Looking for scope recommendations.

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scythefwd

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I just got a .308 barrel for my optima. I am looking to put some relatively inexpensive glass on it to shoot with. I don't want to spend more than 250. Of the scopes I have looked at so far, the Leupold VX-1 3-9X40 has been the clearest. What other scopes would you guys recommend that meet that price limit? Simple cross hairs will work fine, I don't need anything fancy. I don't need a lighted reticle, nor do I need drop compensation. Fixed power is fine. This is for shooting pretty much during the day, at no longer than 200y distances (I don't have a range local that I can shoot further on).

Also, what scope base/rings would you recommend? I have looked at the durasite mounts recommended by the manufacturer... but they are made by the same company so I have to take that recommendation with a salt lick (a bit more than just a grain).
 
thanks for the info. Like I said, the vx-1 was the best I looked through, doesn't mean that I have had much chance to shop around. There was a 170ish prostaff that was not nearly as clear and a bushnell that was about the same quality for 160ish. I hadn't really looked at the 200+ stuff much.
 
The Team Primos is a great scope I like it better than my 4200 Elite. It is hands down a much better scope than a VX-I or VX-II. It is comparable to a VX-3, definitely as good as last year's VX-III. The VX-I doesn't offer much bang for buck IMO but if you like it and it looks good to you you could do worse.
 
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I have bought a B&L 3000 (Bushnell 3000 Elite) on Ebay for $102. Maybe something like that? This is a better scope than the Leupold VX-I, IMHO and I have both.
 
Check out the Nikon Buckmaster also. It's a durable and clear optic and one of the best values out now in that price range. I don't like the BDC reticle, but you might.
 
I am in agreement, I don't like the BDC. It muddies up my nice neat crosshairs. At the distance I shoot at (or am willing to hunt at), there isn't any need for them.
 
Walter,
I have already ruled out the prostaff. The ones I have handled (3-4 of them) weren't as clear as the vx-1 that I held. This really was a side by side comparison. On the other hand, there was a bushy fixed power 4x50 that was just as clear if not clearer than the leupold and only 190ish. I didn't get a chance for a side by side comparison for those two. I found the glass on the prostaffs to look a little less sharp when I looked through them. I will be looking for a 3200 and a 4200 from bushnell to look through as well as a team primos from nikon though. Please... keep up the recommendations. I may be willing to go just above 250, but since I only spent 350 on the gun with both barrels... I couldn't justify a 4-500 dollar scope to the finance department.
 
VX-I is not a good choice unless you are broke and have to have a Leupold or if it is free. This is the best scope under $250 (it's a rebadged Monarch):
Click to expand...

This is most likely one of the most narrow minded comments I've laid eyes on. If you like Nikon that's fine. I like them too, but you would be crossing the line saying only if you are broke or have to have a Leupold. I've put my eyes into many scopes from Leupold and Nikon and let me tell you the best glass reveals itself when the sun is going down and though this scope is going to be used in good daylight still better glass is better glass no matter what time of day. Let me tell you Leupold not only has better glass, but has superior better customer survice as well. I wouldn't be so sure to put my money into a Nikon over a Leupold no matter what application or price range preferred.
 
blackops,
Might as well just let that one rest. There are always brand loyal people, and every once in a while they have a point. I am brand agnostic, but I fully expect answers stating xx is better than yy or brand xx is worthless without much to back them up. I am just looking for scope suggestions, so his post was still somewhat useful.

Do you have any suggestions that I should be looking through and considering? If not, your post was actually less helpful than his.
 
If you like the VX-I's that's cool but the only thing they offer that you cannot get for less money with any scope from Nikon, Sightron, Bushnell, Burris, Weaver etc. is the Leupold warranty. They have decent eye relief too. Otherwise though I stand by my statement, for the $230 you will get more bang for the buck from any other decent scope brand.

Compare a VX-1 3-9x40 to the Team Primos (Monarch), look through the glass, feel the turrets, look at the tube. Personally I don't think it's a contest. I don't hate Leupold I just don't think they start to be price competitive until the VX-3 line.
 
Not a big Nikon fan anymore after they redesigned the Monarch 2 years ago and moved production to the Phillipines. I have one for sale in 6-24x50 if anyone's interested. I have trouble focusing them and don't care for the giant eyepiece making a scoped glove hand on the bolt more cumbersome.

The VXI or VXII don't get considered by me because of the whole 2 piece tube thing. They are multi pieces screwed together relying on o rings or sealant to waterproof them. I like one piece tubes which almost every other scope will be.

The VXIII or VX3 is my favorite scope for the time being and I own Zeiss and Swarovski scopes. My big thing is lightweight, durability, repeatability, and customer service. The VXIII or VX3 does all those things well IME. If left on a deserted island the lightweight VX III's are what I'd trust to last longest.

The best $250 scope could be a Bushnell Elite 4200 3-9x40 with Rainguard. They are formerly Bausch & Lomb scopes built in one of the premier optics factories in Japan.

Also check Ebay for new/used scopes. Vendors there do not honor Leupold's price protection like a brick and mortar/online retailer does. Don't buy from anyone with less than 1,000 positive feedbacks.
 
Not a big Nikon fan anymore after they redesigned the Monarch 2 years ago and moved production to the Phillipines
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Myself I like Bushnell elites (4200 and 6500). The Team Primos is just one of those scopes that Nikon puts out under the radar (Bushnell has a budget 3-9x40 Elite 4200 that is similar). Notice the Team Primos is not even on the Nikon websight (last I checked, think bushnell put theirs up now). If they advertised that they have a 3-9x40 Monarch with a BDC reticle for the price of a Buckmaster no one would buy a Buckmaster.

The VXI or VXII don't get considered by me because of the whole 2 piece tube thing. They are multi pieces screwed together relying on o rings or sealant to waterproof them. I like one piece tubes which almost every other scope will be.
Click to expand...

Yeah that and the friction turrets are a big turnoff at over $200.
 
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I have a VX-II and it has been a great scope,but the Nikon Monarch was a close second when I purchased mine.It's really up to personal preference and budget when it comes to scopes.
 
I personally would not compare a Leupold VX-I to a Leupold VX-II. The VX-II is a totally different price point scope with better optics. They are not to be confused with VX-I quality.
 
People don't understand how or why Leupolds scopes are more clear than Nikon and it amazes me. Scope for scope Leupold is much better. I don't know if it has to do with my vision or what, but to me Leupold is a lot more clear. Maybe cause I have 20-10 vision...who knows.
 
Looking for scope recommendations

Others have already recommended the Nikon Team Primos. I can't compare mine to a Leupold because I've never fired anything with a Leupold mounted on it. They have a good reputation and I'm sure it's well earned.

I can tell you that on Wednesday, my 30-06 was right on target at 400 yards using the Nikon's BDC reticle. I sighted in at 100 yards and had no trouble banging targets at 200, 300, and 400 yards. There wasn't anything to shoot at beyond that point, but I have no reason to suspect that it wouldn't have been good for 500 yeards, too.

The conventional wisdom has it that the Primos is an old stock Monarch (top of the Nikon line) that's being sold at close-out prices. I'm happy with the Nikon. :)
 
The Nikon Omega and Slugmaster are the best sub-$250 scope going right now. Sub-$200? Used to be Sightron S2, but now they are over $200. Are you definitely wanting to stick with 3-9x40? I'd look at Bushnell Elite 3200 and Burris Fullfield II.
 
I'm definately not brand loyal and tend to choose things that aren't "mainstream." I actually hated the thought of buying a Leupold because most Leupold guys I've come across don't actually know why they like their Leupolds, they just say they're the best.

Having said that, a few years ago I wanted a budget scope for my 308.
I looked at everything around the $200 price range and ended up picking a 3-9x40mm VX-I.
I had considered a Bushnell 3200, Burris Fullfield II, Sightron S2, and Nikon Monarch.

I've never been a Leupold guy, but this is why I chose the VX-I:
-The center to edge distortion is way better than any other brand at that price point.
-In bright light, the colors aren't as washed out as other scopes.
-The eye relief seemed like it wasn't as short and wasn't as sensitive as other scopes.
-After buying it I found the windage/elevation adjustments are more repeatable than any $200 scope I've had or shot.

The VX-I doesn't have fully multicoated lenses or click wind/elev adjustments found on other scopes in the price range. BUT, the glass geometry is better and the adjustments, while old school, work better. In low light it isn't any worse than any other $200 scope I've handled. Yes, it's a 2 piece tube, but consider the price point.

The VX-I is the best budget scope if you value well cut glass and good build quality. It's not going to be the best if you value features that do not add anything significant to the performance.

That's my opinion...
 
Fumbler I think you are correct in your analysis. AND you get the bullet-proof Leupold warranty. My eyes are probably not as good as yours and so I cannot appreciate the color washout issue as well.

The lack of clicks IS a downside for me but not a large one.

As for eye relief, absolutely, that's one of the main reason I love the one VX-1 I do still have (a 1-4x20mm) - great scope for $199. But, OTOH, now I'm preferring to shell out another $50 and get an Omega/Slughunter, which has two to three TIMES (or more) eye relief than even the excellent Leupolds (and the Team Primos, too, for that matter).
 
I have found this list rather helpful. It is maintained by one of the admins at swfa.com, and I think they might have a wide range of experience with different scopes :uhoh::)

http://www.opticstalk.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=8185

The guys on that forum are also very helpful with all things optics. According to the list the Team Primos (if it is a re-badged monarch) is probably a better scope than the VX-II as some have stated on this thread.

OP, take a look at the http://www.samplelist.com/

I know this seems like a huge advertisement for swfa and the opticstalk forums, but I went through the same predicament when I was searching for a scope for my SPS tac .308. The information I found there was very helpful to me, and I hope it also helps you.
 
That opticstalk chart, while an admirable start, is way incomplete, and way off base on some things. Simmons blow as a general rule optically, and it puts them (without saying WHICH of the 400 Simmons lines) on a par with the excellent Nikon Prostaff - I don't think so. And it puts NcStar and a few others below BSA - no, nothing is below BSA. And the Elite 6500 on a par with the VX-7 and Nightforce? Man I like the 6500, but I'm not quite buying that, when the criteria is 51% optical quality, and only 12% special features and options where the 6500 excels. And the Meopta worse than the Elite 4200 - possibly but I kinda doubt it. And a Barska as good as a Swift - no way.

The problem, in part, is that their rating system (a) does not take into account nearly enough criteria, and (b) does not weight them "properly" according to what's most important. Yes, optical quality is important, but tracking trueness and tracking repeatability are far more important. If it's as clear as a Zeiss, but tracks like a BSA, it's still worthless.

If that was greatly expanded, analyzed with re-vamped more detailed criteria weightings, and massaged with much input over time, it could get somewhere quite useful.

So instead of just griping, I think I'll join over there and start adding input - as it says, it's a continually-changing work in progress.
 
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The guys on that forum are also very helpful with all things optics. According to the list the Team Primos (if it is a re-badged monarch) is probably a better scope than the VX-II as some have stated on this thread.
Click to expand...

The Team Primos is a Monarch UCC 3-9x40. You won't hear Nikon advertising that scope though, it would undercut their whole budget model and scope cost structure. The team primos is a better scope than the VX-I and VX-II and closer to last year's VX-III model. If someone wants a Leupold warranty and can only afford a VX-I (or does not want a better scope) go for it but there are so many other better choices out there for the same or less money.
 
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