Battle of the Mid-Level Scope brands.

Which is the best quality mid-level scope brand?

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Mags

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Looking for a Mil-Dot or BDC scope in the 4-16x range. Looking for something in the 2-400 dollar range. The lower the prcie and higher the quality the better obviously.

Please nothing about BSA, Barska, Leapers, NCStar, Nikon, or Millet.
 
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I've seen the vortex diamondback 4-12x40 for less than 200 shipped. that's a pretty good deal, though it's not as good a scope as $400 will get you. but it's decent optics at a low price.
 
I think Burris deserves to be considered. Of course there are other brands too, but Burris makes an exceptional medium quality scope. I own three of them

2 - Fullfield II's in 3-9x40
1 - Signature Select in 4-16x44

All excellent scopes for the money. I find myself picky about optics and agree the Nikon's are overrated, especially the Monarch line.
 
Never been able to afford the Weaver I wanted, but both Mueller's I've owned (APV & Eraticator) have been, by far, the best value for the dollar I've gotten in rifle scopes.
 
I regard $400 is "high", not medium. For that price you have LOT of those "higher end" line ups from Weaver, Bushnell 3200 or 4200, Sightron II, Browning (made by Bushnell to 4200 sans "rain coat" or whatever the coating), etc... They do offer great scopes in that price range .. and I have never owned one at that price range. heck.. you should be able to find a new or used Leupold at this price range.

Case in point, your $400 can buy you very nice scopes (none mine, just data points):

* Elite 4200 8x32 AO : http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/vbclassified.php?do=ad&id=28428
* Leupold VXIII Mark http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/vbclassified.php?do=ad&id=28421


I'm a poor guy with limited budget, to me Medium is $150 ~ $250 line up:

* I have Redfield 3-9x , Accu-Plex. Good and honest glass, no gimmic, assembled in USA, I like it a lot. They have a 4-12x in this price range.

* I have a Meuller APV <$110, I see it as low-end price with Med-end quality.

* I have owned a Burris 2-7x, very good glass, just didn't their zoom.. the whole ocular piece turns -- can't use a flip up cover. but if it doesn't bother you, they have GOOD products which also fits your wallet.

* I heard about Vortex DiamondBack is a great scope, but never have owned one..

* I have Weaver 2-7x .. good glass for sure.. they tend to carrry a higher price tag too.


For the price range you have, you should include Sightron II, Clearidge, leupold, in your shopping list.
 
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Just like to add...

I have a TASCO world class 3x9 mil dot that I used on an 8mm Mauser for 11 years without any loss of zero or other problems. I replaced it with Leatherwood, but still have the Tasco. It cost less than 100 bucks when I bought it. It's still very price worthy.
 
Thanks George, that sure had alot to do with the topic. Leupold is far superior to any of the scopes listed in the poll. I don't even know how they would come close to comparing the only thing the others have going for them is the price. Which was the point of "mid-level".
 
Thanks George, that sure had alot to do with the topic. Leupold is far superior to any of the scopes listed in the poll. I don't even know how they would come close to comparing the only thing the others have going for them is the price. Which was the point of "mid-level".
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Ha. Not really. Vx3 is better sure. All the lower tier Leupold stuff...Mehh.
 
I'm sorry that you want nothing about Nikon. You have just ruled out one of the best mid-priced scopes (Buckmaster) and it has the BDC reticle. I love mine. Clearest, brightest scope that I have
 
I wasn't lumping Nikon in with BSA, Leapers, etc... I was just saying I am not interested in Nikon. Not that they are bad, I think they are good as Bushnell, I just want a Mil-Dot and haven't seen a sub 400 dollar with a Mil-Dot.

Anyways for an update I went with a 219 dollar Mueller 4-16x iluminated Mil-Dot. The scope is clear and the ilumination does not brighten the whole tube. But there is a big chunk of something stuck unside the lower left quadrant of the scope, so I will be sending it back to Mueller for a replacement.

The way I see it since it was made in China is I got one of the many that slipped past shoddy QC. I will see how their handpicked replacement they send me is and if it is fine I will keep it, otherwise I will return it to the distributor for a refund and scrap together another 150 for the Bushnell Elite.
 
I have found Nikon to possibly cause the most emotion when commenting on scopes. Perhaps their QC lets out a few stinkers amongst some good scopes. I bought one Monarch in 4-16x42, was thoroughly unhappy with the optics and immediately eBayed it.

A friend of mine owns several dozen rifles and talked me into another Monarch, a 1.5-4.5x20 for a carbine I have. I'm not that thrilled with it either (distortion). May or may not keep it.

On the other hand, the majority of Nikon owners rave about their scopes, and that's hard to argue with.

If you're curious what I use for comparison; FFII, Sig Select, VX2, VariX-III and a Simmons 8-point. There are better and worse scopes than the Nikon's. It's where they are for their price that brings out my negative comments.
 
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