Best scope for the money?
07-17-2009, 07:12 PM
#13
Spike
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 39
I've been very impressed with the Cabelas Alaskan Guide optics. Both the binos and spotting scope I have in that series are excellent. A friend has a CAG scope and its better, hands down, than a Leupold VX3 that costs over 2 times as much.
pleased with the quality of the 3200 .
07-19-2009, 02:36 AM
#15
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 12
Quality scopes
If your looking for a 50mm scope below $250, try Nikon prostaff series. They have become a top seller and nikon backs it's products with a lifetime warranty. www.shooterscenter.com carries a Prostaff 3-9x50 for around $200
07-19-2009, 05:15 PM
#16
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NC
Posts: 1,284
Don't overlook the Vortex line in your search. They offer a very nice scope for the money and it too comes with a full lifetime warranty. I have a pair of the 10x42 diamondback binos and just recently put a Diamondback 3x9x40 on my daughters 243 rifle and have been pleased with both. The optics are bright, clear and crisp and i would put them up against anything in their price range. Here's the Vortex Diamondback 3.5 x 10 x 50
http://www.opticsplanet.net/vortex-r...dbk-m-03p.html
http://www.opticsplanet.net/vortex-r...dbk-m-03p.html
07-19-2009, 05:43 PM
#17
Fork Horn
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location:
Posts: 122
Another vote for the Bushnell 4200. Very bright, fully multi-coated lenses, and the Rainguard feature. Eye relief is 3.3", a little short, but with reversible or extended rings, it is fine. You can pick one of these up new for $235 or so...
I also like the Bushnell 3200's, but the eye relief is a little short at 3". They are a great value, and also have Rainguard. You can pick one of these up for $170 or so in a 3-9x40mm.
Both have a fast focus eye piece, that's pretty nice.
I also like the Bushnell 3200's, but the eye relief is a little short at 3". They are a great value, and also have Rainguard. You can pick one of these up for $170 or so in a 3-9x40mm.
Both have a fast focus eye piece, that's pretty nice.
07-20-2009, 06:42 PM
#18
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Saskatchewan Canada
Posts: 6,921
I have the 3200, 4200 & conquest. (as well as others such as leupold, nikon, etc
). The 3200 is a good value scope with decent optics and features. ER is shorter then some and in a 50 mm both styling, weight and length of scope suffer. The 4200 is a good step up in the optics department, though carries the same pitfalls as the 3200 with shorter ER and poorstyling, length and weight with a 50mm objective. I personally don't think you need a 40mm, especially if you look at the 4200 and off of ebay or similat at 250 or less its a great deal. IMHO better choice then the nikon monarch (which I also own).
In terms of the conquest it optics are superior to the 4200, its tracking of poi adjustments are much better then the elite, smoother power transition with absolutely no change in ER & CS was faster/better then bushnell. My rifle and I took a spill this spring which resulted in damage to the scope and zeiss had me a new one in less then 2 weeks no questions asked. Bushnell on both occasions has taken 4-6x longer. Also recently a buddy of mine sent in a 4200 elite that wouldn't hold POI and they deemed it to be not a workmanship or manufacturing defect so no warranty, rather an option to purchase a new one at above retail price
. The scope had only slight ring marks on it, no different than the majority of fella's scopes...not really a warm fuzzy feeling left here. He bought a conquest instead, feeling it was worth the extra coin. I tend to agree but nothing wrong with the elites in their respective classes and i will continue to use mine with confidence, as they have served me well.
). The 3200 is a good value scope with decent optics and features. ER is shorter then some and in a 50 mm both styling, weight and length of scope suffer. The 4200 is a good step up in the optics department, though carries the same pitfalls as the 3200 with shorter ER and poorstyling, length and weight with a 50mm objective. I personally don't think you need a 40mm, especially if you look at the 4200 and off of ebay or similat at 250 or less its a great deal. IMHO better choice then the nikon monarch (which I also own). In terms of the conquest it optics are superior to the 4200, its tracking of poi adjustments are much better then the elite, smoother power transition with absolutely no change in ER & CS was faster/better then bushnell. My rifle and I took a spill this spring which resulted in damage to the scope and zeiss had me a new one in less then 2 weeks no questions asked. Bushnell on both occasions has taken 4-6x longer. Also recently a buddy of mine sent in a 4200 elite that wouldn't hold POI and they deemed it to be not a workmanship or manufacturing defect so no warranty, rather an option to purchase a new one at above retail price
. The scope had only slight ring marks on it, no different than the majority of fella's scopes...not really a warm fuzzy feeling left here. He bought a conquest instead, feeling it was worth the extra coin. I tend to agree but nothing wrong with the elites in their respective classes and i will continue to use mine with confidence, as they have served me well.
07-21-2009, 05:05 AM
#19
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Northwest Alabama
Posts: 116
thanks for all the input. I still haven't made up my mind. I've been looking pretty heavy and the 3x9-50mm 3200 elite firefly, i can get a new on for 229.99. I also like the Nikon Monarch also.
07-22-2009, 05:30 PM
#20
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ponce de Leon Florida USA
Posts: 10,079
If you are looking at the 3200 with firefly, check the prices at www.natchezss.com I have a new catalog and they have the 3x9x40 for $189.95. The phone number is 800-251-7839.
