Nikon Monarch vs. Cabela's Alaskan Guide Premium

[Lorge]

Nikon Monarch 3-9x40 @ $299

or

Cabela's Alaskan Guide Premium (on sale) @ $229, normally $279


How would you compare these to each other?Is the quality of these two scopes comparable or does the Nikon win? I know that Cabela's isn't a name like Leupold, but I've heard good things about the Alaskan Guide Premiums and the specialright now at the Ft. Worth store is a good deal.

[pipecrew]

I can only speak for the Nikon Monarch. I have 2 of them and love them. They are very clear and awesome in low light situations. I let my buddy carrry my Encore one day and he was impressed with my Monarch. I was surprised because he is a die hard Leupold fan. He said the Monarch is as clear as a Vari-X III. You have the luxury of looking at and comparingboth scopes (I know it's not the same in the store). Cabelas products are high quality.If you decide on the Monarch check out the prices here:

http://theopticzone.com/searchresult.aspx?CategoryID=56

Depending on the finish and reticle you prefer the prices are about $30 to $40 cheaper.

Good luck.
Mike

[MichaelT.]

Obviously Cabelas does not make their own scopes. You need to find out who manufactures the scopes for them.

[npaden]

The Nikon Monarch is on sale right now at www.midwayusa.com for $229.85.

http://www.midwayusa.com/epromolisting.exe/showpage?promotionid=148455

That made the choice easy for me. Actually I went ahead and went with the 4-12x for $279.85.

[VAhuntr]

I just ordered a Monarch from The Optic Zone this weekend. Theprice from midwayusa is a great deal as well.

[Lorge]

My problem is that I'm limited to a purchase at cabela's. I have store credit there.

[Paul L Mohr]

I have an Alaskan guide series scope from cabela's and I am very happy with it. It is a varmint scope in 6.5-20x44 with the adjustable objective, with the mildot reticle. I think it was around 400 bucks a few years ago. I compared it with several other scopes that were cheaper, simular price and more expensive. I don't just mean I looked at them in the store and picked one that looked good. I actually purchased them and mounted them to my 17 HMR for a while and used them, then took them back. You have to love cabela's return policy.

I looked at some scopes in the 200 dollar range that were ok, but I had to step up to the $300 mark to find something I actually liked at those magnifications and looking at small targets beyond 100 yards. I actually like the cabela's scope better than a $600 leupold I tried. Optics wise the leupold was great, but build quality and features were not that impressive to me compared with the alaskan guide model for less money.

That being said, cabela's gets their scopes from all the major scope companies or has them made for them by one of the major scope makers in ***an. (Most scopes come from the same place, but are built to different tolerances with different optics qualities). So the Alaskan guide scope you are looking at could very well be a Nikon or simular scope. I ask a few people about it and they said they don't have a clue who makes which model of scopes, and they vary from model to model, even in the same line up. Like the low power hunting version of an Alaskan Guide scope might be made by one company, and the high power varmint scope with A/O might very well be made by another company.

After looking at several scopes in the store and online and looking at the markings on my scope I am pretty sure it is a Nikon, or based on one.

The only scope I found that I liked better in a simular price range was a Zies Conquest, but it wasn't a varmint model.

The cool thing about cabella's is order it and use it for a while, if you don't like it take it (or send it) back and get your money back or get something different. They not only don't mind, they encourage it. They seem to really want you to be happy with your purchase. I live near one so it makes it a bit easier for me.

Paul