Cheaper FFP Mil/Mil Scopes

I am thinking about getting a 17 HMR or WSM for varmint hunting. I would like to get a Mil/Mil in FFP to practice with because I have one on my 6.5 Creedmoor.

I have been looking at a few cheaper scopes, some fixed magnification and some variable:

Bushnell Elite 3200 Tactical Rifle Scope 10x 40mm
BSA Tactical Mil-Mil Rifle Scope 30mm Tube 4-14x 44mm Side Focus
Falcon Menace 4-14x44 Tactical 30mm
SWFA SS 12x42 Tactical

Another part of me is saying, get the SWFA SS 3-15x42 Tactical for $700. I could use it on the .243 I have and just put it on the varmint rifle when I need too.

What do y'all think? Any experience with these scopes?

I would go with the SWFA or Falcon Menace. I have a bushy 3200 and its ok. I have used many of the BSA and such and believe them to be a waste of money.

Weaver used to have a ffp 3-9 that was mil/mil.

I've heard the falcon has great mechanics and ok glass. A good buy at that price point. The SWFA fixed power is the same story. I would buy either one to meet your needs.

Edit: I also had the 3-15 SWFA. I would not spend the $700 again. A little more money gets you a lot more glass quality.

I was curious about the glass quality of the regular SWFA SS and the HD glass. They have a 2-9x42 HD FFP scope for $600 but I wanted a little more magnification. The next scope up is the 5-20x50 and it is $1,300 which is not much of a budget scope anymore.

Falcon Menace 4-14x44 Tactical 30mm
SWFA SS 12x42 Tactical

These two.

the bushy or the swfa, with out question forget the falcon and BSA.... and realistically the SWFA is going to be your best bet out of this group its not even a toss up...

^^This^^

My only issue is why you'd get a fixed 12x for a gun with a max range of 175-200 yards?

The SWFA is probably the best combination of glass and mechanics, but I'd get a variable power scope for a 17HMR. JMHO

I like the higher mag for varmints because they are small targets, just helps me see better. I am thinking of getting the variable and using it on my .243 win and the 17 hmr/wsm when I get it.

I'm not saying the top end is the probably, but rather the bottom end. If your max range is 175-200 yards, I assume that you might be making a number of shots 25-50 yards as well. Fixed 12x isn't ideal in that scenario.

I am mainly getting this for the varmints in my garden. Currently, I have to sneak up on them. I have tried to get within 50 yards but I usually scare them off. I use an open sight .22 now and my effective range with that is 50 yards. I would like to lay prone at 100 yards with a suppressor and shoot the varmints.

The 17 hmr/wsm will be a 75-200 yard rig.

Hell I'd bypass the 12x and get the 16x and the fact they focus down to 10 m/yrds makes them a perfect rim fire optic. If 90% of you shooting is going to happen during daylight hours i'd opt for as much mag as possible.

Primary arms sells one thats pretty cheap you might like better than the falcon menace. That being said, I personally saved a little more and bought the SWFA when I was looking.

Which model did you get, the original or HD glass?

http://swfa.com/BSA-6-18x40-Sweet-17-Riflescope-P13053.aspx

This is what I have on my 17 HMR, and I hit varmints with it efficiently out to 150 yds and fairly effective at greater distances. Since the rimfire has little recoil, you can get away with a cheap scope. This is not ffp or mil/mil, but it is better than buying something you have to switch to another rifle to justify the expense.

Got the 3-15 regular glass

I run the swfa 12x, the 3-15x42 and the 5-20

Really was impressed with the quality of these scopes. I took my 12 X out to Jason's 800 yards range with no issues hitting out to 800. Hard to beat the price of a 12x. The 3-15 is also a great scope of you want some zoom!

Makes more sense now. Sounds like the fixed 12x won't be a limiting factor for you.

I'm leaning toward the SWFA SS 10x42 Mil/Mil scope. If I like it on my .243 I might just buy another for my .17 caliber rifle.

Thanks for all the input!

I have the falcon, haven't gotten to shootnit yet, but you have to look pretty hard to find a bad review on it.