Cabelas Alpha Series EXT Scope review

[kottke_35]

Hey y’all,

A while back I was looking for a scope to put on my Remington 700 SPS in 308. Cabelas had a deal going to their Alpha Series 3-12x40 with EXT reticule. This reticule is similar to a “BDC” type, with hash marks and dashes hold over points for various distances. They usually sell for 149.99, I picked mine up for 79.99.

When the scope arrived it looked to be pretty well put together. I was a little leary about it standing up over time to recoil though. I mounted it on my rifle, bore sighted and headed to the range. After initial zero, I was hitting bulls eye at 100 yards all day long. I was shooting hand loads with Varget and Hornady 150gr spire points. I changed the zero shot and returned to original zero. The adjustments were precise and tracking was positive. All in all I fired 100 rounds in the range session.

Fast forward to hunting season. One of my buddies needed to borrow a rifle for hunting season so I loaned him the above mentioned rifle. Well three days into season we get back to camp and he says he needs to talk to me. He slipped and fell right onto the rifle, scope striking first right onto a pile of rocks. Oh boy…so we set up a target in camp at 100 yards. He fired three shots producing a 1.5inch group right where we had sighted it in for. I was impressed.

Get back from hunting season and I want to test these loads at longer range using the EXT. Set up 10 of the 16.9oz skinny water bottles at 305yards. I set the 300 yard marker EXT hold over point dead center on the water bottles and proceeded to hit 9 out of 10 consecutive shots. No thanks to my shooting ability I’d say the EXT is a pretty good reticule. It’s not so busy that it distracts your vision but has enough marks to make it useful for holdover.

I was impressed enough with this scope that I ordered another one. This time I got it for 59.99. I just looked and they are priced at 119.99 right now. If anybody is interested I would wait a bit and catch them on sale again. If you are looking for a low priced scope that holds up well and does it’s job, take a look at the Cabelas Alpha with EXT reticule.

After shooting about 500 rounds of 308 I have had no issues with the scope holding zero. Clicks are still holding true.(1/4 @100) Think I forgot to mention that before. I also like having the 3-12 magnification.

Check out the link at:
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Alpha-Series-Riflescope/1292863.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch%2F%3FN%3D1100244%26Ne%3D1100244%26No%3D40%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3DCabela%2527s%26Ntx%3Dmode%252Bmatchall%26WTz_l%3DSBC%253Bcat104792580%253Bcat104752080%26WTz_st%3D%26WTz_stype%3DSP%26form_state%3DsearchForm%26search%3DCabela%2527s%26searchTypeByFilter%3DAllProducts%26x%3D0%26y%3D0&Ntt=Cabela's&WTz_l=SBC%3Bcat104792580%3Bcat104752080

Hopefully this is somewhat useful.

B.

[Jim in Houston]

Thanks for the review. Although the "cheap" Sportsmans Guide 3x12 50mm is holding up well after 500 or so rounds of 450 BM through it, I am always looking around for products that have been used by others with good results.