Best Rifle Scope Under $500: 10 scopes tested head-to-head 

I was estimating the $$$ thousands in potential loss.

I looked and researched for felt like ever glad I got the vortex funny thing is I only use the parallax the other adjustments are set and forget just use the hold overs.

1:18 seconds into the video and I nearly threw up my crayons.

Yep

@@richardscoresby r

yeah be sure to use the link😂

Flaunting that money again. "Look at my house!" "I bought all these myself!" "Look at my pool!" No one cares. It's a scope video.

@@NoNo_IStay somebody’s angry

@@NoNo_IStay that's a stupid reply nothing wrong with having money as long as money don't have you I love this channel awesome review

Primary arms top budget unless you want to drop tht$$$ on the gold

Literally….😢

The leupold freedom 6-18x40. I've got several with custom turrets. Lightweight, decent glass. Great for a lightweight mtn rifle.$500

Thanks Stephen! I really appreciate the support.

also from canada and also recommend to all shooters i know! plus kinda fun to see that the scope on my 308 be the winner

@@backfire Can you do a video on the best yards to sight a scope in at? Or how you sight your scopes in? Thanks for all the content!

@@aaronfox5559 One way to sight in a scope for range is to set it so that the distance from the top of the bullet's flight to the bottom is 8 inches (20cm) over that distance for deer. Thus, within that distance, the bullet will ALWAYS be in the "kill' zone, which is 8 inches for a deer. Other game, different size critical zones. While there is a name for this practice, it escapes me. So, a bullet sighted in for 200 yards may likely be flying (impacting) 1.5 inches high at 100 yards and is 5 inches low at 300 yards. So, if the animal is at 300 hundred yards, aiming at the center of the target area (on a deer is 8 inches, top to bottom), the impact will be too low by one inch (4-5= -1). OK, bear with me . . . When that scope on that rifle is sighted in at a range where, from 0 yards out to (let's say) 320 yards, the bullet's rise and drop, when aimed at center mass of the 8 inch 'kill' zone, is 4 inches up and 4 inches down, a hunter can aim at that center and be CERTAIN that the bullet's impact will always be within that 'kill' zone from 0 to 320 yards. One doesn't have to aim high or low; one aims center and the bullet will impact from +4" to -4" out to 320 yards. Consider drawing out on paper what I wrote to clarify this method. Beyond 320 yards, one must know the drop beyond 320.

@@backfire what is your thoughts on aHi-Lux Uni-Dial 5X-30X56 Ballistic Turret Rifle Scope or Hi-Lux PentaLux TAC-V 4X-20X50 Rifle Scope?

Damned fine choice!

I had a similar experience with a Leupold. I was told if I found a Leupold scope on the side of a freeway, they would replace it.

@@edstimator1 I had someone leave a busted vari-x 2 at the gun shop I used to work at. I sent it back and leupold rebuilt it no questions asked. They told me the serial number was from the 60’s

Like Burris scopes. No problems !!

used to sell and use sage fly rods similar warranty so great.

I was looking at Vortex because of their warranty. I wasn’t aware that other scope companies have just as good warranties.

Lucky-dog, I'm envious! Jim's personality intelligence, and dedication shine in his videos, I would love to meet him The community is very blessed to have this man

I paid $530 for my Arken 5-25x56. I did a detailed comparison with the Nightforce ATACR. Pretty much the same in terms of quality, precision and operation. I was shocked at the exceptionally high value. It shoots in the .1 MOA to .2 MOA range and acts like a $3500 scope. Amazing! My only issue is the reticle dot on 25x covers more than .5 MOA at 1000 yards so scoring high on NRA 1000 yard targets is tough. It's also covers prairie dogs at that range. Ideal for hunting or PRS competition.

Around $1000, my bet would be on Leupold vx6. I got the older one before they changed them all for around $860. The glass is really clear, love the car reticle, which turns off and on by itself, the tube frame looks really thin when looking through and scope is nice and lightweight at just under 15oz. The only complaints I've read about the scope are the brightness adjustment is a push button instead of a dial and the cmr2 washes out in bright sunlight. I've never found these to be issues, push button works fine just press until cycles to right brightness and in bright sunlight I'm not using illumination anyway.

@@michaelmignone5869 took a vx6 and the Burris full field e1 from this video and show both on the same gun in low light. The Burris was actually clearer and let more light in. Thought it was the weirds bs. But if you spend $300 on a scope you’ll have a good scope now days. 90% of scope out shoot the person behind the gun. Same woth guns now days

Put the burris 3-9×40 rimfire on the .22 savage mark ii excellent choice.When will you review riton scopes?

It’s easier to calc adjustments... and you don’t have to move the torrents as much to get to your desired adjustment. That said... one click on a 1/4 Moa scope is .25”.... and one click on a MRAD scope is .37”... so the MOA scope has more/finer adjustment

LPVO's next?

I don’t think that you have to worry about that, thank you Sir👍

I don't have the Primary Arms ACSS scopes but I would like to have one just because I like that varmint ranging reticle they have. IV8888 did a review of them that worked out well.

Was the water in that pool chlorinated?

@@borkwoof696 A person could fall or trip an the rifle and scope could wind up in a creek or river for a moment or two. I am hoping o-rings could hold up to that.

Being a competition shooter and were spending $2000.00 plus on a target scope. It would be a Night Force. Or other top quality scope. It depends on the use of the scope and your wallet.

That’s the only thing I care about the most is how it does in low light situations and the Vortx that I have had don’t even compare to the Leopold’s in low light transmission

Low light is generally the problem

I see myself as a typical hunter. I'm not a competion shooter. These are my priorities: 1. Ruggedness 2. Optical Quality 3. Coatings Whether or not I get 55 MOA or 60 MOA for 240 clicks isn't really where I want to spend my money. I want it to hold zero and not break when it gets dropped down the side of a mountain. I want to be able to judge a rack through the scope at 400 yd and I want to be able to shoot at legal light in deep woods. I don't want to pay for 2,000 yard glass clarity or Zeiss Diavara light gathering ability. I'm not going to be shooting 1 mile targets at midnight.

I have two of the Diamondback Tactical 6-24 / 50 mm. When I changed some of my rifles to have the Vortex Venom, I had these laying around. I just got a TC Compass II in .308 Win and put one on there. I just really like that reticle. I also have the Crossfire II 3-9 / 40 mm, which is good for basic hunting. I just happen to like the EBR-2C reticle in the Diamondback Tactical. Good turrets. durable construction.

They are outstanding scopes ... I have 4 the only true downfall is if you are hunting with it forget about shooting early morning or late evening because you can’t see the crosshairs... I had to let a big buck walk last year because of low light.

@@nataliedeyton6829 good point for last available light. So, I get a smidge more with the 50 mm bell. I want a scope that I could hunt and do long range with that was not to heavy. Mine is 24.5 ounces. My Venom scopes are 35 ounces and compete more with the other 6-24 / 50 scopes, like the Arken and the Blackhound.

PS we all appreciate the effort you put into these videos. You really deserve more recognition than what ya get.

Athlon scopes are made in China. Except for the ones that cost $1000.00 or more. As long as I can avoid buying something from China I will do so gladly. That's the way I feel.

@@edwardabrams4972 Burris also has a Lifetime no receipt needed Warranty to replace or fix no questions. So its another big plus for Burris.

I spent over a decade working in gunshops. I have seen more Vortex go back for work than any other optic. The best warranty, is an optic that doesn't need work.

Yeah sounds simple enough. Just need to tape a calculator to my rifle and I'm good to go!

The was majority of american shooters you mean….

The neophytes use moa to keep their intelligence level in the “I don’t understand anything” category. 😘

I agree, NSSF does an excellent job clarifying how you can easily convert a mrad reticle to yards... ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-S5AGsHSIsVo.html

With all due respect, there are plenty of shooters who do better with MOA scopes. In America ALL shooters are familiar with inches and a subtension that reduces the holdover increment to even inches at every 100 yard incremental range is very easy for Americans to understand. MOA scopes can determine range at the maximum magnification or the middle magnification just fine with a similar formula. Most Americans that want to know range carry a rangefinder, mainly because it is MUCH more accurate at any range beyond 600 yards. By 1000 yards, you need to be accurate to + or - 1 yard if you want to hit a coyote. You won't get that with a scope subtension or estimating the unknown size of the target. Although, you may be trained in more mathematics and target knowledge than most American shooters, even you probably don't know the height or width of a prairie dog, a white tail deer, a mule deer, an antelope or an elk from 800 yards away... all likely game that you might encounter on one hunt. Worse yet, is it a baby prairie dog? An adolescent or an adult male? Another issue for many shooters is the fact that most MRAD scopes are only offered in First Focal Plane configuration. This choice can NOT be used by long range varmint shooters and competitive target shooters because on the highest magnification, the reticle often covers their entire point of aim. Have you ever tried actually shooting a 1193 yard prairie dog with your MIL scope using your holdover calculation? The calculation is finite but the eyeball guess of the reticle fit or dimension of the target is flawed, making the result insufficient for a hit. The net truth is that MRAD, MOA, 1st and 2nd focal plane, max magnification, etc. all have effective uses. You just need to get the combination that matches your intended use and support equipment.

have you tried the hog hunter, if so what do you think about it?

@@walkdowntuck799 haven't tried it.

For the same price i got the Leupold MK3HD 4-12

I really like Crimson Trace optics and the scopes they have released relatively recently (3 years ago or so) and they are also made in the Philippines. It’s quite interesting, the Philippines may end up being widely known for creating quality optics in the near future.

I have the same Argos scope on my rifle. It has held up great.

I’d say that Argos would edge out the Arken. I haven’t played much with the Arken but that Argos is a tough cookie for its price

@@taylorbokshowan5713 I've enjoyed mine it helped me shoot a cow elk at 465 yards. And lots of shooting outside of hunting. This year I have a rifle elk tag and a rifle deer tag, hope I can find animals to make my gun work some more.

Thank you!