Your favorite hunting optic

Leupold
Burris
Nikon, there not making scopes anymore tho
If I had the money there would be some German scopes.

I was guilty of criticizing others for scoping classic rifles like lever actions and old falling blocks.....it just didnt seem right.

Now I'm 56 years old and my eyes arent what the used to be. My leverguns arent scoped yet but I see the need.

I was satisfied with my Nikon scopes, but that's no more..... I like 3x9 bdc scopes. I carry them on 3x for timber or stalking, then dial it up for longer range.
This one is on a 7.62x39.

All of my hunting rifles wear either Leupolds or Swarovski, the magnification varies by game/terrain.

.22lR M77-22 Leupold 3x9X36 Compact
.223 M7 Leupold VX3i 3.5-10x36 with CDS
.223 AR15 Leupold VX6 1-6X with CDS and firedot BDC
.260 M7 Leupold VX3 2.5x8x36
.270 Steyr Mannlicher Swarovski 2.2-9x42
.270 Nosler M48 Leupold VX6 2-12x42 CDS and firedot BDC
.300 WM Rem 700, Leupold V3 4.5-14X42
8x68 Steyr Mannlicher Swaroski 1.5-6x42
.350 Rem M7 Swarovski 1.25-4x82

Target rifles have a mix of Leupold and Vortex.

Armored farmer said:

I was guilty of criticizing others for scoping classic rifles like lever actions and old falling blocks.....it just didnt seem right.

Now I'm 56 years old and my eyes arent what the used to be. My leverguns arent scoped yet but I see the need.

I was satisfied with my Nikon scopes, but that's no more..... I like 3x9 bdc scopes. I carry them on 3x for timber or stalking, then dial it up for longer range.

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We're the same age with the same problem. I can still use irons and for my style of hunting it works on most of my guns. I too used to be horrified at seeing scoped lever guns but now totally understand. If scoping a slingshot keeps a hunter in the field then I'm all for it.

My main AR has a red dot and a 3X magnifier with backup Troy sights. My son's AR has a 4X scope. That's about it.

The holy trinity of hunting/shooting optics. Zeiss, Swarovski and Schmidt & Bender. In some cases Meopta (clarity and light transmission) or Leupold (warranty and durability) will do, but the more I hunt, the more I seem to gravitate towards not skimping on glass at all.

My current favorite all-rounder is Zeiss HD5 2-10x42. A compromise between lens diameter, weight and FOV, but it seems to work pretty well for anything and everything. I haven't had a chance to try out the latest Victory HT or Schmidt & Bender Polar-series scopes, but that is hopefully about to change in near future.

My favorite optics would be Zeiss Conquests and Bushnell 4200-4500 Elites, up here we can hunt 1/2hr before and after rise and set. In heavy overstory (cedar/spruce) it gets dark quicker and the optics of these are appreciated. Both track and hold POI well and have held up well in the rough stuff, 2 conquests and 3 elites.....no complaints. I really would also consider a Meopta for the price.

Choctaw said:

We're the same age with the same problem. I can still use irons and for my style of hunting it works on most of my guns. I too used to be horrified at seeing scoped lever guns but now totally understand. If scoping a slingshot keeps a hunter in the field then I'm all for it.

My main AR has a red dot and a 3X magnifier with backup Troy sights. My son's AR has a 4X scope. That's about it.

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3x bdc Nikon on my farm defender

I wish I could afford some of the nicer stuff, but I can't. Honestly, at my skill level, I doubt I could tell the difference, especially in the east, where 200 yards is a long shot. I started with Tasco, ran them for years. Within 100 yards, they are *acceptable*. I have owned some other budget brands, and some low-end Vortex, but my favorite is the Burris Fullfield with the E1 glass and simple duplex reticle. I haven't seen anything that will touch it for the $150 that Cabela's had them for a couple of years ago. Darn, I wish I could have afforded a few more...

I have some nice scopes from companies like US Optics, Leupold, Horus, Bushnell Tactical, and so on on my long range rifles. Any of those rifle/scope combos would be idea for hunting game at long range. Since that isn't a thing in Fl., I don't really need a 5-21x 34mm scope with Horus Tremor reticle for the 100 yard and closer deer that I generally find myself shooting. So for the rifles I hunt with and where I use them, scopes like my 4-12 Vortex copperhead are just fine. Vortex products are reasonable for the $ and performance and have an excellent warranty.

Leupold VX-R on every hunting firearm. Other Leupolds on every other gun that has an optic.

I am a fan of the Leupold Vari-X/VX III/3 1.5-5x20 and the FX-2/II 2.5x20.

I wish I could afford some of the nicer stuff, but I can't. Honestly, at my skill level, I doubt I could tell the difference, especially in the east, where 200 yards is a long shot.

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A scope doesn't make you any more accurate. It helps you see the target. That is especially important in poor light. The biggest difference in the cheap blister pack scopes and a decent quality scope is the ability to work in low light. A $50 scope works in bright mid day sunshine. But at 20 yards, in heavy canopy forest, in a light rain, 20 minutes before sunrise you'll be able to see the target with a decent quality scope and probably not with the cheaper one.

Decent quality starts at about $200 MSRP. Honestly, at that price point the glass quality is close enough among all of them that you'd have a hard time choosing on that alone. It comes down to features.

I personally prefer something in the $300-$500 price range, but there are a lot of $200 scopes that I'd not feel handicapped using. Leupold is never a bad choice and they offer many of the VX-Freedom line priced right at $200. But if you can find any of them discounted below MSRP that is great

I'm seeing a lot of Burris FF-II scopes priced right around $150 right now. For someone looking for a decent scope for the least money that is the way I'd go.

I like Leupolds for their tough construction but unfortunately the clarity can't match that of Schott high transmission (HTultra etc.) or T96 glass. Mark 6 and 8 are very nice, of course, but designed for a bit different market segment.

As a major difference, In European countries where hunting isn't restricted to daylight only, light transmission is a massive selling point and shelling out thousands of $/€ for top of the line glass isn't uncommon. It depends on how dark you want to shoot. In some hunts you see more 56mm Zeiss Victory scopes than all other brands and models combined.

Years ago I bought a Colt Sauer .270 for Mu;lies and Antelope....only reason I bought the rifle was because of the smoooth bolt action. In my ignorance that's all I knew about it. Took it to a gun shop looking for a scope, the owner tells me to get a scope that is befitting the quality of the rifle. Not knowing what that would be, I told him to do it like it was his own. Came back and found Conetrol rings/bases and a Swarovski on it. From that point on any scope I looked through would be compared to the Swarovski. Checkbook has suffered since.

As a result of that experience, the collection of Swarovski's has multiplied substantially to include scopes, spotting scope, binoculars and more. Also a big fan of Nightforce. Looking through anything else seems like a disappointment. I know it's all a mindset....but there is validity to that choice.

@Rembrandt

Haha. If I equipped all my hunting guns with glass like that I would be forced to pare down the collection.

It doesn’t sound like a horrible idea.

Great rifle and great scope.

KsSkaEnthusiast said:

What are all of your preferred hunting optics for the types of hunting that you do? I never heavily invested in optics for shooting so most of my game have fallen to a no name 4x scope on my 30-06 or a 100 dollar nikon bdc scope on my savage 110 270. This summer I have picked up 3 bushnell nitros due to their sales and plan on distributing those across my different setups. I'm thinking the 4-16 on the literal bean field rifle, irons for my wooded tree stand and then 2.5-10 to for my walking rifle.
All of that is just whitetail, for any small game I have a Nikon bdc rimfire that i use on a marlin model 60.

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My scopes are now Leupold mainly with one Nightforce and one Thompson/Center. All the Tascos, Bushnells, Swarovskis, etc. are gone.

I've found 7X on the top end plenty for shots up to at least 300 yards even for something as small as a crow. At very close range; say 30 yards and less, much over 2X or 3X is a handicap.

My favorite for rifles is the Leupold Mark 4 with the illuminated reticle.

I'm a Nikon fan. I like my 2-7x32 for a walking rifle. My wife stole my 2.5-10x40.
My "long range" gun has a 3.5-14x40.
My 300 mag is getting a 4-16x42 mounted as soon as I get a chance.
I've learned less magnification is more when hunting.

I’m a fan of Leupold and Vortex. I’m not saying that either are the best as Swarovski is amazing, but for my budget, I think Leupold and Vortex offer the best combination of pricing, warranty, and construction.

I have a 4x fixed power Russian made Pilad brand scope with the range finder on the glass to the left of the reticle. Very clear and I was able to reach out and hit a target at 575 yards with it. I wouldn't hesitate to use it at 200 yards or less, and it was inexpensive.

LD

I have found that entry level Leupolds are perfect for my needs. They're not cost prohibitive at between $200 and $300, and they work great.
I have a Rifleman and a VX1. Love them both.

I tend toward the old-fashioned - and lately have gone back to stickbows for most of my shooting and hunting - but I still really enjoy my Leupold fixed 4x and 6x scopes.

Bfh_auto said:

I'm a Nikon fan. I like my 2-7x32 for a walking rifle. My wife stole my 2.5-10x40.
My "long range" gun has a 3.5-14x40.
My 300 mag is getting a 4-16x42 mounted as soon as I get a chance.
I've learned less magnification is more when hunting.

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Also a Nikon fan. Great bang for the buck brand. Luepold is another favorite. Totally agree with your magnification reasoning.

3-9x40 is my go to. I don't hunt past 300 yards or so, so dialed up to 9x is all I need. My eyes are still youngish. I usually keep it at 3x for 90% of my hunting around here but it's nice to be able to zoom in.

troy fairweather said:

Nikon, there not making scopes anymore tho.

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Shoot, I forgot I read that someplace. Bummer. Well Luepold for me. Zeiss when I the get the money. Maybe lol.

The clearest hunting scope I've got is the Burris MTAC 4-14x44 30mm tube that you can find on sale every so often. I bought one several years ago on sale for $199 I STOLE that scope lol. It's bigger it's heavy but it's held zero for over 3 seasons and it's seen rain, sleet, snow, etc and never fogged, lost zero or any issue at all. I bought 2 more at $249 the next year and worth every penny.

For everything considered, weight, reliability, clarity, adjustability, etc my most practical is probably the old MidwayUSA exclusive Weaver Tactical 3-10x40 mil dot w/mil reticle. It just flat out works, dialed it out to 400 yards and back multiple times and it always just hits where it's supposed to.