Scope Rankings (see below.......)

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R

Red State

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Alright people, we have all seen the many threads where people ask what scope to put on their new gun. This thread is a little different.

Below are some of the most common, midpriced 3-9x40 scopes on the market. Note that all scopes have traditional "plex" crosshairs with no ballistic compensators. I have sorted the scopes in order of ascending price. All prices shown are the lowest I could find based on careful searches at midwayusa, opticsplanet, and walmart.

So for the following list, what scopes are the best value? Are there any scopes that would change places on the list if it was sorted by value or quality? What scope is the most overpriced?

Comments such as "my xxxx scope was much clearer/brighter/stronger than my xxxx scope" would be very helpful.

Bushnell Trophy $90
Bushnell Legend $128
Nikon Prostaff $150
Burris Fullfield II $185
Bushnell Elite 3200 $199
Leupold Rifleman $200
Nikon Buckmaster $200
Leupold VX-I $220
Nikon Omega $240
Leupold VX-II $300
Nikon Monarch $320
 
Comments such as "my xxxx scope was much clearer/brighter/stronger than my xxxx scope" would be very helpful.
Click to expand...

Wayyy back in 2000 when I wanted a scope for my new Browning, the Burris Fullfield was the one that the dealer thought filled clearer/brighter.

He also added that if 6 rifles in the same caliber with 6 different scopes go out deer hunting, the Burris will never be the cause of not putting meat on the table. That was an old shooters opinion years ago...but it seemed trustworthy at the time.

My $0.02

RFB
 
I've been very pleased with my Nikon Prostaff and am planning to purchase another. In shopping around and looking through various scopes in the 150-250 price range it seems to me that you've got to get significantly higher in price with other manufacturers to match Nikon's quality.

Also from what I've seen in them I can't tell a whit of difference between the Prostaff line and Buckmasters line other than the Buckmasters name (you know Jackie Bushman's got to get his cut on that one right?? How much do you think that is out of the 50.00 difference??)

For my money Nikon prostaff is where it's at. Sure I could spend more, but nothing I would use it for requires the extra investment. Some folks compete or spend 10K on guided hunts so the 1000.00 they spent on their scope makes sense.

To me, it would mean I owned a 1000.00 scope and was divorced for the second time :D.
 
In the mid-price line of scope I well recommend any of the Mueller scopes. I have the AVP on a 22lr, the TAC II on a M1A and the 8.5X25X50 Eradicator on my AR. All have crystal clear optics and have held up to recoil, return to zero fine, lifetime warranty. The TAC II on the M1A well get a work out this summer, I well see if it holds up.
 
Red State,

You left off the Sightron SI 3-9x40MD scope. Made in Japan (not China or a 3rd world country), and surprising quality for it's low price ($120).

Don
 
I have to agree with the Nikon observation. The Nikon Omega is really a shotgun scope so probably should be dropped. Some folks like the Pentax scopes, but they are mostly re-badged Burris scopes. That means they are good scopes, of course, and are worthy of discussion.

But, especially with the Nikon Team Primos scopes, you cannot get a better scope for the price by any manufacturer. Indeed, the Primos scopes are much BETTER than every other scope that is priced the same.

Ash
 
I've been extremely pleased with the two Bushnell Legend scopes I've used. Both were at least the equal of the B&L Elite 3000 I had many years ago.
 
I can`t believe that you`ve not listed any Swift scopes because out of the entire list that you`ve posted Swift scopes are as good and better than any of`m. SWIFT, simply the best scope in that price range period.
 
I think it's amazing that every month, photo magazines give quanitative tests on multiple optics, but no one does it to rifle scopes. That would eliminate all this subjective "my xxxxx is clearer than your xxxx" internet crap.
 
As I understand it, the Team Primos is about the same as the previous generation Monarchs and can be had for about $200. I have a 3-9 Monarch and prefer it over the Leupold VX-I, II, and older generation III's that I have been able to do side-by-side comparisons on.

Of the list you give I'd take the Buckmaster for overall value. Most of the guys I hunt with have the Nikon Buckmaster 3-9 and I have a hard time telling the difference between my scope and theirs. Check out www.samplelist.com for $150 Buckmasters.
 
Yeah, but the older Monarchs were very definitely better than the Buckmasters. The Team Primos Nikon, two years ago, would have sold for $300 and be labled Monarch (and be the top-of-the-line Nikon scope).

Ash
 
Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like the Nikon Prostaff is one of the best values out there. I forgot all about Pentax. And I will have to liik into Swift, Sightron, and Mueller. I hadnt heard of those three before.

Anybody care to offer a comparson of the Prostaff vs. the Fullfield II?

Or how about the Nickon Buckmaster vs. the Leupold Rifleman? They are the same price, but is one better than the other?
 
I don't have the widest experience but my Bushnell 3200 has a slight leg up on the Nikon Buckmaster it replaced for clarity when set at the same power. I'd be comfortable with either though.

When I say replaced I mean moved to a different gun, still use both.
 
for what it is worth, i like to buy american if i can find what i want made here, so while i have had tascos (both cheap & expensive)
bushnell's, redfield's, & Leupold's.
i now buy Leupold's for all my rifles.
never had one break and i can't say that about tasco or bushnell.
i have two redfields & four Leupold's that have not failed me and some are 10 years old.
 
Burris Fullfield II $185
Nikon Monarch $320

I own these two.

The Fullfield has noticeable distortion at the edge of the field of view. The Monarch does not.

The Fullfield needs windage and elevation adjusted with a coin or screwdriver, and very carefully--the knobs move in tiny little clicks which feel a little sloppy and are easy to overshoot, as though they don't quite catch. The Monarch's windage and elevation can be adjusted by hand, clicks very crispy when adjusted, and leave you with no doubt that you have just moved exactly six (or however many) clicks.

The Fullfield does not have an adjustable objective. The Monarch does. This is not strictly a quality issue, but it does make a world of difference to the usability of the scope. Although I should have a perfect cheek weld every time so that my eyeball is always centered in the scope's eyepiece, an adjustable objective set for a known range eliminates a misplaced eyeball as a variable. That's a plus.

The Monarch, although it has the same size (40mm) objective, looks brighter and clearer to me. It is easier to see detail on the target.

Although the Monarch is about 1.7 times more expensive, I feel I got much more than 1.7 times the value out of it. Or, to put it another way, I wouldn't go back to a scope of the Fullfield's quality even at half the cost. It's not that the Fullfield is bad. It's just that the Monarch is so very good.
 
I have heard the Buckmaster Nikon is just a Prostaff with a proprietary name and higher price - dunno if true or not. Regardless, good scope.

I think that the Fullfield 2 is one of the best values on the list, if not the best. But they're all pretty decent values for the price, I think, since that is such a competitive price range and magnification - they have to be.
 
I have many older Weavers, some Bushnell scopes, but all my latest purchases (last 20 years) have been Leupolds. They hold their zero from year to year and always bring home the bacon.
 
I picked up a Browning 3x9 40mm from Natchez Shooting Supply, 129.95 on sale, supposed to be a Bushnell 3200 variant. When I opened the box the literature from Browning stated that you don't need any proof of purchase for warranty, just send it in. That is always nice with Leopold, just send it in for warranty. The Browning is a nice scope, especially for the price.
 
The Fullfield needs windage and elevation adjusted with a coin or screwdriver, and very carefully--the knobs move in tiny little clicks which feel a little sloppy and are easy to overshoot, as though they don't quite catch.
Click to expand...

I'll certainly defer to the rest of your review, but I used a Fullfield II today to sight in a rife. Windage and elevation were easily moved with finger pressure only and the click stops were more than adequate.

Burris has a life time warranty. I'd consider sending it in if you actually need to use a coin.
 
I had just finished high school and was going to buy a scope for my new M 70 Win. The year was 1963 and I was looking at a Weaver K 4 when the dealer handed me a Leupold 4X. The Leupold is still on that rifle.
 
Clearidge is another good scope for the money.I have pentax,weaver,nikon,simmons,etc.The pentax is the nicest with the nikon in a dead heat.I have a leupold rifleman than isn't near as nice as my mueller apv.
 
simmons?

I dont see any one list any of the new redesigned scopes,Doesnt any one like the Simmons scops.
 
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