Simple quality 3-9x40 optic.

Best overall SIMPLE 3-9x40 under $400

  • Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40 Hunt Plex

    Votes: 21 58.3%
  • GPO Passion 3-9x40 Plex

    Votes: 1 2.8%
  • Burris FFII 3-9x40 Ballistic Plex

    Votes: 11 30.6%
  • Sightron S1 3-9x40 G2 HHR

    Votes: 3 8.3%

  • Total voters
    36

CowboyTim

Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2010
Messages
236
Location
Cazenovia, WI
Debating what to use on the 8x68s that I'm getting done. I would prefer a simple, capped 3-9x40 with decent eye relief and good glass. Have a few likely suspects, and I would like to keep it under $400.

Let me know what you think, I'm not interested in dials, 30mm tubes or huge magnification ranges.
 
I respectfully make the following inexpensive recommendation:


You can save your hard earned dollars and focus on shooting skills and load development, especially if you’re a hand loader.

I'd skip the Chinese scope and go with the one made in Korea. These are getting very good reviews.

 
Ive had at least one variant of all of those listed and each has some advantages and disadvantages.

The leupold is light and reasonably good at everything, but expensive for what you get.

The GPO is optically better than the rest (unless you get an unusually good ff2), but heavier and with a short eye relief and tight eye box.

FF2 is imo the gold standard for a "cheap" 3-9, ive had about a dozen, many used. I prefer them optically to everything ive used in the price range UNLESS you get a bad copy, which can happen with anything.

The S1 is a good scope, and a solid value when u find them on sale. I bought 3 or 4 not to long ago to give as gifts, everyone who i gave one to is happy with it. To my eye they arnt stupendously impressive, but still quite good
 
I voted for the Leupold, because it is the only one on your list that I have had experience with. I have enjoyed my Leupold scopes with very few problems.

I recently purchased a Tract scope, but have not mounted it on anything yet.
 
It all depends on what is on sale. A while back I bought one of those Gen 2 sightons from Midway for like 120 bucks. It's a little bigger than the loophole freedom I have, but I think it's better optically. I have a burris full field E1 that I also think is optically better than the Leupold, on par with the sightron, but the power adjustment ring is nearly impossible to turn. I sent it back to burris and they said no it's fine. I hear good things about GPO, but the company's kind of knew, and I have some concerns about longevity.


These days, when I go scope shopping, I'm not looking for a specific scope, I just go looking for the deal. Natchez and Midway usually have something on clearance. The burscopes I found tremendous deals on it places like battlehawk armory and someplace out of Dallas
 
I'll add two that I own that are not on your list but are very good value imho:



I have the Sig on a muzzleloader and that power lever is very nice for zooming in/out without taking your eye off target.
 
I'll add two that I own that are not on your list but are very good value imho:



I have the Sig on a muzzleloader and that power lever is very nice for zooming in/out without taking your eye off target.
I'd slam my junk in a sliding glass door before I'd ever buy a Chinese scope or buy from Optics Planet.
 
I'd slam my junk in a sliding glass door before I'd ever buy a Chinese scope or buy from Optics Planet.
Sad to say, but you ain't getting a good sub$200 scope made in America.
Neither of those were bought at Optics Planet, I just used thier link. I've never had any problems with Optics Planet, but the Sig was on sale at one time for $99 at Academy.
 
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I’ve got a Leupold VX Freedom 3-9X50mm, and like it. It’s been fine for whitetail. Has decent clarity, and no real trouble seeing 30 minutes after sunset for the distance I’m taking game. 30 minutes after sunset is the legal end of shooting times here.
 
Ive owned both the weaver Kaspa 3-9 and the Neos 3-9. Both are reasonably good for the cost imo, i dont really recommend them if you can afford higher tier scopes.
But if i was stuck with one it wouldnt be the end of the world.

As a Note Natchez has Philippines or Korean made scopes (been meaning to try one, but havent and dont remember where they are from)under the weaver branding.
 
Leupold is almost never a bad idea. But for the same money I like the Burris better. Just be aware the FF-II is no longer made. There are still quite a few out there at very good prices. Some people don't like that the whole eyepiece must be rotated in order to change magnification. But I've also heard that is the reason they are so rugged. I don't know much about the versions that replaced it.

I'm hearing good things about the Sightron S1 scopes. I have a 4-12X and I think they make a 3-9X also
 
If you're concerned about weight, get the Leupold. Their entry level 3-9 x 40's have always been light weight and dependable. If not, probably any of the ones that you mentioned will be fine. I have a Burris FFII that is nice. Someone mentioned Weaver which I'll second. Mine is a Philippines Super Slam 2-10 x 42. Natchez has good prices and a lot of variety. Never heard of GPO.
 
I'd go for Meopta Meopro 3-9x42, it was discontinued last year (effectively replaced by Optika 5 2-10x42) but still available from some retailers. Their glass and coatings punch way above their weight for the price.
 
I only have experience with the Burris and Leupold.

The Burris Fullfield 2 is okay, but the E1 is nicer. They have different reticles. The E1 E1 reticle is very small and very fine, great for target shooting. For hunting, I would go with the BDC. The Long Range MOA is cluttered.

The Leupold Freedom offers lighter weight, and clearer glass, at the expense of mushy turrets, and limited reticles.

For hunting, I would (and have) flip a coin between the Burris E1 and the Leupold Freedom.
 
I voted Leupold as the best of those choices, but for value I bought a couple Burris scopes lately.
 
Before Bushnell bought them an effectively killed the brand, I ran made in Japan Weavers almost exclusively. Also had a couple Redfield Revolutions that were pretty nice. Last couple I picked up were FFii's that I was very happy with, especially for the price.

It isn't so much low budget, as the fact that I don't want huge lenses, dials, and 30mm tubes. Also would prefer to avoid Made in China, and going on an 8x68s...going to want decent eye relief.

Would have included the Vortex Diamondback id the eye relief didn't seem pretty short on the ones I've looked through. I have one MeoPro and it's fantastic...probably should have incuded the Optika5 in the list, but it comes back to eye relief.
 
Would have included the Vortex Diamondback id the eye relief didn't seem pretty short on the ones I've looked through.
I've had 2 Diamondbacks. A 1.5-5x that was pretty nice, as good or better than a ff2, and a 4-12x that was not particularly good. It underperformed comparted to burris ff2, red field revolution, sightron s1 Gen 1, Mueller apv. Better than the hot garbage the crossfire was though.
 
Before Bushnell bought them an effectively killed the brand, I ran made in Japan Weavers almost exclusively. Also had a couple Redfield Revolutions that were pretty nice. Last couple I picked up were FFii's that I was very happy with, especially for the price.

It isn't so much low budget, as the fact that I don't want huge lenses, dials, and 30mm tubes. Also would prefer to avoid Made in China, and going on an 8x68s...going to want decent eye relief.

Would have included the Vortex Diamondback id the eye relief didn't seem pretty short on the ones I've looked through. I have one MeoPro and it's fantastic...probably should have incuded the Optika5 in the list, but it comes back to eye relief.
I currently have the 4-12x40 Diamondback on my PA-10 with the BDC reticle. Took it out to 400 or so, did okay. Was a windy day so it was hard to make corrections. But was able to make several shots at 315 yards without much effort.
 
Burris Droptine is a good non-Chinese made scope. Can easily be had for $130ish.
My oldest son picked up one of these in 3x9 for his Tikka ‘06. He’s figured out the BDC reticle.
Appears to be a very good for the price point optic. I have read somewhere that it is the evolution of the FF2 line, or has the same glass in it.
I‘d not hesitate to pick one up and use it.
 
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