suggestions and opinions S&B, Vortex, Swarovski

[captain awesome]

I recently purchased a couple of 9mm rifles and want to put a really high quality, low power scope on them. I want it to be illuminated, I want it to be less than 10 oz
and I want it to have at least 3x magnification and 1-1.5 on the minimum end. the trouble is, i cant find one. i can sacrifice the illumination, but I really want top quality glass.
the only things I have found so far that come close are 1" tube scopes, these are the three that I am looking at;
weaver classic v 1-3x 20mm
leupold mark 4 1.5-5x 20mm
leupold vx3 1.5-5x 20mm




those are the only 3 that i am even considering, and even then they are no where near what I want.
I am hoping for some insight and suggestions on other possibilities. Of the 3 I am leaning towards the mark 4 but I am curious if the mark 4 is really any better than the vx3?
how does the weaver compare?




why is there such a gap in the scope market here? I understand illumination adds weight to the scope, but there is almost no decent offering at all even without the illumination in a 1" tube.
SHould I just give in and go for a 30mm? these are the 30mm ones that intrigue me;




vortex razor hd gn2 1-6x 24mm
swarovski z6 or z6i 1-6x 24mm
Schmidt and bender zenith 1.1-4x 24mm flash dot




how do those three compare to each other; duribility wise, repeatability, click value acuraccy, optical clearity/low light?
I am open to other suggestions, but I want a top tear scope. I am tired of messing around in the mid range of quality optics.




my plan is to have this in a high quality QD mount and use it on more than one rifle. so it needs to be able to withstand heavy recoil because i intend to use it on a dangerous game rifle someday as well.
(looking at a 458 lott to take to Africa and/or Alaska some day)




thanks for any and all replies, and please feel free to suggest.

 

[rcmodel]

I recently purchased a couple of 9mm scopes and want to put a really high quality, low power scope on them

Say what now??

rc

 

[captain awesome]

Edited
Meant to day rifles. Words>me

 

[Doc7]

Why not a fixed power?

 

[captain awesome]

because I like the ability to turn it down to no magnification and use it similar to a red dot for fast target acquisition, and also want to be able to zoom in for longer range targets also.

 

[taliv]

I'm not sure why you need top quality glass on a 9mm but generally

The vortex is excellent but way way heavier than what you're wanting
The swaro is excellent glass but turrets aren't as nice. It would be a good hunting scope I imagine.

I have both the above.
The s&b has maybe changed a lot since the last one I used so I'll refrain from speculation.

The meopta line used to be very popular and much cheaper. It's not Swarovski glass but for 1/3rd the price....
Don't consider the nightforce if you're looking for decent glass.

 

[captain awesome]

The reason i want top quality glass is because its not just for a 9mm. Its going to get moved around and will be the optic i use MOST. So thats why i want to go for the best. No more waisting my time looking through mediocrity.

 

[PowerG]

Look at the Meopta line. For the price they are excellent.

 

[OpticsPlanet]

Agreed -

MeoStar R2 1-6x24 RD or the ZD 1-4x22 RD if you're wanting "no magnification and use it similar to a red dot for fast target acquisition"

Mark H.

 

[PowerG]

I have this mount for one of my AR's, it is excellent.

http://www.laruetactical.com/larue-tactical-spr-m4-scope-mount-qd-lt-104

With this scope. I got a deal on a factory demo that I couldn't pass up. It's a good scope, however to my eyes it doesn't work as well as I'd like as a red dot sight, the magnification at the lowest end is just a little too high. Other than that, no complaints, considering the price.

https://www.leupold.com/tactical/scopes/vx-r-patrol/vx-r-patrol-1-25-4x20mm-30mm/

Buddy has this scope. It is very, very good, and when I can do enough honey-do's for the CFO to sign off on the purchase I will have one. The price is up there, but comparing it to scopes that cost much(!) more it holds its own.

http://www.meoptasportsoptics.com/shop/us/zd-1-4x22-rd/meotac-1-4x22-rd-true-1x-mag/ctgRus.html

Optics is a very subjective purchase decision, look at a lot of scopes and see for yourself what you like best, there are a lot of good scopes out there.

 

[The Big D]

In my opinion it's not possible to build a rugged variable power illuminated scope and make it weight that little. There's a gap in the market because it's not feasible to build what you want.

I would go with the Vortex. The glass is nice, and the MRAD (or MOA) reticle will be more useful since a BDC is going to be way off for 9mm.

 

[benzy2]

How about a Leupold VX-R Patrol 1.3-4x? It comes in at 11.5 ounces which is a shade over your goal weight but it does so with a 30mm tube, illumination, and good glass. Plus you get Leupold's warranty. Seems like the optic I'd go with knowing what you're looking for. Maybe not quite as good of glass as the Swarovski or S&B but far and away great glass.

 

[OpticsPlanet]

A red dot and a 3x magnifier would give you what you want and be lightweight, as an alternative option. I think the illumination and high quality glass are going to conflict with the lightweight requirement for most of your options.

-Matt S.

 

[Driftertank]

Swapping optics around is kinda a pain. Even on two otherwise identical rifles I've seen zeroes change by several MOA. So of course you have to sight in again every time you change guns. Why not find the optic best suited for the intended use of the gun, and another for whatever other gun you also want an optic for?

I know it's more expensive, but for me, knowing the gun i pick up will put the first round on target every time is worth it....and I'm far from well-heeled.

As for commonality, i have 3 Vortex Viper PSTs. 2 of them have the EBR-1 MOA reticle - a 2.5-10 and a 4-16 - and the other has a TMCQ-MOA. I have across-the course familiarity, all the knobs are in the same place, all i need to recall is the specific ballistics of the round i'm firing. It's nice...

 

[<*(((><]

I have the Leupold VX-R Patrol 1.25-4x20mm (30mm) on my AR and I love it. Glass is clear and having it down on 1.25 with the illuminated dot, it acts well as a red dot for quick target acquisition with both eyes open. It is not a true 1x but at 1.25x it was easy for me at least to keep both eyes open and utilize it as a red dot. If you want a higher end version of this Leupold makes their Mark 4 and Mark 6 lines with 1-4x and 1-6x and they would have better glass i would presume as well then the Patrol line but at a significant higher cost. But you said you wanted high quality glass.

 

[jmorris]

I have a nightforce nsx 1-4 in a larue mount that I move between a few rifles. It fits your criteria in every area except weight but also costs more than the ones you have picked out.

 

[captain awesome]

So i figured i would update, black friday rolled around and i pulled the trigger on a S&B Zenith. I am supposedly going to receive it on Monday. I find myself thinking i may still get a Leopold mk4. I will see what i think. And if the quick release return to zero idea doesnt work out I will have a reason to do that and try out the meopta or vortex razor. We will see if i think its worthbthe noney or not. Even on sale its still an expensive scope. Thanks guys