Which scope for a 6.5creed?

Trevillian

Trevillian

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I picked up a Ruger American hunter in 6.5 creedmore (22" barrel) for some reason to be my center fire "precision" bolt gun. Even though the furthest I can possibly shoot is about 300yds and 100yds is max 99% of the time. But I'd love to be capable of a chance at 1k steel.

I don't know which scope would be a good value/fit. I've made my fuzzy little head explode trying to figure it out. I cringe at the thought of spending as much or more on the optic than the rifle. While understanding the reasoning.

So let's say $500 max and I'd really like to stay around $300.

I can't quite sell myself on the apparent go to of a fixed 10x yet either although I know that is a very good option.
 
Trevillian said:
I'd really like to stay around $300.

I can't quite sell myself on the apparent go to of a fixed 10x yet either although I know that is a very good option.
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It sounds like you’re aware that the SWFA 10x is a very good scope in that price range, but are hesitant to go that direction. FWIW, I like mine well enough that I picked up a second one for my rimfire build.

Consider the SWFA 6x as well. I think it would be a better fit for your expected ranges. All the SWFA stuff will go on sail a few times a year and you should be able to grab a scope and decent rings for under $300.
 
Trevillian said:
I picked up a Ruger American hunter in 6.5 creedmore (22" barrel) for some reason to be my center fire "precision" bolt gun. Even though the furthest I can possibly shoot is about 300yds and 100yds is max 99% of the time. But I'd love to be capable of a chance at 1k steel.

I don't know which scope would be a good value/fit. I've made my fuzzy little head explode trying to figure it out. I cringe at the thought of spending as much or more on the optic than the rifle. While understanding the reasoning.

So let's say $500 max and I'd really like to stay around $300.

I can't quite sell myself on the apparent go to of a fixed 10x yet either although I know that is a very good option.
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I have a similar build but I threw on a Vortex Diamondback tactical. I will say, get yourself one of those IR thermometer guns and find out when your barrel starts getting too hot that it doesn't group well. Sporter barrels get hot fast.
 
bk_aten said:
I have a similar build but I threw on a Vortex Diamondback tactical. I will say, get yourself one of those IR thermometer guns and find out when your barrel starts getting too hot that it doesn't group well. Sporter barrels get hot fast.
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Good point. My rar all weather in .308 shoots great but opens up as the barrel heats up.

The "Hunter" comes factory with a heavy contour barrel and the Magpul hunter stock. So shouldn't be as much of an issue👍
 
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Frack N Cylons said:
It sounds like you’re aware that the SWFA 10x is a very good scope in that price range, but are hesitant to go that direction. FWIW, I like mine well enough that I picked up a second one for my rimfire build.

Consider the SWFA 6x as well. I think it would be a better fit for your expected ranges. All the SWFA stuff will go on sail a few times a year and you should be able to grab a scope and decent rings for under $300.
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I like the SWFA 10X as well for ranges under 300 meters. My eyes are at the age now that a 10x scope won’t help much at 400-500 meters.
For those ranges I use an inexpensive BSA 6x24x50mm scope.
My SWFA 10x was only $299 couple years ago
 
Zbizzle911 said:
Here is a GEN 2 for just over $600 https://www.eurooptic.com/Vortex-Viper-PST-5-25x50-EBR-2C-MRAD-PST-5258.aspx

You could probably find a GEN 1 in a 6-24 for less than your budget. https://www.eurooptic.com/vortex-viper-pst-6-24x50-rifle-scope-ebr-1moa-pst-624s1-a.aspx
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Appreciate the links.

I've seen your threads in here with really nice builds. I was hoping for your (and others) insights on why exceeding my "budget" would be worthwhile and the reasons.

Talk to me like the newbie I am. I am not even familiar with what mrad is (I do know mils, kinda) or why it's advantageous over moa which all my other scopes are.

Thanks again.
 
chris69 said:
This doesn’t look like a bad deal if you would like to stay well under budget and give some business to one of our vendors

Product Description

Product Description | Camera Land NY
cameralandny.com cameralandny.com
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I actually intend to buy whatever I choose from him. I rarely buy scopes but always see he is active in his page for us with good deals. So I intend to support him finally.



I'm currently trying to learn. I understand the difference between 1k glass and a hundo glass. What I have is mostly lower tier Vortex and a single older Nikon. For this I want to experience the next level. Not Nightforce, etc. level but above the budget Weaver brand "long range" scope I have on my bench AR that seems nice til it's trigger time🙄
 
Trevillian said:
Appreciate the links.

I've seen your threads in here with really nice builds. I was hoping for your (and others) insights on why exceeding my "budget" would be worthwhile and the reasons.

Talk to me like the newbie I am. I am not even familiar with what mrad is (I do know mils, kinda) or why it's advantageous over moa which all my other scopes are.

Thanks again.
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Most everyone in the LR game speaks in mils or at least the ones I’m around do so speaking a common language is nice.

I have a gen 1 pst 6-24 I took out to a mile and it works great. Only complaint I have is they only have 5 mils per rev and it’s nice to have 10 mile per rev. My dasher is just over 8 mile at 1k so it’s still less than 1 rev this no math needed ie 5+3=8.

As for exceeding your budget. You should easily be able to find a used gen 1 pst around for under $500. A new in box one will be a bit more just personal preference. The biggest thing you need is repeatable tracking to shoot LR. When you try to go cheaper that’s one thing you lose. If 5 clicks are not always the same amount of adjustment then you’ll be chasing your tail.
 
I've found that at price much every price tier, Athlon beats the pants off its competition. Anything made by them is worth considering. If you can bring yourself to spend just a bit more, the Athlon BTR 4.5-27 ends up being amazing for the money. For quality it holds well against scopes multiple times what it costs.
 
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Gnash.Hyena said:
I've found that at price much every price tier, Athlon beats the pants off its competition. Anything made by them is worth considering. If you can bring yourself to spend just a bit more, the Athlon BTR 4.5-27 ends up being amazing for the money. For quality it holds well against scopes multiple times what it costs.
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Everyone I know in the LR game who's tried Athlon has had trouble with consistent tracking of the turrets.
 
Gnash.Hyena said:
Whereas everyone I know in the LR game who's gone with Athlon has had great results with consistent tracking of the turrets.
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Well maybe they've improved. Honestly I don't see many of them out in the wild, but that can change with the wind. I know they're trying to get more exposure.
 
Zbizzle911 said:
Well maybe they've improved. Honestly I don't see many of them out in the wild, but that can change with the wind. I know they're trying to get more exposure.
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Arken smokes them all. Close second would be the sightmark, third would be the Barska or the athlon Best bang for your buck and tracks great out to 1000 yards. Edge to edge quality and very forgiving eyeboxes. Absolutely no chromatic aberrations. Turrets are crisp and are always lined up with the marks.


Ps.. this is for humor
 
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" I cringe at the thought of spending as much or more on the optic than the rifle. "

After buying crap optics for years I have come to the conclusion that one should get the best glass they can afford. Now every rifle I own has a scope worth as much or more than the rifle. A good scope will last you many years and who is to say that you will even keep it on the same rifle? I will sell a rifle but rarely ever sell a scope. Generally a rifle will only shoot as well as the quality of the scope so keep shopping around and save your money. When you get the opportunity to shoot 1K the first thing you will realize is that it's not the rifle but the glass that will limit your abilities. The second thing you will realize is that you threw away $300-$500 on a scope that just doesn't cut it. We can all recommend scopes and magnifications and fixed vs variable power but until you look through them yourself you really don't know as everyone's eyes are different. If you go to a range see what others are using and politely ask them that you are looking for a scope and would they mind if you looked through theirs. Most shooters that I've met are nice folks and will help you out if you show a little respect and common courtesy.
 
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Downeast said:
" I cringe at the thought of spending as much or more on the optic than the rifle. "

After buying crap optics for years I have come to the conclusion that one should get the best glass they can afford. Now every rifle I own has a scope worth as much or more than the rifle. A good scope will last you many years and who is to say that you will even keep it on the same rifle? I will sell a rifle but rarely ever sell a scope. Generally a rifle will only shoot as well as the quality of the scope so keep shopping around and save your money. When you get the opportunity to shoot 1K the first thing you will realize is that it's not the rifle but the glass that will limit your abilities. The second thing you will realize is that you threw away $300-$500 on a scope that just doesn't cut it. We can all recommend scopes and magnifications and fixed vs variable power but until you look through them yourself you really don't know as everyone's eyes are different. If you go to a range see what others are using and politely ask them that you are looking for a scope and would they mind if you looked through theirs. Most shooters that I've met are nice folks and will help you out if you show a little respect and common courtesy.
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Agreed. And I've always said don't be influenced by fanboys. There are a lot of good scope companies out there. If you want to check out a bunch of different scopes then go watch a prs match near you. All the shooters will be more than happy to let you look through their optic. Heck someone will tell you that they have a spare rig in their truck with ammo if you wanted to shoot the match. You will be able to see leupolds, zco, tangent theta, nightforce, kahles, Vortex and a few more. You will see scopes ranging from the vortex strike eagle/pst range to the 4k scopes. I've ran pretty much all of them except for the tangents.

Sub 500 dollar scopes are iffy. This is no joke but I think the best in that range is the arken. For the price they are stupid clear and they track great for what I've used them for. But I would also never mount one on top of my PRS rig. I have to much money invested with reloading supplies, equipment, match fees, and traveling expenses that I'm not going to chance all that with an optic like that.

The best bells and whistles optic to me "in the sub 1k range" is the bushnell dmr 2 and dmr 2 pro. You can find these around 800 to 900 bucks right now. I was sent a new bushnell xrs 3 a month ago... it's a good scope for a 1700 dollar scope, but I would pick the dmr 2 over it.
 
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A friend of mine just sold a high-end Leupold and put the money on two Arken's! Am I missing something here?
 
Trevillian said:
Well, thanks to @Frack N Cylons . Guess I'm trying out fixed power and mrad🤣.

Thanks for that link. Couldn't pass that up
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you ended up with an SWFA fixed power? If so how have you liked it? I own several of them and they’re my go-to for evaluating a new rifle. I’ve found steel shims to use as a dirt cheap zero stop system in the SWFA SS.
 
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92G said:
you ended up with an SWFA fixed power? If so how have you liked it? I own several of them and they’re my go-to for evaluating a new rifle. I’ve found steel shims to use as a dirt cheap zero stop system in the SWFA SS.
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I did. 10x. Sadly haven't had time to do more than mount it. It's why I haven't been back to this thread.

But just handling and looking. It is a heck of a nice scope.
 
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Trevillian said:
I did. 10x. Sadly haven't had time to do more than mount it. It's why I haven't been back to this thread.

But just handling and looking. It is a heck of a nice scope.
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mine all dial and return to zero perfectly. The parallax adjustment ring is a little awkward but the nice part is that when slung over my back there’s no side parallax knob to dig into my side. Glass clarity is good. Not amazing but better than anything in the vortex viper line so I’m happy with it. I’ve taken my 20” 308 to 1000 yards with the SWFA 10x42 and was able to connect on steel. Mirage was limiting more than the glass. With 20 MOA rail the amount of vertical adjustment range is silly. If SWFA runs a Labor Day sale I might end up with another 10x42 mil. Did I mention I like these optics? 😊
 
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I mainly shoot MOA reticles, found it easy to keep up with. Also use the turret label from Custom Turret Systems, that really speed things up. I would advise you to look their website up, very accurate ballistic calculator. Personally I very seldom use over 14 power out to 1000yd, also check how much adjustment your scope of choice will have. I used to shoot the mile using Nightforce NXS but with the price of gas had to quit because of the 2 mile round trip.
 
Downeast said:
" I cringe at the thought of spending as much or more on the optic than the rifle. "
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It amazes me at the number of people that will spend over 1K for a rifle that is guaranteed sub MOA and slap a $99 Tasco with $10 aluminum rings on it. Then complain about the rifle being crap because it won’t shoot sun MOA.
 
Average Joe said:
It amazes me at the number of people that will spend over 1K for a rifle that is guaranteed sub MOA and slap a $99 Tasco with $10 aluminum rings on it. Then complain about the rifle being crap because it won’t shoot sun MOA.
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You have no idea how many times I see this in the shop. I also see a lot of crushed scope tubes. Rather than 18 inch pounds i think they are using 18 foot pounds lol
 
Joker00 said:
You have no idea how many times I see this in the shop. I also see a lot of crushed scope tubes. Rather than 18 inch pounds i think they are using 18 foot pounds lol
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Torque wrenches, we don’t need no sticking torque wrenches 🤣
 
Average Joe said:
Torque wrenches, we don’t need no sticking torque wrenches
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I've heard it all. They tell me that they tighten the bolts until the aluminum cap turns white. Then others tell me they have a calibrated elbow. Meanwhile you can feel the inside of the scope dragging when you turn the magnification ring lol
 
Whichever Athlon scope fits within your budget is the one I'd recommend. Their scopes are fantastic at any price point.

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