Affordable front focal plane long range scope - Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50mm FFP Riflescope

I have purchased two FFP Vortex scopes from OP. A 4-16 and the 6-24 X. This is a large scope. The first thing you should ask yourself is, do I really need a 24 X cope? Most people will be better served with a 4-16 which is useful out to 1,000 yards. The FOV of this, or any 20+ power scope is so small at 1,000 yards that I can seldom see bullet impact on a 24 inch square steel target. (Even with a suppressor or muzzle brake). I do use the 24X setting at 1200 yards and can see near misses. The Vortex had a bit more elevation adjustment than advertised. I had 70.5 MOA, 5.5 MOA more than promised. My 4-16 also had about 5 MOA extra which is helpful for zeroing the point of impact in the center of the scope. I purchased Night Force high rings and a 20 MOA two piece base for this scope. I returned the high rings which Vortex recommended and ended up using a standard set. My gunsmith said this was a common problem. Be warned, if you use a 50mm objective like this scope has and a 20 MOA base you are going to need an adjustable cheek piece. Depending on if you are shooting off hand, bench rest or prone, you will need 3/4 to one inch rise. I settled on 7/8 inch for everything. If I were building this rifle again I would probably not use the 20 MOA base. I would have a gunsmith mill a 10 MOA base, or live with the 35-40 MOA the scope provides and use the reticle for holdover for when I occasionally shoot at 1,200 yards. From a bore site I came down 6.5 MOA to zero at 100 yards so I actually had 41.5 MOA of adjustment. You cant count on that but its worth trying first without an inclined base. Or just go with the 4-16x44 which has about 10 MOA more adjustment. Several reliable online chat rooms have commented that the 6-24 has better glass than the 4-16. I just think the difference in contrast and clarity is due to the large objective lens on the 6-24x50mm. I use the 4-16 at 1,000 all the time on a very accurate AR15. Unless you are shooting a .300 magnum or .338 Lapua, you really dont need a 24 X scope. It is a specialized scope, for sure. I have been able to shoot at dusk, using the lower illumination settings, and holding over 34 MOA at very bottom of scope and hit 1,000 yard steel, so engraving on reticle is accurate. Zero stop shims work well. Not perfect but close enough to your zero that you know you have passed zero and return to the white or red zero line. These scopes are about 10 ounces lighter than most scopes this size which was one reason I purchased them. If you are going to fight ISIS, sure I would want a more robust scope, but for sport shooting it is a plus.