I think that I might have scope envy... Help with choice, please.

[tetchaje1]

I think that I might be a lost cause here, but bear with me for having scope envy. I’m taking possession of a brand new Sauer 202 Varminter here in the next couple of weeks and I am currently in the process of choosing glass for it. Here comes the problem. With such an expensive rifle for some reason I feel like I would be doing the gun a disservice if I didn’t drop a high-dollar scope on it. After looking through the reviews of a ton of glass, I thought that I had narrowed it down to either a Bushnell Elite 4200 (6-24x40) or a Nikon Monarch (6.5-20x44 or 5.5-16x44) as they seem to be great scopes for the money.

I should say that I will eventually get another Sauer 202 for hunting am I am intending to put a 3-9 power Kahles, Swarovski, or Zeiss on it. So this begs the question for me for varminting and target practice with the 202 Varminter. Is it blasphemy to put a $400-500 scope on a high-dollar rifle, or are the Bushness/Nikon choices mentioned above reasonable considering the application for the rifle? One thing that is a fair consideration for me is the fact that less $$$ spent on glass for this Varminter will allow me to buy the 202 for hunting sooner…

 

[dakotasin]

always put the absolute best glass on that you can afford.

i put a leupold vx-3 8.5-25x50 lrt w/ a 30mm tube and side focus on my lowly rem 700 vls... and i'd do it again, too. just put your next saur purchase off for a month or two... you may already be too late for this year's hunting seasons (practice, proficiency, etc), so why not put better glass on and delay the rifle purchase...

 

[Bullet Bob]

There is a very good article about scopes, including the high dollar ones, in one of the two most recent "Rifle" magazines, and I recommend it highly. Either of the two scopes you mentioned should serve you well, and I'd like to throw Burris scopes into the mix as well. I regard Leopold's highly also - very rugged, great service. If a Zeiss or other ultra-expensive glass trips your trigger, go for it, but don't think you're actually getting that much more (if any) capabilities.

 

[Mulliga]

General rule of thumb you'll hear from many here:

Spend as much on the glass as you did on the rifle, if not more.

 

[tetchaje1]

I was just at the gun shop today and saw a few IOR scopes that really peaked my interest. The glass was developed by Carl Zeiss and the scopes were extremely bright and crisp. The price was mid-range compared to the Schmidt Benders and Zeiss's. I read a couple of really good reviews about them at a couple of other sites.

Anybody have any experience with these?

 

[Darkside852003]

I perfer the Zeiss I own 2 3-9's. I plan on buying a 6.5-20x44 I seen one for $700. I wouldnt hesitate to buy a Zeiss best optics for the bucks IMHO.


Jeff