I'm biased but the last 2 scopes I've bought have been VX-IIs. All of my rifles now wear Leupold scopes ranging from M8s to VariX-IIs and VX-IIs. The VX-II seem to be a very good scope for the $$. The 2004 models are clear, much brighter than the VariX-IIs, they have great eye relief, and no matter how good a company or a product is, things can go wrong. Leupold will stand behind their products.

I have owned 1 Nikon scope, a buckmaster 3x9. I thought it was signicantly clearer and brighter than the Leupold it replaced. That being said, the eye relief was very critcal and the tire effect was terrible. I also have to admit that my one dealing with Nikon's Customer Service left such a bad taste in my mouth that the Monarch would have to be so superior to a Leupold, at any price, for me give it a serious look see. Maybe, and hopefully, their customer service had changed.