Optics Options...HELP!!!

[Coltdriver]

For 600 and a little shopping you can get a first class used Leupold VX III.

No way I would put a dime into any off brand anything.

Once you have tried VX III level glass you will never be happy with anything less.

Take a look at the B&C Recticle. You get your rifle and your load dialed in to that recticle and you are good to go for serious field work.

 

[Maverick223]

Once you have tried VX III level glass you will never be happy with anything less.

Right. I won't say it has bad glass, but it isn't the end all - be all of optics by any stretch.

 

[baldeagle93]

1858-The Conquest is currently leading the choice because of the option with the RZ600 reticle. For a veteran hunter with shooting ability, this seems like a very good option.

When this quest started the future owner of this project had many different expectation of what he wanted. I also committed to teaching him to use the mil dot scope. Now I've been able to talk him out of many of the bells and whistles and convince him that a quality scope will make up for everything else.

Mavrick223-I somewhat agree with you on the Leupold price and value. Their biggest problem is they know how good they are. The have the Harley mentality...just because of their name they think they can get as deep into your wallet as possible. I own more Leupolds than anything else, but they are all of the Mark 4 flavor. The future owner of this project currently has a Leopold on the rifle we are replacing...its a 3x9x40 VX-I, but it is still a Leupold.

 

[maksim]

Nikon Monarch for that price is hard to beat. Getting mine tomorrow via ups....

 

[Boba Fett]

Good scope reviews

baldeagle93 - welcome to the forum!

Check out SniperCentral.com for some good scope reviews. They appear to be unbiased from what I can tell.

http://www.snipercentral.com/scopereviews.htm


You have some requirements that probably won't fit, but the scope I have for my deer rifle is a Mueller Tac II 3-10x44. It has been an excellent scope for me on my Savage 10FCP.

Should be able to find it for under $300.

But if your budget is $600ish then you could probably pick up a better (i.e. more of the features you want) scope.


Let us know what you decide on and post a review on it. Maybe put some pics up (pics are always nice )

We usually have a lot of "what _____ should I get" type of threads and not enough "I got _____ and here's what I think of it" follow up threads.

 

[dmazur]

Late to this, but I also recommend Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 w/ Rapid-Z 600.

The reticle range marks are "matched" to the ballistics of cartridges like the .30-06 and .243, so the .308 will probably work as well.

Excellent glass, 4 inches of eye relief, sharply defined reticle.

If it hasn't already been mentioned, there are ranging "hash marks" above the centerline which can be used kind of like mil-dot.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

After many years of selling optics I would definitely recommend the Nikon Monarch, or Zeiss Conquest at that pricepoint.

Both are extremely rugged, and have excellent glass and coatings.

 

[BUGUDY]

Here is some helpful info when looking at scopes:http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=441382

 

[Rokman]

Ziess conquest, Nikon monarch, Sightron SII/SII big sky, all are great scopes.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

These Bushnell 6500's are a good value, and they even come with the baseball card in the spoke.

http://www.overstock.com/Sports-Toys...9/product.html

Ziess conquest, Nikon monarch, Sightron SII/SII big sky, all are great scopes.

sightron s-2 series and higher.
leupold vx-2 series and higher.
nikon buckmaster.
zeiss conquest.
bushmaster 3200 series and higher

Ding, ding, ding - we have some winners.

There is NO reason to consider cheapie scopes like that on your stated budget. But of those choices, the Swift. Don't ever buy anything BSA.

The 2.5-16x50mm Elite 6500 and will meet all your needs - best value going IMO under $600. It doesn't have an IR, but that wasn't a "must have" in your criteria list.

It doesn't have parallax adjustment on the ocular bell, but no scopes do - it's a side focus, closer to the ocular than having it on the objective bell - maybe that's what you meant?

Only thing it won't do under your requirements is have a mil-dot reticle on the cheaper model.

 

[cz85cmbt]

Vortex, fairly new company but has won best products in field and stream against leupolds, and other higher priced scopes. Excellent customer service reports and everything that you are looking for for 699 and another minus parallax adjustment for 599.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Yes - if you HAVE to go cheap, go Vortex or Centerpoint. But his budget is $600 - he doesn't have to go cheap.

Nevermind - ok, Vortex has the higher-end stuff, too. Well, then, good recommendation there.

 

[Maverick223]

Nevermind - ok, Vortex has the higher-end stuff, too. Well, then, good recommendation there.

Speaking of which, how is their high-end stuff? The Razor series seems a bit overpriced unless it can compare favorably to at least a Nightforce. Their low end is a good value, but I haven't had a chance to look at their high end stuff.

 

[Coltdriver]

I did not say VX III is the end all be all.

It is first class glass.

Once you have tried high end glass you will not want any lower quality glass.

There are other fine scopes out there and I am sure there is glass superior to Leupold, but not 100% better and definitely not for a couple hundred dollars.

 

[Maverick223]

Once you have tried high end glass you will not want any lower quality glass.

Very true.

There are other fine scopes out there and I am sure there is glass superior to Leupold, but not 100% better and definitely not for a couple hundred dollars.

Very subjective, but I disagree, you can get a Vortex Viper for about $100-200.00 less with similar glass and generally better features, and Zeiss Conquest is about on par WRT price and the glass is better IMO. In addition Zeiss Diavari, Swarovski, and Kahles (as well as Premier Reticles, Hensoldt, Schmitt & Bender, and US Optics for equally good "tactical" optics) has significantly better glass, "100% better" as you put it, but isn't in the same league as most Leupold (the VX-III anyway).

 

[NCdrummer]

scope

I have three recommendations for you: Meopta, Meopta, Meopta. I have several MeoStar scopes and they are all excellent. Call Alex at EuroOptic. He's a great guy and knows his stuff. Good luck!

 

[Maverick223]

I have three recommendations for you: Meopta, Meopta, Meopta. I have several MeoStar scopes and they are all excellent.

Howdy neighbor! Meopta makes great glass...but, why not just get a Zeiss Conquest at slightly less cost? They use the same glass (both made by Meopta in Czech Rep. IIRC), and both have rugged, repeatable, durable mechanics; however the Zeiss is slightly cheaper, made (or rather assembled) in the US making the unlikely warranty claim quicker and easier, and they have more models and available features. The only advantage of Meopta is the 30mm tube, but IIRC they don't have a great deal more adjustment (nor is it needed by most folks) so this is a moot point (and will add weight). Don't get me wrong Meopta is great gear, I just think the Zeiss is a better value.

 

[NCdrummer]

I have several of both. The Meopta is clearer and brighter!

 

[smokey262]

Admittedly I have not read every word of every post here, but I have skimmed the entire thread.

Can your buddy shoot as well as he wants in daylight with his existing rig? In other words, why do you think its the scope and not him or his methods or rifle?

 

[baldeagle93]

His current rig is a Ruger M77 fitted with a Leupold VX-II 3X9X40. He is not going to be entering any shooting competitions, but he is able to shoot accurately and has potential with time to snap in and get some good practice.

His daylight hour shots have been dead on target, but he has let many a game walk as he can not see to shoot before sunrise or after sunset.