Good Scope Suggestions?

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I am in the market for a new scope for my newly acquired Ruger M77 Mark II all weather in .223. I am going to use this rifle mostly for punching paper but will do some varmint work with it as well. I would like to be able to get out to 300 yards once I have some practise under my belt and don't know what kind of magnification is neccessary for those types of shots. Right now I can only afford to be in the $200-$300 range and would like to squeeze the most out of that price range as I can. The only two scopes that I have actually been able to play with are a Leupold Rifleman 4-12X40mm and a Leupold VX-1 4-12X40mm. They both were decent but I could only veiw them in the gun shop so range was limited. Am I paying more for name with Leupold or is function the reason for such a popular name. Just some advice from someone with experience with optics would be great as I am fairly inexperienced in this feild. Thanks.
 
For 300 yards in the $200 to $300 range, go for the Nikon Prostaff 3-9x40 for $159.00 at your local Wal-mart.

I find that, on my father's deer rifle, the glass in it is clear and light transmission is practically as good as my $1,275 Leupold Mk IV, which uses the same lens as the Leupold VX-III.

If you wanted a good step-up from the Nikon Prostaff for not that much more money (upper side of your $300 range), go to SWFA.com and take a look at the Nikon Team Primos. It is the older model Nikon Monarch.

There are decent optics in the $200-$300 range, but the above two give you the most optic for the money that you want to spend.


-- John
 
Here are what I use,in no particular order, Nikon Pro-staff,3x9x40,Nikon Buckmaster 3x9x40, Leupold VX-1 3x9x40 and the Simmon's 44Mag 3x9x44(on my Steven's Model 200 in .223 Rem.).
 
i would not pass up any burris ballistplex fullfield, nikon, or pentax, in that price range. Japanese glass can really rule!
 
The Leupold VX-I is a terrible scope for the money they charge you. LEupolds start to make sense at the VX-3 line anything below and you are better off looking elsewhere. Look at the Bushnell 3200 Elite, Nikon Buckmaster, Sightron SII or Weaver Classic scopes. If you want to get the best deal around these days get this Monarch Nikon has been giving a deal on:

http://www.swfa.com/c-2119-nikon-team-primos-riflescopes.aspx

You will not be able to see bullet holes at 300 yards but the glass is a step up from even the scopes I listed above and is fullt multicoated unlike the multicoated VX-I or VX-II.
 
Quote-"The Leupold VX-I is a terrible scope for the money they charge you." I don't know about your experience with the VX-1 but mine has been all positive! Very clear and bright(out to 300 yards), quick target acquisition, everything I look for and expect from a scope. It is well worth the price.
 
I agree with the post above mine concerning the Leupolds. The present VXI is the old VXII and there's nothing wrong with them at all.

Our Sportsmans Warehouse is closing in Sioux Falls, SD and I could have picked up a VXI 4-12 the other day there for 210.00. Would have bought it, but I just bought another handgun earlier in the day and didn't have the funds.

Anyways, you do pay a little more for the Leupold name but they have one of the best warranties out of any company in the world and do hold their value because of the warranty alone. The bushnell 3200 is a good scope, as are the others mentioned. Personally I don't think they are quite as attractive as the Leupolds, but that's a personal choice.

My advice would be to look for a used Leupold in the power range you'd like. I've picked up two VXII 4-12 adjustable objective in the past few months for around 280.00-300.00 and recently picked up a VXIII 4.5-14 A.O. for 310.00 shipped.

If you look hard enough you can get a VXII 3-9 for a 150-170.00, with the 200.00 being more of the going rate.
 
i orderd an NcStar 4 X 32 p4 sniper from cheaper than dirt for around $70 that works way better than i assumed it would (mostly for the range) - crystal clear view with choice of green and red lighting at 3 diff levels of brightness plus is has a quick detach lever so i can put it on and take it off of the weaver rail on my sub 2000 when i want to fold it ??
 

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The present VXI is the old VXII and there's nothing wrong with them at all.
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Yes if they charged 65% of the price maybe. But if you like paying today's prices for yesterday's technology go for it. For the money you will do better with Bushnell, Nikon, Sightron or Weaver to name a few.
 
Yes if they charged 65% of the price maybe. But if you like paying today's prices for yesterday's technology go for it.
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I own around 40 long arms and while I've bought probably a 1/3 of them new I've never bought a new scope for any of them, with the exception of few 30-50.00 scopes in my younger years. Consequently I've never paid probably more than 70% of the normal street price. Majority of them have been 40-50% off, don't see why anyone trying to save a few bucks would go out and buy a new scope if they trusted the warranty.

Won't argue how good a Pentex, Bushnell, Burris, etc. is, but it's a 50/50 deal if you need to send them in for any sort of repairs. Some people have had good luck, others not so good. I don't believe I've read anything bad about Sightron? I do have one Pentex, a few Bushnell, and two Burris scopes and like all of them. The Pentex I have is ugly as far as I'm concerned, but it's always done it's job well. Other than two old Weaver scopes that fog, I've never had any problems with any of them. I have a few Tasco's as well, one world class and another I'm not sure of. The un-known one is one a .243 that looks like it's been to hell and back, but it's still clear and holds its zero.


I would love to have a few Swarvoskis, upper end Zeiss, etc. but don't think I'll ever be in a financial situation to spend 1500-2000.00 on any of them. I do own two pairs of Swarovski SLC binoculars (10x42, 8x30) both picked up in used, but like new condition and their optics are second to none as far as I'm concerned.


Try the IOR Valdada stuff!

It is as cheap as it is reliable!
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They sure don't look cheap in the link you posted, 700-1,000 street price?
 
I've done a few right ups on my reviews of the Leupold VX-I I have had for about 2 years now. It's been sent into Leupold twice in that time. I don't find it great at all. I can't see it being any clearer than the $30 Tasco I have from Wal-Mart and a couple buddies compared them and said the Tasco looked clearer to them. I couldn't tell a difference to be honest. I know the Tasco I expected crap and it's actually impressed me. I came into it looking for something wrong with it but other than the name never found it. It never gave me any problems. I can't say that about the Leupold. The only positive thing I can say about the Leupold is the customer service seems great. They take care if it but 2 times is crazy amount of times to have the scope break in 2 years. It sat for several months and since I got it back the second time I haven't sighted it in on a gun so I don't know if it works now or not. I wouldn't buy this over the $30 Tasco at Wal-Mart if I did it again as the only difference I can tell is the Tasco has lasted longer. Everyone told me to spend $200 or so on a scope and get a Leupold and it should be decent. When I got it and had problems they all go oh well they are crap you need at least a vxIII. Well, you can't get a VX-III for even $300. I'm not willing to pay that much to find out if they are any better or not.

The other problem I had with the Leupold is if you even hit the thing wrong it seemed to lose zero. It lost zero pretty easily and has gotten me paranoid with all my scopes that if I bump them wrong they will lose zero. When in reality that's the only one I've ever had to do that to be honest.

I also have used a few other scopes. I have a Burris 3x9x40mm Fullfield II also that I got on clearance for $199.99 with a free Garmin eTrex GPS. It's great. I put it on right after shooting the Leupold and it was amazing how clear it was. My buddy goes man this thing is clear so of course I had to take a look and it just amazed me. It seems to do very well in low light situations too. I also really like the crosshairs with the ballistic plex in it. I can't say enough good about this scope. I've not even had it a year though so can't comment on how it will hold up but from my experience with it I love it. The only complaint I'd have and I wouldn't complain about it as it doesn't bother me but I've heard others say they don't like it is that the whole eye piece turns when you adjust the magnification. That like I said doesn't bother me though. This seems to be a amazing scope for the money.

The next scope up is a Simmons Deerfield 3x9x32mm. This is on a .22 so it's not a heavy recoiling rifle but I've had it probably close to 5 years and it's taken a major beating and held up. It's not as clear as the Burris imo anyway but it's clearer than I need it to be and a lot cheaper. It shoots great. It's ridden in a vehicle bouncing around, been dropped(well knocked over), probably dropped to. I mean this thing has just been treated rough and seems to be zereod in still when I take it shooting. It still works as well as the day one. The only time it may have lost zero and I'm not sure it did was after 4 ears or so I decided since the crosshairs weren't perfectly straight I'd turn the scope. I turned it and tightened it back down. I went to sight it in with the ammo I had. Most ammo in this gun seems to shoot the same but I haven't tested all. The old white box Winchester Xperts and the Federal bulk packs seemed to hit the same spot but the Federals stovepiped every few rounds. Since I had Federals I used them to sight it in. It wasn't far off after turning the scope but I made a few minor adjustments. Anyway, I carried it in the house a few days later and had another gun that I was carrying hit the scope pretty hard. When I shot it it was about 6-10" high probably. I also switched to the Xpert ammo again but this new stuff is high velocity unlike the old. So I'm not sure if the scope got knocked off from the gun hitting it or if the high velocity ammo just shoots higher. I kind of wonder if it's the ammo but don't really know it may not be. I haven't tried the Federal's anymore. That was the first and only time it's not shot where I want it to. I can't say a bad thing about this scope either. It or the Burris would be my favorite probably although I haven't found a think wrong with the Tasco either.


To be honest I know of 4 guys with Leupolds. Me and one other have had issues with ours. The 3rd one will tell you he hasn't had his long enough to see if he likes it. The 4th I've never asked if he has a issue I just know he has one on a .17hmr rifle.

50% of them breaking is not good odds to me for a scope that expensive. The other one that had one break traded it for a .22 rifle when it came back so he never tested to see if they fixed it.

Yet I know quite a few guys with Simmons scopes and I haven't heard any stories of any of them having a scope fail. I also know several guys with Tasco's and I've only heard of 1 of them having a issue with it. Maybe 2 but I can't remember him saying he had a issue I just suspect he might have but he has lots of guns and scopes too.

I know a ton more guys with Simmons and Tasco's and hardly any have issues at all. Not the case with the guys I know with Leupolds.

I only know a few people with Bushnells but all of them have had good luck with them too.

I'd personally probably look for a nice Burris first and Simmons second.

If I wanted something cheap the Tasco would be at the top of my list.
 
99% chance that you will be *sorely* dissappointed with the 3-9x recommendations on here. For a 300 yard precision target / varmint rifle, you will find yourself wanting a LOT more magnification.

And you won't find anything worth having in that price range with such a magnification (6-24, etc.). So you're better off saving up $400 or more and then report back with a new question. :) In the meantime, you could get something to tide you over, like find a used Bushnell Banner 6-18x50 or Millett Buck Gold 6-24x56, or Mueller Eradicator 6-25x50. One other option that might make you happy long term, *IF* you could bump your budget by $100, is a Weaver Target Scope:

http://www.swfa.com/c-254-weaver-t-series-rifle-scopes.aspx


Sightron S2 in the higher magnifications will not fit within the budget here.
 
3x9x40 not for paper or groundhogs

I shoot a 10x40x50 osprey on my 22-250 ,just enough for shooting groundhogs at 300 yards ,if your gonna shoot far and something small you need magnification an clear glass,once you spend the money for good glass you wont regret it. it will also help your shooting:neener:
 
I have 4 rifles scoped with Bushnell 4x12x50 AOL scopes. I also have several rifles scoped with Bushnell, Leupold and Nikon 3x9x40 scopes. Unless you are shooting waaaaaay beyond 300 yards at peanut sized game 9x is usually enough. I PREFER higher magnification but find it USUALLY isn't essential.
 
Yeah I didn't mention what power to get for that reason. Just said what I had. Honestly I like 9x at 100-150 yards and wouldn't even mind a little more. Some others I know don't like more than 5x or so at 100 yards. If it was me I'd want way more power than 9x at 300 yards but that's just how I shoot. I like to be zoomed in on what I'm shooting at.
 
For your Amusment..

GunBroker.com has pages of new and used scopes at auction<http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Browse.asp?SearchType=0&Cat=1017> . Sort by time left or by price. Priced from "reasonable" to "you have got to be kidding!"
 
Thanks everyone for the amazing amount of responses I've gotten from this question. I think I'm defenitly set on NOT getting a scope in the 3X9 feild, therefore I may have to bump my budget up another $100. But that is as far as I can justify at the moment, especially since the gun I got was only $400 brand new. Got it from a guy that won a raffle and he never shot. Thanks again and if anyone else has more opinions I would love to hear from you.
 
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