Scope for .243 caliber rifle

[steve_b_wales]

I have a .243 rifle with a S&B Zenith 2.5-10x56 scope. Although this scope is an excellent one,I don't see the point in having such an expensive scope on a rifle that I use mainly for lamping. It was purchased because I did a lot of stalking, which I no longer do. Therefore it will soon be up for sale once I buy another one.

I'm looking for a good scope that will be suitable for this rifle, and would like to pay up to a few £100 max. I am also happy to buy a quality second hand one.

Two I've looked at are the Nikko Sterling Targetmaster 6-24x56 and the MTC Mamba 4-16 x50. Has anyone any views on these scopes, or can suggest something suitable. The scope would have to be 30mm. I know it's a minefield out there, and there are so many good scopes (and bad ones) for sale.

 

Steve.

[apache]

I have an MTC on my .22 and optically it's very clear for the money. TBH under a lamp most scope will do you ok, even the better Hawke ones.

 

Why not go and have a look through some?

[apache]

Oh and you may be disappointed downgrading! Nothing is going to be a patch on what you've got.

[Mungler]

Don't do it Steve.

 

You will immediately notice and get sick of the poor eye relief, blurring and inability to use it in low light.

 

Everyone has tried to get a scope "nearly" as good as something like an S&B 8x56 without paying S&B money, and it just doesn't work.

 

If you do manage it, let me and everyone else know...

[kent]

Have you been drinking or something? You will regret that move :blink:

[steve_b_wales]

Oh and you may be disappointed downgrading! Nothing is going to be a patch on what you've got.

 

I know there will be a hell of a difference if I downgrade. It's just that, with the money I'll have left from the sale of the Zenith and the purchase of a lower priced scope, I can buy something else (even another gun!)

 

Have you been drinking or something? You will regret that move :blink:

 

It's just a thought that been mulling about in my mind recently. I just feel that having a scope worth £1200 + on a rifle that I hardly use, and then only for lamping, it's a bit of a waste, even though its excellent in quality.

[Dekers]

I'm really NOT with everyone who knocks less expensive scopes all the time suggesting optics are far superior in silly expensive scopes.

 

There are PLENTY of scopes today at sensible money that have remarkably good optics, but they are generally somewhat let down with build quality.

 

Just the same you will only notice a SMALL difference in optical quality over "some", JSR, Hawke, Nikko etc scopes, and if this particular scope will be mainly used for Lamping, then with a decent lamp all should be well.

 

I am not for one minute suggesting Every £100 scope is as good as a £1000 scope, but I think many have worse eyes than me that keep suggesting EXPENSIVE scopes are a "world" better, they are NOT, they are generally a LITTLE bit better optically. Where the plus usually becomes noticeable is dialing in, holding zero, general finish and build quality!

 

For Example, my less than £50 JSR on my .223 has taken 8 V Bulls and 2 Bulls at 600 yards and the shooter, not even me, freely admits it should have been 10 V Bulls but he missed the wind change on the flags

 

ATB!

[steve_b_wales]

I'm really NOT with everyone who knocks less expensive scopes all the time suggesting optics are far superior in silly expensive scopes.

 

There are PLENTY of scopes today at sensible money that have remarkably good optics, but they are generally somewhat let down with build quality.

 

Just the same you will only notice a SMALL difference in optical quality over "some", JSR, Hawke, Nikko etc scopes, and if this particular scope will be mainly used for Lamping, then with a decent lamp all should be well.

 

I am not for one minute suggesting Every £100 scope is as good as a £1000 scope, but I think many have worse eyes than me that keep suggesting EXPENSIVE scopes are a "world" better, they are NOT, they are generally a LITTLE bit better optically. Where the plus usually becomes noticeable is dialing in, holding zero, general finish and build quality!

 

For Example, my less than £50 JSR on my .223 has taken 8 V Bulls and 2 Bulls at 600 yards and the shooter, not even me, freely admits it should have been 10 V Bulls but he missed the wind change on the flags

 

ATB!

 

I agree with your comments.The clarity etc on my Zenith is brilliant,and I know that a lot of scopes won't come near it in quality etc. I used to have a Hawke Endurance 30 series 3-12x50 scope on my .22-250, and, for the money, it was excellent. Good clarity, even at full zoom. I used it for long range rabbit and crow shooting with good results. I suppose if I put this scope and the Zenith side by side, and tried them out, then I would see the difference. I will have to think hard on what to do.

[njc110381]

I've just put an MTC Mamba on my .223 and I'm very pleased with it. There's also the option of something like a Bushnell Elite - also good but not as good as the Schmidt.

 

If you're interested in the Bushnell, drop me a PM with what you'd like for the S&B. I may be interested in swapping with a cash adjustment.

[kent]

It's just a thought that been mulling about in my mind recently. I just feel that having a scope worth £1200 + on a rifle that I hardly use, and then only for lamping, it's a bit of a waste, even though its excellent in quality

 

 

And yet sold second hand you will loose enough monet to buy a half a dozen or so of the other ones. A good scope is a lifetime investment, set the cost off anually over 30yrs and compare with all the plasic lens or gimikery rubbish, guns though they come and go

 

I in no way agree with Dekkers on the quality statement

[njc110381]

A good scope and mount combination certainly is a dream to use compared to the cheap stuff. My only really decent scope is an old 8x56 S&B, given to me by my mentor when I started to go on my 6.5. It's probably nearly as old as I am, yet the optics are still perfectly clear and the zero never moves. I've dropped the gun, thrown stuff on it in the truck - you name it, it's happened but the trusty old S&B still shoots to exactly the same point as it was set to!

 

I've had loads of other scopes and none of them compare apart from maybe an old Docter I have on my LR. That doesn't move either! I'm 100% with kent - I change rifles all the time but that old Schmidt isn't going anywhere!

[al4x]

Steve I'd sell the rifle if you aren't using it rather than put a cheapie scope on it. Have a decent one on your 22-250 and thats fine for foxing. Lamping personally I think you do need the best optics you can put on its the difference between getting an id and not. Last light when you see most foxes its also worth a good number of foxes,

[Dekers]

 

I promise you the current £800+ Leupold I had has no better optics than my......

 

http://www.jsramsbottom.com/products/riflescopes-jsr-optics/jsr41644-jsr-target-4-16x44-px-adj-mil-dot-riflescope.html

 

........ RIGHT UP TO 16X Mag!

 

....as regards pretty much everything else the Leupold wins, but it costs 18 times as much.

 

There are cheap scopes and cheap optics but some of you guys have obviously not looked through the above JSR (and other JSR, etc).

 

Don't get me wrong, and please read my previous post CAREFULLY, you really will be surprised if you look through one of these!

 

ATB!

[al4x]

Leopold aren't known for their low light ability. We're looking at a quality scope here.

[bullet boy]

Don't do it Steve!That Zenith scope is nothing short of superb!If you do go ahead to change I would advise either a Bushnell Elite,Nikko Sterling Nighteater or a Simmons Whitetail Classic 3.5-10x50 scope which is a superb value for money scope!Howard Heyward from Sporting Rifle magazine uses the Simmons WTC scope on his .223 for Lamping.

Keep me informed mate.

[Mr_Logic]

Deker mate, my eyes disagree on the optics front there it is certainly not 18 times better mind.

 

The idea of not having a Schmidt for lamping is a fair one. I see the point and it makes sense; little benefit is derived from that scope under the lamp anyway (though there is definitely some).

 

However, going right the way down to Chinese tat on a .243 is daft. I think you will see acceptable optics from a Bushnell 4200, Leupold VX-3 or nikon Monarch. I have all of them, and the Leupold is better (VX-III) in my case.

 

However, GMK have done the usual with the prices (remember when they went silly, the excuse was 'dollar exchange rste' - never came back down though did they?!). given the high cost of Leupold now, my choice is the Bushnell in this situation. 500 or so quid and very good indeed.

[swift]

for the money I don't think you can beat a Bushnell elite 4200 4x16x50 had one on my .243 for 8 years now and see no reason to change not far behind a zeiss I have

on another rifle and it was allot better then a leupold VX-III 6.5x20x50 I also had. you can get 6 scopes form the same manufacturer and they can vary slightly.

I've been told Bushnell use the same glass in there new 6500 scopes as they did in there 4200 scopes.