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Posted: 5/2/2007 10:39:04 AM EDT
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I have the AR-50 and now I need a decent scope. I dont want to spend thousands of dollars. Infact if I could keep it below $400 that would be best. I have been looking at the super sniper 20x. I can pick it up for right around $300. Is there any reason to shy away from them? Anything better in that price range? |
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If that's the price range, then the Super Sniper is really the only option. Everything else in that range is going to fail sooner rather than later. Keep in mind that you're going to be stuck with fixed power, which can create problems if you shoot at widely varying ranges. Will you use 20x when you zero the rifle, or when plinking at 100 yards? Will you use 10x if you shoot a match at 1,000 yards? If it were me, I'd buy the 10x Super Sniper and save up for an upgrade later. You'll still have the Super Sniper for something else. |
As far as I know, there isn't a variable power scope under about $1,000 that has widespread agreement that it will stand up to a .50. Or you could buy four or five ATN's and just swap them out as they go tits up. Edit to clarify about variable power. |
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I just went through this and ended up with a super sniper 16x. Bushnell....whether they will work or not....only offers a 1 year warranty. That nixes them for me. The SS scopes have a ton of elevation and have awesome resale value. The used ones are selling usually for 90 % of new. Now that I have it I wish I would have ordered the 10x just for FOV purposes. |
Well under 1K. I have 1 and the glass is just as clear as my Nightforce and looks just as rugged.
| I can't believe I have read all these replies and no one has mentioned a Leupold. You can get one of their variables for under a $1000 and if it craps out just send it back. I have sent scopes back for reticle changes and it usually takes less than 3 weeks. Keep an eye on EBAY you can usually find a used 6.5x20 Varix III (that looks new ) within $400 price range you are looking at and it will be a better scope with a heck of a lot better warranty. If I am correct Barrett is shipping some of their 82's with 4.5x14 leupolds as well. |
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I have a variable Mark4 on my Barrett and it has performed flawlessly. I have never, ever understood why someone wants to take a rifle that cost them several thousand dollars and put a cheap POS scope on it. I see it all the time working in the gunshop. A guy brought a beautiful Remington BDL in today chambered in .300 Win. Mag and it had a $15 BSA airgun scope on it...just makes no sense to me  Having said that, I do think that the Bushnell Elites and Super Snipers are great scopes. For a .50, however, I would prefer a scope with a 30mm tube.ETA: My Barrett came setup with the 4.5-14 Mark4 mentioned in the post above. |
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One step above teh XTR is the Burris Black Diamond. It's an 8-32 variable and has stood up to well over 700 rounds on my 50 and it has a life time warrenty . I called the guys at SWFA and they said it was a great option for the 50 and the scope and BO maxx 50 rings were well under 1K shipped to my house. It was rith around $850, but the rings were 175 of that. Make sure that you get good rings...cheap ones will not last and will be a pain in the ass for you! Oh, and for what it worth, there are a lot of guys over on FCSA that use this scope as well. Speaking of which, any 50 owner should join FCSA...well worth the few bucks and the guys there know their stuff. There is more reliable info than here on ARFCOM...where a 10 year old can join for free and give you his "expert advise"!!! CB |
| oh, and I'm not ripping on ARFCOM...I love this place just as much as the rest of you and probably spend way to much time here...FCSA is more specialized and the guys there are very .50 savy. Nice as hell too! My first post over there, I had 3 local members offer to take me shooting and teach more me more about the .50 that I had just bought. |
plenty. Fixed Power: the burris everyone keeps mentioning is ok. every SS i've had was pretty darned poor. although i'll concede i haven't had one for a couple years, the few i had were built tough but optically poor - lots of aberration with below average light transmission. i'd buy one as a last resort. IOR in the fixed power is a darned good bargain. the build, glass, and coatings are very good. the adjustments are very good as well (the turrets don't adjust like american built turrets do so read the directions first and don't loosen the wrong screw). Variable Power: all the above have except for the SS have variable that will work nicely. and don't someone chime in and say "XOTIC" as they've been pumping that variable version of the SS as something that was going to come for nearly two years... add the burris black diamond, the bushnell 3200/4200, pentax lightseeker, and a few others like the mark 4 leupold or VXIII and you're set. Used: with the lifetime warranties places like leupold, IOR, Nikon, and others have now and the quality of the builds a used scope isn't quite a stretch anymore. most folks, except for the leupold mark 4 fakes beind sold out there, are pretty good to deal with on used scopes bought and sold in places like the EE or classifieds. i've had many good transactions here and on snipershide.net over the last few years. you have plenty of options... shop around a little bit and go to a large box store like cabelas or the likes to see the differences in these first hand. also with any 50 look for the warranty and certainly the EYE RELIEF... who wants a 40x scope with 1.8" eye relief? if you like stitches and humility go ahead... do some research and you'll manage nicely. hope this helps. -ST13 |
Overall, I'm OK with it. The only real issue I've had is bad heat treatment on the firing pins; however, Safety Harbor replaced the first one and offered to replace the second. I just had one made at a local machine shop and it's fine. Pick up a single shot lower when you build out your rifle; no need to have a mag well in your way. |
no disagreement here. i'm of the opinion they are overpriced, but still first rate scopes. he started by asking for options @ $300 or so. then he wanted to know if there was anything 50 worthy that wouldn't cost "thousands" - thus we strayed away from fixed power mark 4's, high mag IOR, NXS's, S&B, USO, Hensoldt, Zeiss, Swarovski, etc. staying under $1000 usually precludes the NXS from his criteria. |
On the Super Sniper, if the parralax is not on the side, it is on the back of scope where a variable power ring would be. I use a 20x Super Sniper on my AR50 and it works great. |
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