A basic scope for 300 win mag.
- Thread starter Stonefly_Soldier
- Start date
A $100 scope on a 300 mag might not last a full box of ammo. You really need a decent scope. The more expensive scopes are better, but you don't need to spend a fortune. $200 will buy a scope that will work just fine. A $200 scope will probably be about 500% better than a $100 scope, but a $400 scope may only be about 10% better than a $200 scope. The more expensive scopes are better, but most folks will never notice the difference.
Stay with a 3-9X40. You get more scope for you money in that range. Going up to a 4-12 just costs more and does not offer you a single advantage. Set at 9x, it is more scope than you can use with a 300.
There are a few $150 scopes that are decent, if you can go up to $200 you will see a big improvement over the $150 scopes. Some I'd suggest are:
Redfield Revolution ~ $160
Nikon Prostaff ~$150
Burris Fullfield II~ $180 (old version)
Burris Fullfield E1 ~$200 (new version)
Nikon Buckmaster ~$200
Vortex Diamondback ~$200
Of those, I really like the Burris and Vortex the best.
Stay with a 3-9X40. You get more scope for you money in that range. Going up to a 4-12 just costs more and does not offer you a single advantage. Set at 9x, it is more scope than you can use with a 300.
There are a few $150 scopes that are decent, if you can go up to $200 you will see a big improvement over the $150 scopes. Some I'd suggest are:
Redfield Revolution ~ $160
Nikon Prostaff ~$150
Burris Fullfield II~ $180 (old version)
Burris Fullfield E1 ~$200 (new version)
Nikon Buckmaster ~$200
Vortex Diamondback ~$200
Of those, I really like the Burris and Vortex the best.
warbirdlover
New member
I swear people only read the original post on threads and none that follow.....
Vortex Viper
Closeout sale
$100
Excellent scope at super price.
Vortex Viper
Closeout sale
$100
Excellent scope at super price.
grubbylabs
New member
I like the 4-12 on my 300 win because it is easier to sight in at the 200 yard range. While hunting with the rifle I leave it on 4X.
grubbylabs
New member
ops double postExcept the scope you linked to isn't a Viper, it is a Crossfire. There have been a couple of guys on here that have had the lense fall out of the scope or other misshaps with the scope. I'm pretty sure hooligan1 had one go bad on a .270 Win in a few shots. IIRC he upgraded to a Diamondback and hasn't had any problems.
I read the original post and I don't think there are many scopes out there that will get it done for $100. Spend a little more money and you can get yourself into a 2-7 or 3-9 Redfield. For about $200 you can get into a Diamondback, Nikon Prostaff or Bushnell Elite series in 3-9. For around $250 you can find some closeouts on the 3-9 Leupold VX-II. All of these I think would be better for a .300 Win than the Crossfire.
warbirdlover
New member
Oops. My bad. I thought all the Vortex were good from what I've read in here.
Stonefly_Soldier
New member
luckily they have the no fault warranty. like i said this is for punching paper and i'll retire it to one of my lesser rifles before next hunting season. if it breaks, they'll send me a new one.
grubbylabs
New member
I have shot my Cross fire's on on my 308 and 300 win. They have done just fine with both. I have put about 100 rounds though the one on my 300 and several 100 through the one on my 308.
Lloyd Smale
Moderator
where did you hear this?
I agree with JMR40 and other posters in that you should consider saving up for a higher quality scope. The 5 models JMR posted would be good options. I can specifically vouch for the Burris Fullfield II 3-9X.
http://swfa.com/Burris-3-9x40-Fullfield-II-Rifle-Scope-P7932.aspx
I have had a couple of them mounted on a 6.5x55 Howa and a .270WSM 6 Model 70 for the past 6 years or so. No issues with either of them, and they have the reputation of being a very tough scope.
If you have a serious budget restriction, you might consider one of these Bushnell Trophy Scopes from Natchez Shooters Supply:
http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&brand=BH&prodID=BH733948B&prodTitle=Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40 Riflescope DOA 600 Reticle Matte
I just received one and I was very impressed with the brightness and clarity of the optics. Don't know how well it will hold up to recoil, since my son mounted it on a Savage .17HMR, but it sure impressed me optically for a $69.95 scope. FYI it was stamped Korea.
The Vortex Crossfires seem to have a rather mixed consensus. Many post very positive reviews, others state they do not hold up at all. I believe they are made in China, if that matters to you.
http://swfa.com/Burris-3-9x40-Fullfield-II-Rifle-Scope-P7932.aspx
I have had a couple of them mounted on a 6.5x55 Howa and a .270WSM 6 Model 70 for the past 6 years or so. No issues with either of them, and they have the reputation of being a very tough scope.
If you have a serious budget restriction, you might consider one of these Bushnell Trophy Scopes from Natchez Shooters Supply:
http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&brand=BH&prodID=BH733948B&prodTitle=Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40 Riflescope DOA 600 Reticle Matte
I just received one and I was very impressed with the brightness and clarity of the optics. Don't know how well it will hold up to recoil, since my son mounted it on a Savage .17HMR, but it sure impressed me optically for a $69.95 scope. FYI it was stamped Korea.
The Vortex Crossfires seem to have a rather mixed consensus. Many post very positive reviews, others state they do not hold up at all. I believe they are made in China, if that matters to you.
Pretty simple to find out SWFA was listing all the VX-1 and VX-II 2-7, 3-9, and 4-12 powers and discontinued. Cabela's is selling the new VX-1 and VX-2 scopes. So that tells me that Leupold is pushing the tech down through the scopes. The new VX-1 scopes finally have click adjustments and the VX-2 now has VX-III lens coatings and finger adjustable turrets. So it doesn't take rocket sience to know that they have been discontinued.
phil mcwilliam
New member
You've had a cheap Tasco scope fail after only 20 shots through your .300 winchester magnum & you want to replace it with another cheap $100 scope. Seems like false economy in my opinion.
I'd wait & save an extra $50 -(a couple of tanks of gas), & get a Nikon or Redfield that will last. If you want to spend under $100 buy another Tasco, at least you will know what to expect.
I'd wait & save an extra $50 -(a couple of tanks of gas), & get a Nikon or Redfield that will last. If you want to spend under $100 buy another Tasco, at least you will know what to expect.
There are 3 choices in this price range I'd look at.
The first, and what I think is the best choice in this price range is the Simmons Whitetail Classic 6.5-20x50 scope they sell at Midway. It's slightly over $100 at $110 + shipping, but you can sometimes find $20 off coupons, and sometimes they have a rebate on them. I've read mostly good reviews online, have friends that have and use them on their main hunting rifles that like them, and all in all they seem to be a decent scope. I've never had one, but have looked through the ones on my friends rifles and they have pretty good glass for the price. If you ever do have problems though the warranty is the downfall here as you have to pay shipping both ways, and that's if they even fix it for you. There are a lot of horror stories of Bushnell CS out there, but I think quality wise this scope is the best choice.
The next choice would be the Vortex Crossfire 6-24x50 scope from SWFA. I've read enough reports of these failing, that I think the Simmons is a better scope. I also wouldn't trust one of these on a serious hunting rifle. That said, there are also guys that have had great luck with them. Either way, they have a great warranty and if you are just punching paper if it fails it won't be the end of the world. So, if it does break they will keep replacing it, which is the advantage to this over both the Simmons and my next choice.
My 3rd choice would be a Center Point 4-16x40 from Walmart. I've heard a lot of good things about this, as well as used one and tested it myself. I found the glass at 12-16x to be pretty lousy, but it was useable and under that was decent. For the $70 it cost I found it to be a good buy. To my surprise it tracked very well, and I never had it lose zero. I was pretty impressed for the price. I've read a few iffy things on their customer service also, but you have Walmart that will replace it for you should you have a problem.
I wouldn't put any of these on a hunting rifle I was taking on an African safari, but for paper punching on the cheap, I believe any of them will serve you well, and I think they are a lot better than most people here give them credit for. In the group of guys I hunt with, there are about 30 Simmons/Tasco's/Bushnells (mostly Simmons, but a few Bushnell Banners, and Tasco's thrown in there.) to every scope any of the guys that hunt with us has that cost over $200, and it's very rare that any of them ever have a problem. In fact, All of my hunting rifles wear quality optics, but I only know one other guy with a scope that was over $200 that hunts with us, and that is a Nikon Buckmasters that was not much over $200.
The first, and what I think is the best choice in this price range is the Simmons Whitetail Classic 6.5-20x50 scope they sell at Midway. It's slightly over $100 at $110 + shipping, but you can sometimes find $20 off coupons, and sometimes they have a rebate on them. I've read mostly good reviews online, have friends that have and use them on their main hunting rifles that like them, and all in all they seem to be a decent scope. I've never had one, but have looked through the ones on my friends rifles and they have pretty good glass for the price. If you ever do have problems though the warranty is the downfall here as you have to pay shipping both ways, and that's if they even fix it for you. There are a lot of horror stories of Bushnell CS out there, but I think quality wise this scope is the best choice.
The next choice would be the Vortex Crossfire 6-24x50 scope from SWFA. I've read enough reports of these failing, that I think the Simmons is a better scope. I also wouldn't trust one of these on a serious hunting rifle. That said, there are also guys that have had great luck with them. Either way, they have a great warranty and if you are just punching paper if it fails it won't be the end of the world. So, if it does break they will keep replacing it, which is the advantage to this over both the Simmons and my next choice.
My 3rd choice would be a Center Point 4-16x40 from Walmart. I've heard a lot of good things about this, as well as used one and tested it myself. I found the glass at 12-16x to be pretty lousy, but it was useable and under that was decent. For the $70 it cost I found it to be a good buy. To my surprise it tracked very well, and I never had it lose zero. I was pretty impressed for the price. I've read a few iffy things on their customer service also, but you have Walmart that will replace it for you should you have a problem.
I wouldn't put any of these on a hunting rifle I was taking on an African safari, but for paper punching on the cheap, I believe any of them will serve you well, and I think they are a lot better than most people here give them credit for. In the group of guys I hunt with, there are about 30 Simmons/Tasco's/Bushnells (mostly Simmons, but a few Bushnell Banners, and Tasco's thrown in there.) to every scope any of the guys that hunt with us has that cost over $200, and it's very rare that any of them ever have a problem. In fact, All of my hunting rifles wear quality optics, but I only know one other guy with a scope that was over $200 that hunts with us, and that is a Nikon Buckmasters that was not much over $200.
I would never use a Whitetail Classic again. I bought one from Midway and it was DOA. Mounted it on a .204 Ruger and it never could be dialed in, the rifle never shot better than a 4" group with it. It now wears a 2-7 Viper and it shoots sub moa. I'll throw a more poweful scope on it scope on it when the money is there right now though I'm still consistantly hitting prairie dog sized targets at 300 yards with it.
Stonefly_Soldier
New member
I have a lot more cash saved up... the problem is the woman doesnt want to see more than 100 on the receipt because we're payin for a wedding. her price cap not mine(she also put me on a gun buyin freeze 
until after the july wedding). that being said i went with the vortex. i've heard they can fall apart but its for a paper puncher and if they keep on sending them my way as i break them, its fine with me.
until after the july wedding). that being said i went with the vortex. i've heard they can fall apart but its for a paper puncher and if they keep on sending them my way as i break them, its fine with me.Lloyd Smale
Moderator
i looked at the leupold web site and theres no mention of any changes in them. Swfa has vx1s closed out but the only vx2 being closed out is the 3x9 lightweight. Cabelas add for the new vx1 still shows it being a friction ajustable scope. When the vx2 replaced the vari x 2 years ago it then was advertised as having the same glass the old vari x 3 had so thats nothing new. I still havent found anything refering to click ajustments on vx1s or and new updated glass on the vx2. If you could point me in the right direction id sure like to know for sure.