Best Scope? unlimited budget, money is no object.

[Pinned&Recessed]

Usually, I am not a fan of optics, but can see their use in certain narrow applications.

Now, if one wanted the best scope available, on an unlimited budget, money is no object, what would be the one to get?

I was talking to an old Army sniper, (who still does long-range stuff for fun), the other day, and he said that as far as he was concerned, there was no other scope besides Unertl. Is Unertl really the best? They seem to charge like they are the best, (I saw a $2500 scope on ther website!) but I wanted some other input.

Not that I would buy a scope, but I just want to expand my knowledge base.

 

[rbernie]

Best glass I ever looked thru was a Swarovski Habicht PH - but it only cost around $1800....

 

[wally]

For optics in general, Zeiss and state of the art are pretty much synominous, although for practical purposes Canon & Nikon have caught up in 35mm photo lenses, as has Olympus for microscopes.

Other high dollar niche makers might be more rugged or have other special features, but optically I doubt they could be any better than Zeiss.

--wally.

 

[esldude]

Could be Zeiss. But to my eyes, best I have looked through is Swarovski.

Never have seen one, but some people say US Optics is worthy of comparison. Anybody here used a US Optics scope?

 

[4v50 Gary]

Leupold. Good enough for our gubmint, good enough for moi. Made right here in the USA.

 

[theCZ]

4v50 Gary Careful with that "good enough for the guvmint" stuff! As far as sniper stuff goes, it might work, but I'd hate to think that anyone on this forum loves everything the government does.

Oh, and best scope? Don't ask me, I've never peered through anything fancier than a Leupold Long Range Scope!

 

[Zak Smith]

I highly recommend taking a hard look at the Schmit & Bender, esp. the Police Marksman II series.

-z

 

[Jonathan]

I use a USO, one of their semi-standardized custom models.


Although I cannot make comparisons between Zeiss, Swaro, S&B, etc since they are not available, the technical literature leads me to believe that USO gives up nothing to any other manufacturer optically.


However, for me this issue is really moot. Once you hit a certain level any of the manufacturers can provide glass that will more than fill your needs. The thing that really sets USO apart is their capability to make anything you want, and I do mean ANYTHING.

Some examples:
custom #1
SN3/SN9
How about 45 MOA in one revolution, with 1/2 MOA clicks? Match with a custom-engraved knob for your load? No problem:

Don't forget they are also one of the companies in the digital-image-capture scope project: Smartscope
Custom laser etched reticles...
Hunting scopes
And don't forget they're one of two companies that can make you an Unertl clone.

Customer service is beyond exceptional, even before a sale.

Advantage: USO

 

[762x51]

Another vote for US Optics. Simply fantastic scopes. Wouldn't feel ill equipped with a Schmidt & Bender PMII either though.

 

[BigG]

Other than Leupold, which I always recommend, Swarovski, or another piece of German or Austrian glass would be top quality. The godless communist roosians made some nice, if primitive glass also. My Dragunov has the standard PS01 scope and you could hammer nails with it. But the integral mount makes it difficult to adapt to other weapons. YMMV

 

[bosshoff]

Nighforce

Ten posts, and no one says Nightforce? I don't have one yet, but am in the market based upon what I have been told and read.

 

[Jonathan]

Nightforce, especially with the zero stop, very nice.

The only thing I don't like much about them is the rear focal plane. On the other hand, if you're a target/varmint shooter, that might be an asset.

 

[Zak Smith]

Nightforce, especially with the zero stop, very nice.
The only thing I don't like much about them is the rear focal plane. On the other hand, if you're a target/varmint shooter, that might be an asset.

Well, the question was, the "best at any price".

NF are great scopes - got one on my 50BMG. But in a comparable configuration, I'd rather have a SB.

I'm surprised at the Leupold suggestion. Yes, they are great scopes for the money, however you can get a lot more scope for $2k than what Leupold offers.

-z

 

[BigBlueEyedDevil]

I don't know how good they are. But UNERTL scopes in 10x mil-dot go for around 10,000. Whatever that is worth.

 

[4v50 Gary]

The Marines tested the Unertl 10x (the new one and not those long skinny tube target models) by pounding a tent stake into the ground with it. Afterwards they mounted it on a rifle and tested it. It worked fine. Uh, $10k, that's more than the rifle.

BTW, thank you theCZ for your insightful comments regarding gubmint stuph. I'm just a gubmint type of guy.

 

[eerw]

Check these out..the reticle is very fast a precise to use...

http://www.horusvision.com

 

[Jonathan]

A certain version of an original Unertl might sell for $10,000, but you can have a modern version from either USO or Unertl Optics for less than $3k.