Optics hunt... Advice needed....

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I have a dilemma. I'm stuck between a few scopes.

I'd like to hear from some of you guys who have some experience with these scopes.

I had started out planning on getting a Vortex Viper 4-12x40 for $250. I still think I'd be quite happy with the Viper, but there are a couple of others I'm thinking about as well.

One is the Sightron SII 4-16x42 and it's $350. I like the idea of 4-16 power, but if it's not going to look good at those higher powers, then it obviously isn't worth it. It's not a Big Sky model, just the SII. So keep that in mind.

I know Sightron and Vortex are newer companies, but I'm not worried about that aspect. Both have amazing warranties (which is a huge deal to me), and both companies look like they are hear to stay. Also, I've yet to hear a bad word about either from consumers.

The other scope I'm considering is the Nikon Monarch 4-16x42 for around $450. Nikon seems to have made a lot of changes to their CS, and their warranty is much better than it was a few years ago. That said, I'm sure their warranty is not going to be near as good as the others.

Although I am concerned with warranty, I trust that all of these scopes are well made and durable. I just think it says a lot about a company if they stand behind their product with great CS. I think the "no questions asked" warranties of Vortex and Sightron say a good deal about them.

Btw, which ever one I get will be put on my new CZ 550 American .308 and will have a duplex reticle. I'm not interested in BDC reticles and such. I also don't care whether it's AO or side focus.

So which would you guys go with? Are the Sightron ans Monarch worth $100 and $200 more than the Vortex? I will be getting one of these three, so no "Get a Leupold" business.
 
The Monarchs are nice scopes, but in that price is included a premium for the name. I've looked through and shot Vortex scopes, but have never owned one. I had issues with a couple due to a fish eye effect and a couple of others with the scope being really finicky about head placement. Still in all, a LOT of people say very good things about Vortex and they all can't be wrong. Vortex is very popular a the local range where I shoot. They like them a lot.

The Sightron is a real sleeper. I really don't know why they aren't more popular. The Big Sky series is a killer line of scopes. Very clear glass and very repeatable adjustments. I'd go with the Sightron. Check out manventureoutpost.com
 
Well considering that Nikon has a Lifetime warranty on their scopes, I believe it is a little hard to beat that. And I personally have never had issue with their products. Class A customer service. As far as paying a "premium" for the name, Well I don't see that with Nikon products myself. As far as I am concerned, as far as price goes, it is very hard to beat the quality that you get for their prices. Ill put my Nikons up against the Leos any day as far as light transmission and holding zero and ESPECIALLY customer service!
 
Well considering that Nikon has a Lifetime warranty on their scopes, I believe it is a little hard to beat that. And I personally have never had issue with their products. Class A customer service. As far as paying a "premium" for the name, Well I don't see that with Nikon products myself. As far as I am concerned, as far as price goes, it is very hard to beat the quality that you get for their prices. Ill put my Nikons up against the Leos any day as far as light transmission and holding zero and ESPECIALLY customer service!
Click to expand...

Not to argue, but have you used, to any extent, ANY other brand of optic?

Nikon does indeed get a premium for many of their models, their CS has, in the past been horrid, although to be fair, the CS department has improved for the dealer end of it as of late, and the warranty is on par with most of the other optic manufactures.

Anyway...between the units the OP mentions, I might save a penny or two and try to get a Sightron 'Big Sky' SII, or take a look at the Bushnell or Minox Brand units.
 
Yes Mike I have, In 40+ years in the field and on the range I have used about everything out there at one time or another including but not only, Bushnell, Simmons, Leupold, Redfield, Powerpoint, Zeiss, and several others. In the OP's range of scopes I was commenting on the choices that he has limited this thread to.
 
Those are all great, versatile scopes.

Will you be using them for hunting or bench/target shooting?

If more for hunting, I would maybe choose the lightest smallest scope of those three.

Also, I see on swfa that Sightron is currently offering a $75 rebate. So you can get the 3-12x42 Big Sky SII for $514-$75 = $439. I might choose that scope over the Monarch.


BUT, the Viper for $250 is probably the best value of the bunch. I thought that scope was at least $100 more.
 
check into the Bushnell Elite series...i have a 3200 but the 4200s are not much more...and i am thoroughly satisfied with mine...they are a super deal on scopes
 
If you want to talk bang for the buck, check out the Bushnell Elite 3200 fixed 10X and the 3-9X32 scopes. I think Primary Arms has the best prices on them.
 
Will you be using them for hunting or bench/target shooting?
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, I guess I could have mentioned the use. That does usually help.

It will be for both hunting and range use (more range duty than hunting). I know that I really don't need 16x magnification for hunting, but I think it'd be fun to have a little higher power at the range.

I took a look at the Nikon tonight at Bass Pro, but all they had was the BDC version. Geez, that thing is impractical! The glass was great, but the reticle was dumb IMO. I wouldn't be totally opposed to a holdover reticle, but that one seemed silly to me.

I'm still liking the looks of the Sightron and Vortex more than the Nikon, but I am willing to drop the extra cash if it's worth it.
 
I have a Nikon Buckmaster 4.5-14 X 40 scope on my .308. I'm very happy with it. It's very clear and has great low light transmission. This scope sells for around $300.
 
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I have the Sightron Big Sky in 4-16x42 and frankly speaking great glass has a top of windage and elevation adjustment for long shots over 1000 meters has an adjustable variable objective great eye relief and fantastic customer service and a lifetime warranty on their scopes. No Fault warranty, they don't what and how it happen, they won't fix it just send you a new one. The Nikon monarch I have is a 2.5-10x40 with BDC reticle and the reticles work. Great glass, eye relief at about 3.5 inches and both have knobs to reset your zeros. Nikons warranty is about 25 years, after that you have to pay something like $25 give or take a few. Good customer service. Both scopes track nicely.
 
I have a Sightron II 4 X 12 or 16 - I can't recall. It's a terrific scope. Repeatable adjustments, holds zero very well, terrific glass. It was a pleasant surprise and for me a non-Leupold purchase gone well.

Bought a second one - 3 X 9 SII on the good experience with the first and absolutely no regrets.
 
I know alot of people claim you pay for the name with a leupold but in the worse offender in paying for a name is nikon. there prostaffs are crap there buckmasters are just mediocure. Niether does well in low light especially the prostaffs. Now the monarchs are a good scope and i wont badmouth them. I have to agree with the other posters that the bushnells 3200 and 4200 are one of the best bangs for the buck on the market. I think the biggest thing that keeps guys from buying them is they say bushnell on them anf for to many years people equated that with cheap walmart scopes. I they would have kept the baush and lomb name on there 3200 and 4200 they would probably have been the best selling scope on the market today. Im a big leupold fan and probably 75 percent of my rifles wear them but i have a couple bushnells and will say for fact that a 3200 bushnell is every bit the scope a vx2 is for a 100 bucks less and much more of a scope them my old vari x 2s are..
 
I'll badmouth the Monarchs. I bought and sold a monarch 4-16x42 (poor optics IMO), replaced with a burris sig select. I still have and will probably keep a 1.5-4.5x20 monarch. I got talked into the latter.

I'd buy the Vortex from a vendor willing to accept an open box return. If you don't mount the scope, some vendors will offer a refund if you're unhappy.

I'm not much of a Nikon or Bushnell fan. Some of my friends have the 3200's & 4200's and I just don't find them to be all that.

I have an old VariX III that does very well and can be had used for $300. I guess that makes me a Burris & Leup fan.
 
Well, I'm really leaning towards the Vortex. It just seems like a great buy. I haven't completely tossed out the others at this point, but the Vortex is really seeming like the way to go.

Plus, I plan to outfit another new rifle here in a few months (maybe a Rem. 700 or Win. 70 :D) and that one will need a scope too. So it's really just which one do I want to buy now...
 
The Sightrons are reportedly a good scope at a good price for what you get. No experience w/ the Vortex. Some brands are relabeled, actually manufactured by someone else. I have and use an older Nikon Monarch UCG that I got on sale as a closeout model. I wouldn't have paid full retail for it. It physically fit a particular application better than anything else decent I could find. I have and use Nikon Monarch, Leupold VX-3s, Bushnell 3200 & 4200s, and Nightforce variables. Any more I have gravitated to inexpensive Weaver fixed 4x and 6x scopes on my hunting rifles. Lightweight, duplex reticles, minimum of parts, hold zero with heavy kickers, never at the wrong magnification, good field of view, and bright and clear enough for any legal hunting. Including wacking pigs in the moonlight. They just work with no fiddling involved. After all is said and done, rifle scopes are nothing more than a sighting device. If you can consistently put a round on target they have done their job. In hindsight the fixed Weavers would have more than adequately performed for any hunting application I needed. An expensive journey but I guess education isn't free ;).
 
I have a Sightron SII 3-9x42 on a muzzleloader....very happy with it. Have also used Nikon Monarchs & Buckmasters, Bushnell Elite 3200's/4200's, Redfield Revolutions, bunches of Leupolds and Zeiss Conquest(my favorite BTW).

I don't have any experience with Vortex but have a friend who has a Viper on order, so I will have some experience soon.

I found my Sightron SII on clearance from Midsouth Shooters for $150 plus shipping. I found the SII to be equal to the older Nikon Monarch UCC's and just a tad below the new Monarchs. However to me, the SII's have better eye relief and a better field of view.

Nikon has an excellent lifetime warranty....just the customer service can sometimes be suspect.

IMO any of the scopes mentioned would be an excellent choice.
 
If you go Vortex, try to get it from someone that will take a return, if you don't like it. Some models are better than others.
 
When I adjust a scope it should move exactly where told and stay there. It should have other good qualities such as good light transmission and the like and for those reasons I cannot go with any economy scopes. My next scope will be a Zeiss Conquest or a Nikon Monarch in a higher variable power for long distance shooting in the rockies. I am leaning towards the Nikon as I already have others like the Leopold VX3 amongst others.
When I phone Nikon customer service they are the worse of all the scope companies and cannot answer any of your questions.
 
I would go with the Sightron. I have 2 Sightron SIII's,and a Nikon Monarch,along with several others better and not as good.

Nikon makes a nice scope,but I don't care for the coatings they use,they are darker than most other companies.They also don't have as much adjustment as the Sightron's.

The Vortex Vipers that I have looked at didn't impress me at all. I have Muellers that have as good clarity/light transmission.

The Sightrons give my Swarovski PH scope a close race in just about every catagory of comparison,except price.

Just about everyone offers a Lifetime warranty,so that doesn't weigh much to me.
 
I bought the viper (4-12x40) on sale at cameraland. they threw in rings and a hat and coffee. haven't had a chance to mount it yet, but everything looks good so far. I don't have anything good to compare it to, but it's a huge step up from the old redfield and newish tasco world class I have. The viper's stamped made in phillipines.

Academy has the 3200 on sale for $150 if I recall the ad right.
 
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