P.S. Mr. N3T - if you *DO* get a 4.5-30 Elite 6500, and/or if you do some more research on them re: clarity at the upper magnification ranges, then PLEASE let me know what you discover, as I'd really LIKE to like that scope for a long range build I'm going to do in the future (probably gonna be a Desert Tactical "Stealth Recon Scout" 28" in 7mm WSM or 6.5mm-'06). But if it's no good, then I'll likely run with a Sightron fixed-power target scope, or a March/Selby if I hit the lottery.
PPS. Two final thoughts, since you're looking at these really really high magnification scopes:
1. Don't forget that mirage usually wipes out your scope somewhere around the 20-30x range, or less when it's hot; sometimes a lot less, and the lower the glass quality, the quicker mirage wipes you out. So it doesn't make a lot of sense to spend more money to get magnifictions past 20 or 24x, unless you go all the way to spending a LOT more money on a large objective lens, and ultra high quality glass. You do NOT want to go low end on anything over about 20x. And I recommend going no LESS than a 50mm objective lens for anything over 18-20x top end, unless it's really, really high quality glass, in which case 42 or 44mm works (maybe even 40).
2. If the purpose of this rifle is truly a long-range, teensy-group, target rifle, as your inquiry suggests, where you simply MUST have 30x or more power, remember that fixed powers are better than variables for this, and you can get a lot more value for your money in terms of glass quality, due to the fewer lenses and therefore more light transmission of the fixed powers. So to get a fixed power target scope, here's the brands to look at, roughly, from less expensive to more expensive/better: Weaver, Leupold, Sightron S3, March - may be a few others. You can get a Weaver target scope for around $300 that will really dial you in close at long range, pretty clearly.
Yes, yes - precisely; thank you.
PPS. Two final thoughts, since you're looking at these really really high magnification scopes:
1. Don't forget that mirage usually wipes out your scope somewhere around the 20-30x range, or less when it's hot; sometimes a lot less, and the lower the glass quality, the quicker mirage wipes you out. So it doesn't make a lot of sense to spend more money to get magnifictions past 20 or 24x, unless you go all the way to spending a LOT more money on a large objective lens, and ultra high quality glass. You do NOT want to go low end on anything over about 20x. And I recommend going no LESS than a 50mm objective lens for anything over 18-20x top end, unless it's really, really high quality glass, in which case 42 or 44mm works (maybe even 40).
2. If the purpose of this rifle is truly a long-range, teensy-group, target rifle, as your inquiry suggests, where you simply MUST have 30x or more power, remember that fixed powers are better than variables for this, and you can get a lot more value for your money in terms of glass quality, due to the fewer lenses and therefore more light transmission of the fixed powers. So to get a fixed power target scope, here's the brands to look at, roughly, from less expensive to more expensive/better: Weaver, Leupold, Sightron S3, March - may be a few others. You can get a Weaver target scope for around $300 that will really dial you in close at long range, pretty clearly.
Semi-autos have strong recoil forces that tend to be a bit abusive to optics. I won't say that cheaper scopes won't work, just that the odds of having to buy another (replacement) are much higher. Having a scope go down when you're punching paper is no biggie; if you hunt it can be painfully disappointing.
Yes, yes - precisely; thank you.