Nikon scopes these days?
- Thread starter mshootnit
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I havent used any of the newest Monarchs, and my eyes dont see real great thru leupolds, so take that into consideration. I also very rarely use my elevation adjustments to compensate for drop, so Ive got very little opinion on tracking quality of the scopes ive used.
The latest monarch i messed with was a Monarch 3 right after they were first released. Besides the fact that I found it kinda bulky I would take that over a VX3. My buddy who had purchased the scope had a different opinion and sold it.
He used the Vx2 3-9 I had as a spare till he could afford a Mark 4LRT, which even I found preferable to the Monarch 3. It is a more expensive scope tho.
Right now the nicest Nikon i have (which is also the nicest scope ive got), is a 2015 Buckmaster. Its basically an old model Prostaff tube with better glass, and possibly internals. For my eyes, its a wash between this scope and a 3-9 Vx3. The Nikons brighter, the leupolds got slightly better resolution in good light.
Ive looked thru the prostaff 5s, and thats the bottom of where i would start looking if your considering a new model nikon. I find them very comparable to the leupold Vx2s, but they are heavier and bulkier.
In the Vx3 class of optics im not 100% sure which models better between the Monarch 3s and 5s, having never looked thru a 5 to see if theres a difference.
I have also never looked thru a Vx3i so i cant compare them to the regular Vx3s ive used.
Oh, ive got a 4.5-14x44 Bushnell Legend Ultra HD, on my .250SavageAI, which was built for pretty much the same range and purpose as your .270.
I havent dont much more than plink with it at range, but I REALLY like that power range, and size scope for a gun thats "general" use Is more open country hunting, and weight dosent make as much of a difference.
While a standard 3-9 would probably be plenty, id go with a 4-12 or my preffered 4-14/16 what have you.
The latest monarch i messed with was a Monarch 3 right after they were first released. Besides the fact that I found it kinda bulky I would take that over a VX3. My buddy who had purchased the scope had a different opinion and sold it.
He used the Vx2 3-9 I had as a spare till he could afford a Mark 4LRT, which even I found preferable to the Monarch 3. It is a more expensive scope tho.
Right now the nicest Nikon i have (which is also the nicest scope ive got), is a 2015 Buckmaster. Its basically an old model Prostaff tube with better glass, and possibly internals. For my eyes, its a wash between this scope and a 3-9 Vx3. The Nikons brighter, the leupolds got slightly better resolution in good light.
Ive looked thru the prostaff 5s, and thats the bottom of where i would start looking if your considering a new model nikon. I find them very comparable to the leupold Vx2s, but they are heavier and bulkier.
In the Vx3 class of optics im not 100% sure which models better between the Monarch 3s and 5s, having never looked thru a 5 to see if theres a difference.
I have also never looked thru a Vx3i so i cant compare them to the regular Vx3s ive used.
Oh, ive got a 4.5-14x44 Bushnell Legend Ultra HD, on my .250SavageAI, which was built for pretty much the same range and purpose as your .270.
I havent dont much more than plink with it at range, but I REALLY like that power range, and size scope for a gun thats "general" use Is more open country hunting, and weight dosent make as much of a difference.
While a standard 3-9 would probably be plenty, id go with a 4-12 or my preffered 4-14/16 what have you.
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Wish i could tell you, I CAN say the Monarch 3s are good scopes from looking thru them in stores and that one experience of playing with my buddies for a while.
I would ass-ume, the M5s should be good scopes as well, but Ive been tricked a few times with supposed "steps up" in product lines, so Id wait for someone else to chime in to be sure.
I would ass-ume, the M5s should be good scopes as well, but Ive been tricked a few times with supposed "steps up" in product lines, so Id wait for someone else to chime in to be sure.
I have one I got on sale and it is a very nice scope. Glass is very good. They use ED glass in them now. I am very happy with it.
cdb1
Member
LoonWulf sees better through Nikon and not as well through Leupold. I'm the opposite so I don't own any Nikon, I own Leupold. This is common. What's not common is LoonWulf's huge collection of vintage kimonos but that's a story for another time.
Nikon quality is just fine and dandy, I recommend Nikon and have sold a ton of them. Buy what you see the best through, if it is Nikon then buy it.
Nikon quality is just fine and dandy, I recommend Nikon and have sold a ton of them. Buy what you see the best through, if it is Nikon then buy it.
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Fine Figure of a Man
Member
I bought a Monarch 3 recently. It's a nice scope, very clear.
Nothing is as MANLY as shooting a .300 in a pretty silk bathrobe! So of course my scope choice would be Vintage Nikon...or Tasco........
Good to hear, they are kinda hard to find out here for some reason, so i havent played with one.
Ill ask now that ive thought about it, but ill guess the stores think folks will be more willing for the gold ring.
cdb1
Member
Well, I do wear eye shadow when shooting, it cuts down on glare.
NWcityguy2
Member
I like Nikon Monarch scopes. Prostaff are good scopes on a budget, but Monarchs are a step above. They aren't perfect though, but a perfect scope is expensive. I own one Nikon Monarch 2.5-10x50mm. It is probably equivalent to a current Monarch 3, but I haven't looked through one of those. It has good glass and is completely usable through it's zoom range. The turrets track terribly though, but do hold zero. I owned for years a Nikon M-223 1.5-6x24mm Illuminated. Good glass, good reticle, turrets tracked good enough for adjustments without having to confirm zero. I ended up selling it to fund a Meopta scope that better fit my needs, but I do miss it. Completely over-priced though for $800. It would be more competitive in the $400-500 range.
I also owned a Prostaff 7 3-12x42mm, and sold it fairly quickly. I didn't think it was optically much better (if at all) than a basic prostaff, its turrets didn't track, and the 30mm tube offered me nothing. I bought it used for $200 and sold it for the same. I didn't see the point in mid-level scope combined with entry level glass when the features don't add anything of value to the scope to begin with.
Natchez has some incredible deals on Nikon scopes right now, I'd recommend checking them out.
I also owned a Prostaff 7 3-12x42mm, and sold it fairly quickly. I didn't think it was optically much better (if at all) than a basic prostaff, its turrets didn't track, and the 30mm tube offered me nothing. I bought it used for $200 and sold it for the same. I didn't see the point in mid-level scope combined with entry level glass when the features don't add anything of value to the scope to begin with.
Natchez has some incredible deals on Nikon scopes right now, I'd recommend checking them out.
Nikon's MONARCH 5 ED is one heck of a scope. I have been using the 3-15 for a year now on my .300 Win and it has filled my freezer with 3 one shot stops from TX,OK and KS. The ED glass is outstanding and the Advanced BDC reticle lets me dial in my rifle,scope and ammo for outstanding longrange accuracy. My longest shot on deer was in KS at just over 300 yards, using the first circle of the reticle dropped him in his tracks. The MONARCH 5 is definitely a scope worth checking out. Maybe some of THR's Sponsor's can help you out on the price to, who knows. Drop me a note with any question's.
DONT TRUST Bman, hes a LEFTY!!!...sorry couldnt help myself....
Thanks for chiming in! Off hand can you compare them to the M3s, and the Vx3s? Im curious as ive never had a chance to handle one, much less the newer ED ones.
Thanks for chiming in! Off hand can you compare them to the M3s, and the Vx3s? Im curious as ive never had a chance to handle one, much less the newer ED ones.
Within the same price range all scopes have very similar quality glass. I've owned Prostaff, Buckmaster and Monarchs. I can see a predictable improvement in quality as you go up in price with the Monarch being a good scope. But there is a lot more to a scope than the glass and there are a lot of design features on Nikon scopes that are deal killers for me. I like their binoculars however.
My default recommendation is the Leupold VX2. At $300-$350 depending on reticle choice it does about anything most hunters need to do. There is no doubt that going up in price results in a little better scope. But there isn't enough difference to my eye to justify the cost of the current VX3 or VX3i. A VX2 made since 2012 is essentially the same scope as a VX3 made prior to 2012. Leupold upgraded their entire line of scopes then.
To me the absolute best bang for the buck by a wide margin was the now discontinued Zeiss Conquest in a 3-9X40. When that scope was introduced it sold for $550. They eventually reduced the price to $399 when I bought mine to compete price wise with Leupold. That scope was actually made by Meopta with the Zeiss badging on it. For a while Cabelas was selling the same scope with a Cabelas badges on it. For whatever reason Cabelas stopped carrying them and the clearance price was $250. I bought 2 at that price and wish I'd bought another.
This is the same scope. If I were going to spend more than $350 for a VX2 this is what I'd buy. Of course it is back ordered.
https://swfa.com/meopta-3-9x40-meopro-rifle-scope-2.html
My default recommendation is the Leupold VX2. At $300-$350 depending on reticle choice it does about anything most hunters need to do. There is no doubt that going up in price results in a little better scope. But there isn't enough difference to my eye to justify the cost of the current VX3 or VX3i. A VX2 made since 2012 is essentially the same scope as a VX3 made prior to 2012. Leupold upgraded their entire line of scopes then.
To me the absolute best bang for the buck by a wide margin was the now discontinued Zeiss Conquest in a 3-9X40. When that scope was introduced it sold for $550. They eventually reduced the price to $399 when I bought mine to compete price wise with Leupold. That scope was actually made by Meopta with the Zeiss badging on it. For a while Cabelas was selling the same scope with a Cabelas badges on it. For whatever reason Cabelas stopped carrying them and the clearance price was $250. I bought 2 at that price and wish I'd bought another.
This is the same scope. If I were going to spend more than $350 for a VX2 this is what I'd buy. Of course it is back ordered.
https://swfa.com/meopta-3-9x40-meopro-rifle-scope-2.html
I have three Nikon scopes. 1 is a Prostaff 5, one is a regular Prostaff and the last one is an older Buckmaster. All three scopes have been great so far. Clear and no problems. I do not have a Monarch but, if the prostaff's are a step down, I would imagine a step up to the Monarch would not disappoint.
cdb1
Member
Even though I like Leupold a lot, I like Meopta better. Meopta is my favorite scope brand in what I can afford. I've got two MeoPro 3.5-10x44 with German #4 reticles. For anything but very close range shooting they are the perfect scope for me. Not saying they are perfect for anyone else though, just me.
Yes, now that you mention that is the same as the Conquest!
So what do you recommend in s nice target shooting kimono? Do I need a vintage one, or will a Sears kimono do?
Sorry, Im a little spry this AM!
Russellc
redneck2
Member
Actually, I believe that should be VX-2 vs. VX-III
there is a very significant difference between the VX series with numbers vs. the ones with Roman numerals. Glass clarity, brightness, sharpness, light transmission, and eye relief are all much better.
cdb1
Member
It must be vintage.
Hai, anata wa ichiban tadashīdesu!
If thats wrong blame google translate, Its been almost 20 years since my last Japanese language class.....
cdb1
Member
I couldn't pull anything up with that link.
HMMM I tried to do that with my phone....let's see
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yidi-Mens-V...7d42b5bf874ceec3583d13&pid=100506&rk=1&rkt=1&
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