Scope suggestions for medium power spring?

[wahoowad]

I'm looking for a 3-9x or 4-12x to put on my 16 ft-lb Walther LGU for plinking and shooting groups on my 25 - 50 yard range. I shoot a good bit in the dark evenings using a flashlight to illuminate my targets and want an illuminated reticle, maybe even something with just a small center dot. I'm fine with either 1" or 30mm tube and between a 40 - 50 mm objective. Don't really care if it is AO or sidefocus.

Suggestions? Price range is roughly 150 - 225.

Thanks!

[joek]

I would look at one of the Nikon closeouts 

[Yogi]

I would look at one of the Nikon closeouts 

Is the EFR illuminated?  I'm pretty sure it is there only Nikon scope that can parallax down to 10 yards, except for some super high power ones...
Many people seem to really like the Hawke's.  Me meh.

What is your budget?  At least look at the Optisan/MTC EVX line-up of scopes.  UTG if on a budget.

-Y

[wahoowad]

Price range is roughly 150 - 225.

[Techie]

I would look at one of the Nikon closeouts

What Nikon closeouts?   I know they are getting out of the riflescope business, but I have not seen any "closeout" deals on them.  I'd love a Nikon 3-9-40 EFR, but the cheapest I see one now is $186.93 on Amazon. 

[joek]

I would look at one of the Nikon closeouts

What Nikon closeouts?   I know they are getting out of the riflescope business, but I have not seen any "closeout" deals on them.  I'd love a Nikon 3-9-40 EFR, but the cheapest I see one now is $186.93 on Amazon. 

my bad hadn't checked lately   a Hawke Airmax gets my vote 

[Rick67]

The Nikon EFRs were about $120 shipped 3 weeks (?) ago on Ebay and Amazon.

They actually stayed at that price for more than a week, IIRIC.

[Rick67]

I have this very scope, albeit it is only a 2-7x.

I thought they were no more and were replace by the AMX reticle model.

Nice, clear, and compact with a glass-etched reticle.

[Bayman]

I have this very scope, albeit it is only a 2-7x.

I thought they were no more and were replace by the AMX reticle model.

Nice, clear, and compact with a glass-etched reticle.

I just got one too. Nice little scope. I put it on my Hw30 Laminate. Perfect sized scope for that little gun. Hawke only recommends the Vantage line for springers upto 12fpe. I was using a 3-9x40 AO Vantage on my 12fpe Hw50 until I noticed a ring coming from it when closing the barrel and shooting it. Not sure if it's anything but an annoyance. I'm still replacing it with an Airmax version. The Gun Pros (Dodds sporting goods in WV) on GunBroker.com sells the Hawke scopes much much cheaper than anyone else. Correction used to. It seems they just pulled all their listings. I wonder if they got in trouble for under cutting. Two days ago I bought 2 Hawke 3-9x40 Airmax scopes for $130 each with shipping and 3% cc fee the total order was $283. Worth it to try calling them if you're interested in any Hawke scope. I've bought 7 or 8 from them and they're totally legit. They get drop shipped directly from Hawke.

[wahoowad]

Too bad that Nikon EFR doesn’t have an illuminated dot or reticle.

[Techie]

The Nikon EFRs were about $120 shipped 3 weeks (?) ago on Ebay and Amazon.

They actually stayed at that price for more than a week, IIRIC.

Too bad I missed it!  I wasn't looking for a scope at that time. 

[mobilehomer]

Bushnell AR 2-12X40. I have one, it is GREAT glass!!! Much better glass than the price suggests.

[JungleShooter]

Wahoowad,   😊

just a little while back I was looking for a scope for closer ranges, and I didn't want a heavy clunker on a sub-carbine.

I found about 40 scopes that fulfilled most of my requirements, and about half are in your price range.

My requirements were:
•Either short and variable — or 3-9x / 3-12x
•10y-Side Parallax
•Exposed Turrets


🔶 The Scope Comparison Table attached below lists some of the specs you were interested in, namely iluminated reticle.
And some other specs that might make it easier to decide:
—Price
—Warranty
—Illuminated reticle or not
—FFP or SFP (first or second focal plane, really important I'd think)

—Length
—Weight

—Turrets in MIL or MOA, matched or mismatched with the reticle
—Reticle in MIL or MOA, Holdover dots/numbers

—Max. elevation adjustment
—Field of view
—Tube diameter



🔶 Hope this is as helpful to you as it helped me to make up my mind with the mindboggling amount of choice...!   


My personal preference (I just received this week), and the only drawback is no IR:
Discovery VT-3, either 3-12x44 or 4-16x44, with FFP.

Matthias

[Bayman]

Bushnell AR 2-12X40. I have one, it is GREAT glass!!! Much better glass than the price suggests.

On a springer?

[mobilehomer]

Bushnell AR 2-12X40. I have one, it is GREAT glass!!! Much better glass than the price suggests.

On a springer?

Yep, had it on a Trail NP2(20fpe) for about 15,000 shots then moved it to my 2400KT. I figured if it would hold up to the double recoil of an AR, it would be fine on a springer. I was right.

[Bayman]

Bushnell AR 2-12X40. I have one, it is GREAT glass!!! Much better glass than the price suggests.

On a springer?

Yep, had it on a Trail NP2(20fpe) for about 15,000 shots then moved it to my 2400KT. I figured if it would hold up to the double recoil of an AR, it would be fine on a springer. I was right.

Good to know. Semi automatic rifles are tough on scopes.

[Bayman]

The Nikon EFRs were about $120 shipped 3 weeks (?) ago on Ebay and Amazon.

They actually stayed at that price for more than a week, IIRIC.

Too bad I missed it!  I wasn't looking for a scope at that time. 

Just sold two together for 200.
One a like new older model and the other a NIB P3 model.