question

[Nolehoe]

I'm still thinking about upgrading my ML scope.

if you could get a buckmaster 3-9x40 or a monarch 2-7x32 for about the same price, which would you go with? would the monarch perform as well in low light or better?

[Paul L Mohr]

The Monarch, even if I had to pay more.

Paul

[Nolehoe]

OK, next question. would it be worth the extra dough to get the 3-9x40 monarch, would the low light performance be better? I like the 2-7 power range for my ML but don't won't to sacrifice the low light performance. keep in mind I won't be shooting more than 180yds maximum and conditions would have to be right to shoot over 150. all the deer i've ever taken have been under 50yds with the exception of one at 130yds

[retrieverman]

I am not familiar with either scope choice. What are you willing to spend?

[Nolehoe]

around $250

[skeeter 7MM]

The Monarch is a notch higher model as such using better coating which should = optical gains such as; clarity, light transimission, etc. I have no experience with the Buckmaster so that is why I say "should".

Buy which ever power is best for your situation. The higher the mag the more critical the light becomes, meaning if it isa poor sight pictureat 7x it will be worse at 9x when comparing equals (same optics/models).

[MichaelT.]

In the Nikon line....
I own both ....5 buckmasters of various power ranges, and 3 Monarchs of various ranges. They all are the new side focus models except for two..... and those two are 16 years old.

If I had to be honest, I would get the buckmasters and get as much scope ( power or Obj. mm ) as I could for my money. I just have not seen THAT big of a difference betweer the models. I love the Nikon line, and that is about all I will buy anymore. The Buckmasters is close enough to the Monarch that most people will not notice any difference, and that is only in the very first few minutes of shooting light , and the very last few minutes of shooting light. And facts are that most deer are killed after first light or before last light, so that is not a big difference maker.

I think you would be pleased with the buckmaster. At least check it out before you decide.

BTW ... go with 3 - 9 x 40 minimum. Depending on how you shoot, something on the idea of a 4-12 or so is not out of the question. I used my ML with a Nikon Buckmasters 4.5 -14x40 two take two 8 pt.'s this year.

[Bandhunter]

I have a Leupold Vari-XII 2-7x33 matte shotgun scope that I will sell for $185tyd. Monarch over the Buckmaster.

Thanks, Rick

[timbercruiser]

You can get a new Omega that aremade for muzzleloaders new for about $270 or check www.samplelist.com and see what they have. They usually have the same scope for about $190, many of them are new in the box.

[Paul L Mohr]

Just remember that less magnification is going to let you see better in low light. And to be honest, on a deer sized target the difference between 7 power and 9 power is pretty minimal. For what you are describing I would go with the 2-7 monarch if you can afford it and leave it set to 2 power in case something comes up close to you.

I have hunted with various scopes on Muzzle Loaders and shotguns from 1.75-4, 3-9's, 3.5-10's and even a 4-16 AO target scope. For deer out to 100 yards you simply don't need the higher powers. I rarely turned my scopes up to 4 power when actually shooting a deer let alone 9,10 or 16 power.

Me personally I would take a low powered quality scope over a higher powered mediocre scope any day for deer hunting. Not that the buckmaster is a mediocre scope though, at least not in my opinion. Then again I am not rich and I can't afford 500-1000 dollar 3-9 hunting scopes.

The 2-7 monarch will most likely give you better clarity, which will actually let you see in low light better, plus because of the lower power it will work better in low light. It will be lighter, give you a larger field of view and let you mount it closer to the bore because of the smaller objective. You simply don't need large, heavy high powered optics to hunt deer unless you are out west taking long shots. And then you still probably don't need them. Remember, snipers take 1000 yard or longer shots with 10 power scopes. And the old German snipers only used 4X scopes.

Take the money you saved on the lower power scope and get some butler flip caps or spend it on better mounts and/or rings. Or put it towards some nice binoculars.

That is my advice anyway.

Paul