I'm thinking about upgrading scopes on one of my rifles and would appreciate suggests in the $500 range. Below is our current set up and if I upgrade, it would be on the .308 unless you can convince me otherwise. I hunt with both guns and my son can now hunt with both. Shot distances are not too long up at the farm, but there are some spots where current scopes can struggle at last legal light. The last few years I've hunted public gas/power lines so have opportunities for 300+ yard shots. I'm a pretty big fan of Vortex and have been looking at their Viper HS 4x16x50.

Full size Ruger American .308 with Leupold VX-1 3x9x40
Compact Ruger American 7mm-08 Vortex Crossfire II 3x9x40

Leupold VX-3 HD

If you upgrade the Leupold VX-1, I’d be interested in buying it.

If you plan to hunt a powerline and have a 300 yard shot I have some advice for you. I had such a spot in my last club. Even at 200 yards in the evening (after 4pm), it was difficult to see a deer with the naked eye versus using the scope. I usually sat there with my 270 with a Nikon monarch 3 4-16x50. To be honest, it is a pretty good scope, but it struggled at higher magnifications. So I rarely turned it up over about 12.

On my 308 tactical rifle, I have a Minox ZX5 3-15x50 with a 30mm main tube. It's probably twice the $ of the Nikon, but I can use if effectively up to 15X.

I also think another misconception about the higher magnification scopes is that when you turn one up to 15 there is this giant difference compared to a 3-9. At closer distances, there is, but as the range increases it is less so.

I'd get a 30mm main tube scope, and heavy duplex or german reticle. That will probably price out of your range unfortunately. When I hunted that place in my last club, realistically after about 5pm, there was no point sitting there anymore, I had no idea what I was shooting at if it was 300 yards out. It was a dark "blob" for lack of a better term. Even if I pulled the trigger at one at that range I would have no idea what happened to it unless it dropped in its tracks. My last sit there I had 2 deer in the field. Even at 200 yards I couldn't tell if the doe I was looking at was really a doe or a button head. Had one come out at the far end, which was a hair over 300 yards, and it was just a deer. I wouldn't have known if it was a buck unless it sported some really nice antlers.

Joe, i bought a vortex viper last year for around $400 on sale that has been a pretty good scope. Also bought a bushnell nitro for around $300 1/2 off that was well worth what i paid. If i was you i would watch out for sales and try to get the most for your $500.

Have a Viper HS 4-16X44 and it can see past time where I can't make out anything in the field. I'd recommend it if you wanted to go the Vortex route. I have an older VXIII in 3.5-10X50 that has been bulletproof for almost 30 years and an older Monarch 3 in 3.5-10X50 that has been great as well. Glass on the Vortex is much clearer than the Monarch and on par or slightly above the VXIII.

I like the Leupold VX-R but I have learned from reading threads here on Aldeer that it was discontinued?

Supposedly the VX3HD illuminated models were a direct replacement for the VXR’s.

I would go with a 50mm variable power scope, but not over 12x.
If you can find one of the old Bushnell Elite made in Japan scopes, they are fine glass and will be in your budget. My daughter has one and I like it better than the new Leopolds we have.

Any of the Nikon Monarchs, Leupolds, Vortex, etc…. In their upper end scopes are going to be good glass. You should be able to find a quality scope in your price range. Just remember, the sighting system on your rifle is probably the most important feature of your weapon. Of course you want a crisp trigger, an accurate round, etc…. But if you can’t see what you are shooting then you dang sure can’t hit it.

All that being said, two important features to consider from my perspective is ….. I like smaller crosshairs and I like a single crosshair in my scope. I want to see and don’t want my field of view cluttered with a bunch of secondary sighting lines. You aren’t doping scopes and shooting gongs, you are deer hunting. At 300 yards your guns can shoot flat enough with appropriate ammo that you don’t need more lines on the scope in my opinion.

My 2 cents.

I’ve gotten two Viper PST 4-16x50 on sale for around $500. They run the HS on sale on Midway and Optics Planet for way less than that occasionally. I like Vortex a lot. I had a few issues with Leupold over the years. Went with Vortex on my last few and no complaints.

Thanks guys, I appreciate all the feedback.

Sounds good, I’ll let you know if it becomes available.

I just bought a vortex diamondback tactical for longer shots and I shot at 300 last week. It did fine, I can’t speak to it at low light.
I would look for a meopta in your price range. I’ve got several and to me, it’s hard to beat the glass for the money. I think the new optika 6 line can be had for $5-600 depending on the model. 30 mil tube.

Get a 50mm objective diameter for good light. Also remember to get a scope with a lower minimum zoom, for best light. 3-9x50 Zeiss Conquest is hard to beat.

I shoot the exact same gun in 308. It has a Viper 3x9x50. Son has a RA 243 and it has Viper 2x11x44. Like others have mentioned they go on sale from time to time.

I used to shoot just fine with the cheapest scope I could find. Now, at my age, I NEED the top of the line German or Austrian glass because my eyesight is fading. It really makes a difference to me now. I wish there was an American made optic that could compete in quality at a more affordable price.

First Post Nailed It (FPNI)

I have at least 10 Zeiss and Swarovski scopes.

My last two scope purchases have been a Leopold VX5HD & VX6HD.

Both are as good if not better than any of my European scopes.

Wait?..? What??? Matt Brock totes Vortex scopes?!!!? This won’t be received well by some folks!

I MUCH prefer good a good quality scope with a 40mm objective over any 50mm objective.

I would get a 40mm (44mm tops if it is quality model you like). Tests have shown the limiting factor isn't really the scope objective size, but the human eye can only allow in just so much light. 40mm objectives allow the maximum light that our eyes can use.

Also, big 50mm objectives make for unbalanced and top heavy rifles in my experience.