Scopes for heavy recoil?

[1948CJ2A]

What I'm looking for are people with firsthand experience with the scopes I've listed below, preferable mounted on heavy recoil firearms.

I'm looking at 3x9x40 because that suits my hunting needs, plus I don't like the way the larger scopes look especially with high mounts.

I'm mounting the new scope on a 8mm Remington Magnum in 700 BDL on Leupold rings and bases.

Here's my candidates so far:

1. Leupold Rifleman
2. Leupold VX1
3. Burris Fullfield II
4. Redfield Revolution
5. Nikon ProStaff
6. Weaver 40/44

I currently have a Nikon ProStaff on a 240 Weatherby, and a Redfield Revolution on a 7mm Remington Mag. I'm quite pleased with both.

With that, let the comments begin.

Thanks,

JW

 

[SentinelStrategic]

Leupold scopes have excellent shockproofing, so obviously the Rifleman, VX-I and Redfield will be able to take the recoil. The other scopes are good scopes as well and can take some abuse. As far as my eye, the Burris Fullfield is by far the best optic out of the bunch. The quality of the glass is much more commensurate with higher grade scopes like the Leupold VX-II and Nikon Buckmaster. For the money, a Burris Fullfield II might be the best purchase. Weaver has done an amazing job with their optics recently, and I wouldn't discount them either. If you're looking at the VX-I, get a Redfield Revolution instead. It's the same optic with a different name and costs 20-30% less.

 

[dho3]

Of the scopes you listed, the Burris is the clear winner optically and should easily be able to withstand the recoil of the 8mm Remington magnum. The Burris scopes are reasonably priced and have been discounted recently at many places.

 

[45crittergitter]

Although the 8 Mag. doesn't produce world-class recoil, here's what some optics experts say concerning toughness:

Leupold "The 2.5x Leupold is probably the toughest in the world." - Barsness
Bausch & Lomb, especially the B&L/Bushnell Elites
Swarovski
Burris Fullfield II
Weaver Grand Slam
Nikon Monarch

Note that "tactical" scopes tend to be built to take more abuse than sporting models.

 

[Gromky]

I've shot a Monarch off a rifle, due to a screwed up mount. Literally shot off, and hit the bench. Absolutely no damage.

So I think they're pretty durable, from my experience.

 

[jleyring]

I love the Burris Scope. They are very clear and it seems everytime i buy one they through in another extra gift also. Ive gotten a spotting scope and binoculars from them when i have beught a scope. They are awesome

 

[smurfman]

I have a 3-9x Burris FFII on a Savage 116 in 375 H&H that has seen over 700 rounds so far. At one time that same scope sat on a Remington 700 for an additional 200 rounds. So far that scope has had no problems and, except for the fact the eyepiece turns as the magnification is changed making it problematic to put Butler Creeks caps on it, it is a rugges scope. In the same price range on can find Bushnell 3200 and even 4200 (3-9x on clearance) scopes which have been just as reliable for me on a Winchester M-70 in 375 H&H. This scope has not seen as many rounds as the Burris but the count is currently over 300 and no problem. The 3200 and 4200 series are claimed to withstand recoil equivalent to 1000 rounds of 375 H&H and I can believe that.
I have not been enamored with Weaver for some time. Their reputation seems to have improved but, from where I felt it was, that is not necessarily a ringing endorsement. the Grand Slams seem to have the best reputation but I would lean toward something else myself. I prefer to let others be the guinea pigs as I have been burned trying to be the first.
I have a couple of Leupold VX-Is and a Rifleman in use but they are overpried for what you get. I think there are similar products out there for a much better price. The ones I got either came on used rifles I wanted or were on clearance at prices I could not refuse (the Rifleman for $80 and a VX-1 for$92) and are worth that price to me.
I have no expereince with the Pro Staff on anything heavier recoiling than a Remington 700 in 30/06 but would guess that the internals might not be up to handling any great amount of 8mm mag recoil based on their cost and that of other scopes who's ruggedness is known. The Buckmaster and Monarch would be amore likely candidate in that brand.
The current Redfields do not seem to be nearly comparable to the old ones. The manufacturer claims they are made to handle the "typical" deer rifle which seems to be roughly levels up to the 300 WSM and Win mag levels. Internally they are not up to par with the Burris and Bushnell Elite series so I would pass on them for an 8mm mag.
With Bushnell clearancing out many of the 4200 and 3200 series scopes, they may be the best deal going. The Burris FFII is a close second and if any of the freebies come with, that is not a bad thing. I bought several FFIs with a 12-24x compast spotting scope a couple years back. The spotting scopes are not bad for a bonus item and I use them quite a bit. The 20x fixed scope that comes with them now is also quite handy and I have given all but one of these to family as gifts.

 

[slowr1der]

Out of that list the Burris Fullfield II is the clear winner by a large margin. The next best choice there is the Prostaff imo, but it's a step down from the Burris glass quality wise. However, right now it's also $99 where as the Burris is $189 and I'm not sure that the Burris is twice the glass quality, but it is better. Really the decision is up to you. I've owned and liked both as well as having owned a couple VX-I's and they weren't so great. The friction adjustments are horrible, the glass was pretty bad for the price (It was worse than the Prostaff, and way worse than the Burris), and both of the ones I had had to be sent in as they eventually quit holding zero. One of them had to be sent in twice. Once for the insides shaking, and once for not holding zero. IMO the VX-I's just aren't a good buy at all.

Another scope to consider that is better than all on the list is the Vortex Viper's. You can get a 2-7x33 for $175 shipped at Camerlandny.com

The Bushnell Elite 4200's are also better optically and on clearance for $200 at Cabela's right now. That being said, Bushnell's warranty department seems to be pretty lacking which scares me.

I also had a Bushnell Elite 3200 and optically it was in between the Burris and the Prostaff. The Burris was the clear winner, and it seemed very close to the Prostaff. While it was a good scope, I just wasn't crazy about it myself.

 

[slowr1der]

Also one other thing to consider is Burris now has their E1 model out. The only complaint I've got about the Burris is the crappy design of where the eye piece turns with the magnification. They fixed this on the E1, so it may be the way to go.