Pricing on an A-Bolt and suggestions on a scope

[Malachor]

I've been looking to buy a nice hunting rifle and I have handled quite a few different bolt action rifles by some of the well known companies. Out of the rifles I handled I liked the fit, feel, features, and looks of the A-Bolt Medallion. I think the 30-06 cartridge will suit my needs just fine.

Other than deciding on the rifle and cartridge, the jury is still out on the scope. I've looked through the Leupold VX-II and their Rifleman model and I liked the VX-II scope better. However, after looking at the scope and coming back here to see opinions on that particular scope I noticed quite a few people mentioned the Bushnell Elite 3200 series. So now I'm left wandering what to do.

The price on the VX-II at the shop I went to was asking $339.99 I believe and the rifle was around $700-730. All in all, the salesman said it would be around $1030 or so. I've see the VX-II going for $299 on a few online sites, but I don't know what a fair price on the rifle is.

Is this a fair deal for a setup like this? Thoughts on the Bushnell vs. Leupold scopes?

Thanks in advance for taking the time to answer my questions.

 

[MCgunner]

Bushnell has a strong scope, but I've never been really impressed with the optics. A better scope for less money IMHO than the VariX2 is the Weaver. I have a 2x10x40 on my .308 and it's very impressive, very strong, and optical quality is as good or better. Weavers run from about $200 up. "Gun Tests" raved about the Weaver so I had to see for myself. They were right.

 

[BT100]

Dealer prices

Malachor dealer prices on the VXII 3-9x40 matte/duplex is $249.00 and the A-Bolt Medallion in 06 is $616.00. Then add shipping and insurance to the dealer (approx $25.00) and then markup from there. It would be a great package. Don't forget the costs of rings and bases. Try to keep the scope price under $300.00. Good luck. BT

 

[TIMC]

My thoughts, buying a nice rifle why try to save money on the scope? I have an A-Bolt Eclipse in 30.06. I chose the Leupold VXIII 4.5-14x40mm, nice scope for a nice rifle.

 

[MCgunner]

My thoughts, buying a nice rifle why try to save money on the scope? I have an A-Bolt Eclipse in 30.06. I chose the Leupold VXIII 4.5-14x40mm, nice scope for a nice rifle.

If you wanted a nice scope and didn't care what it cost, you shoulda got a Schmidt and Bender. Leupold don't make the scope that can stand in the shadow of a Schmidt and Bender, trust me. I mean, if money is no object, get the best, don't mess with the rest, right?

 

[TIMC]

If you wanted a nice scope and didn't care what it cost, you shoulda got a Schmidt and Bender. Leupold don't make the scope that can stand in the shadow of a Schmidt and Bender, trust me. I mean, if money is no object, get the best, don't mess with the rest, right?

I have not tried the Schmidt and Bender scopes but I do have a nice Swarovski pro hunter that puts my Leupolds to shame but that was not the point of my post.

You seemed to be interested in talking only about Bushnell vs. Leupold. My suggestion was to go with the VXIII line instead of the VXII. That is what you asked isn't it, opinions?
All of my large caliber rifles have Leupolds. I do have a couple Bushnell scopes but they are on .22's.

 

[Malachor]

You seemed to be interested in talking only about Bushnell vs. Leupold. My suggestion was to go with the VXIII line instead of the VXII. That is what you asked isn't it, opinions?

I think you're getting MCgunner and myself confused.

But to address your comment anyways... the reason I was interested in talking about the Bushnell vs. Leupold is that when I searched for opinions on the VX-II, the Elite 3200 seemed to be a scope heavily recommended.

As far as the VX-III, money is an issue. I'm not made out of money and I think the VX-II, since I have looked through it, would be sufficient enough if purchased. I welcome your suggestions though and I should have made myself clear in my initial post that money was indeed a factor.

I'm curious whether or not the VX-II is worth the money. I have noticed people have said their are better values for cheaper or for the same price. That is particularly my main question other than what a fair price for the rifle would be.

Thanks everybody thus far for your comments and suggestions. Keep 'em coming!

 

[robctwo]

A friend of mine bought the 30-06 A-Bolt in stainless and is delighted. I think he put the VariX II or the Nikon 3x9 on it and it is a great hunter. I have the Vari XII on two rifles and the Nikon Buckmaster on 2 rifles, both in 3x9x40. I'm leaning slightly towards Nikon for light/clarity. Leupold is a very good scope with a great warranty. My one Leupold is about 20 years old with no problems and lots of time in the wet woods. I like Browning a lot, went with the BAR Stalker in .308 and 300 WSM.

 

[MCgunner]

The 200 dollar Weaver 2x10x40 baseline scope is a FANTASTIC value. It's as strong as anything on the market, passed all of "Gun Tests" torture tests with flying colors in that test I read, has been sighted in ONCE in 8 years I've owned it and every year before deer season I go to the range and it's dead on. It's been in boats bouncing around and on all manor of hunts with me. The optics are superior to the VariX 2 my buddy has, too. It's a fantastic value in that price range and a little less money than a VariX2.

Yes, the Elite series of Bushnell is a great scope. Even Bushnell's cheaper scopes were of good strength, able to handle strong recoiling guns, but I've never been impressed with their optics. The Elite is a cut above, though.

I've got no experience with Nikon, but considering they're top of the line in cameras, you'd think they'd know optics, eh?

TIMC, I just thought it a little odd you'd tell him to spare no expense on a scope, then talk VariX 3 as if that was the top of the scope world. Post was just a little unclear, but I see your point. Man, I wish I wasn't income challenged or I'd have top of the line optics on everything, but I have a Weaver wallet and it's a good scope for the money. Its optics are acceptable, better than a VariX 2, though I admit it's not up to the Zeiss, Swarovski, or Schmidt and Bender stuff, top of the optics world, but it's a very strong scope and I think that's a must in a rifle scope. It's got to be strong and capable of taking the punishment. Of course, my rifles are Savage and Remington so I ain't buying high dollar guns, either, but they are effective for hunting which is what I do with rifles.

Friend of mine has a nice little short action A bolt in 7-08. It's light and short, very similar in size to my Remington M7. It's blued and walnut stocked, though, but he doesn't hunt in the rough environs I've been in with the Remington. He just mostly goes and sits in a box blind. His gun shoots very well and it is a beautifully fitted and finished rifle, drop dead gorgeous.

 

[TIMC]

I think you're getting MCgunner and myself confused.

Sorry my mistake, not reading close enough.

But to address your comment anyways... the reason I was interested in talking about the Bushnell vs. Leupold is that when I searched for opinions on the VX-II, the Elite 3200 seemed to be a scope heavily recommended.

Both will do the job well in a short range hunting rifle. I am not made of money either but I prefer not to cut my rifle cost in optics. Instead of buying an $800 Browning and $300 on the VXII I would buy a $500 Savage and go with the $600 VXIII. the price comes out the same but you will have better glass and Savage does make a decent rifle. It's an option to think about.

 

[garrett1955]

You can't got wrong with a Browning, and a leupold. Just this weekend my A-Bolt SS stalker in 30-06 with a leupold VX-III 2.5-8 Bagged me a 10 pt wisconsin buck. That was after a long hike in the woods, and going up a climber treestand with the rifle on my back. There is no substitute for quality in those situations. That rilfle and scope will make a nice combo.