination not needed (in fact the fewer bells and whistles the better)
• I love the SWFA reticle. Anything similar would be fine. I DON'T like busy reticles
• Need to be able to survive on a springer and/or have a great warranty

Is there anything else I should be considering?

Thanks!

 

[Yo]

If you like the SWFA Mil Quad reticle then you'll PROBABLY like this scope. DAMN ITS CLEAR! Got it in a trade. I do own Couple of SWFA SS Scopes too. I'm not a scope snob. I'm a scope A$$HOLE. Yo!

 

[Skip-in-WV]

Take a look at the Vortex Diamondback 6-24. Superb glass. Easy to focus out to 55 yards (FT). On sale at Dvor for $315? I have 2 of them, and am going to use it this year for open class FT.

 

[Yo]

Here's it against one of my SS 3-15x42 FFP and DANG DISCOVERY OPTICS COPIED THE SWFA MIL QUAD RETICLE REALLY GOOD I MUST SAY! OH SORRY! I MEANT TO SAY BORROWED THE RETICLE DESIGN. Yo!

 

[Yo]

Just did a side by side and the DISCOVERY reticle IMHO is nicer than the $699 SWFA SS (OMG) SAD TO SAY!!! Yo!

 

[Yo]

OMG EVEN THE FOV IS NICER ON THE MINI ME WHEN COMPARED AT THE SAME MAGNIFICATION...WHATS GOIN ON HERE...HELL NO THIS CANT BE RIGHT???Yo!

 

[cmatera]

I have a Discovery VT-3 3-12 on my Leshiy. Nice scope for the $$.

 

[mcoulter]

Thanks guys! I added one more thing to my requirements:

• Needs to be able to survive on a springer and/or have a great warranty

That might rule out the discover...

 

[mcoulter]

Take a look at the Vortex Diamondback 6-24. Superb glass. Easy to focus out to 55 yards (FT). On sale at Dvor for $315? I have 2 of them, and am going to use it this year for open class FT.

I thought the diamondback would be a good choice too, but that is too busy of a reticle for me. Thanks though!

 

[Metalmaniac]

I have a Discovery VT-3 3-12 and I love it . It is a great compact scope for the money but next to no warranty. I wish a better quality version of this compact scope was made by a big name company with life time warranty. MM

 

[Yo]

VORTEX CROSSFIRE2 FRONT FOCUS AO. IDK WHY mine is clearer than my 6-24x50 side focus Diamondback Tactical. Yo!

 

[rangur1]

Falcon 3-18i - sold at SWFA. And blackhound is supposed to be bullit proof

 

[JungleShooter]

I wish a better quality version of this compact scope was made by a big name company with life time warranty. MM

You get your wish granted....



US Optics: TS-12X

3-12x44 FFP (gridded reticle)

$450 ($600 @ mnftr.)

Lifetime warranty

9.6" short

18.1oz light



Matthias

 

[Yo]

I'd rather buy 3 Discovery scopes and toss them in the trash if and when they break they're the same scope as that one. A friend of mine already did a comparison recently bought that one YUP it's the same scope! Triple the price. They toss it or YOU toss it that's how the cookie crumbles... Yo!

 

[Bask]

Salut YO, how are the turrets on that discovery? I like to mark the turrets to shoot for different distances. Are the turrets exact for clicks? I like the turrets on the SWFA.

 

[Keith Rush]

I vote for the Helix. It has a really nice reticle in MRAD or MOA. Internals for the turrets are metal, so the repeatability factor is there if you are dialing. Has the zero stop as well as a sunshade. Also has the Lifetime warranty, which is nice. I'm looking at this one myself for a P-rod carbine build. A lot of great features in a $399 scope that would cost a lot more in other brands. 

Keith

 

[Yo]

Salut YO, how are the turrets on that discovery? I like to mark the turrets to shoot for different distances. Are the turrets exact for clicks? I like the turrets on the SWFA.

It lines up perfectly CLICKS are positive but just so you know you pull up to click then press down to lock however it's still a Chinese scope and I personally wouldn't use it specifically for clicking for every shot but that's just me. I don't wanna find out on a missed shot someday. Yo!

 

[rwsmike]

I would go to midway...they have a few sightrons that are 45% off just a little over 400. Sightron is better than all three of the ones your picking trust me .

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1009424836?pid=636704

 

[Yo]

I would go to midway...they have a few sightrons that are 45% off just a little over 400. Sightron is better than all three of the ones your picking trust me .

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1009424836?pid=636704

OMG I JUST PAID $100.00 MORE THAN THAT FOR A USED ONE RIGHT HERE FROM THE CLASSIFIEDS! Yo!

 

[mcoulter]

I have had a Sightmark before. It was just a small 3x for a crossbow, but it was SUPER clear.

I'm wondering if I would find any clearer glass for $400 (or less) than this one:

SightMark Citadel 3-18x50mm MR2

https://www.opticsplanet.com/sightmark-citadel-3-18x50mm-mr2-riflescope.html 

FWIW, I really do like the element, but I'm not willing to wait for it to come out. (Just ordered a new brocock sniper hp.)

So the runners up are the Athlon Talos and Blackhound. I'd love to hear from anyone who owns (or has used) any of these scopes!

Thanks!