Thread: Scope recommendations

I've had fair dialing from cheaper scopes but the question for me is how well it still works when its 5 years and 2000 308 rounds down the track.

Compared to 20 years ago, we now expect scopes to do a lot of things we didn't then:
Dial accurately.
Dial and return to zero
Reticle markings accurate at all magnifications.
No zero shift when changing magnification.
Parallax adjustment, accurate, reproducible, plus no change in point of impact.
waterproof (yes, most weren't back in the day)
Huge magnification zoom. In the day, Leupold scopes went 2.5x (eg2.5-6.5) and that was considered "state of" . Now its embarrassing if you're only offering 3-12x.
Larger objective, bigger field of view, better light transmission, sharper higher contrast image, higher mag.

So, what can you do without if you have a budget ?
Dialling is the first. You do still need good adjustments but only for sighting in once in a blue moon and they don't really have to match the reticle or be exact on paper as long as they hold zero through bumps heat cold and lots of shots.
Parallax is next.
Wide zoom range >4x
Top Mag >12x
Leaving off these features makes it a lot easier for the manufacturer to produce a high quality functional optic for under $1000.

I'd rather have a long established top brand with modest specs than a 5 year old company offering a "lifetime warranty" on a scope with every spec.

The great thing about the 270Win is its flat shooting and hard hitting, which gives you margin to do without a rangefinder and dialling (within reason say up to 250m).