crossbow scopes
 

Looking at replacing the pkg scope that came with my Parker Tornado. Budgets $250 to max of $300.

My crossbow experience is limited,but having rifle hunted for 25 years or so I know you get what you pay for.

Any recommendations?

Nikon Cabelas has looked promising. Think its the XR model.

I just bought the red hot crossbow scope for my buck buster and it's the one that has the illuminated reticles green or red.... I like it!!!

The Nikon is pretty good if you'd prefer a fixed power scope.

I'd suggest the Leupold Crossbones which is a 2-7X variable that has 5 aim points built into the reticule which is designed for crossbow use. It's at the high end of your price range but is as good a crossbow scope as I think you'll find for that price range.

Really when it comes to made for crossbow scopes there's only one that beats the Leupold IMO & that is the Vortex Viper XBR scope. The Vortex has a much larger objective lens, is illuminated, 2.5-10X 44mm scope. Many advantages of the Vortex crossbow scope, no other made for crossbow scope I know of comes close to it...............BUT.........it's also 2X your prefered budget @ $600.......so that is a deal breaker for many.

The Vortex is good... but BIG and HEAVY. Surprisingly, the 4X Aero that came on my Camx is a pretty decent scope. It's Pacific Rim (Korea) in origin, but it gets the job done with ease. It has short ER which allows a nice, cozy cheek weld and hold.

Bugs makes a valid point, the Vortex is big and heavy when compared to the Leo crossbones scope, almost 9 oz heavier, which is almost double........9.9 oz compared to 18.8 oz.

But if you compare the Vortex XBR to rifle scopes of same performance it's shorter than most and within 2-4 oz in weight, though the Vortex is still a bit heavier.

BUT, so far as made for crossbow scopes go, it's unbeatable by any other scope on the market for features & performance.

Does not make it the right scope for all for sure, mostly due to price, but also due it's size/weight for some.

While a big objective lens on a rifle forces use of high rings, that then make a good cheek weld harder to hold.

But on a crossbow? This isn't a issue, the large objective lens has tons of room as it's extended out forward of the arrow retainer/trigger area housing that it's mounted on.

Which also brings up the point that ANY rifle scope that can be ordered with custom elevation turret will work well on a crossbow if you don't desire the made for crossbow type reticule.

Problem is those scopes that you can get custom turrets for also tend to have a bit higher cost to them as well...though you might be able to get a custom turret for the Crossbones as it's listed as having custom shop available for it.

I hope we'll see some new & better crossbow scopes in future, but the scope companies so far don't seem to be in much of a hurry about it.

I shoot a Tornadoe. I have used a Nikon BDC type cross bow scope for 2 seasons. I like it a lot. Has held zero and the "DC" marks are pretty darn consistent as they are described in the Nikon literature.

I had had a 3- red dot, lighted type scope on it before and for whatever reason I have done a much better job of bolt location with the Nikon BDC. Plus one less thing to be concerned with .... don't need battery life !!

If ya really want to go big ($) there is a crossbow ACOG made by Trijicon. There are three versions depending on bow speed. They run north of a grand! YIKES.

Have you used any of the Trijicon scopes Bugs? Impressions, pro or con you'd care to offer?

I've not used the Trijicon line, for gun or crossbow. I like how compact & light they are, but a 1K scope is something I'd buy only if I were positive it was real ideal for my needs.

I'd forgotten about Trijicon. So another possible option.

Thanks for all the scoop. When the holidays pass and finances look better I'll have to start looking at the Nikons . Had decent luck with Prostaff models on Muzzleloader s and one highpower rifle,so hopefully that carrys over to xbows.

I have used , and liked, the Trij Accupoint rifle scopes. The glass is quite good (Leupy VX3 or Zeiss Conquest comparable) and the battery-less illumination works great. I had the green triangle reticle which was great in dark environments. I have not used their crossbow scope.

you might want to check out the scopes that come with the excalibur crossbows...its a fixed 4x and you has 3 preset crosshairs. You adjust the eyepiece to match the fps of your bolt and it dials in the crosshairs for you. It seems to be of pretty good quality, i think new they are over $200 but ive seen them used on ebay for under 50.

There is a new crossbow scope coming out from Zeiss soon.

It's a 2-7X32mm scope that has numerous aim point marks. The reticule is set up for a 20 yd sight in with 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 yds marked next to the corresponding +, there are also dots between the + type aim points. From a drawing of the reticule I saw it looks like the + are streched out as ranges get longer. Idea is that the tips of the + are also 2.5 increment aim points. So this scope is going to have aim points out to 75 yds, which is waaayy past what I & most would shoot at game.

Based on it's magnification range & objective lens size, it's a Zeiss version of the Crossbones scope. You'd just have to look through both to decide which you prefer.

If you've not purchased yet I'd say wait a bit more and see what the ATA show brings.

Good luck,

just bought a hawke from wyvern creations, super nice scope for the money

Good advice. I was in a simlar situation recently - confused by all the various brands and models out there. I recommend researching what makes a good scope, but make sure you know your budget and define what you need within that. Otherwise you're gonna end up more confused that when you started

:s4:

Good luck!

old post but here goes..Watch for leupold crossbones used under 200 bucks .the warranty covers used scopes..Hawke30 is highly rec,so is nikon but luepold is no.1 .

i have excal Tact Zone ...

I just used the Vari-Zone my Excal came with... works great for me...

I have used many different scopes designed for crossbow over the last 24 years Nikon and Excalibur are very good and hold "0" well. I just bought a Parker Hurricane with a center point Parker scope on it The Hurricane is excellent with a 430 grain arrow I am clocking 370 FPS, the center point scope gave me some trouble. There is a screw underneath the front of the scope that is touchy and if it loosens up you instantly loose "0" and shoot a very large group. This is not to knock the scope but to identify the problem for anyone who has it, THE FIX I figured out is blue lock tight I adjusted the screw until it was tight enough to hold "0" but loose enough to allow the back height adjustment to work then marked so I could find the setting back then took it back apart and lock tight it with blue lock tight. I have been shooting it for a weak since the repair and by trying to shoot more than one arrow have demolished several its a nail driver when it is right.
PS. I usually just view but I thought this info might help someone.

My tact zone scope is ok but it is not like better scopes..Leupold crossbones,nikon,hawke are 3 that almost all that know scopes rec...If you are shooting past 40 yards get better scopes ....

Just put the nikon XR scope on mine with the BDC recticle. I'm hitting good out to 40 yards with mine.... that's as far as I tried shooting with it as I have no plans of going any farther.
-Jake

that cost is so attractive