Scope Advice please

[Duke911]

I'm looking to buy a new scope after Christmas - with sidewheel parallax for rangefinding, around 4-15 mag with the best optics I can get, also target turrets would be nice. At the mo I'm thinking, AGS Swat, Hawke Sidewinder or Nikko Sterling Platignum - has anyone any experience of these or could give any other options? - the Nikon Monarch starts at 6.5 mag which is maybe a bit much for the low power, also ranges will be from 15m to 40m so needs to focus and range down to this. I can pay to around £400 at a push.
many thanks and Happy Christmas to all

[Gungeek]

Forget the Sidewinder, in my opinion - there's a thread currently being commented on concerning these 'scopes, they're never better than poor and if bought new have massive depreciation.

I've used a club mate's AGS 6-24x56 and was quite impressed with its optical quality, though it has got a huge objective, so plenty of light gets in. This can lead to a problem mounting and zeroing them on some guns, obviously you'll have to use high mounts and the rear mount will almost certainly have to be shimmed. If you 'go for' one of these new, make sure the sidewheel supplied with it has three grub screws, some (early?) sidewheels have only two screws, which must be inferior and could lead to sidewheel wobble.

There isn't a lot of choice in sidewheel parallaxing 'scopes, but I'd doubt any available within your price range wouldn't focus down to 15 metres. If you forget the sidewheel parallax requirement, your buying choices widen considerably.

Regards ... Geek

[Sam Vimes]

For geniune rangefinding you really need higher mag. If you just want a rough guide then a lower mag scope might just about do. Personally I would have a look at a bushnell elite 6-24x40 (not sidwheel though) or a Nikko 6-24x42.
I have the Nikko 10-50x60 on a FT rifle and the 6-24x42 on my hunting/HFT rig. I won't be parting with the 6-24x42 anytime soon .

Chris

[Gungeek]

... have a look at a Bushnell 4200 Elite 6-24x40 (not sidewheel though) or a Nikko Stirling 6-24x42 (30mm tube) ... Chris

Two fine recommendations here, would grace almost any gun. Regards ... Geek

[Gwylan]

If you want to rangefind, 32X is probably the min mag. IMO, there are no cheap sidewheel scopes that offer the same quality as a front PA like a Bushnell or a Burris. The Nikko Nighteater seems to be a clone of the AGS SWAT, but I don't like the way the image size changes when you adjust the parallax, and the objective is too large for HFT. The Monarch is nice, and the Big Nikko is a good entry level FT scope. The trouble with glass is you always get what you pay for.

Gus