Looking for a FFP scope without breaking the bank
- Thread starter Airpusher68
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How big a bank are we talking?
There are some decent ones that have started popping up under the $100 mark. Though some may scoff at any scope under $300.
And does it need to handle a hard-bucking springer?
There are some decent ones that have started popping up under the $100 mark. Though some may scoff at any scope under $300.
And does it need to handle a hard-bucking springer?
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Arken. Can't beat it for the price.
Only downside is the scope is huge (34mm) tube and giant turrets, which equates to almost 2.5lbs of heft. The turrets are unreal for the price point.
Only downside is the scope is huge (34mm) tube and giant turrets, which equates to almost 2.5lbs of heft. The turrets are unreal for the price point.
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Look at Delta Optical Titanium 4.5-14x44 AO FFP.
Its a older scope with good reviews, should be fitting a rifle, but less suitable for bulpup due to 1 inch tube and lower range of adjsutment...
Its a older scope with good reviews, should be fitting a rifle, but less suitable for bulpup due to 1 inch tube and lower range of adjsutment...
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I have a Discovery VT-Z. It's FFP & glass is crystal clear. Even though inexpensive it's been a great scope for the bucks.
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It’s hard to go wrong with any of these $100- $500+ dollar scopes.
The Hawke Vantage 2x7x32 is probly the best $100-150 scope you will find out there and has that wonderful reticle as well.
https://www.amazon.com/Hawke-Sport-Optics-Vantage-Riflescope/dp/B00WN2669C
The Vector Optics Veyron and Discovery VT-3 scopes are both compact and lighter weight scopes in 3x12x44 with 30mm tubes. They are both decent for the money around $200 and both Mil/Mil scopes so none of that funky Hawke Mil/MOA stuff going on. So there is some give and take between the two and I like them both for what they are.
If you are going for an FFP the Veyron has a pretty thin reticle and it can get lost in a dark background at lower magnification. But it does focus down to 7 yards at full 12 power so that is not often a problem although your FOV will suffer. It weighs in at 17.6oz and has a nice Mil Hash reticle. It is available in a 2nd focal plane scope as well.
https://www.opticsplanet.com/vector-optics-veyron-3-12x44mm-rifle-scope.html
The Discovery will just barely focus to 10 yards if you turn the power down to 6 but it has a thicker reticle that is easier to pick up at lower magnification so it is not a problem either. It weighs in at 18.3oz and has a nice Mil Quad reticle. These are also available in 1st or 2nd focal plane.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000120149525.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.f9303d1dQzbaBT&algo_pvid=1af8c302-8873-4ad4-8c65-54cc14f64e57&algo_exp_id=1af8c302-8873-4ad4-8c65-54cc14f64e57-5
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001994490826.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.f9303d1dQzbaBT&algo_pvid=1af8c302-8873-4ad4-8c65-54cc14f64e57&algo_exp_id=1af8c302-8873-4ad4-8c65-54cc14f64e57-0
The Alph6 4.5x27x50 is in the same price range with very good glass and a very good scope for the money as well. Like the Veyron the reticle is a bit thin, for my taste, though.
https://www.budk.com/Aims-Alpha-6-4-5-27X50-30MM-Riflescope-With-MR1-MR-48240
If you can manage a bit more money the;
SWFA, Athlon, Aztec and Element scopes are not as compact or light weight as the others but have better glass and turrets.
SWFA fixed power scopes are an excellent buy as is the Athlon Talos BTR 4x14x4.
Good glass and turrets on this one;
https://www.swfa.com/optics/riflescopes.html#brand=SWFA%20SS
I don't have one of these but reviews are good;
https://www.amazon.com/Athlon-Optics-Riflescope-Illuminated-Reticle/dp/B01APT0G0E?ref_=ast_sto_dp
Aztec; I love the reticle on this one I have three of them;
https://www.airgunsofarizona.com/index.php?p=catalog&mode=search&search_in=all_but_description&search_str=aztec
Element; I think the turrets may be slightly better on this one;
https://www.pyramydair.com/search-results-ext?Ntt=helix&sid=1375A617A415&N=0&Ntk=primary&q=helix&cx=002970863286801882398:jlcminxfwdw&cof=FORID:11;NB:1&saSearch
Not sure if any of these will stand up to a springer.
The Hawke Vantage 2x7x32 is probly the best $100-150 scope you will find out there and has that wonderful reticle as well.
https://www.amazon.com/Hawke-Sport-Optics-Vantage-Riflescope/dp/B00WN2669C
The Vector Optics Veyron and Discovery VT-3 scopes are both compact and lighter weight scopes in 3x12x44 with 30mm tubes. They are both decent for the money around $200 and both Mil/Mil scopes so none of that funky Hawke Mil/MOA stuff going on. So there is some give and take between the two and I like them both for what they are.
If you are going for an FFP the Veyron has a pretty thin reticle and it can get lost in a dark background at lower magnification. But it does focus down to 7 yards at full 12 power so that is not often a problem although your FOV will suffer. It weighs in at 17.6oz and has a nice Mil Hash reticle. It is available in a 2nd focal plane scope as well.
https://www.opticsplanet.com/vector-optics-veyron-3-12x44mm-rifle-scope.html
The Discovery will just barely focus to 10 yards if you turn the power down to 6 but it has a thicker reticle that is easier to pick up at lower magnification so it is not a problem either. It weighs in at 18.3oz and has a nice Mil Quad reticle. These are also available in 1st or 2nd focal plane.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000120149525.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.f9303d1dQzbaBT&algo_pvid=1af8c302-8873-4ad4-8c65-54cc14f64e57&algo_exp_id=1af8c302-8873-4ad4-8c65-54cc14f64e57-5
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001994490826.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.f9303d1dQzbaBT&algo_pvid=1af8c302-8873-4ad4-8c65-54cc14f64e57&algo_exp_id=1af8c302-8873-4ad4-8c65-54cc14f64e57-0
The Alph6 4.5x27x50 is in the same price range with very good glass and a very good scope for the money as well. Like the Veyron the reticle is a bit thin, for my taste, though.
https://www.budk.com/Aims-Alpha-6-4-5-27X50-30MM-Riflescope-With-MR1-MR-48240
If you can manage a bit more money the;
SWFA, Athlon, Aztec and Element scopes are not as compact or light weight as the others but have better glass and turrets.
SWFA fixed power scopes are an excellent buy as is the Athlon Talos BTR 4x14x4.
Good glass and turrets on this one;
https://www.swfa.com/optics/riflescopes.html#brand=SWFA%20SS
I don't have one of these but reviews are good;
https://www.amazon.com/Athlon-Optics-Riflescope-Illuminated-Reticle/dp/B01APT0G0E?ref_=ast_sto_dp
Aztec; I love the reticle on this one I have three of them;
https://www.airgunsofarizona.com/index.php?p=catalog&mode=search&search_in=all_but_description&search_str=aztec
Element; I think the turrets may be slightly better on this one;
https://www.pyramydair.com/search-results-ext?Ntt=helix&sid=1375A617A415&N=0&Ntk=primary&q=helix&cx=002970863286801882398:jlcminxfwdw&cof=FORID:11;NB:1&saSearch
Not sure if any of these will stand up to a springer.
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I have the Veyron 4-16x44 FFP. I like it a lot, but that reticle is thin. Supposedly it's springer-worthy, but I'm not going to be the one to try it.
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I have the Helix FFP it was relatively cheap and it is absolutely great glass, clear images at good distances especially around 100-150 yards. I love it.
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Amen to this answer!
they should pin this answer to the very top of this forum to save countless time of new comers of this sport.
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I really like the Primary Arms 4-14x40 series. Most are FFP and at least one of them has a lighted reticle. I have a couple of them. Having said that, I am going to take a closer look at the Element scope since they are now a sponsor on this forum.
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For midrange, the Athlon Helos line is great but then again, we need to know your budget. Scopes in general are very subjective.
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Opticsplanet.com and SWFA.com both have a search feature that you can plug in various parameters (brand, min mag, max mag, price, FFP/SFP, reticle type, tube size etcetcetc) and then itll present those matching the criteria
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You could call Doug @ CameraLand in NY and ask what he has in your price range, great company to do business with.
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The Athlon Argos 6-24x50 is a great scope with reasonable glass for the money ($400 or less) if you like the Christmas tree reticle which has 40 MOA of verticle on it. Its twin brother, the Athlon Mdas Tac is very similar with better HD glass and similar reticle ($600).
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Sounds like a great deal but since I make shots shorter than 50 yards, 6x as a starting magnification is likely a bit too high. I would rather look at something like a 2-10 or 3 to 9. I have one of the Primary Arms 4-14, which is not bad but again, I want something I can use effectively for short, quick shots without going to a red-dot. I do a bit of rat shooting at around 20 to 25 yards and those babies move quickly!
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@sladesteele, the bulk of my rat kills are at your described 20 to 25 yards with a 6-24x50 scope. I've shot and killed mucho rats using the entire magnification range out to 55-60 yards. The Athlons are solid scopes for the money with great lifetime warranties.
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