$500 scopes, best glass quality

[ThePenguinKnight]

I will soon have $500 in gift cards to cabelas (collecting bonus cards from stuff at work). The best scope I currently own is a Nikon Buckmaster 3-9x, which works fine for most of my hunting and shooting, but lacks the color and brightness I desire in low light hunting applications, and lacks adjustability (coin slot turrets ) and higher magnification that I would like for target shooting out to 600yds. I would like to purchase a decent scope which meets the following criteria:

- Purchase at Cabelas ( I've got a local store and gift cards)
- Max price of $500 including 9% sales tax (I can possibly swing a little bit over that in cash, but with a baby coming the budget is limited)
- Variable magnification
- Minimum magnification of no greater than 4x (
- Max magnification between 12x and 16x
- Adjustable parallax
- Finger-click turrets (prefer capped but not required)
- Reticle with wind-hold marks in some standard increments (mil-dot or similar, though I prefer MOA reticles; holdover marks not required but nice to have)

I am considering a few options, including the Nikon Monarch3 4-16x, Leupold VX-3 3-12x (currently on clearance since the VX-3i came out), or Vortex Viper HS 4-16x.

Of those three options, which has the best glass quality? Which would you choose? Is there a different scope that meets my criteria that I should consider?

Thanks.

 

[FNGinCO]

How about the Vortex Viper PST 4-16x50? Currently on sale for $499 with the EBR-1 MRAD reticle.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/barg...red-dot/_/N-1102696/Ns-CATEGORY_SEQ_105678180

I have a couple of Vortex scopes and think they provide a really good bang for the buck. And a lifetime, no questions asked, warranty.

 

[carpboy]

I am really pleased with my Nikon Monarch 3 4x16x42 Mildot scope.I was so impressed with it that I bought another one from Natchez for less than $400 on sale.I recently decided to step up and sought out a scope made in Japan with really good glass.I settled on a Sightron Sll Big Sky 4x16x42 Mildot and am pleased with it,but what I was really looking for is what Nikon just released in the last few months the Monarch 5 with ED glass.Right now Cabelas has a 3x15x50 BDC scope on sale for $489.Sounds like a winner to me!
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Niko...gclid=CKGajLT-mcwCFZE0aQodE8gCTA&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[jmr40]

This

http://swfa.com/Leupold-4-12x40-VX-2-Riflescope-P78918.aspx

 

[agtman]

- Reticle with wind-hold marks in some standard increments (mil-dot or similar, though I prefer MOA reticles; holdover marks not required but nice to have)

Regardless of your reticle preference, be sure that the scope's turret adjustments and reticle marks are both expressed in the same units of measure: both Mil/Mil or both MOA/MOA. It's makes ranging and holdover calcs much simpler and quicker.

Avoid Mil/MOA set ups.

 

[MIL-DOT]

The others are good suugestions, but I'd probably go with that clearance-priced Leupold , but does it have parallax adjustment? if your plan is to shoot out to 600, I'd be leaning towards something parallax adjustable (as i just noticed you were already aware of LOL!!).

 

[ThePenguinKnight]

I love the ERB reticle on that Viper PST, but that scope weighs 22.4 ounces lol. My rifle weighs 8.5lbs already with the Buckmaster on it... I have to think long and hard before I add another half pound to that.

I search and find opinions in all directions of Viper glass vs Monarch glass vs VX3 glass....

Feature-wise the Vortex has all the others beat (reticle options, turrets, etc.), weight and customizability down the road goes to Leupold, but Monarch glass is the only one I have experience in the field with (binocs).

Tough choices. Thanks for the options guys.

 

[Sniper66]

From your list, I would go with the Leupold. It meets all of your specs and it has the VX 3 glass. I have a VX 3 3.5-10X and it is the best scope I have ever owned. I have owned probably 20-25 different scopes and it is the best. Plus it will not add weight to your rig.

 

[blarby]

If you can, certainly go test mount a bunch of Monarch 3's.

Cabelas has a ton of store mountable scopes, and several dark back areas you can test in. I'd recommend going to look through several styles, and see what works best for you.

 

[mooosie]

Go with the Leopold it will last the rest of your life and if it doesn't they will fix it for free! Buy American!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[amflyer]

Running off my limited memory here, but did/does Leupold have a VX-III in 3-12? 3.5-10 and 4.5-14 are the ranges I remember.

 

[JO JO]

I have a Vortex 4x12 very happy with it

 

[Ks5shooter]

Leupold 20 plus owned and love them all.

 

[ThePenguinKnight]

Running off my limited memory here, but did/does Leupold have a VX-III in 3-12? 3.5-10 and 4.5-14 are the ranges I remember.

You are correct. I was looking at the 4.5-14x.

 

[Llama Bob]

I'd make a short list, and then look through all of them at a dark corner across the store (which should be at least close the 50y minimum parallax adjustment on most scopes). Whatever lets you pick out fine details the best would climb up my list.

There's a certain amount of variability from scope to scope in that price range.

 

[cdb1]

The Cabela's Euro Instinct scope is made by Meopta, the Meopta name is on the scope. I believe these scopes are the best value at Cabela's in your price range. The Euro is noticeably better in low light than the others, to most people's eyes.

 

[ThePenguinKnight]

The Cabela's Euro Instinct scope is made by Meopta, the Meopta name is on the scope. I believe these scopes are the best value at Cabela's in your price range. The Euro is noticeably better in low light than the others, to most people's eyes.

I considered that scope for the reasons you mentioned, but they lack adjustable parrallax (except the 6-18x model) and the EXT reticle is not inspiring to me for a target scope; it'd be fine on a plain deer rifle, similar to the Nikon BDC I'm used to, but lacks the versatility I'd like for this application.

I have a couple more weeks till the last of the gift cards come in; I'll have to see what's still on sale at that time. At this point, I am looking seriously at the Vortex PST (love the reticle, the weight bothers me in theory), Vortex HST (slightly lighter than PST, available at regular price with MOA reticle close to my budget), and Leupold VX3 (reticle options and turrets are less ideal, but significantly lighter weight). It'll most likely come down to what's on sale within my budget and what's still available when the money comes in. Thanks for the options and opinions, guys.

 

[cdb1]

Pretty hard to go wrong with a VX-3. I strictly hunt so don't use scopes with parallax adjustment except on rimfire scopes. The suggestion of looking through all the scopes you can is the best advise IMO.

 

[kimberkid]

I've got a couple of the Leupold 4-12X40 VX-2 with the fine duplex ... NIB at Amazon for $365 (with Prime free 2-day shipping) ... Got the matching 1-piece mount for $90 IIRC

 

[homers]

I love my Leupold VX-3 3.5-10-40 with CDS I recently purchased for $379.

Tough to beat the price on this Zeiss Conquest for $329.

http://www.eurooptic.com/zeiss-conquest-3-9x40-riflescopes.aspx?footer_link

 

[Walkalong]

It's carboy's fault I spent $500! That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I like Nikon scopes (Leupold too), and I just couldn't resist the linked to Nikon 3X15-50 Monarch 5 with ED glass for $489.88 and flat $5 shipping.

I just couldn't do it. I tried, I really did, but I just couldn't resist.

I swapped it out today and shot a few rounds with it. It replaced a Bushnell AR Optics 4.5X18-40. The Bushnell is a nice little scope. I like it, but I shoot a good bit on my property where I am in the shade. The Bushnell is brighter than my Nikon P-223 3X scope that is on my AR in 300 Blackout. I like that scope a lot, but it isn't top notch glass. Good for $150 IMHO. Not that great in the shade though.

The Nikon Monarch 5 is considerably brighter than the Bushnell, but I should hope so, it is twice the money. Overall I am very happy with it.

Before I changed scopes I shot two rounds at 100 yards on a piece of steel. It was one shot each from Loads # 85 & # 86. A 50 Gr Poly Tip bullet and a 52 Gr HP.

I took a pic, then changed out scopes and took a couple more pics of the target. The points of impact for the two rounds were about a half inch apart. Not bad for two different loads. Same charge of TAC in both.

Then I shot some more. I had to move the POI left about 2" and up about 10" to get the Nikon very close to dead on a 100. And actually, it is right at 105 yards from my little bench.

The amount of light changed between the pic through the Bushnell and the pics through the Nikon, so no comparison can be made from the pics.

 

[Rockrivr1]

I have a number of Leupolds with the exception of one Vortex Viper. Both are quality scopes that have great warranties. You cannot go wrong with either.

 

[Walkalong]

I have a couple of Vipers, and I like them, but prefer Leupold over them.

 

[carpboy]

"It's carboy's fault I spent $500! That's my story and I'm sticking to it."
Well that's what ya get for listening to me!Tell your wife I am Guilty As Charged!ED glass opens up a whole new vista in optical viewing.I thought some Vanguard 8.5x45ED binoculars last yr and was impressed with them at first,but when I went hunting in Northern NV and got to look across a wide expanse of mountains and valleys, I was knocked out by the clarity and details I could now see.It seems like ED glass from Japan is now becoming affordable and Nikon and Vanguard are taking advantage of it.

 

[redneck2]

I've got at least three VX-3's. Clarity and light transmission is outstanding. Checked it side by against a Swarovski and it was at least as clear, actually very slightly better which really surprised me.

Never looked thru a Vortex