Your favorite hunting optic

Mn Fats said:

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

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Nikon is still warranty work, don't know if there using up leftovers or will still make stuff to supply there repairs. Not 100% if they can replace with new scopes tho.

I do hope they take a brake and maybe catch up to new scope technology and start making better scopes some day

troy fairweather said:

Nikon is still warranty work, don't know if there using up leftovers or will still make stuff to supply there repairs. Not 100% if they can replace with new scopes tho.

I do hope they take a brake and maybe catch up to new scope technology and start making better scopes some day

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My issue was the stupid bdc reticle. It's aggravating. But the glass clarity was better than anything in is price range. I can't stand having a blue halo around my field of view.

My last hunting scope purchase has just about ruined me

The only ones that have really been a game changer have been NVD’s & thermal. Thermal lets you clearly see things you can’t with anything else.

My favorite are Swarovskis. The rep let me mount one of his demo scopes and hunt one year with it. The optics are top shelf, and I work in the optical field, I know good glass when I see through it. What I can afford is a different story, however. I hunted with B&L Banner scopes for many years, until I bought a rifle with a Leupold Vx-II 2-7 on it. I have since owned Vortex and Nikon scopes, and all three of these are good glass for the money. It's a shame Nikon got out of the scope business. Right now the only scoped rifle I have is my .22, with a period El Paso Weaver v6.

Armored farmer said:

I was guilty of criticizing others for scoping classic rifles like lever actions and old falling blocks.....it just didn't seem right. Now I'm 56 years old and my eyes aren't what the used to be. My lever guns aren't scoped yet but I see the need.
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I got over it a long time ago. All of my lever guns have scopes. On several I have Warne or Leupold quick remove rings which allow me to quickly remove the scope should it fail or for brush hunting or truck carry. In fact, my Marlin 45-70 SBL has two dedicated scopes on QR rings and the excellent ghost ring sight as well. It has a Nikon African 1X4 for deer, hog, general hunting, a Burris 2.75X Scout for hunting possibly dangerous game and for strictly bear protection while hiking and camping it goes naked. I have a retinal tear (healed) in my right eye and a partial cataract that does not yet justify surgery and I just cannot use open sights effectively unless the object to be shot is very close. My focus range just does not allow for it period! No open sight system of any sort is useful to me beyond about 25 yards maximum. If Marlin did not think scopes belong on their rifles why do they tap them for the mounts and why did Winchester groove the top of my 9422M? And then the other thing I hear is that lever guns are not accurate enough to justify a scope:



And that was a sorta bad day. And that Leupold is on QR rings. And not only that, this one is a REM stamp and it is the shootingest MoXX Marlin I have ever owned going back to the early 70s. Yeah, after about five shots or so the groups begin to grow on most banded/tube magazine lever guns but what can take five rounds of 30-30 much less 45-70 and not yet be pretty dang dead?

I always had a preference for Nikon and now they are gone (nearly) I will stay with Leupold/Burris. I did pick up a couple of Nikon BDC 3X9X40 scopes on closeout (cheap) as spares.

I know there's plenty of people who hate to hear it, but Tasco and Simmons each offer lower priced 3-9x scopes that still get the job done. I've successfully shot deer when the legal shooting light was almost gone. Tasco 3-9x40... I think it's the one they call a Pronghorn. Swift did make a 1.5-4.5x21 that I like, but for some reason, when you get a straight 1" front end it runs the price up. I like to run mine one 2x or 3x... see more that way.

troy fairweather said:

Nikon is still warranty work, don't know if there using up leftovers or will still make stuff to supply there repairs. Not 100% if they can replace with new scopes tho.

I do hope they take a brake and maybe catch up to new scope technology and start making better scopes some day

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It may not be widely known but Nikon, Canon and Olympus have been bleeding a gusher of cash for some years now. Nikon is retrenching and trying to concentrate resources on it's core business units. Canon is treading water and not sinking just yet and Olympus, well, they just sold off their consumer photography section if I understand it all correctly (?). Of the big Japanese powerhouse photography and optical companies only Sony (much more diverse) is making money on their core sectors (including consumer photography) and they unfortunately do not make rifle scopes.

I have a variable Swarovski that i bought second hand on my Heym-Ruger. On the Mauser M03 i have a Schmidt & Bender. The S&B is a big heavy scope that makes the rifle feel top heavy but a great scope for shooting boar at night. Also a Meopta 1-4x22 and Aimpoint 9000L the Meopta is a great little scope that i use for moose and driven hunting. The Aimpoint is good for driven hunting as well. All are in separate mounts. This makes for a quick change of scope for various hunting situations. Last year Changed the scope on my Double rifle from a khales to a Schmidt & Bender Exos 1-8x24FD A brilliant scope that i bought at a very reasonable price.
Many of the offerings from the European big three scope makers are too heavy and have too many bells and whistles these days. I shot just as many deer when I hunted with my old Ziess Jena 4x32 scope with the german #1 reticle

mustanger98 said:

I know there's plenty of people who hate to hear it, but Tasco and Simmons each offer lower priced 3-9x scopes that still get the job done.

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They do, until they don't. I used to think that way until a Bushnell scope crapped on me in the middle of darkest Africa, on a hunting safari that can only be described uncheap. It wasn't even a worst possible bargain basement model rather than a Trophy-series scope retailing at around $300. Still haven't come across another trophy duiker as nice as the one that was smack in the middle of the crosshairs when I pulled the trigger.

The first thing I did when I got back was tossing it and getting a VX-3. The best I could afford after blowing my budget on the safari that went partially to $#!%$, thanks to getting a cheaper "good enough" scope that was supposed to "still get the job done".

No more affordable scopes for me, thankyouverymuch. Once bitten, twice shy.

hq said:

They do, until they don't. I used to think that way until a Bushnell scope crapped on me in the middle of darkest Africa, on a hunting safari that can only be described uncheap. It wasn't even a worst possible bargain basement model rather than a Trophy-series scope retailing at around $300. Still haven't come across another trophy duiker as nice as the one that was smack in the middle of the crosshairs when I pulled the trigger.

The first thing I did when I got back was tossing it and getting a VX-3. The best I could afford after blowing my budget on the safari that went partially to $#!%$, thanks to getting a cheaper "good enough" scope that was supposed to "still get the job done".

No more affordable scopes for me, thankyouverymuch. Once bitten, twice shy.

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That was unfortunate. I have never spent that kind of money for a hunt or even close. But, this is exactly why several of my rifles have two scopes sighted in and why I also like back up open sights for some rifles. My Savage Scout 10 has two scopes and open sights. And my new Kimber also has two scopes, Nikon 3X9X40 BDCs. Not expensive scopes but I have never had a Nikon to go TU but an extra scope carries easily as insurance.

3Crows said:

That was unfortunate. I have never spent that kind of money for a hunt or even close. But, this is exactly why several of my rifles have two scopes sighted in and why I also like back up open sights for some rifles.

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It's not that much the cost, it's taking time off for a trip you want to enjoy, being far from civilization, unable to obtain a replacement and having the hunt ruined. Carrying a spare may work when you camp where you park but even a half a pound is a lot when you move longer distances on foot.

This applies particularly when hunting up north, on a shoestring budget and two-days' hike from the nearest road. Plus at least half a day's drive after that, to the nearest gun store that'll most likely has to order any decent optics. Iron sights might work in a pinch, but I'm not keen on tracking wounded game in widerness for miles so shooting distances hence opportunities are severely limited. At least with my eyes these days and they aren't probably getting any better with time.

So Zeiss. They're still cheap when you really think about it.

I don't think I have ever had an optic fail (knock on wood). I have beat up a few scopes over the years but never had one fail.

These are my favorites but certainly not all of my optics.

My oldest and most used scope is a Tasco 3-9x32 that has been on my 10/22 for the past ~36 years. It has had the fire beat out of it, by teenage me. The scope and receiver are just about the only thing original on that 10/22.

Hunted deer with my 450 Bushmaster AR for the past three years and it has a Vortex Viper HS 2.5-10x44 on it that I have beat up pretty good with recoil, dragging it through the woods a lot and one really nasty fall that had it hit a log and dent the bell slightly but the scope still held its zero. For the price this scope has been a tank.

I also have a Vortex Spitfire 3X prism on my 300 BO pistol that has been doing duty as the UTV/Tractor gun lately and its been holding up well to the bumps and thump of being us as such.

My newest and most expensive scope is a Leupold 3Xi LRP 6.5-20x50 and so far I am really liking that scope but its only been used half a dozen times so far so the jury is still out.

3Crows said:

That was unfortunate. I have never spent that kind of money for a hunt or even close. But, this is exactly why several of my rifles have two scopes sighted in and why I also like back up open sights for some rifles. My Savage Scout 10 has two scopes and open sights. And my new Kimber also has two scopes, Nikon 3X9X40 BDCs. Not expensive scopes but I have never had a Nikon to go TU but an extra scope carries easily as insurance.

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I still like a good aperture too... killed my first deer with a tang-sighted '94... 150gr CoreLokt through the lungs piled him up pretty fast. My .243 was bought back when Savage still sold the M11G with open sights. If my scope were to go down, I could replace it with a decent aperture... Williams Guide or a couple of other options.

I have a Bushnell Legend, Leupold VX-II, Sig Sauer Whiskey 3, and a couple of Vortex, a Crossfire II and Diamondback. Oh, I almost forgot the Banner on my Ruger muzzleloader. If I had to pick my favorite out of these it would the Vortex's. The BDC works with my Bergara out to 500 yards. I thought about upgrading my muzzleloader, but I have pulled some pretty neat shots with that old Bushnell. I would hate to jinks the gun by changing scopes.

My favorite right now is the Zeiss HD5 3-15x42 that rides on my Christensen.

It's actually not the best glass I owned at the time, or lightest scope I own, but for the cost of was an excellent compromise optic.
Excellent power range, very good glass, excellent tracking in a fairly traditional hunting scope package.

The Vx-3i on my .375 is also a good optic, but it's primary advantage is that it's light. Keeps the whole rifle at 8.25lbs. if I can find the cash to upgrade the Christensen optic, the Zeiss will move to the .375

Vortex.

Because they make good glass at a lower price and have a customer service/return policy that has changed the way the entire optics industry operates.

Nikon
3-9-40 shotgun, muzzleloader, and 300 savage pump.
Fx 1000 for my lr-(7-08) 4-16@50

Have Three(3).

Leupold:

- Vari-X II 3-9X40mm (M700/.270 WCF)
- VX-1 2-7x33mm (Ruger African/9.3x62)
- VX-3i 2.5-8x36mm (M70 EW/SS/.270 WCF)

Everything else has Aperture Sights.

Boys have Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40mm's that came on their Mossberg Patriot/.270 WCF's - and they are very nice as well.




GR

I really am not particular about a rifle scope. My main criteria is that it points my rifle in the proper direction. I never have understood the desire for incredible optics in a rifle scope, as though it was being used by a birder who requires perfect color rendition.

My favorite rifle scope is a fixed six power, usually from Leupold. I have no argument with the fellow who demands a thousand dollar binocular, and probably will be in agreement with him. For the type of hunting I do, though, a thousand dollar rifle scope doesn't do anything the five hundred dollar version won't, and I'm happy to have the extra money for range fees, tips, and the airplane ticket back home.

The more I hunt, the more I have come to appreciate good glass. I refuse to put anything cheaper than a Nikon Buckmaster or Burris FullField II on a hunting rifle. As of right now my safe consists of Swarovski, Leupold, Zeiss, Burris Veracity (great scope for the money), Vortex Razors and one Nikon Buckmaster I bought because it was bright and the price was right. I have found that Nikons in general do not hold up to a bunch of dialing up and down for distance. Nikon made clear, bright scopes that were really solid for hunters whom zero a scope and leave it alone. Their BDC system was pretty revolutionary when they first introduced it, but they were surpassed by competitors with better reticles and they refused to change. Vortex pretty much sealed Nikon’s fate by bringing affordable scopes to the market with better turrets.

My logic has become that if a rifle is not worth spending at least a few hundred dollars on a scope, it’s not worth scoping.

All my scopes are Leupold.
May upgrade to Alpha glass across the board next yr.
Maybe all Steiner, or Meopta, or a mixture.
Sucks, because that's a lot of money.
But I aint gettin any younger.

Must say, the Trijicon 3-9X I picked up w a rifle seems pretty decent.

Backup scopes are a great idea, assuming you discover the main rigs problem before pulling the trigger.

Hookeye said:

All my scopes are Leupold.
May upgrade to Alpha glass across the board next yr.
Maybe all Steiner, or Meopta, or a mixture.
Sucks, because that's a lot of money.
But I aint gettin any younger.

Must say, the Trijicon 3-9X I picked up w a rifle seems pretty decent.

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Why the switch from leupold

I've had M8's, VX1, 2 and 3.
They did well.

Think the old Leupold scopes look great on classic rifles.

But my stuff is becoming less and less classic.
Am converting to synth stocks.
And have a couple of euro rifles now.

Looking to get a couple more, so figure go euro glass.
They kinda look right on em.