General Scope Question

[patriot9879]

Hi all,

I have a basic scope question. I am in the process of buying a scope for my Remington VLS. I am having trouble deciding on a price range for the scope. I know that in general you get what you pay for with any kind of optic. But, is a $475.00 Nikon 4-5 times better than a $100.00 BSA, and is a $900.00 Leupold 2 times better than the Nikon? Other than the optical lenses, what contributes to a more expensive (better?) scope?

Thanks
--Steve

 

[Zak Smith]

Features, durability, repeatability, optical clarity.
http://demigodllc.com/articles/practical-long-range-rifle-shooting-optics/

 

[rangerruck]

no, a nkon will do just fine. a BSA has a very bad rap going right now.

 

[cheygriz]

In short, YES! I personally wouldn't buy anything cheaper than a Nikon Monarch, Burris or Leupold.

There's an old saying about binoculars that applies to scopes as well.

"With a Bushnell, you can see that there's a man on the other side of the lake. With a Steiner, you can tell that he's smoking. With a Swarovski, you can tell that he's smoking Marlboros."

If you can afford to spend $2000++ on a Schmidt & Binder, Zeiss, Swarovski, etc, they are worth every penny. Most folks can get by quite well with Leupold, Nikon or Burris.

But I wouldn't buy anything cheaper than those three. I've owned at least a dozen cheap scopes in my younger days, and I regretted buying every damn one of them.

A good scope is a lifetime investment that can be moved from rifle to rifle over a lifetime, and then passed on to your son, and will last through his lifetime.

 

[CB900F]

Patriot;

You're getting into the incremental cost of performance. The Nikon can literally be four times better than the BSA, but the Leupy isn't twice as good, it's maybe 20% better. The high-dollar Euro's may be 10% better than the Leupold.

The current exception seems to be the Zeiss Conquests. They're giving excellent optical quality at about $100.00 more than the Nikon Monarchs.

I do notice that there are now sales being run on the Nikon Monarchs, which makes me think that that line is being revamped. I saw that Midway was running select Monarchs at $100.00 to $120.00 off normal list. Perhaps Nikon will have something new for the coming hunting season.

900F

 

[cheaptrick]

The old Monarch line is indeed being phased out right now.
Great time to buy a Monarch.

http://www.swfa.com/c-218-nikon-monarch-ucc-riflescopes.aspx

 

[hossdaniels]

its hard to get a good scope for under $200 and its hard too get a bad one when you spend over $250. burris, nikon, bushnell elite, lower end leupolds,sightron, and many other companies make good scopes with a solid warranty.

 

[goalie]

The old Monarch line is indeed being phased out right now.
Great time to buy a Monarch.

+1 Go to SWFA (www.riflescopes.com) and check out the Monarch UCC scopes under the Nikon section. Compare the prices to other places on the web, and you'll see the great deals right now.

You may have to wait a while to receive the scope, as I believe they are getting them from Nikon as they phase out the production, but the wait would be worth it.

 

[kart racer]

I just won a new nikon monarch on ebay for 212.00 shipped.It's the 4-14x40 with ao.I thought I made out very well and I'm very excited for it to get here.I've never owned a nikon and can't wait to put it thru it's paces.

 

[goalie]

FWIW, I just bought one of the 4x fixed power Nikon UCCs at SWFA for less than 200 dollars including shipping. It was shipped, and should be here thursday. The sale they have on the Nikon closeouts is pretty dang good IMO.

I just want my 6.5x40 to get here.

 

[KHawk]

I've had a Remington VLS for about 8 months. When I first got it I put a 32X BSA scope on it and used it in the last three 200yd matches at our club in 2006. I placed 2nd in the first 2 and won the third match. The competition was using Weaver 32X, Leupold 36X and some Name variables. I am completely sold on the BSA scopes for benchrest use. I have not tried them in the field but there are not any obvious drawbacks.

 

[BrainOnSigs]

Good prices (also free shipping) on Leupolds (and Nikons....go to home link)here:

Scopes

I now have 4 Leupold VX-IIIs. (3) 6.5-20x40mm LR w/ 30mm tubes plus (1) 8.5-25x50mm LR w/ 30mm tube. I also have (2) VX-II 3-9x33mm EFR rimfire scopes.

I have never been let down from the bench or out in the field using Leupold.