Battle of the Asian Optics! Three Budget-Friendly Long-Range Scopes Tested (Including Tracking)

Authors Gear Reviews Jordan Michaels Optics/Sights Scopes
Battle of the Asian Optics! Three Budget-Friendly Long-Range Scopes Tested (Including Tracking)

Three scopes were tested from Sightron, Bushnell, and Vortex.

I once attended a writer’s event hosted by a high-end optics company, and while showing off the products, one of the reps commented on the unreliability of scopes made in Asia. Grimacing and shaking his head, he explained how reticles in non-US-made optics often move when they aren’t supposed to and sometimes don’t track as they should. His implication was clear: only cheap noobs buy scopes made anywhere outside the U.S. or Europe.

I understand the arguments in favor of preserving American jobs, and I don’t mean to doubt the rep’s experience or the high-quality nature of U.S.-made products. But that conversation got me thinking: if you’re willing to buy a scope without the Made in the USA sticker, what are your options? What kind of features, quality, and price points can you expect from scopes made in China, South Korea, or the Philippines?

To get a sense of the market, I chose three scopes to test: the Vortex Strike Eagle 4-24×50, the Sightron STAC 4-20×50, and the Bushnell Nitro 6-24×50. The Vortex and the Bushnell both hit the market within the last year, so I knew I was getting the latest in terms of quality control. All three scopes can be had for under $600, and they all feature similar magnifications, dimensions, and weights. Each tube diameter measures 30mm.

Battle of the Asian Optics! Three Budget-Friendly Long-Range Scopes Tested (Including Tracking)

Sightron STAC 4-20×50

Battle of the Asian Optics! Three Budget-Friendly Long-Range Scopes Tested (Including Tracking)

Vortex Strike Eagle 4-24×50 (new this year)

Battle of the Asian Optics! Three Budget-Friendly Long-Range Scopes Tested (Including Tracking)

Bushnell Nitro 6-24×50 (new this year)

Also, most importantly, all three scopes come with a robust warranty. Such warranties have become industry standard these days, and they’re especially important when purchasing more budget-friendly scopes.

Sightron’s Limited Lifetime Warranty and Bushnell’s Ironclad Warranty cover all defects due to workmanship or materials throughout the life of the scope, though neither cover damage due to accidents (Bushnell calls it “wear and tear”). Vortex’s VIP Warranty takes it a step further, covering everything except loss, theft, deliberate damage, and cosmetic damage.

So, with those preliminaries out of the way, let the battle begin.

Specifications

Scope Cost Made In Magnification Adjustments Max Elevation Click Value  MIL Available?
Vortex Strike Eagle $499.49 China 4-24×50 MOA 80 MOA 0.25 MOA      No
Sightron STAC $469.99 Philippines 4-20×50 MOA 80 MOA 0.25 MOA      No
Bushnell Nitro $549.99 South Korea 6-24×50 MOA 50 MOA 0.25 MOA      Yes

 

Scope Focal Plane Turrets Parallax Length Weight Eye Relief Tube Diameter FOV @100 Yards

Vortex Strike Eagle

Second    Target 20 Yards to Infinity 14.9 Inches 25.6 oz 3.5” 30mm 34.5-5.7 feet
Sightron STAC Second Capped,     Target 9 Yards to Infinity 14.8 Inches 23.8 oz 3.7-4” 30mm 23.6-4.4 feet
Bushnell Nitro Second Capped,    Non-Target 10 Yards to Infinity 14.4 Inches 26.3 oz 3.6” 30mm 16-4 feet

 

You can make your own comparisons, but I wanted to highlight three categories.

For practical purposes, “focal plane” determines whether the reticle changes in size alongside magnification. In first focal plane scopes (FFP), the reticle expands as the magnification increases, which allows for range estimation at any magnification. In second focal plane scopes (SFP), the reticle stays the same size no matter the magnification, which keeps a consistent sight picture but requires trickier math to estimate distances.

In this regard, the Nitro line comes out on top. Bushnell offers scopes in both first and second focal plane varieties, though you’ll pay more for the FFP models. While Sightron and Vortex have FFP scopes in other lines, those scopes come with different features – and different price points.

Sightron’s turrets are, in my opinion, the most versatile. They use a target-style marking system that allows the shooter to see the number of revolutions the turret has made, but they also include a screw-on cap, which is essential for any kind of hunting application. The Vortex scope doesn’t include caps, and the Bushnell uses a standard, non-target marking system. Each is fine for certain applications, but I like the versatility of the Sightron.

Also, check out the field of view range among the three scopes. Vortex is the clear winner, but I was surprised at the limitations of the Bushnell. For a scope designed for hunters, it seems like it should have a greater field of view.

Ease of Use

I’m giving this one to Sightron. I didn’t have much trouble using any of these scopes. All feature simple dials for magnification and parallax/focus as well as adjustments for reticle focus. But while the Vortex and the Bushnell employ minimal serrations on the magnification and parallax dials, the Sightron features deep cut-outs to allow for excellent purchase on both adjustment knobs. The magnification dial even includes a flip-up lever for quick adjustments with gloved hands.

Battle of the Asian Optics! Three Budget-Friendly Long-Range Scopes Tested (Including Tracking)

From left to right: Sightron, Bushnell, Vortex

There is one drawback. If you’re not careful, depending on how the scope is mounted, the cut-outs could take a chunk out of your hand while cycling a bolt gun. This never happened to me, but I did have to patch up one of my buddies.

Sightron also wins the turret battle. Tactile turret clicks allow the shooter to count adjustments without looking at the dial. A nice, firm *click* also reduces the chance of miscounting, which is especially important if you haven’t spun the dial back to zero.

The turrets on the Vortex and Bushnell felt fine, but the Sightron had that little bit of consistent resistance before firmly and audibly clicking over to the next hash mark. It was obviously superior to both other scopes, which is a big reason I gave it the nod for ease of use.

Battle of the Asian Optics! Three Budget-Friendly Long-Range Scopes Tested (Including Tracking)

The Vortex turrets move the reticle 12 MOA per revolution.

Battle of the Asian Optics! Three Budget-Friendly Long-Range Scopes Tested (Including Tracking)

The Bushnell turrets move the reticle 15 MOA per revolution and don’t feature markings to indicate the number of revolutions.

Battle of the Asian Optics! Three Budget-Friendly Long-Range Scopes Tested (Including Tracking)

The Sightron turrets move the reticle 15 MOA per revolution.

Battle of the Asian Optics! Three Budget-Friendly Long-Range Scopes Tested (Including Tracking)

All three turrets can be spun back to “0”, so returning to your zero is a piece of cake. The Bushnell (left) by hand, and the Sightron (middle) and Vortex (right) with an Allen wrench.

Clarity and Reticle

Optical clarity is among a scope’s most important “features,” but, ironically, it’s also the most difficult to measure without extensive testing. (Seriously. Google “optical clarity scope test” and check out how nerdy it can get.) Judging image clarity is subjective, and fancy lens coatings don’t always translate into crystal clear images.

This subjectivity is a prime breeding ground for moronic internet fights, so I’ll just post a few images below and stress that my evaluation is based on nothing more than my use of all three scopes and their side-by-side comparison.

To my eyes, at least, the Vortex seemed to provide the best image clarity. I took all three to the range and used them on targets at 650 yards, and I was able to identify details more clearly with the Vortex than with either of the other two scopes.

That being said, you won’t have any trouble seeing targets at 1000+ yards with any of these optics. All three are designed for long-range shooting, and each feature more than enough magnification and clarity to see targets from distance.

(Note: These images aren’t intended to be used to evaluate optical clarity. I only want to give readers a sense of each scope’s image, reticle, and field of view.)

Battle of the Asian Optics! Three Budget-Friendly Long-Range Scopes Tested (Including Tracking)

Bushnell on 6x and 24x.

Battle of the Asian Optics! Three Budget-Friendly Long-Range Scopes Tested (Including Tracking)

Sightron on 4x and 20x (Note: This was taken at a different time of day than the other two scopes.)

Battle of the Asian Optics! Three Budget-Friendly Long-Range Scopes Tested (Including Tracking)

Vortex on 4x and 24x.

As you can see, each scope uses a markedly different reticle. The Vortex’s is the most detailed with numbered, MOA hash marks for holdover and windage. The Bushnell uses a simple, non-numbered hash system with the larger marks delineating 1 MOA at full magnification. While I appreciated the simplicity of this design, the lines appeared thicker than either of the other two scopes. Fortunately, Bushnell offers three additional reticle designs in the Nitro line, two of which employ thinner markings and FFP reticles.

The desirability of a reticle design depends largely on the application, but I preferred the Sightron. The Sightron’s reticle uses ultra-thin markings that don’t impede sight picture, and I especially like the point-of-aim dot. Even at a long distance, the dot doesn’t cover the target, and it can even be used to quickly estimate range. Its minimalist design limits holdover and windage, but, as you can see below, the scope tracks true, so I wouldn’t have any qualms about dialing in those estimates.

Battle of the Asian Optics! Three Budget-Friendly Long-Range Scopes Tested (Including Tracking)

From left to right: Bushnell, Sightron, and Vortex.

Tracking

Battle of the Asian Optics! Three Budget-Friendly Long-Range Scopes Tested (Including Tracking)

I used a Caldwell shooting sled during tracking tests to remove as many variables as possible.

Here’s where the rubber meets the road. Tracking, especially elevation tracking, can make or break a long-distance shot, so it’s crucial for a scope’s reticle to move exactly as much as it’s supposed to.

To test this, I drew a chart with 20 hash marks spaced evenly 2 MOA apart (2.094 inches). This gave me a full 40 MOA of elevation, which will get a 308 WIN out to about 1000 yards and a 6.5 Creedmoor to well beyond that. I strapped one of my most accurate rifles into a Caldwell Lead Sled and shot from 100 yards with Nexus’s match 308 WIN ammunition. I aimed each shot at the bottom bull’s eye but increased the elevation by 2 MOA before each one. Then, I returned the scope to zero and took one additional shot at the bull’s eye.

Ideally, all 20 rounds should have landed somewhere near each hash mark, with some margin of error to account for the rifle’s accuracy.

Battle of the Asian Optics! Three Budget-Friendly Long-Range Scopes Tested (Including Tracking)

Nexus manufactures excellent 308 WIN match ammunition, which my rifles shoot well.

Battle of the Asian Optics! Three Budget-Friendly Long-Range Scopes Tested (Including Tracking)

From left to right: Vortex, Sightron, Bushnell

As you can see, the Vortex and the Sightron performed well. Both tracked all the way up the ladder and returned to zero perfectly.

The Bushnell was a different story. There were two distinct hiccups in the ladder, both of which I marked with a red circle and confirmed with a second shot. In the first (10 MOA), the scope didn’t track far enough, then returned to tracking the correct distance until 26 MOA. At that point, it tracked too far and then, once again, returned to tracking the correct distance.

I should note that this line of Bushnell scopes is designed primarily for hunting applications, so it might be unfair to test it in the same manner as the other two scopes. Because game animals tend to move at inopportune moments, hunters often opt to use holdover reticle marks rather than dial in a shot with the elevation turret. The Nitro’s reticle can easily accommodate this method out to most hunting distances, so its sub-par tracking shouldn’t discourage the hunter from giving it a try.

(For those who are interested, Bushnell’s new Forge line is geared more towards long-range precision shooters, though the MSRP is about $200 higher.)

Conclusion

With great features, clear glass, spot-on tracking, and robust warranties, budget-friendly Asian-made optics can hold their own in today’s marketplace. While buying an American or European scope may have been imperative in decades past, today’s scope companies have improved quality control at their Asian manufacturers. Their products might not be able to compete with truly great glass, but they’re more than sufficient for shooters (like me) who want something that will hold up at the range and in competition.

So, who wins the battle? That’ll depend on your intended purpose, but of these three scopes, I prefer the Sightron. Its minimalist design, versatile turret system, great performance, and simple reticle make it a fantastic option at the range and in the field.

Sightron 
Vortex 
Bushnell

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  • charlie craft April 16, 2019, 8:55 am

    I am looking for a scope with 24 power to shoot steel silhouettes with a 22 out to 212 yds. Which scope do you recommend for this purpose. I use Nikon 6x24x50 now. Can a shooter get a dot put in the scopes. That is what I like and shoot with now. How much does it cost to have a dot installed?

  • coyote hunter April 9, 2019, 9:01 am

    crosshairs too busy, maybe for snipers or long range target shooting they’re o.k. but for general hunting out to 300 yds a simple crosshair works just fine if you are familiar with your rifle and practice enough…these scopes are like the new pickups, way too fancy with all the gadgets….

  • Ron April 8, 2019, 9:22 pm

    What about HAWK OPTICS ??? !!!! Really, I don’t think I’ve seen not even a handful of reviews except by owners of this optic company.

  • Gene Johnson April 8, 2019, 5:44 pm

    Why does everyone insist on wasting ammo doing box tests? Just use a boresighter/collimitor and dial in some elevation. You will be able to see how well the scope tracks by observing how many grid lines the scope moves without firing a single shot. The scope should track vertically with out any windage movement. If the reticle moves horizontally by just adjusting the elevation, you have a boat anchor and should not mount it on any rifle where you want precision. Also do a zoom test. The reticle should not move on the grid. You will also see some vertical movement of the reticle when adjusting parallax. That is normal because the scope is mounted above the barrel and not on the bore center line. Adjust the horizontal movement as well. With a good scope you will not see any vertical movement.

  • Kenny Smith April 8, 2019, 1:02 pm

    I really liked the article regardless of the very small mistakes made. People complain about everything these days, like there being so many variables in this test. Anyway I enjoyed it and appreciate the information I got out of it . Thank You, for all of the hard work you had to put in to make this test happen !!! Keep up the good work !

  • Michael G April 8, 2019, 12:31 pm

    I can’t believe you threw out the most important factor when looking at long range scopes! Image clarity is the most important single aspect, followed by tracking. Putting Sightron in 1st place just doesn’t make sense.

    I’ve moved away from Millet and Nightforce scopes and even my high dollar Vortex scopes because of the performance and features of the Strike Eagle line. Did you mention lit reticle which is invaluable when your target is dark or in shadows???

    And finally, you don’t always have time to dial corrections… having the information available in the reticle makes it possible to use the numbered marks.

    Sorry, but your “evaluation” displays another self proclaimed expert that has little or no real world experience in the subject matter. FAIL!

  • Terry April 8, 2019, 10:29 am

    FOV – Uhm, the Bushnell has a lowest power of *6* while the others have a lowest power of *4* – OF COURSE IT HAS LESS FIELD OF VIEW AT LOWEST POWER.
    You need to compare what the other two scopes FOV is at *6* power to truly compare it.

    AND – the Bushnell maxes at 24x, not 20x like the other two, and yet at max magnification, The Bushnell is only slightly less than the Sightron at 20x.

    To accurately compare field of view you should measure it with the scopes at the same magnification. If you don’t know that, you shouldn’t be writing about optics.

    • TERRY April 9, 2019, 11:18 am

      The Vortex maxes at 24 so not sure what you are whining about.

  • Rick April 8, 2019, 10:29 am

    Just checked. Vortex headquarters are in Barneveld, WI. They’re manufactured in Middleton, WI.

    • D Geary April 9, 2019, 12:50 am

      If you don’t know anything about scopes or their manufacture then maybe you shouldn’t comment……NO scopes are made in the U.S. and only a select handful are assembled here…everything else is Asian, Japanese or European or their parts are…

      • Tim April 9, 2019, 12:34 pm

        Thought most of Leopold’s line were made in Oregon? At least most of mine are.

        • David April 9, 2019, 9:13 pm

          Absolutely, they are made in Beaverton, Oregon, all materials, machining, finishing, plus the ability to have different reticles installed on special order depending on your requirements. Made in USA through and through.

  • Frank S April 8, 2019, 9:14 am

    I’ve got a couple Barska scopes that were $200 or less that work just fine. I don’t bang around in the woods or shoot 100 rounds at the range with them often, so I can’t say a lot about how long g they will hold up and stay true, but I can’t complain. So far I shoot as well as friends with $500_1000 scopes. Maybe my friends are all worse shooters?

  • wRecKaGe April 8, 2019, 3:58 am

    I think you missed a real heavy hitter in this realm. The SWAC Super Sniper line is incredibly affordable and are almost bomb proof optics. Especially so if you choose the 10x fixed magnification model chosen by the US Navy. Robust, superb tracking, and an exceptionally good piece of glass for the price point. Far better than any $300-400 optic should be.

    • Jordan Michaels April 8, 2019, 9:18 am

      Awesome! Thanks for the suggestion. I’m always looking for budget-friendly products. Maybe we’ll reach out and try to get one for a review.

      • Phil April 9, 2019, 12:15 pm

        I assume he meant SWFA??? Yeah, those scopes have great specs, and they generally get glowing reviews by folks who actually use them. Part of their draw is lower cost, which they at least partially accomplish by not having variable magnification, which is highly over-rated anyway. But the scopes are just supposed to be bomber, next scope I buy will be an SWFA. https://www.swfa.com/optics/riflescopes.html?brand=SWFA%20SS

  • Shane April 7, 2019, 6:50 pm

    Please name one scope made entirely in the USA? Some are assembled here with glass and other parts from Asia. Leupold uses glass manufactured overseas. People somehow believe Night force scopes are made in the USA…they are made in Japan. It’s printed on the bottom of the scope. Bottom line…they are all made overseas. Get over it and go shooting.

    • Jordan Michaels April 8, 2019, 9:19 am

      Good point. In today’s market, companies can get quality components from around the world.

    • Eric N. Spear April 8, 2019, 6:57 pm

      I agree with you about the glass, most is from Japan or Germany. But I beg to differ with you on the Nightforce. I own two and just went to look at them again so I could verify it. My NXS and ATACR both say Made in U.S.A. right on the tube below the elevation turret. So not sure which model you are referring to on the Nightforce and it not being made in the U.S. I think we both may be correct as I had read somewhere that some older models were made overseas. I purchased both my scopes last year (2018) but not sure that’s the manufactured year.

  • SPQR April 7, 2019, 5:34 pm

    Amusing that the rifle is Made in Japan

  • Nonya biz April 7, 2019, 10:31 am

    And the winner is!?……
    Primary Arms ACSS HUD DMR 3-18!

    • TERRY April 9, 2019, 11:28 am

      Hmmm Nonya, no primary arms tested in this article you must be reading something else.

  • Buddy April 7, 2019, 4:32 am

    Shooting is not the best nethod for testing tracking.You should mount the firearm securely whe it dies not move and run a box test.Mark an run a tracking test up to at least 40 moa.
    WHAT SCOPE WAS TESTED FIRST AND LAST.? WAS THE RIFLE CLEANED BETWEEN EACH SCOPE TRACKING TEST?
    TOO MANY VARIBLES INCLUDING THE SHOOYER TO DO IT THIS WAY.

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