Nikon Monarch???

[30-06 lover]

I found a Nikon Monarch 3-9 for 200.00 bucks and I am wondering if I should get it. If I buy it I will be putting it on my new Tikka hunting rifle. I will be taking the scope through rough California terrain and freezing cold in Colorado every year. Will the Monarch hold up to those coditions? I am looking for a scope that will be able to get bumped around all day in the hills and hold zero without fogging. Is the Monarch up to the task? I am also thinking about the Leupold VX-II 3-9. Is it a better scope? Would you all recommend it over the Monarch? Thanks!!!
-Mike

 

[Don't Tread On Me]

I have a Monarch. Better glass than Leupold. Tough scope, well built. Should do perfectly well for your hunt. It's Nikon's top line and isn't a sloutch. Leupold has the superior warranty and customer service though. That's what you're paying for with the Leupold. You anticipate rough use - if you believe that rough use might lead to a broken scope, out of the two, the Leupold will be the better choice. They'll fix it and have it back to you in a short time with no questions asked. Nikon has been known to take a while....Between these choices, you're paying for better glass, better brightness and clarity on the Monarch, or better service on the Leupold. Both are tough, quality scopes that are water proof, can handle recoil, bumps and weather extremes. Don't get me wrong, optics on the Leupold are very good too, plenty for your intended use, but Monarch edges it out in that dept.

 

[Ol` Joe]

IMO the Monarch is a step or two above the Leo Vari X-II. You have a excellent deal on a very good scope.

 

[Eightball]

If you don't buy it, let me!

That's an AMAZING deal, jump all over it! A superb scope on a nice rifle is not a bad thing, ever! Even better if you got a deal on it!

 

[copaup]

If you don't buy that scope Godzilla will swim all the way from Tokyo and stomp on your house.

Seriously, I've got a Monarch 3x9 Mildot on my Majic Econo Precision Rifle (Savage 10fp) and it is a serious piece of glass. To do better you'd have to go up to the Leupold Tactical line at several times the price. Heck, 200 is less than you'd pay for a Buckmaster, which is still a pretty nice mid level scope.

 

[Belgiboy]

I definately think the monarch is what you need for the kind of hunting you describe, it can take a beating and the light gathering qualities are superb. Go buy that thing for pete's sake!

 

[Essex County]

Please put Me in the Monarch camp. "Nuff said. Essex

 

[30-06 lover]

Thanks for all the replies! I went ahaed and bought the scope. Again thanks for the help!
-Mike

 

[aspade]

Eightball, SWFA has 3x9 Monarchs for $218 if you're looking for one.

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

Nikon has revamped the Monarch line & there are some real hoo-haw! sale's on the older Monarch's right now. See Natchez for example. www.natchezss.com. I bought another Monarch 3.3-10X A/O mil-dot recently from Natchez. I paid less for it on sale than I paid wholesale for the first one I bought about a year and a half ago.

900F