While I agree that most of these guys just want to brag about how much they paid for their scopes, I do see the advantage of a higher quality scope. Having lived throughsome bad times with old Weavers and Redfieldsin the 70's, there is nothing more annoying then pulling up on a deer and not being able to see it in the scope because it’s fogged up. Some of the swamps and hardwoods I hunt arefilled with shadows an hour before the end of shooting light and I am grateful for my Nikon's light gathering. I use mostly Nikon now because Ihave foundthat, for the money,they werecompatible with the Leupolds that I have owned and it's the best scope I can afford. However,if I came into a lot of money from some long lost rich uncle, I would have a Ziess or Swarovski.

To me it’s simple. Buy as much scope as you can afford, but do it to improve your hunting, not to show up your buddies.