Need a mid-range scope

[dogmush]

I need a new scope for my .50.  The crappy, temporary scope I had on it is no longer giving me repeatable adjustments.

I understand that great scopes cost money, and I can't have the best in the world for cheap.  Also, this rifle is a range toy.  I don't hunt with it, I'm not taking it to combat, I won't be competing in any matches with it.  It's just for my own fun.  600-800 yds usually with the occasional 1000yd shot at a larger target.

I have $400-$450 to spend.  That's it.  There will be no more money, ever.  So it's not a matter of saving up a little more, that's all the money I'm going to spend on this optic.

That said, I know I'm not looking at NightForce or USO (or even Leapold) quality glass here.  I just want something that will hold together and let me hit people-esque targets.

Features I'm looking for, in descending order:

Mil-dot Reticle. (I like them)
Better then 15X mag, less then about 24X
Sturdy
As good glass as my price point can get.

skip a little to "nice to have" features.

30mm tube (fits the Burris rings I already have)
finger adjustable turrets
variable power
illuminated reticle

Don't really care about size and weight, it's a 40 lb rifle.  So with those in mind, and having read a bunch of reviews I've com up with the following options that I think might work:

Super Sniper.  Either 16X or 20X
Vortex Viper 6.5-20X44
Millet: Either the LRS-1 or TRS-1

Since I'm definitely at the price point where quality starts to suffer I'm trying to avoid going for a scope with every single feature they could pack in, on the theory that none of those features will be as good as a scope with less crap at the same price.  I'm kinda leaning towards the 16X Super Sniper.  I don't think I need a super high magnification scope, and would hope that the money they didn't spend on building in bells and whistles would have been spent on optical quality.

So on to the questions:
At my price point, is there another model worth looking at, over 15X?
Is there one of those models that's a definite "Don't buy"?
There's lot's of love for the SS 10X from users.  Does the 16X or 20X have similar optical quality?
Do ya'll think those will stand up to a .50?  I've got a brake on, so it recoils about like my old .338 win mag did. Less sharply but a good solid push.

Thanks for any help.

[Fly320s]

I have both the SS and Vortex. My Vortex is a FFP scope and it is much better than the SS.

[AJ Dual]

The SWFA S.S. seems to be the one that comes up most consistently as "punches better than it's price class" time after time in all the various gun boards I frequent.

I too would give a hard look at the Vortex, however, I just haven't seen as much from them to know one way or another what Fly320 seems to.

Someone's going to figure out that if they put the effort in, ChiCom optics can equal their western counterparts easily, if you've got the backing stateside to keep them on the straight and narrow QC-wise. And the prices will start climbing.

I mean, these are the people who turn out millions of iPhones, and God knows what else quality electronics and other high-tech gadgetry.

[Brad Johnson]

Check Cabela's store brand offerings.  They have an 8-32x50 on for $420

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shooting/Optics/Riflescopes%7C/pc/104792580/c/104752080/sc/104535180/Cabelas-30mm-Tactical-Classic-Riflescopes/753490.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fshooting-optics-riflescopes%2F_%2FN-1100246%2B10000054%2B4294769966%2FNe-10000054%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104535180%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104792580%253Bcat104752080%26WTz_st%3DGuidedNav%26WTz_stype%3DGNU&WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104792580%3Bcat104752080%3Bcat104535180

Brad

[AJ Dual]

Oh, one thing I'd like to know, what make of .50 BMG is it? I'm presuming that if you're on this budget for optics, it's one of the single/bolt-action manual actions?

One thing I might watch out for is the eye-relief. Some designs, it gets kind of tight at certain magnifications, and with a .50 BMG in a non semi-auto action, I imagine it might be easy to get that extra bloody eyebrow thing going on...

[dogmush]

I have a lower mag, high end Vortex, and a Strikefire, and really like Vortex optics.  If I was in the $1000 range their FFP tac scope would be on my short list.  Sadly the Vortex scope in this project's price range is pretty much the bottom of their line.  I'm not sure if how their quality holds down there.  and it's not FFP.  I'm hoping to run across someone that has a Viper line scope.


AJ- It's a BOHICA upper on a dedicated AR lower.  (as an aside there;s lots of haters of that particular brand, but mine shoots pretty damn well, and only in battery. CS is ........well it takes paitence)

[Fly320s]

Vortex Vipers

http://swfa.com:80/Vortex-Viper-Rifle-Scopes-C1410.aspx

My Viper PST 4-16x50 FFP Mil-rad.

http://swfa.com:80/Vortex-4-16x50-Viper-PST-30mm-Rifle-Scope-P44561.aspx

[sanglant]

Christmas shopping season, amazon gold box(etc.), wait on the one you want.

and check mueller optics.