Help me decide on a scope in the $200 - $300 range
 

Okay, I haven't bought my rifle yet, but am going to end up with aRemington 700, Ruger M77 Mark II, Browning A-Bolt or Tikka T3 in either 7mm Mag or 30-06.

I'mprimarily going to be using it in Eastern Montana where shots in the 200 yard range are not uncommon.

I've heard about Nikon, Leupold, Zeiss, etc. but the only thing in a resonable price I've seen there is the Nikon Buckmaster. In my post where I'm trying to decide on my rifle someone suggested the Burris Fullfield II scope as a possibility so I'm looking at that as well.

After deciding on a brand, deciding on the magnificationis kind of like deciding on a caliber for a gun. I for sure want a variable scope but am undecided between 3-9x or 4.5-14x. I know eye relief is better with the 3-9x and I'm not going to be shooting over 400 yards so the 9x would be adequate for that, but when you are out walking with just you and your gun often I've used the rifle scope as a spotting scope and the higher magnifications can really help with that.

So, with that novel I would like to know if anyone has any specific suggestions or recommendations on a scope. Right now I'm looking pretty hard at the Burris Fullfield II and there is a place online thatis throwing in a cheap garmin GPS as a package that is about the same as the Nikon Buckmaster.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

RE: Help me decide on a scope in the $200 - $300 range
 

How about a Bushnell 3200 Elite 4x12 for around $275. I have one on my .300 win mag and have yet to have a eye relief issues. Burris Fullfield II scopes are suppose to be pretty good for prices ranging from $160 for a 3x9 to low to mid $200 for higher power.

RE: Help me decide on a scope in the $200 - $300 range
 

I bought a new scope just yesterday and was facing the same delimma that you are. I looked at a Bushnelle elite 3200, a Leupold VX-II, a Nikon Buckmaster, and a Burris FF-II. I quickly narrowed my choices to the FF-II and the Buckmaster. I looked through each scope probably 100 times. I really couldn't tell the difference in optic quality. But remember I was in a well lit store. After all was said and done I chose the Nikon based on the look and feel of the scope. I haven't had a chance to mount it, but I feel like it will be a good scope.

RE: Help me decide on a scope in the $200 - $300 range
 

What do people think about the choice between 3-9x and 4.5-14x? Pros and cons?

Thanks, Nathan

RE: Help me decide on a scope in the $200 - $300 range
 

Elk hunting isn't always done in open country like your Eastern Montana deer hunting will be, so a scope that starts with 4.5x magnification may not be your best choice. I'd take a look at some 3-10s like the Weaver Grand Slam...or there are a few really nice 3-12s out there, like the Sightron SII and the Burris Signature Select. At 3x, you should be fine even in thick woods, and 10x-12x is more than adequate for shots at any distance you should be shooting at game.

RE: Help me decide on a scope in the $200 - $300 range
 

i've got a 4-12x50 Swift and a 4-12x40 Pentax that i absolutely love! both of these scopes are in the price range and magnificationyou specified.

RE: Help me decide on a scope in the $200 - $300 range
 

Go check out the Bushnell ELite's. The 3200's glass is great for the price and the 4200's glass and coating are hard to beat with even the >1000$ scopes. The rainguard feature is hard to beat.


Heres a ELite 4200 3x9-40 for 279$ IMO you will not find a better deal for under 300.

http://www.swfa.com/pc-7280-185-bushnell-3-9x40-elite-4200-rifle-scope.aspx

RE: Help me decide on a scope in the $200 - $300 range
 

[:-]I'd advise aganist you doing that again. But in answer to your question, few people beyond varmit and long-range hunters will find any use for anything about 9x or 10x for practical hunting. I like Weavers a lot, and their Grand Slam series appears to be a nice line of scopes. Don't know if they fit in your budget, just throwing ideas out there.

RE: Help me decide on a scope in the $200 - $300 range
 

Get the Bushnell 4200 Elite 3x9x40. Best scope in that class. About $270 including shipping from SWFA. They have the backpack thrown in for $10 also.

RE: Help me decide on a scope in the $200 - $300 range
 

I have a Bushnell Elite 3200 and it is a good scope for the money. However, I would try to find one and put it on the gun you plan to put the scope on. The scope is definately bright and clear but the eye box is pretty small. Thiscould makeshots a little tougher in a hunting situation.

RE: Help me decide on a scope in the $200 - $300 range
 

Here is a link to a Nikon 4 x 12 x 50 for 285.00 with free shipping. It is an online merchant, with whom I have done business. I recommend them. I have this scope and love it. It is the newer style with the side focus parallax adjustment.

http://www.durhamoutdoorsupply.com/brand/nikon/rifle/6440.html

Good luck and God Bless

RE: Help me decide on a scope in the $200 - $300 range
 

Are these scopes new...and not refurbished?

RE: Help me decide on a scope in the $200 - $300 range
 

yes, all products are new. I am about to buy another of the above named nikons for a new rifle I am getting. I have also bought a nikon 440 rangefinder from them. I called and spoke to them when I bought it, and they are kind of a mom and pop business looking to make a few dollars per sale. Really nice people. And they have free shipping on all rifle scopes and other products too. All products are new, and have full factory warranty. And my 4x12x50 nikon has thus far worked flawlessly since the start of last years seasons.

The bushnell back at the top of page 1 as quoted 4x12 3200 series 275.00. Durham price 4x12x40 is 240.00 with free shipping.

Here is what they have.....................*****These are clickable links *****


[align=center]Riflescopes / Binoculars and Telescopes / Gun Accessories / Rangefinders / Metal Detectors / Night Vision[/align]

[align=center]Bushnell / Burris / Zeiss / Gerber / Nikon / Leupold / Otis / Bounty Hunter / Steiner / Simmons [/align]

God bless

I copied this from their site.....

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[align=left]Our prices are much lower than most internet and retail stores!
We provide package quotes, and special pricing. Email for information.
We do everything we can to get you your gear as soon as possible!
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We will always TRY to price match! Email us where you found it for less and we will see what we can do for you[/align]

RE: Help me decide on a scope in the $200 - $300 range
 

If you're able to...

go back to the gun store, and check out the scopes side-by-side. Try to do it near dusk, so you can get an idea how they perform in low light.

Once you've made your choice, then you can check the prices on the internet.

Just my $.02.

FC

RE: Help me decide on a scope in the $200 - $300 range
 

Very good advice. Check a bunch of different sites. S

RE: Help me decide on a scope in the $200 - $300 range
 

I'm not sure what you are advising against? Looking througha rifle scope to see a deer when you are 2 miles from your vehicle and didn't haul your spotting scope with you?

RE: Help me decide on a scope in the $200 - $300 range
 

Safety is the reason why you shouldn't use a rifle scope as an identification optic. How do you know that behind what appears to be a deer isn't a hunter, house, etc? Use your binos instead, rifle scope is a site tool so it should be used when your are wanting to shoot not look!!

RE: Help me decide on a scope in the $200 - $300 range
 

I guess I'm just used to hunting in Eastern Montana were there are no hunters, houses, etc. whereI'm out hunting. Generally you can see for several miles and where we typically hunt there for sure wouldn't be a house within 10 milesand probably not within 25 miles.

I typically would use the rifle scope to help me figure out whether the buck was worth walkinganother mileto try to stalk or not. I wouldn't be looking at it to figure out if it was a deer or another hunter.

That is why I was wondering if the 14x would help over the 9x - I would be looking at points, etc. trying to figure out if the deer was going to be worth the effort or not.

RE: Help me decide on a scope in the $200 - $300 range
 

Go for a Sightron SII 3-12x42mm. Great scope for $299, and the best warranty in the business!

RE: Help me decide on a scope in the $200 - $300 range
 

npaden, I am nottrying to be a bearhere butit is common sense not to point a rifle at an unidentified target. It is a site device, intended for the purpose of shooting a target not for identification.Use binos or other unloaded devices for such decision making tools on whether to cover the distance between you and the game.

Yoursaying your the only one who hunts in eastern montana??? If you can't identify if the deer is big enough how can you postively identify what is beyond the deer? How would you like to be binos up and see a rifle pointed in your direction by a hunter who happened to be viewing an animal in line with you but didn't happen to notice your where even there???Control your muzzle means ensuring it is pointed in a safe direction at all times, yesthis includes horizontally and brings in another golden rule with firearm saftey know your target and beyond!! Safety first, these are not toys!

RE: Help me decide on a scope in the $200 - $300 range
 

If I where you I would get a Nikon Monarch 6x42 $225 for a matte from riflescopes.com (swfa)I have shot deer moving as close as 20 yards and put down a fox at almost 400 steps...

A rifle scope is an alternative to iron sights, not a replacement for binos and a spotter...plus you can instinctivly learn to judge distance and wind with a fixed power scope easier imho

RE: Help me decide on a scope in the $200 - $300 range
 

Okay, I've officially settled on this part of the equation. I just ordered a Nikon Monarch 4-12x 40mm Scope with BDC rectile for $288.65 including shipping from www.MidwayUSA.com. They just happened to be having a special on the exact scope I was leaning toward.

RE: Help me decide on a scope in the $200 - $300 range
 

I realize you are preaching saftey first and I am pretty good about saftey and I realize there are always areasthat I canimprove in. I've just never been one to carry a spotting scope with me when I'm hiking 5+ miles back into rough terrain. Sometimes I will bring binoculars, but sometimes it'sjust me and my rifle. I'm not talking about sitting on a ridge line and scoping with my rifle looking for deer or elk. I'm not using my scope tolook at a big gray rock trying to figure out if it is a deer or not.

What I'm talking about is that little extra magnification might be able to tell me that the obviously nice buck is a 4x4 without brow tines or if it does have tines to make it a 5x5.I personally don't think using your rifle scope to determine whether it's a 4x4 buck that I'm going to pass on or if it a 5x5 worth taking is a saftey issue. Even if I had my binoculars with me, I don't think I would mess around looking through my binoculars to look for brow tines if a big buck comes into shooting range, I will use my scope and if I see the brow tines I'll be ready to pull the trigger. Heck, we had some old 3x fixed power scopes and I shot deer at 200 yards that I thought was a nice5x5 and it ended up being heavy beamed3x4. I don't think it was a saftey issue that I didn't know how many tines were on the deer when I shot it though. I think being sure of your back drop is a huge saftey issue and I am very happy to be hunting open prarrie vs. woods for that reason especially.

Anyway, I hope the Nikon Monarch 4-12x ends being a a good scope. I'm now looking at the Nikon Monarch 1200 rangefinder and a checking into a decent spoting scope also.