The Gun Counter

I just picked up a Savage Mark II in .17 Mach 2. My intention for this gun is to improve my rifle skills at the local 100 yard rimfire range. I bought the M2 because ammo is dirt cheap and it's a flat shooter out to 100 yards.

Now I'm in the market for a scope. I have read pretty good things about the Sightron SI series. On chuckhawks.com, they rate the SIs as basically equivalent to the Nikon Buckmaster and Leupold VX-I, both of which are about double the cost of the SI.

Keep in mind I'll only be using this gun/scope out to 100 yards. More importantly, the gun only cost a bit over $200 so I don't see any sense in dropping major coin for a Swarovski or Zeiss.

Sniper Country lists the SII scopes, but I'd have to poke around to see if I could find a review. Since they're listed for sale at Sniper Country, I wouldn't think they'd list a poor-performing scope line.

The SIIs are a step up in price and quality. I don't mind paying some cash for good optics, but I am hesitant to spend $500 for glass to top a $200 rifle.

I have no idea if this is true or not, but one of the local gun dealers claims Sightron's glass is the same as Leupold's, and they are of equal quality.

This particular dealer has pissed off and run more customers away than a lot of dealers have period. You just don't question what he says, because he knows and sees all. Ruger bolt action rifles are the best, period, and Leupold (until Sightron came along) was the only scope to have.

One of my best buddies and I just drove by his shop today, and he won't go in anymore. He was pricing lead shot for reloading his son's trap gun, and found the dealer's price a bit steep. When he mentioned it, the dealer said "You're one of those g*****ned trap shooters, aren't you!" He won't darken that doorstep any time soon.

I just mention this because sometimes he does know what he's bloviating about, and I gotta be me, sidetracking a thread.

Right, just because you buy a scope to go on a rifle, it doesn't HAVE to stay there. An investment in a decent scope can provide an accuracy boost to many other rifles as well (you just have to re-zero, and if you keep a log, that won't be much of a problem).

308Mike wrote:Right, just because you buy a scope to go on a rifle, it doesn't HAVE to stay there. An investment in a decent scope can provide an accuracy boost to many other rifles as well (you just have to re-zero, and if you keep a log, that won't be much of a problem).

Yup - the danged things are PORTABLE, (who knew? ) and how cool is that? My big-bucks Leupold has adorned multiple rifles. Maybe someday I will find just the right one................

just because you buy a scope to go on a rifle, it doesn't HAVE to stay there.

Yeah, there is that point, too.

Is there a huge difference between a decent scope and an excellent scope if it is going to solely be used on a rimfire gun at 100 yards? Recoil damage and long range shooting aren't issues.

At a hundred yards, in full daylight, I doubt there's much of a difference. You get in low-light situations and longer distances, along with figuring wind, etc, and the differences will be much more apparent.

I'm sure SeekHer would be able to answer your question much better than myself.