the hunt....for a scope

scopes

I have a few old scopes that I'm going to replace.
One is a Bushnell 3X9 Scopechief with a BDC. It's prob 30 years old and almost every year needs to be tweaked.
Another is a cheap Simmons 3X9 which is on a slug gun and is not very clear.
The 3rd is a fixed 4X Bushnell on a 30-30.

I have a dominant eye problem after having stuck a sawzall blade in there a few years back.

Parts of our state require you to verify a buck has 3 points up disregarding the brow tine. I have passed on a few deer due to this.

I was considering getting a couple Leopold 4X12 Rifleman scopes to have the additional magnification to see if a deer has the legal points. They run about $250.

I haven't looked through any yet but is there enough difference to justify the additional power over a 9X.

At 64, I doubt I will change again. .

IMO, clarity is as/more important than power. I'd take a clear 8x over a mid priced 12x.

I'm 63 YO and my eyesight isn't nearly what it used to be. With a Leupold VX-3 set at 10x, I can see individual blades of grass in the yards across the end of our lake. I can also read the 2" high numbers on the boat registrations. It's over 400 yards.

Leupold VXIII 2.5-8x. You can get them slightly used online very reasonable.

redneck2 said:

IMO, clarity is as/more important than power. I'd take a clear 8x over a mid priced 12x.

I'm 63 YO and my eyesight isn't nearly what it used to be. With a Leupold VX-3 set at 10x, I can see individual blades of grass in the yards across the end of our lake. I can also read the 2" high numbers on the boat registrations. It's over 400 yards.

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Are you reading boat numbers while the scope is on the rifle? I hope not but it has to be mounted on something because it would never be steady enough. After getting a Leica scope I think the VX-3 scope is like a bubble packed wal mart scope

Of the scopes the OP mentioned I have a couple.
My best scope is a Zeiss Conquest 3x9x40.
I have two Bushnell Elite 4200s in 3x9x40, a Bushnell Elite 2x7x32, Vortex Vipers in 3x9x40 and 2x7 by 32 and a Leupold VX2 3x9x 40. Other than the Zeiss I cannot tell any difference between the other scopes.

I have a Clearidge rimfire scope that I'm so pleased with I might try one of their centerfire scopes.

I also have a Fullfield II and a Fullfield E1 that are good but for me they are a step below the others.

Money

All you guys! Save up a little more money. As a rule you should consider spending at least as much on the glass as the rifle. You can get a great rifle for $600 or so (Tilkka T3) and stick a $600 Meopta on it and NEVER have to change a thing. You'll extend your hunting time, enjoy gazing upon a very clear field of view, and end up passing the rig on to your grandchildren. The extra few hundred bucks will be long forgotten in a year or two. But beware: once you cross the "high end glass" threshold you'll never be able to turn back.

spending at least as much on the glass as the rifle

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What a crock.
A $600 Meopta? For $650 you can get a 6-18X50 Meopta. Who wants a 6-18X50 on a hunting rifle?
Can you name a single 4X or 2-7X35 or 3-9X40, $600 hunting scope? No battery, no tactical bells and whistles, plain reticle.
The grandchildren are going to use it? Who wants to use their grandfather's scope? Fifty year old scopes can't compare to new ones.

Haxby

Well, Merry Christmas to you, too! Live and learn.

Happy holidays all.
My perspective is closer to NCd than not. Last year a purchased a Tikka Sporter in .308 and added a Leica optic to it. A gift to me as it was, for me, quite pricey. Very light on features but the glass. Every time I shoulder it I am astonished as to the clarity and brightness of the optic. I now have another Tikka coming and keep considering another Leica. In this latter case the optic would be more than the rifle. Not sure if I'll do it but it's very hard to go back to the glass in more financially approachable optics.
B

NCdrummer said:

All you guys! Save up a little more money. As a rule you should consider spending at least as much on the glass as the rifle. You can get a great rifle for $600 or so (Tilkka T3) and stick a $600 Meopta on it and NEVER have to change a thing. You'll extend your hunting time, enjoy gazing upon a very clear field of view, and end up passing the rig on to your grandchildren. The extra few hundred bucks will be long forgotten in a year or two. But beware: once you cross the "high end glass" threshold you'll never be able to turn back.

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Can you name a single 4X or 2-7X35 or 3-9X40, $600 hunting scope?

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Uhhhhh....yeah. I've got some. Do I win a prize for a correct answer?

As for the 6x18x50, yeah I have some on hunting rifles. Depends on what you're hunting. Ground hogs, prairie dogs.......

In this latter case the optic would be more than the rifle. Not sure if I'll do it but it's very hard to go back to the glass in more financially approachable optics.

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Kinda ticks you off when you try to go back to a more fiscally friendly option. Use really good glass for a while and it ruins you for anything else.

glass

I have directed multiple shooters in this area to buy more glass and less gun. Even a relatively low cost rifle with good glass can be an effective hunting rig. No reason to go long on the rifle if you can't see what you're shooting at! The Tikka/Meopta combination is one of the most economical and effective setups on the market, if you're a MOA kinda guy. And in response to some of y'all, my long range .308 M24 has a 4-16x44 on top. I love being able to take a close look before I launch a bullet. Just ask the game biologists at Eglin AFB. JMHO. Drummer.

I bought a Redfield revolution and I'm less than happy with it. Optically it's better than the BSA that it replaced, but I've had problems adjusting/sighting in which I've never had on any scope. It's a 3x9 and it's clear as a bell on the lower settings, but when I crank it to 9 it gets out of focus which I really don't understand. My $100. swift scope is better optically. After hunting season I think I'll send it back to see if they can make it right. I've heard good things about them.

Merry Christmas

Gotta LOVE the Leica!

Uhhhhh....yeah. I've got some.

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And they are...?

scope

Try the Meopta MeoPro 3-9x42 with German #4 reticle. Or Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 if you can find one. Another option is 6x Fixed in Zeiss, Meopta, or even Leupold (USA) or Sightron (Japan). If you're really lucky you'll find a Swarovski Z3 in 3-9x36 for about $600. Also, Meopta MeoStar in 3-10x50 on a 30mm tube with German #4 reticle is the BOMB if you can find a deal. I am partial to the German-made Zeiss in 6x42. But they are rare.

MeoPro 3-9x42 with German #4

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$400.
Leupold 6x36. $300.
Exactly my point.

I prefer 6x42. More light available generally, but you do have to mount them a little more above line of sight. By the way, comparing the Leupold of your choice with the Meopta is just not fair. To the Leopold...

OK, 6X42. $400. It was you that brought up Leupold.

question for ya

What optics do you have mounted on your hunting rifles?

What $600 2-7, or 3-9X40 hunting scope do you recommend?
Say, maybe, a Burris, Bushnell, Leupold, Nikon, Vortex, or Weaver.

budget

If you have a $600 budget go to eurooptic.com and check out their Meopta demos. Just like new, great glass. You'll never buy another cheap(er) scope! Zeiss is also a winner. For the money, the Conquest is a bargain. But Meopta is the best value for the money in my opinion. Actually you'll spend less than that if you get lucky. If you can go with 30mm rings/tube you'll have a wider field of view. But more $ most of the time.

You can get a new Meopta for $400.
And a 30mm tube does not get you a wider field of view.

I.M.O. Zeiss Conquest is the biggest bang for the buck. I have two 3-9x40s. Best glass I've used including VX3 long range, Horus Vision, and IOR. You have almost a year to find one on sale. I've seen them for $399 and under, and an occasional used one for less.

wrong again

Haxby, I am not going to argue with you as you are obviously not educated in modern optics. The 30mm tube's sole purpose is a wider field of view. It does not "gather light", nor does it cure cancer. You should probably stick with Barska scopes. Outahere.

All the scope companies list fov specs. It's an easy thing to check.