The 223 with the new barrel (by Horizon) has finally had all the load work ups done. The chosen bullets are the 40 and 55 gr Nosler BT's and the 65 gr Sierra GK.With the rifle sighted in for the 40 grainers, both the 55 and 65 both print about one inch left of the POI of the 40. That makes life pretty darn simple, but the scope I have on it right now would be more useful if it had turrets. Then I could easily and quickly switch bullets with just a quick couple of clicks on a turret.

So...I'm thinking I want a 6-24 SFP scope with turrets. Give me some hints on a good scope that isn't a fortune. I could go with a Leupold 6.5-20, but I think I want something different. I have a 6-18 VX2 on it now.

A light scope would be a good thing. And a good fine line reticle. Shots inside 300 will be most likely, so a fancy busy reticle isn't necessary. Whaddayathink?

How much of your money can we spend?

Geez, I don't know...but $500 or so would be good. $1000 seems a bit much. I looked at a Vortex 6.5-20 today, and I think it was south of $600. It was an SFP scope. But that power range isn't much better than what I have now. Maybe Burris or Bushnell have something I'd like. I suppose I'll prowl the Internet.

Can't you get a turret for the Leupold?

That didn't occur to me as a possibility. Will Leupold do that to a VX2? I didn't think they would. Probably I should call them. If they could add turrets and that TMR reticle to it, I'd be very happy.

If you expect your shots to be within 300 yards, do you really think you want to be fiddling with a turret?

Along a different track...Leupold's 6-18x has been available with what they call a Long Range reticle. I have a couple or three of them on .22 centerfires. Unfortunately I can't tell you just how useful they are because I haven't taken a .22 centerfire into the field in quite a while.

I am considering upgrading from 6-18x VX-IIs to 6.5-20x VX-III or VX-3. If and when that happens my VX-IIs will be on the market.

I think you will want a FFP scope. I would never spend money on a SFP scope after using a FFP, but thats just me.

Check out the Vortex Viper PST line. You get a ton of features for a great price. Plus, with their warranty you can have more confidence when buying a used scope. I have 2 used Viper PST's and I love them!

I searched a while to do it, but I found a Vortex PST 6-24 FFP MRAD for over $200 off list. If Leupold can't do what you want that scope is probably the best option out there.

You guys are all offering good suggestions, but I think you might have missed my point. My issue is only windage, which I admit is a bit unusual. With the dead center POI of the 40 grain Noslers, I'm lucky to find that with this new barrel the 55 gr Nosler AND the 65 gr Sierra GK's impact just about 1 inch left of the 40 gr POI. That's absolutely terrific, and I couldn't be much happier. Now...all I need is a scope with a turret (covered or not) that will allow me to make that 1 inch windage adjustment quickly and easily (and repeatably) so that I can change bullets whenever I wish to without having to check POI on my range. And, being that most, if not all shooting with this rifle will be inside 300 yards, FFP isn't necessary. Heck, an elevation turret really isn't necessary, but it would be beyond weird to have a windage turret and not an elevation turret.

Obviously, I could just shoot the 55 grainers or the 65 grainers and not fiddle with adjustments. But I like the 40's for varmints in the yard (skunks, armadillos, and coyotes)j, and I want the 65's for the grandkid for pigs.

And I have a Vortex Viper 4-16 PST FFP on my 260 and a Leupold 6.5-20x50 on my 220 Swift. Both have the 30mm tube and I'm very happy with both of them. But for my little ol 223, I don't want a scope that big. Something like a 6-24x40, with a 1 inch tube would be just fine. I looked around on the internet for a bit, but couldn't find just exactly what I wanted, though surely somebody has one. If I could get Leupold to add turrets, covered or not, and either the Varmint Hunter Reticle or the TMR reticle to my 6-18, I'd be happy enough. I know they'll do work on the VX3's, but I wasn't sure what they'd do to a VX2.

So...that's my situation. Nothing has to be done, but it would be nice to have just what I want. And it seems overkill to spend $1K on a scope for my yard gun. I'll call Leupold on Monday morning and see what they can do, if anything.

Thanks for your thoughts on this. I do appreciate it. Sometimes somebody will come up with an idea or option that I haven't considered.

Yup, you're right. Guilty.

From the digging around I've been doing, it appears that the best scope/price for the money will be the Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44 PA. It has capped turrets, which is fine with me since I won't be turret twirling during normal use. Cameraland has it for $299, which is way cheaper than I was expecting. If Leupold can't do anything for me on the VX2, I'll order the Vortex. And, just to say it, I want the 44mm objective instead of the 50mm objective. This modest Vortex scope should easily fit my modest demands. And the price is low enough that the wife won't get all irritated. Win/win for all.

If anyone has reason to prevent the joining of this man and this scope in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold his piece.

I love Leupold but it might take them 6 months to put a turret on you scope?? Comparing the VX-2 and the Vortex glass they are similar. Go with the Vortex in that price range.

We will require a range report with PICS when you get it

I didn't tell you guys, but for the last couple of days I've been shooting cold bore shots with the 40's, 55's, and 65's. I shoot at 1 inch tall inverted V's. The tip of the V is the intended POI. The results of that testing, which I wanted to do to be absolutely sure of where the bullets were printing, were that the 40's printed about 1/8 inch right of the V tip and the 55's and the 65's printed (in about the same hole) about 1/4 inch left of the V tip. I've decided to just stay with the VX2 6-18 rather than go to the Vortex, and I'll leave the scope adjustments right where they are for all the bullets.