Need scope suggestions
 

I am looking to buy a new scope for my Browning .270 WSM. I currently have a Leupold 3-9x40 which I am not pleased with. Budget is around $500.

whats wrong with the leupold or what dont you like about it?

Try looking here with your budget plugged in, so you can see what your money can buy ?


http://www.opticsplanet.net/riflescopes.html


Then ask specific questions and divulge your usage.

.............and why you don't like your Leupold 3-9x40 ?

Take a boo at the Zeiss Conquest.

Another site to check is http://www.cameralandny.com/

Zeiss Conquest is one of the better choices in that price range. Another option is the Vortex Vipers that are also great scopes. The Conquest is one of the few that I'd choose over the Viper though.

Buy quality, and choose for yourself. You will get many opinions on an internet forum, but some of them are just keyboard experts and not based upon actual experience with the products they recommend (or trash).

Burris
 

I GOT A 300WSM, IM USIN A BLACK DIAMOND EDITION 6-24x50 BURRIS MIL-DOT SCOPE...IT HAS RANGE FROM 0-1100 YARDS DEPENDING ON THE MAGNIFICATION. ITS A GREAT SCOPE, ALLOWS ALOT OF LIGHT IN, AND ITS PRICED RIGHT. GL

Another vote for the Zeiss Conquest,I have 2 and they are excellent...:hail:

FWIW I own 4 zeiss scopes of which 3 are conquests. I also currently have leupold M8, Vari x III and VXiii, Bushnell elite 3200 and 4200, Nikon Monarch and the list continues with many that are sub these models or older and not available. So while it JMO, the Conquest beats all of these for a total package; optics, features and performance. It truly is a good bang for your buck at the present time.

Good luck

Thanks guys. The Leupold has fogged up multiple times and doesn't have good low light transmission. My previous Nikon Prostaff was much better than the Leupold and $129 cheaper. I really like the Nikon Monarch 2.5-10x42. Any thoughts on that particular scope?

Nikon (Monarch) = quality

Rifle scopes, Binos, Rangefinders, spotting scope and camaras !

Send it back and get it fixed or replaced.
One thing Leupold does have us a very good manufacturer warranty.
Lifetime Guarante. Save your money and give their warranty a try.

What model of leupold do you have? Fogging inside or outside? If outside ain't the scope or glass fault. If inside it needs to go back to leupold.

As I mentioned I own a monarch its pleasant to look through bright image but not as clear as some others. Mine the power ring is very stiff and difficult to adjust with gloves on. POI tracking hasn't been consistant, might seem minor to most people but when your use to 4 clicks and it moving 1"...bothersome to me. Again jmo its a bit chucky in desgin and looks. Has held zero and works, just not my favorite scope and as such its on a back up now. I prefer the elite 4200 to the monarch. Step better is the zeiss conquest. Check around, ie: doug at cameraland ny had conquest specials under 400 for a 3x9x40 with zplex reticle. They are very good low light scopes, I doubt you'd be unhappy.

You should really do some side by side checking, your eyes/likes may see things differently.

Best of luck

Nikon uses some of the best glass no question.
But you really think those zipperheads hunt much?
I don't know if they are assembled well enough or built to last years,of extreme hnting conditions.I don't know if these scopes will stand the test of time.I truly question this.
Yep they are clearer than Leuplod but every Leupold employee is a hunter regardless of the clarity, they are a tough scope.
They have built a reputation on durability.Sure hunters have used Nikon for the last ten plus years, but as they are the most popular scope on the market now. Im willing to bet they will be pushing them out, to keep up with demand. QC will be going down shortly.I honestly believe they do not make their scopes.I truly believe they are contracted out to the lowest bidder. Yep they probably use the top of the line parts but they are assembled by a bunch of orientals that don't know a thing about hunting.If you don't hunt how do you know how a scope should work?

For $500 and under take a serious look at a Meopta meopro in either 3-9X42 or 4-12x50.
The Zeiss conquests are great scopes but they can't compete with the meopro for clarity, brightness and edge to edge crispness.

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

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

I do own their Binos and rangefinder however;
I'm a Burris guy (signature select level) when it comes to rifle scopes.


Sorry to say but;
Leupold (mid-level anyway) for me is like buying the fancy brand name item so you can walk around the mall with their name on the bag.


Yea, I know...........................here it comes !

Other than the fogging, my exact feeling on the Leupolds, I've had. I've not had them fog, but both did fail and quit holding zero. Leupold fixed it, but it still doesn't fix the fact that they did fail, and they had pretty crappy glass that was horrible in low light. I get bashed for posting it online, but it's the honest truth. My Simmons 8 Point had better low light transmission.

No offense, but didn't most of the Leupold scopes have to quit saying made in the USA due to not having enough of them made here to wear that label?

If it's fogging internally, I agree send it back. However, they won't fix the crappy glass that's causing low light transmission issues for him. That's just the glass in the lower end Leupolds for you. I'm assuming he has a lower end one anyway. Once you get into the VX-III line, it's decent, but you can still get a lot better glass from other companies for similar prices though.

Where do you think leupold gets components for their scopes from? Yeah them peeps you referred too. Many scopes are made/assembled/components outsourced overseas now a days..sad but fact. Not arguing your point as leupold being known for CS and hunt ability in any way I agree leaned on them many times. I prefer to lean on others at the present day with what leupolds pumping out these days. Another sad thing as I use to be a gold ring guy just not seeing the value for the investment as I once did. The conquest has been solid for me and I had to use their CS department on a oops..my fault. They replaced it no questions asked and had a new one to me in a timely fashion. Have had some delays with bushnell, burris and nikon though..all took care of the problem just took some time.

Big bulls, thanks for the tip no dealers here to see the meopro would like to peer thru it. Maybe this winter I'll make it south of the 49.

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 :hail:

Nikon Scopes
 

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.

+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.