Yet another HMPaSp (Help Me Pick a Scope post)

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mcoulter

mcoulter

Member
Dec 16, 2015
1,190
128
Syracuse, NY, USA
OK, I am looking to upgrade to a clear and reliable scope. My experiences thus far are with a variety UTG scopes and an AEON scope that I won awhile back. The AEON is decent, but not reliable. (Side AO stops don't work right and will go out of adjustment causing only the bottom 1/3 of the field-of-view to be sharp.)

I'll be mounting it on a cricket but I typically do play musical scopes, so I want to avoid "compact" scopes. Here's what I'm looking for:

Cost = under $350
Max zoom = 16x or higher
Weight = lighter is better (I'd rather go with a lighter 16x scope than a heavier 24x scope)
Length = 14" seems about right
Reticle = must be an etched style reticle and mildots are preferred
Illumination = would be nice but can live without
Focal plane = probably 2nd, I can't see any benefit to FFP in how I shoot

  • The Vortex 4-16x44 Diamondback Tactical Riflescope (EBR-2C MOA Reticle) checks most of my boxes, but the reticle is SUPER busy looking. 
    B&H Photo has them for $299.
  • The Hawke Sport Optics Vantage 4-16x50 AO Mil Dot IR also seems like a good match and pretty inexpensive. Not crazy about having turret caps though. The reticle seems plain but functional.
    Optics Planet has them for $180.
  • The Hawke Sport Optics Vantage 30 SF WA 4-16x50 1/2 Mil Dot IR is at the upper limit of what I want to spend. Dang it, I can't see any down side other than the reticle is in mrad.
    Optics Planet has them for $349.
  • The SightMark Core TX 4-16x44MR might be in the sweet spot for me. I have used a sightmark crossbow scope before and was really impressed with its clarity. The reticle seems clean and functional.
    Optics Planet has them for $269.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be great! Right now I'm leaning towards the sightmark.








 
Man, if you raised your budget just a little more!

Athlon Midas TAC is SOOOOO much higher in quality than those, and pretty much all the scopes in this price range, aaaand beats out many scopes costing twice what the TAC does. Seriously it's that good!!!!!!!

I'm selling my LNIB Midas TAC 4-16x50/APRS2 mil reticle - "only because I just got in a Ares BTR Gen2 4.5-27x50!!". Why??, I prefer the .2 mil reticle and I need 27x on the top end.

$495 shipped. Anyone is welcome to send me a message if interested.
 
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Hi folks,

Thanks for the feedback! I also received some off-line suggestions and I just placed my order for the SWFA 16x SS. Joe W. has always praised these scopes and this video was really the one that sealed the deal for me :)





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FlLYktM0rk

Click to expand...

I can't imagine you being disappointed with a SWFA scope, assuming that the minimum parallax range is not a deal-breaker. They get outstanding praise from their customers, more than just about any other brand out there.

PT
 
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The SWFA SS 16x42 arrived today (just in time for the weekend). It is rear focus / AO as expected.

I'll have more tomorrow as it was too dark to get a feel for how clear the glass it at normal distances.

Edit: I have made a first impressions post here:
https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/swfa-ss-16x42-initial-thoughts/

1578101022_2420086975e0fe91e2fefa5.22548137_IMG_20200103_201753.jpg
1578101022_11130015255e0fe91ebe8497.89194809_IMG_20200103_201736.jpg
1578101023_20234358795e0fe91f763674.67255530_IMG_20200103_201729.jpg

 
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