It's not coming from me. I just used Leupold as an example cause The thread starter has a Leupold and almost of of their emplyees hunt, so they know how a scope should function in North American hunting conditions.Leupolds their high end ones anyway are assembled by these people As opposed to employees in the Philippeens or Thailand that Nikon uses to build their top of the Line Monarch..All Im trying to say is, this it doesn't matter if you have the best parts money can buy, if it isn't assembled right it's useless.We all know those alot of orientals countries care about a dollar more so than the labour quality.It has and will continue to come back and hit us big in the scope industry. I'd be careful with Nikon.I have seen absolutely no proof they build their own scopes low end or high end.Leupold does have a reputation for durability and have had it for some time.But if I was to choose a scope now, it would be Ziess or Swaro.50 years from now that scope will still be mounted on one of your rifles.

That Conquest is just at that next level for me ($$$ wise), but I agree I think they are excellent !

Swarovski is king IMO, if I had that kind of dough !!!


Burris gives me the biggest bang for my buck; at the signature select level anyway.

Lifetime Warranty is a must..................buy it once !

Amen

I love my Nikon scopes!
3- Monarchs 5.5 X16(all older pre-side focus)
2- Buckmasters 4.5X12 & 6X18
3- Prostaffs 3X9
All of these scopes are over 5 years old. Still bright and clear.
IMHO Nikon is the best you can buy for the dollar spent. There are better scopes,I am sure, but not for the money.
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!!

To me as us being hunters we each have our own specific standards thast a scope has to meet for the money we spend.
Im a Journeyman Carpenter, Welder, and Glazier by trade as well as an aluminium curtainwall fabricator and site coordinator.In order to have a reliable reputation and company name, your employees need to be able to see in 3 diminsional.As for me stepping away from the site installion, to cutting aluminum extrusions off drawings it was a very very easy transition.I know when the drawings are giving to me if its going to work on the building just because I been an installer.I can see it fit on the building without even being there on site.If it isn't gonna work I can go to the design team and question them without cutting a single piece of metal or worse ship it being wrong.A scope manufacturing company needs to have those same employees.People that have been hunters first and foremost that know what a scope should behave in the field.And this has to start from the very top down to the very very bottem. If all you got is a bunch of people that read and assemble according to the the drawings and specs, its going to spell disaster.In this economy you can't afford this.Your way way better hitting the top end models now, because that high end price is only going to drop in the next 18 months if you can afford to take the one time hit it will cost pennies on the dollar, 30-40 plus years from now.
if you can afford to do this in the next two years do it.Don't get into debt over it though.

Look at the Vortex Optics line. The Viper is a great scope. Clear, crisp, will hold a true zero and has great reticles. Great scope with a better warranty.

It’s like a “great” athlete, they are only GREAT after they have done it GREAT for years.

Time will tell................................Huh ???

+1 for Zeiss Conquest line, just put a second one on a new rifle I bought this week. Was so pleased with the last one I got went with it again. Have Leopold's and they are Good scopes, I just liked the low light of the Zeiss a lot better. They also lowered the price of the 3-9x40 Retail down to $399. Made it hard to pass up on.

I have used many Leupold scopes over the past 40 years--still have 7. I find them to be extremely rugged and very reliable. BUT, about 4 years ago I bought a Zeiss Conquest. I really, really like that scope, and find myself using that particular rifle much more, just because it wears the Conquest. I have looked through many, many scopes in the under $600 price range, and have never found one I would prefer over the Conquest.