Scope Question
 

Hello all,

I am new to these forums and was wondering if any of you had any suggestions on scopes. I have recently purchased a Savage .243 for my fiance. It came with a scope, but as most know the scopes that usually come with combos are crappy. I am looking at putting a new scope somewhere in the $200 range on it. I have a good friend who swears by the Simmons Aetec, does anyone have any comments on it. I have also looked at some of the lowerend Leupolds (The Leupold Rilfeman). I need some help figuring out what would be the best scope for my prize range. Any advice would help.

I'm a Leupold man, I'd have to go with the Leupold VX-I 3x9x40...
It runs $230 at Bass Pro...I'd just spend the extra $30 over the Rifleman because the VX lines can be returned to have the parallex adjusted, reticles changes, etc...The VXs also have better glass so they allow more light through...I've had both my deer rifles changed out to the Heavy Duplex reticle, at 54 it really helps in low light situations...

If I didn't go with a Leupold, I'd go for either the Nikon ProStaff or the Buckmasters...They are $160 and $210 in Bass Pro...

I would stay away from the Simmons. I have had 2 Aetecs go bad in less than 2 years. The leupys are not all there talked up to be as I have seen 2 of them go bad. For the money you have to spend I would look at the Nikons or Burris FFII.

For mid-range price of $150 to $325, I really like the Nikon scopes. I have several and am very happy with the clarity and light gathering ability. The lower end models have 95% light transmission and the Monarchs have 97%. That's a lot of light gathering assuring one can see until last shooting light. Right now there's a "Lightly used" Nikon Buckmaster 3-9x40 for only $140 at eBay. Scoop it up. LOL!

You can't go wrong with Nikon. Once had a 3-10x50 Monarch come bad right out of the box from a dealer, told Nikon and had it sent in. In about 9 days total, they gave me a new scope postage paid!

iSnipe

Thanks for all of the advice. I have a friend who has a monarch and he loves it, but it is one ofthe higher ends, so its a little out of my range.

guy you should go with the leupold. they are rugged and dependaple plus clear and accurate. i would recomenned swaroski but that may be some what outside your price range. my bro has a simmons and there is nothing wrong with it its a fine optic but i use leupold and my dad has had one on his rifle for a long time. you would not be dissapointed with a "good" simmons or a leupold.

I agree with the other guys that said go with a Nikon. I put a Buckmaster on my 30-06 this past summer and I am pretty happy with it so far. I think I paid $199 from local dealer. The Prostaffs are around $50 cheaper, and I've heard good reports on them also. From my experience Nikon has good customer service and they stand behind their products. They also have quick turn around if you do need something fixed or replaced.

In that range, the Bushnell 3200 Elite.

I would go with the Nikon Prostaff in that price range

+2 owned a number and never regretted it.

Burris FFII would be another option.

I have had no experience with Nikons under the monarch & none with vortex or sightron, however I see/hear guys who like these.

Use to be a leupold guy but lost me when they went to the VX III from the vari x III (a very solid scope), no longer worth the price IMHO. Been buying Zeiss Conquests since my less then desirable VX III purchase, 5 so far..I like em'!:s2:

Welcome to the site! I moved your thread to the optics section for some more opinions. I like Nikon optics.

Burris Full Field II is what I'd get if it was me on that budget. I actually own one as well as a Leupold VX-I. I'm not sure I will own another Leupold either. I bought the Leupold first when I bought my rifle about 2 and a half years ago. Bought it new but the rifle used at a local gun shop. Lasted about 7 or so months. Quite a bit of that was while it was not being used. I used it during hunting season. Now I did have it fall over once in grass but the scope didn't seem to hit hard. Anyway, it worked for a bit after that and then all of a sudden one day I noticed that after I shot you could see what looked like the cross hairs shaking inside of the scope.

Off to Leupold it went. I used a $30 Tasco from Wal-Mart while this scope was in for repair. When I got back the Leupold I re mounted it on my rifle. This was right after hunting season that I mounted it. I sighted it in and shot it a few times and put it up. Brought it out again right before hunting season and shot it. Seemed like the scope was adjusting it self when shot. Off it went again to Leupold. Got it back and put it on a BP rifle that I just recently sighted in so I will see how it lasts. I will say I shot T7 pellets first then later switched to Pyrodex and it was about 7" high. I really wonder if the scope still isn't holding zero as that seems like way too much of a difference just for a change of pellets that were both 100 grains. However, I'm going to give it the benefit of the doubt that maybe it was the pellets. That being said I do not like this scope and I wouldn't buy another one or recommend it to anyone. Although Leupolds customer service does seem to take care of you this is ridiculous for a $230 scope.

When it comes to clairity which is one think I hear people rave about on higher price scopes I couldn't tell a difference between the Leupold and the $30 Tasco I used. I had a couple buddies look through both and both of them said that the Tasco looked clearer to them. I personally couldn't tell much if any of a difference. I also never had any issues with the Tasco and seems like the Leupold is always having issues. Not to mention when the Leupold has worked it seems like it loses zero super easily if you bump the scope or it tips over or anything.

So now my rifle wears a Burris Full Field II I picked up on clearance last year for $199 with a free Garmin eTrex GPS. Too good of a deal to pass up so I thought I'd try it. After trying it I can honestly say this is my favorite scope. Now when it comes to clarity you can really tell a difference with this scope. A friend was helping me sight in when we put it on. He looked through it first and went "wow." So of course I had to look to see what he was talking about. If you looked through the Leupold then the Burris the was quite a bit clearer with more vibrant colors. Not that the Leupold isn't clear it's just after looking through the Burris it looked so much better.

After using the Burris I've also noticed it does a lot better in low light. I can see things through it I can't see with my naked eye where as with the Leupold if I can't see it with my naked eye I probably wont see it through the scope.

Now I've only had the Burris for a year or so but so far it's really held up well and not lost zero on me.

I've just been really impressed with it and the VX-I has been nothing but problems for me. If I was to choose between the VX-I and a $30 Tasco the next time I'd get the Tasco. I'm not saying it's the best scope out there however for me it's turned out to be a way better scope than the Leupold.

Now if I was going to pick any scope under $200 like you said you were the Burris is the clear choice. I'd for sure go with it again. It's like I said my favorite scope I've had. I've also got several buddies that were impressed by it.

Best advise is to save your money and get some "good" glass.



Rule of thumb; spend at least as much as you spent on your gun (some say 2X).

hometheaterman, I just sent my VX-II 2-7x33mm Shotgun Scope back to Leupold yesterday (10-28-09) for the third time. The only other scope I've had trouble with was a $40 Tasco. That was only $40 as mentioned. Having to send this $300 Leupold back THREE TIMES and wasting hundreds of dollars on sabot slugs trying to get my shotgun sighted in is really starting to pi$$ me off...big time!

As far as I'm concerned Leupold doesn't make any better of a scope then Bushnell or Simions but they charge an outrageous price for their products. I know guys are going to disagree with me. I've given Leupold two times to prove me wrong and so far they haven't. I just call it like I see it!

If they don't take care of it this time they'll never get another penny from me. :mad:

Get the Nikon Prostaff.. They are great scopes for the money.. I have them on all my rifles..

I forgot to mention I only know 3 guys with Leupold scopes personally. 2 of us have had issues with them. The 3rd one just got his last year on a muzzle loader and said he hadn't had it long enough to see if he likes it last I talked to him about it which was last year. I will hopefully get to see him tomorrow so may ask him how it's holding up a year later now.

Vortex diamonback!

leupold are the best for price. customer service is next to none.
i hear the lower end nikons are decent.
but, one day when we all have lots more money and a new president, i vote for the Meopta. they are about 1k. but they make the glass for swar.

That's what I keep hearing. So far that hasn't been the case for me at all. I already gave them two opportunities to fix the same scope. Now It's back for the third time. Trust me when I tell you this is strike three. If they don't fix it this time I'm done with them.

burris blak diamond mil dot

"Leupold are best for price"? Not sure I agree with that statement.

I know I don't agree with it.

Well guys thanks for all of the advice. I went to Bass Pro today and ended up getting 2 Nikons. I got a Prostaff 3x9x50 for my 270 and my fiance picked out the Nikon Buckmaster 3x9x40 for her 243.. Hopefully these two will work out. Noth of these Nikons looked much clearer than any of the leupolds i looked at. I am going to shoot both of them this week so we'll see how they do.

You probably got a pretty good scope. I've never used Nikons but I wouldn't hesitate too either. Infact when I got the Burris had I not found the deal on the Burris I may very well have ended up with a Nikon.

Your fiance is a obviously good judge... the Buckmasters is a very decent scope for the money! IMO, it's better than the Prostaff. They both should serve the intended purpose very well. Good luck.

I have posted this on quite a few differant threads and sites but its hard facts so here it is again. I did a little research on entry level scopes for a guy($200 range) and came up with these specs. these are all 3x9x40

Burris Fullfield II
eye relief-3.1"-3.8"
light transmission- 95%
MOA adjustments- 1/4" @100 yards max adjustment 50
actual maximum magnification- 9x
lifetime warranty
manufactured in both the USA and Philipines(depends on demand)

Nikon Buckmaster
eye relief- 3.6"
light transmission- 92%
MOA adjustments- 1/4" @100 yards max adjustment 80
actual maximum magnification- 9x
lifetime warranty
manufatured somewhere in asia

Leupold rifleman
eye relief- 3.7"
light transmission- 82%
MOA adjustments- 1/2"@100yards max adjustment 56 elevation 52 windage
lifetime warranty
manufactured in USA

The way I see it the Leupold doesnt even fit into the same class even though it costs the same amount. The only reason i can think of is the whole made in USA thing but IMO that is crap. I am pretty sure thats why GM and Chrysler just had to take a bail out from government and are still on a pretty slippery slope. It just doesnt make sense to me an inferior product for the same price its just stupid.

I'd classify the Leupold Rifleman as a P.O.S. and would not own one.

if i can remeber correctly you have to buy the VX-II or VX-III to match the performance of the burris fullfield II or the buckmaster. once again i believe they are over priced and over rated.