BIG $ Optics question

[mnhntr]

If you had an unlimited budget and a need for a scope in the 10 power range say 4-12x50, 4-16x50, 6-18x50 or even a straight 10power with either a mil dot or BDC or other type of ballistic reticle? The use will be for some prairie doggin, some long range deer and antelope, some target, but mostly coyote hunting both night and day.
I am able through my part time job to get 50% of a Leopold, 50% of a Trijicon, and 35% of a Ziess. I will probally take advantage of all three at some point but which of the three is king or is there a better optic out there?
I have always had Bushnell and Redfield scopes. I think the Bushnell Banner line is a great value optic but I have always looked through the others selling them to customers and yes there is a difference, but until now I could not justify the price.

 

[esheato]

My order from best to worst: Zeiss, Leupold and Trijicon. Honestly, all of them are a significant step up (as long as you're on the high end of the product lines) from anything Bushnell offers.

 

[BrocLuno]

Schmidt & Bender and US Optical at the top of the list and then you start down from there. Say $5K for openers and down to BSA at $75. It's not that you get exactly what you pay for, but around $750~$900, the % gain in performance is small and the costs are big. So to go from 92% light transmission to 95% may cost you a $1K. To get all the colors in the spectrum to land on the same place in the lens series so you tack sharp images, may cost you another $2K. It's real tough up on the high end.

Rare earth lenses, aspherical lenses, multi-layers lens coatings all cost. You don't need to buy this if you are hunting 150 yds in the daylight. Twilight piggin and you need all the help you can get. You need to try some and decide what works for you?

 

[mnhntr]

Thanks BrocLuno, I cannot afford those two you mentioned so of the ones I posted about or in the same price what would you say.

 

[MCMXI]

If you had an unlimited budget and a need for a scope in the 10 power range say 4-12x50, 4-16x50, 6-18x50 or even a straight 10power with either a mil dot or BDC or other type of ballistic reticle? The use will be for some prairie doggin, some long range deer and antelope, some target, but mostly coyote hunting both night and day.

Easy!! My next hunting scope will be the new Hunter from Premier Reticles which will be available in June.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=568484

It has superb glass, a 3-15x power range, an improved mil-dot front focal plane illuminated reticle and a lifetime warranty ... all for around $1,600.

I have a Zeiss Conquest and numerous Leupold Mark 4 scopes. I have a 3.5-10x40mm Front Focal TMR M1 scope on my POF P-308 (see link below). That scope would make a really good hunting scope, particularly if it had an illuminated reticle. Leupold hasn't been able to figure out FFP with illuminated reticles yet.

http://www.leupold.com/tactical/pro...scopes/mark-4-3-5-10x40mm-lrt-m1-front-focal/

 

[Moose1995]

I have experience with both the Redfield and Leupold. Can't go wrong with the Leupold. However, I recently was at Cabelas looking at several mid range scopes, including Nikon, Leupold, Zeiss, and Bushnell. All were 3-9 power. The Zeiss was nice, but for 399, it was the most expensive and to me, didn't seem noticeably better in clarity or eye relief then any of the others. The one scope that stood out to me (everyone, please resist the urge to flame) was the Bushnell Elite 4200. It had the best eye relief, the brightest picture (of course, I was indoors looking through all of these scopes) and at 299 dollars, seemed like the best scope for the money BY FAR. They have a lifetime replacement guarantee, and have been tested like crazy. They have a broad range of magnifications available too. At the very least, it should be considered.

 

[Moose1995]

sorry, I just saw you said price no object. But in a later post it seemed like price may be some sort of an issue. Anyways, if you have a big budget, you could even step it up to the bushnell elite 6500, and the money you save over the other high price scopes will by you a lot of ammo

 

[unwise11]

I like US Optics if money is no issue, I have little experience with big buck scopes, as I don't own one, but I have seen the USO's and Nightforce's, along with Leupolds MK4 scopes, I'd go USO if I could..

 

[52grain]

I have a Leupold VX3 Long Range Target and a Zeiss Conquest. The Zeiss probably has better glass, but the Leupold is nothing to sneeze at and has more features (target turrets, more internal adjustment, 30mm tube, larger objective). You really need to decide what features you need, look at the glass side by side (especially in low light if you can) and then make a decision. No experience with the Trijicon, but I don't think you'll go wrong with the other two you mentioned.

 

[jpwilly]

A few more great scopes if you have deep pockets:

Premier Heritage 3-15x50mm or 5-25x56mm

Schmidt & Bender PMII 3-12x50mm, 4-16x42mm, 4-16x50mm, or 5-25x56mm

 

[BrocLuno]

I concur with the Bushnell Elite and go as high as you can afford. I spent the money to get one in 4~16 a few years ago and am very happy with it. RainGuard does work on soggy days to minimize fogging. They seem to be good value for the $.

I also own many other brands - el Paso Weavers, Nikon, Kassnar, and Japan made Tascos including US Govt Mil-Spec issued ones. I like them all, but they are not all as good for hunting field conditions at dawn and dusk, that's where the Bushnell Elites go.

 

[Strongbad]

Unlimited budget? Put another vote in for Nightforce. Hands down.

 

[NELSONs02]

1. Don't waste money on a BDC of any variety.
2. The Trijicon Accupoints don't have enough adjustment for long range work
3. Nightforce, Schmidt & Bender, US Optics and some Leupolds are military grade scopes.
4. Like the Trijicon Accupoints, the Monarch X's don't have enough adjustment and are more expensive to boot (respectively)

 

[madcratebuilder]

Nightforce

 

[biggameballs]

Leupold has the worst glass of the 3 for the money. Just from a glass standpoint Zeiss would be topps followed by Trijicon then Leupold.

 

[redbullitt]

Ah but the leupold is another 15 percent off lol. Not listed, but I have had great experiences with my US optics and Nightforce. I will say that I have had good luck with leupold mark 4s.

The two mark 4s I have used tracked well and ran the box just find. Never had any reticle cant issues either. SO at half off? I would get another couple.

Trijicon is very nice too, but the only one I have is an acog. No experience with their scopes.

I have not played with any zeiss, but I have heard good things about them.

 

[biggameballs]

Best bang for the buck of any scope on the market is the Zeiss Conquest. They are very reasonable and have fantastic optics. You can get the 3-9x40 with regular plex retical for $399 msrp so with your discount you'd be looking at under $300 out the door. That would be a no brainer. If your looking at other reticals or magnifications they can get into the 500-700 range pretty quick.

 

[courtgreene]

if you are worried about "prairie doggin'" just stay close to a bathroom
having said that, mil-dots make more sense than BDC's. BDC's are for certain loads and if you change said load then you have to hold over anyway so why not just stick with the standard reticle? One day I will be able to afford to grab a decent scope with a mil-dot reticle (read, this is only theoretical as today is not that day)

 

[Zerodefect]

1. Don't waste money on a BDC of any variety.
2. The Trijicon Accupoints don't have enough adjustment for long range work
3. Nightforce, Schmidt & Bender, US Optics and some Leupolds are military grade scopes.
4. Like the Trijicon Accupoints, the Monarch X's don't have enough adjustment and are more expensive to boot (respectively)

I agree.

My Trijicon Accupoint 5-20x 50mm is an excellent scope. But I use it on 5.56 SPR Ar15's not .308 Ar10's. Why?, Because I run out of range adjustment around 900 yards. In practical use that more like 700-800 yards. But my 5.56 SPR's are purpose built to be practical in the 100-600 yard range.

In that range nothing touches the Trijicon for quickness on target and ability to hit a moving target. Also it's bright recticle makes 1x sighting with your offscope eye very easy. The higher the magnification your useing, the quicker your other eye will switch to 1x if something "pops up" at close range. No need for an extra reddot hanging of the side of your rail or scope. It's a great tactical scope, very much like a giant heavy high magnification ACOG.

Since it's a big bright triangle recticle, it's best at real uses, and not as good for punching paper and measuring groups with a caliper. Thin crosshairs are better for that. (even if you are use ing the tip of the triangle.


For a .308 LMT or Larue OBR or for paper punching, I'd rather have a Nightforce scope. $$$$$, but worth every penny.

 

[NELSONs02]

I agree.

My Trijicon Accupoint 5-20x 50mm is an excellent scope. But I use it on 5.56 SPR Ar15's not .308 Ar10's. Why?, Because I run out of range adjustment around 900 yards. In practical use that more like 700-800 yards. But my 5.56 SPR's are purpose built to be practical in the 100-600 yard range.

In that range nothing touches the Trijicon for quickness on target and ability to hit a moving target. Also it's bright recticle makes 1x sighting with your offscope eye very easy. The higher the magnification your useing, the quicker your other eye will switch to 1x if something "pops up" at close range. No need for an extra reddot hanging of the side of your rail or scope. It's a great tactical scope, very much like a giant heavy high magnification ACOG.

Since it's a big bright triangle recticle, it's best at real uses, and not as good for punching paper and measuring groups with a caliper. Thin crosshairs are better for that. (even if you are use ing the tip of the triangle.


For a .308 LMT or Larue OBR or for paper punching, I'd rather have a Nightforce scope. $$$$$, but worth every penny.

Have you looked at 20 MOA bases for AR's? Not sure what, if any options you might have in that regard. It's a shame because the Accupoints offer an amazing sight picture.

If I was into long range hunting for large game that post/triangle combo would be perfect.

 

[noobsshooting]

All,

I own two Zeiss Conquests, Trijicon AccuPoint and ACOG, and a Leupold Mark AR. In my opinion, I think Zeiss has the best glass and clarity of the three. The downside is the 1" tube diameter. I did a review of my Zeiss on www.noobsshooting.com if you are interested. Zeiss was my first brand, but all are great products. I don't think you will be unhappy with any of them.

 

[Txhillbilly]

Although it's not on your list,I'd say take a look at the Sightron SIII scopes.

The quality of the glass rivals Nightforce,along with 100 MOA of adjustment.
They have a great Lifetime Warranty-If you have a problem,send it back and they send you a new scope.
The price is cheaper than a Leupold,Trijicon,or Zeiss.

I have two of them,and the clarity of the glass is as good as my Swarovski PH scope.

IMO,Sightron is the best bang for the buck that I have found in quality optics.

 

[stiletto raggio]

For downright durability, the US Optics scopes are hard to beat. S&B and Premier are extremely high quality products, too, but I have no first-hand experience with them. They are a bit more traditional in their styling (the USOs are definitely military-grade and they look it) but any of them are excellent. Personal preference, I guess.

 

[TonyAngel]

Hensoldt. The best there is.

 

[Tim the student]

If I had an unlimited budget, I'd be looking at Premier.