Wow! This post loaded up on me!
My ex is from the same place the Nikon came from, a replacement for her, NOT! After three scopes and the care I have taken the Leupold is the direction Im going.
It wasn't the same rifle but very good point on the lapping. I don't have a 1 inch lapping tool. Maybe a guy could find a place to rent one or something.
I did look into Redfields, both the Revolution and the Revenge. Although they are being built by Leupold (maybe not in the States) now I wasn't able to gather anything on the construction applications used in the manufacturing of either. Machined recessed areas for the lenses in the tubes would have sold me on either verses the o-rings in the Nikons. Im about sold on the Leupold now.
It's Alliant Power Pro MR 2000 or fairy dust as some have termed it. I like this powder a LOT! It meters out so well I can almost load like one would for hand gun loads but I nats arse the powder measurements. Here's a different way to look at it, my 165 grain bullets are doing about 2800 fps and my 175s are doing about 2730 if I remember correctly. I worked this out through Nikons ballistic calculator after seeing POI at different distances. Couldn't bring myself to buy a chrono I might use a couple times.
I couldn't keep a scope on my old Mosin 91/30 until I mounted up a cheap UTG that has held zero from day one. Cross hairs are to thick to see a 3/4 inch bullseye from 100 yards but it has done well.
I did look at the Weavers too and just didn't see as much bang for the buck imho. I personally have not heard the best from Bushnell's newer scopes although I have no personal experience with them either.
I'm beginning to feel the same way about the Leupold after months of research but with no personal experience.
Oops, my bad that is 2000 MR, did I mention I like this stuff a LOT!
I know Vortex as a fairly new company and I'm the type that just 2 years ago bought a picture tube television because of it's tried and true history. I have heard a lot of good about them though.
Great reply Craig!
I'm not one with money to spare by any means so I do the best with what I can. I own a 2001 KTM LC4 640 Enduro Motorcycle that's slightly modified as I want all that I can get out of one motorcycle and that is where I am going with this Tikka. You know the saying" beware of the hunter who owns only one rifle".
As for my hunting it can go from long desert shots for Mulleys and goats to tight places a guy might want a sawed off 30/30 in for Elk.
Those shorter range shots are my biggest IF in this whole equation being the suggested zero for this scope is 200 yards where I often can't see 200 yards in the wooded areas of the Sawtooths.
I'm sure Leupold has had the question of 100 yard zeroing with these scopes and the magnification can always be dialed down for the tight stuff. I'm likely to have two different magnifications that will be shot at a range and known well before the scope goes hunting just for this reason. I try not to move my magnification to hold POI as tight as possible but with aging eyes that were not gifted in the first place I'm usually zoomed in more than most. If there is a bug on the target at the range I'm going to try and whack it or make the most ethical kill I can on game, long blood trails SUCK!
Nope, one piece, less parts to the equation equals less failure points in my mind. I'll end up using a range finder anyway and I do like the idea of those knobs.
1/8 inch click I do wish was more common on more rifle scopes! That little tweener at 100 yards can make a difference out at a great distance. The BSAs have had bad luck as far as information coming my way.
The new Redfield, I had one and it went south after 20 rounds
Thanks! I thought they were just being listed differently there for a while!
That is what I have heard, I've been told to spend at least as much on the glass as the rifle and from experience it has held to be true.
More objective means more light entering the scope in my mind, yeah it may look a bit goofy but any game animal laughing at me will be shot on sight, well as long as I have a tag for it that is. Height off center of bore is the reason I'm looking at the 3L model which means low mount, not so narrow but at least lower and closer to the center of the bore like the old Tascos. This one has a relief cut out of the bottom of the scope.
Glass I don't buy used and try to never remove once mounted at all cost. No, no side focus or any of that for me, like you said aim and shot asap. Still reaching out doing the distance shooting thing, I'm confident at 400 yards with a good rest for Deer and maybe Antelope, from what I have read this scope may take me out further with the same confidence.
Yeah Nikon has taken enough of my money and time already. My Elk tag closes the 8th and this scope failure looks to have botched the chance of an Elk in the freezer this year. I'm pretty detoured at wasting rounds at the range trying to zero this scope when it didn't take adjustment and moving one scope from another rifle I have to the Tikka may be the last ditch effort if work allows time for a last minute Elk hunt.
It looks as though this scope was mounted with the Tikka's stock rings and mine's not stainless as well I have the Bell and Carlson stock but this is a similar look to what I'll end up with.
I didn't do the custom dial option being I don't want to take the time to dial in distance after using a range finder. I'm a little nevous about going through the reloading again for another scope but I'll get my loads dialed for the scope. 
