Best Scope For $350
- Thread starter pattygook
- Start date
1. Don't buy a Barska.
2. Are you shooting paper or game at 800 yards? If game, you definitely don't need 24x. If paper, you still don't need 24x. Higher quality glass with lower power beats higher magnification with crappy glass.
Here are some options that will serve you better than the Barska
http://www.opticsplanet.net/bushnell-elite-3200-4-12x40mm-w-rainguard-324124a.html
http://www.opticsplanet.net/nikon-monarch-25-10x42-riflescopes.html
http://www.opticsplanet.net/bushnell-elete-3200-riflescope-32-5154m.html
http://www.opticsplanet.net/weaver-rifle-scopes-v16-16x42.html
confirmed shooter
New member
for that kind of money, you need to go to E-bay and get a 500.00 dollor scope for 350.00 because there is no replacng good glass. good luck, charlie sierra.
Yeah, I've got an old 22 with iron sights. I've also got a scoped .17 HMR, but it isn't legal to shoot a deer with that in my state (I wouldn't want to anyway, not with a .17). This .308 is my first high power rifle. I was planning on buying bulk Wolf ammo at $250 for 500 rounds and getting tons of practice in with those.
1) Barska = crap.
2) 800yds is a long way and and bullet drop is going to eat up a lot of elevation adjustment. More than most scopes will give you. That leaves maybe the Super Sniper 10x42.
3) I wouldn't use a long distance scope for hunting. For out to 500-600yds I'd go with a Bushnell Elite 3200 5-15x40. Or perhaps a Weaver V16 or V24.
Now when you get ready for a hunting scope then it's hard to beat a Bushnell Elite 4200 in 3-9x40 but it's not an 800yd target scope.
2) 800yds is a long way and and bullet drop is going to eat up a lot of elevation adjustment. More than most scopes will give you. That leaves maybe the Super Sniper 10x42.
3) I wouldn't use a long distance scope for hunting. For out to 500-600yds I'd go with a Bushnell Elite 3200 5-15x40. Or perhaps a Weaver V16 or V24.
Now when you get ready for a hunting scope then it's hard to beat a Bushnell Elite 4200 in 3-9x40 but it's not an 800yd target scope.
dont buy the barska like everyone else has said, for your price range I would be looking at nikons buckmaster with a bdc or mil-dot reticle unless you can find a really good deal on a monarch most of them are likely going to be over your price range.
and even then they are probably not ideal for 800 yard target shooting but they are a good hunting scope and should work well for target shooting out to 500-600 yards.
and even then they are probably not ideal for 800 yard target shooting but they are a good hunting scope and should work well for target shooting out to 500-600 yards.
Nikon Buckmaster scope. I think Natchez has the SF 4-14x42 for $299. I think that will nicely fit into your budget. Super Sniper 10x42 is another very good scope for the money $319 at SWFA. Only drawback to that is it is a fixed power, but that has never seemed to bother me. Less things to fool with.
wideglider03
New member
Konus M-30, www.rrarms.com, I have a 4.5x16x40 on my 7mm rem mag SPS. Love it!!!
James R. Burke
New member
Just myself I use Leupold on all my rifles. I compared them many times when I been out huntiing with friends, and what they have. Even with the ones I have with the smaller obectives compared to the bigger ones the Leupold seemed sharper, and gathered light much better. They are a very accurate scope, and I never had a problem with any of them. They have a great warranty if you should need it. There are a few good ones out there has mentioned, and I am sure you will get more input yet on good makes for your money. ZOMMIE is correct on what he said also. The more you can look thru the better, so try to do that as much as you can. Good luck, keep it safe, and have fun. Also the 3x9x40 or 50 always seemed like a good one.
Like has been said, stay away from the cheap brands ... even their top of the line scopes still suffer from the cheap DNA. That being said, I don't think that you need to spend a fortune to get good glass. Also, what has been said about 800yds is true ... it is a LOOOOONG way out there for most folks and for most plinking ammo. Remember that 1 MOA is ~8 inches at 800yds ... so cheap ammo that groups 2MOA in your rifle will have a spread (in still air) of ~16 inches 
In your 308, you will need 20-25 MOA of adjustment to account for drop ... most scopes have a total of 50, but they usually start out at the halfway point, so that nominally leaves you with 25 for adjustment - more or less depending on how your bases line up with the bore. I'd recommend looking at the Burris Z-rings if you want to have more adjustment room ... they come with inserts that allow you to get roughly 20MOA more if you need it.
Back to the original question ... I have a Bushnell Elite 3200 that is a 10x40 (maybe it is a 10x42) with a mil-dot reticle that is a great scope. I use it on a 7mm-08 to shoot at ranges in the 750-1000yd neighborhood. The adjustment knobs are first class and the 10MOA per revolution that they give makes the counting super easy and error-free. It has always returned to zero and the image quality is great. I will buy another for my next rifle. My recollection was that it was just under $200 and it is nicer than my Leupold VXII for more $$$.
Stay safe and do you homework before you waste time trying to hit things at 800+yds ... you need to learn a bunch about ballistics, wind, altitude, and temperature if you want to make first shot hits at that range ... it is a lot of work ... more thinking and less booming ... but it really puts a smile on your face when you connect
Saands
In your 308, you will need 20-25 MOA of adjustment to account for drop ... most scopes have a total of 50, but they usually start out at the halfway point, so that nominally leaves you with 25 for adjustment - more or less depending on how your bases line up with the bore. I'd recommend looking at the Burris Z-rings if you want to have more adjustment room ... they come with inserts that allow you to get roughly 20MOA more if you need it.
Back to the original question ... I have a Bushnell Elite 3200 that is a 10x40 (maybe it is a 10x42) with a mil-dot reticle that is a great scope. I use it on a 7mm-08 to shoot at ranges in the 750-1000yd neighborhood. The adjustment knobs are first class and the 10MOA per revolution that they give makes the counting super easy and error-free. It has always returned to zero and the image quality is great. I will buy another for my next rifle. My recollection was that it was just under $200 and it is nicer than my Leupold VXII for more $$$.
Stay safe and do you homework before you waste time trying to hit things at 800+yds ... you need to learn a bunch about ballistics, wind, altitude, and temperature if you want to make first shot hits at that range ... it is a lot of work ... more thinking and less booming ... but it really puts a smile on your face when you connect
Saands
Saands, I have that same scope and I give it the same recommendation. I've shot well past the 500 yard mark with it. The glass isn't absolutely stunning, but it does return to and hold zero through all adjustments. It's a very utilitarian scope, but it get's the bloody job done. I recommend it with Saands.
Thats right.
I bought a Bushnell Banner 3-9x50mm for my Ruger 10/22.
After 10 shots, it was broken. Crap...
I'll think I payd 110$ for it...
Whats the "best buy" if I want a scope with 56mm opening?
I've been looking on Bushnell Trophy 3-12x56. Is this crap to?
This one is going on an 308w.