[dmftoy1]

Interested in what you have used and what you've been happy with. :)

Have a good one,
Dave

[rbernie]

I've got a Nikon Buckmaster 3x9/40, a Burris Fullfield II 3x9/40, a Simmons AETEC 3x9/44, and a Sightron SII 3x9/42. All were less than $200 NIB. Of these, the Sightron is head-n-shoulders above the rest in terms of optics quality and repeatability.

[dmftoy1]

Really???? Wow I would've never guessed that. (And those other models are the one's I've been considering and I've also been looking at a Leupold VX-II . . . .this will be the most expensive scope I've ever bought. (Isn't that sad?) I just don't want to waste the money.

Have a good one,
Dave

[JohnBT]

I just got a VXII 3-9 from Bruno's for my father to give to his brother (I love spending other people's money.) It ran about $25 more than your upper limit including the shipping and I seriously doubt that you would be disappointed with one. I'd never used a VX model, but I have a number of other Leupolds including both of the EFRs.

John

[Swamp Yankee]

3-9X40? Check out the Burris Fullfied II.

Most of the major online / mail order suppliers are running specials that include the 3-9X40 Matte Ballistic Plex scope and a decent spotting scope in the $ 200 price range. Burris has some very impressive specs, check out their website at www.burrisoptics.com

Nikon is coming out with a new Buckmaster series, so you may be able to find some closeout pricing on their 4.5-14X40. I have one of these mounted on my Bushy V-match Carbine and can tell you for the $ it's a great scope.

The only other thing I have to add is don't forget to figure in the cost of some decent mounts and rings. The best scopes will not perform to their capability when mounted in $10 worth of hardware,

Take Care

[dakotasin]

leupold vx-2.

[Cindog]

What rbernie said. I have a Sightron SII39x42 ST that may be my best purchase ever. I got it from one of the auctions NIB for $110. Great scope with excellent repeatability and very good clarity.

[rbernie]

I've got a Nikon Buckmaster 3x9/40, a Burris Fullfield II 3x9/40, a Simmons AETEC 3x9/44, and a Sightron SII 3x9/42. All were less than $200 NIB. Of these, the Sightron is head-n-shoulders above the rest in terms of optics quality and repeatability. To expand on this - all of the scopes display some form of chromatic abberation, but the SII is the best of the lot, with the Nikon just behind it, and the AETEC and Fullfield II bringing up the rear. The Fullfield II has very noticable parallax at certain distances - none of the others seem to be nearly as bad. The Fullfield II has the best reticle, but the lowest/ worst range of eye relief. The Nikon has glass second only to the SII (it loses out in contrast), and seems reasonably repeatable although not as dead-nuts-on-click-for-click as the SII. The AETEC glass doesn't have the contrast or sharpness of the Nikon or SII, but it still relatively bright. The AETEC has the least repeatable settings and I've learned to just set it and forget it - otherwise, I'm chasing zero all over the place...

In summary, from best to worst:

Repeatability - SII, Nikon, FFII, AETEC
Sharpness - SII, Nikon, FFII, AETEC
Contrast - SII, Nikon, FFII, AETEC
Chromatic Aberration - SII< Nikon, FFII, AETEC
Parallax - SII & Nikon & AETEC (tie), FFII
Eye Relief - SII, Nikon, AETEC, FFII
Reticle - FFII, SII & Nikon & AETEC (tie)

Considering that you can get the SII for $200 - it's a gen-you-wine bargain.

[ocabj]

Weaver Grand Slam 3-10x40 and 3.5-10x40 are really good.

[waterhouse]

+1 for rbernie, sightrons are great. I've got a couple of their SI (the cheap line) on my .22s, and my LTR wears the sightron SII 3-12 mil dot. great scopes for the money. Excellent repeatability on the adjustments and very good glass.

their warranty/customer service is very good too.

waterhouse

[dmftoy1]

Thanks for the education guys. The only scope I currently own is a weaver that's probably 35-40 years old that I bought for $25 over 20 years ago. It's a good scope but I definatley needed an education as to what to look for.

Have a good one,
Dave

[rbernie]

Conventional wisdom says that if you've got $450 to spend, drink the KoolAid and get the Leupold VXIII. For less than that, the SII and Grand Slam are tops (with the SII being $75 cheaper in 3x9/4x guise). I've played with a Grand Slam, and Ocabj speaks the truth - it's truly a great scope for the money. I chose the SII over the Grand Slam only because the SII was cheaper. Below the SII and GrandSlam, the choices you make will largely be driven what what's available locally or cheapest or has the most farkles at that instant in time.

In the last two years, I've scoped five rifles. To do so, I've looked at ProStaffs and Buckmasters and Banners and Legends and Trophys and Riflemans and VXIs and VXIIs and VXIIIs and AETECs and World Class's and Trackers and Fullfields and all sorts of stuff. I've decided that I have no need for AO or MilDots or scrolling range datasheets or 50mm objective diameters or more than a 3:1 variable range, and I just won't pay extra for 'em. I've also concluded that for a basic hunting and range use scope there's nothing out there below a GrandSlam or a VXIII or a SII that I'd spend my money on anymore.

[oldfart]

I've recently found myself in need of a new scope in that price range. My 'thing' is target shooting rather than hunting, so I decided against a variable power system. The mechanism for changing the magnification just adds a whole new set of possibilities for future problems and I never use it anyhow. I finally settled on a Weaver KT-15, on sale at Natchez for $219. Weaver has been making scopes for the past zillion years, so if I can't trust them, who can I trust?

[JohnBT]

I haven't tried the 15x Weaver, but I really like my two T-36 Weavers. I also like their 2x-7 rimfire and their V24.

John

[WhiteKnight]

If you can get a used Leupold RF Compact 3-9, you should still be in your price range.