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Old 05-22-2017, 12:15 PM
hugger-4641 hugger-4641 is offline
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Default inexpensive scope

I've seen a few posts lately asking about inexpensive scopes. Of course, "inexpensive" is relative. To me a scope under $200 is "cheap", a scope $400 or so is "inexpensive". I've been looking for an "inexpensive" tactical/hunting scope for hunting coyotes with my AR-15. I'm not looking to be a Seal Team sniper and take them down at 1000yrds, but I am wanting to reliably hit a coyote at 300 to 400 yds and my eyes are just not good enough to do it with my Red Dot past 200yrds. I was looking at a Strike Eagle at an LGS and was just about to buy it when I notice this Tru Glo S Tac 3x9x42 with BDC. I know nothing about Tru Glo, never heard of them, but I didn't figure this particular LGS would sell junk even though it was under $200. Considering what I want to do with it, I decided to give it try. Admittedly, it was not quite as good as the Strike Eagle I was looking at, but it was close enough that I didn't see $250 difference for my purpose. I zeroed it in yesterday but ran out of daylight, so I have a just a little more tuning to do. Below are my final results as of yesterday at 300yrds using Hornady Black 75gr BTHP.[IMG]http://smith-wessonforum.com/members/hugger-4641-albums-my-first-ar15-picture16396-75gr-bthp-hornady-black-300-yrds-tru-glo-3x9x42-s-tac.


http://smith-wessonforum.com/members...9x42-s-tac.jpg
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File Type: jpg 75gr BTHP Hornady Black,300 yrds, Tru Glo 3x9x42.jpg (65.5 KB, 60 views)

Last edited by hugger-4641; 05-22-2017 at 02:34 PM. Reason: pic wont post
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Old 05-22-2017, 12:53 PM
JaxMike01 JaxMike01 is offline
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I'm interested in this thread, I just bought an MP Sport ll and will be looking for some optics as well. Granted most of my shooting will be at the range but I do have an invitation from my brother-in-law to go prairie dog hunting.
The results you posted didn't come through BTW.


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Old 05-22-2017, 02:28 PM
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I have a Leupold Mark AR scope on my AR-15. I think they are hard to beat for the price.
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Old 05-22-2017, 03:38 PM
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I think Truglo is on par with Leapers and UTG and all the others who slap their labels on the same $100 optic. If it works out of the box it'll probably be ok. Shooting coyotes on your property is one thing, but not so sure I'd want to rely on it for a day or weekend trip... and end up having a $100 optic ruin an outing.

Leupold and Vortex are good options in the $400 category. The way gun prices are these days you can probably find discounts.
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Old 05-22-2017, 03:45 PM
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Nikon P223 3x9x40 has worked beautifully on my MP 15 Sport.
Was an irresistibly inexpensive $89.00 sale item I scooped up. They sell for nearly double that.
The other inexpensive scope I like is the Weaver Kaspa 3X12x50.
Nice optics with great light gathering and resolution. It works well on
a Savage M10.
These are inexpensive scopes with a warranty.
I would love to afford big buck scopes but I am happy with the performance of these 2.
Jim
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Old 05-22-2017, 04:23 PM
hugger-4641 hugger-4641 is offline
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I have a friend who has the Night Force SHV on his Creadmoor 6.5. It's a good combination and I love the scope, but for what I'm going to do, I can't see spending $1000 on a scope I'm going to bang around in my truck or ATV.
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Old 05-22-2017, 04:56 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hugger-4641 View Post
I have a friend who has the Night Force SHV on his Creadmoor 6.5. It's a good combination and I love the scope, but for what I'm going to do, I can't see spending $1000 on a scope I'm going to bang around in my truck or ATV.
Since you defined the price at $400 I doubt anyone will be suggesting Nightforce.

Rather than going with the cheapest optic, I spend more on optics that I expect to be able to withstand being banged around and abused without failing.

Last edited by ChattanoogaPhil; 05-22-2017 at 05:10 PM.
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Old 05-22-2017, 05:16 PM
hugger-4641 hugger-4641 is offline
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Well, I'd like to think I would be more careful with a $400 scope, or $1000, but I know me! If this Truglo doesn't hold up or gets knocked off zero too easily, I'll probably go back and get the Strike Eagle and chalk it up to a $150 lesson. For now, I'm pleased with the function and ease of target acquisition with this Truglo. I will say that the BDC is not accurate with my ammo. I zeroed at 100yds with PMC X-tac 55gr fmj and when I moved the turret to the 300yd setting and shot the 300yd target, it was about 7 inches too high. It was closer with 62gr green tips. I didn't even try it with the 75gr Hornady, I just re-zeroed at 300yrds and moved the cap to match since this is the round I'm going to be throwing at the coyotes anyway.
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Old 05-22-2017, 05:48 PM
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I currently own four TruGlo Aimpoint T-1 clones. They are excellent optics as they are rebranded Holosun 503G's. My TruGlo Red dots occupy rails on builds including .300 Blackout, 7.62x39, 5.56, and a 9mm pistol caliber carbine. I can only assumed that the scopes they offer with magnification will be absolutely solid as well.

Once zeroed I have never had one of mine not hold zero. One of them sits on a 7.62x39 AK-47 pistol and is solid as a rock. A couple of weeks ago you could have snagged one on Amazon for $104 shipped. Now that is pure value. If I dial down the brightness I still get great accuracy well beyond 100 yards. I understand you want magnification to reach beyond red dot territory, my point being I'm confident the TruGlo scopes should be every bit as capable as their red dots that I have experience with.

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Old 05-22-2017, 05:49 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hugger-4641 View Post
Well, I'd like to think I would be more careful with a $400 scope, or $1000, but I know me! If this Truglo doesn't hold up or gets knocked off zero too easily, I'll probably go back and get the Strike Eagle and chalk it up to a $150 lesson. For now, I'm pleased with the function and ease of target acquisition with this Truglo. I will say that the BDC is not accurate with my ammo. I zeroed at 100yds with PMC X-tac 55gr fmj and when I moved the turret to the 300yd setting and shot the 300yd target, it was about 7 inches too high. It was closer with 62gr green tips. I didn't even try it with the 75gr Hornady, I just re-zeroed at 300yrds and moved the cap to match since this is the round I'm going to be throwing at the coyotes anyway.
Right. All things being equal the green tip will shoot an inch or two lower than the X-tac 55gr at 300yds, and the Hornady 75gr will shoot an inch or two lower than the green tip.
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Old 05-22-2017, 07:23 PM
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I use a 50yd zero on my AR. I only shoot 55 and 62 grain ammo and find the 50yd z will place the POI within about 2" at any range all the way to 250 yds.
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Old 05-23-2017, 07:14 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChattanoogaPhil View Post
Since you defined the price at $400 I doubt anyone will be suggesting Nightforce.

Rather than going with the cheapest optic, I spend more on optics that I expect to be able to withstand being banged around and abused without failing.
In my experience you can use just about anything at the range and it will work fine but when you put it in the hunting field dawn and dusk performance of the better scopes makes the difference apparent. Field use is rough use and it will show mechanical weaknesses in whatever glass you choose. I have quality scopes but I usually take a backup rifle when hunting away from home just in case of problems that might ruin the trip.
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Old 05-23-2017, 09:03 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hugger-4641 View Post
I zeroed at 100yds with PMC X-tac 55gr fmj and when I moved the turret to the 300yd setting and shot the 300yd target, it was about 7 inches too high. It was closer with 62gr green tips. I didn't even try it with the 75gr Hornady, I just re-zeroed at 300yrds and moved the cap to match since this is the round I'm going to be throwing at the coyotes anyway.
Even coyotes and other vermin deserve a quick and humane death. You will not achieve a quick kill, nor will you recover the animal, if you use FMJ or OTM bullets unless you hit the brain. Buy yourself some hunting ammunition and re-zero your scope with a bullet that is effective at the ranges you will be shooting.

There is enough anti-hunting sentiment out there without someone wounding animals and letting them die unrecovered from a slow death because they choose to use ineffective ammunition. You also need to learn to shoot accurately instead of "throwing" bullets at the target.
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Old 05-23-2017, 10:54 AM
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Obviously, I won't be using the green tips for hunting, but I see no reason the 75g BTHP's shouldn't be effectively lethal on coyotes at 300 to 500yds. But, I do appreciate the advice and if I find there is not enough expansion or energy transfer, I'll try something else.

As far as "throwing" bullets, it was just an expression, if you read some of my other posts you will see that I am making every effort to achieve accuracy before I start shooting at live animals.

Last edited by hugger-4641; 05-23-2017 at 10:56 AM.
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