I had my mind made up on a Nikon X1000 4-16x50, then saw a Vortex Strike Eagle 4-24x50 while with a buddy at Bass Pro yesterday. The scope will be used on an AR and sole purpose will be predator hunting. I am not a long range paper puncher, but do find the extra magnification the Vortex offers nice. I own a PST gen 1 and a few Nikons and have had good luck with all. These both fall within my 500 budget. Anybody have first hand experience?

My bet is the glass is better in the Nikon, historically they do make pretty dang clear glass. And clarity is more important than magnification. In other words, very clear 16X is better than less than clear 24X.

I’ve never looked through a $300.00 24X scope that I would own.

I've made this mistake. Years ago there were less options. Started with a millet 6-24x50 and learned alot but ultimately I went to a 3-15x42 swfa. It is vastly more useful.

Of those 2, I’d go with the Nikon for your uses.

Ordered the Nikon from SWFA yesterday. Thanks.

please come back with a range report

I have a vortex viper 4-16x44 gen 1 and my brother has a Nikon Black FX 1000 4-16x50. After shooting them both I think the Nikon is a better scope much clearer/brighter sharper. So far both seem to track well, but the Nikon turret is much easier to turn which lends itself to moving accidentally. If I had to do it over again I would buy the Nikon but it wasn't available when I bought mine.