Suggestions for glass...

[magnumwheelman]

I'm in the process of upgrading some of the glass on several of my rifles... some have cheaper scopes, offering lack of clairity or lack of repeatability... the guns that really get hunted with, can keep the standard good quality 3 X 9's... however the bulk of my shooting is relaxing at my bench, & shooting targets from 50-300 yards... I find with aging eyes, the lower power scopes aren't enough help at the 300 yard targets...

now rather than post about trying to find a 24 power Zeiss quality scope for the cost of a Simmons I'll start off, with vintage verse modern scopes... I have a couple Unertl's & really groove on shooting those... I also have several Modern Burris scopes, & I'm partial to the Burris's...also have a few Leupolds & while they are fine scopes, I don't often find them ( the money difference ) better than Burris... I'm wondering if I'm better off looking for vintage bench rest scopes, Lyman Target Spots, Redfields, Weavers, & Unertls, or if the new scopes are more repeatable... size doesn't matter here, nor does rain proofness however the better quality vintage scopes seem to be rebuildable / repairable, & new scopes if they don't have a lifetime warrenty, seem to just be thrown away ( & I'd bet most factory returns, probably just get thrown into a box, & new scopes sent out, they way, & where they are built now days )

variable or fixed power... what would your choice be for 50 - 300 yards again, taking aging eyes into the equation??? or power level... I'm thinking 16-20 max power on a variable, knowing from my experience with scopes in my price range, that I'll use 12-14X... as most at max power are lacking in clairity ( though I did have a Simmons 6 - 20 on an old AR flat top I built 15-20 years ago for dogging that wasn't too bad at the higher powers )

anyway... your thoughts your best deals

[jamesjames]

I am in the process of upgrading a couple of scopes myself. I've got some sub par scopes on an AR and a Remington 700P, both in .223. I've been shooting at a buddy's range set up for shots out to 700 yards with the ability to set up for 800 to 1000. The games we play all stem from trying to use a tactical type scope in 3-9 to 6.5-20. I really like the Leupolds. I've got a Leupold Mark 6 coming for the AR and have been looking at the higher power Leupold VX 6. What I'm really after (after mucking around with bad mil dot reticles and poor image quality) is the TMR reticle available from Leupold. It really allows for pretty accurate estimations of holdover and windage. When I first got into shooting, I never would have considered spending that much on a scope. But I'm not buying any more guns, I'm just trying to wring everything I can out of my rifle and really challenge myself in terms of repeatablility and accuracy. Even if you can only afford one good scope, go for it.

[warhawk]

I've owned a LOT of scopes, and the clearest and brightest of them all is a Sightron SIII.

[Paden]

With aging eyes, I find higher quality more important than higher magnification. Kahles and Swarovski get my vote.

[jsh]

I read a good book this last winter on optics.
Optics for the hunter by John barsness.
It was a good info in terms I could understand.

Stay away from Simmons. Unless you go with early ones as noted above.
I went down the road of spending $$$$ on a rifle then spending $ or $$ on glass. As the old saying goes cry once. Until all the crap hit the fan and the chicken littles stormed the gun shops I looked in the used gun racks. I scanned the racks at the local cabelas all I looked at was glass. Then price tags a lot of times I could find upper end glass on decent to good rifles. I paid used price for the glass and got rifles for half price. Look at it however but they were bargains. Usually moved the rifle but sometimes I would go home and shoot the darn thing and sell the rifle I was looking for a scope for.
I am no 1000 yard shooter but I do enjoy long range challenges. I do rub elbows with two young fellows on the USA shooting team. They are both still of the age where youth is in their favor as far as eye sight so they are shooting iron sights at 1000.
Night force is the one if you have the money.
Bushnell has a new one that is right on night forces heels as I understand.
There was some testing run on optics by the military and bushnell was just a couple of points of of the night force.
I have used several Burris scopes on loaned rifles but no model so that does you no good.
I also looked through some ziess glass and was not all that impressed.
Leupold I really don't need to say anything there I don't think. Excellent ?
US optics looked through several but never used any. All were nib on the shelf. Some of the reticles looked awful busy to me? I want to shoot not do a math class or fly a helicopter. Maybe an old dog needs to learn new tricks though?
First or second focal plane?
I can't comment on that because I am still in a learning curve. But I thought to throw that in as it is something that one should consider depending on application.
Most all glass looks good inside under artificial light.
I look at optics on an over cast or rainy day myself. I want to know how good it is in poor conditions.
Jeff

[magnumwheelman]

Thanks for the comments guys... as I mentioned, I need to replace several ( plus I just got all my Contender barrels up for display on my walk in gun safe's walls, & noticed, once they were all displayed, that only about half are wearing scopes... so that's another project )

I'm not familiar with the Burris Timberline model, but this looks to be one of my 1st choices right now...

Burris Timberline Rifle Scope 4.5-14x 32mm adjustable Objective Ballistic Plex Reticle

since most of my shooting is on nice days, & right now my maximum distance is 300 yards, I don't figure I really need 50 mm lenses... the reviews on this scope ( take them for what they are worth ) are all 5 stars with raving reviews... I guess I figured my budget should be under $500.00 since I need several, & these price out at less than $300.00 so if they are decent, I can buy almost 2 for one

[frankenfab]

I like Nikon Monarchs and Leupold VX 3s for my lowest level scopes. No buck masters. The Leupold Vari-x II seemed fine as well, had one on a 50 Beowulf AR. I haven't looked through a VX-2.

I have owned 1 Zeiss and 1 Nightforce. Wish I still had them both.

[curmudgeon]

Guess one time or another I've evaluated most all the more popular brands. Unertl BV 20X was my favorite for years. I always felt the external adjustment was the best for repeatability. That is until I got into Nite Force scopes. Have had 5.
NiteForce is in a class by itself. Pricey but what isn't in todays market. Worth the wait to my way of thinking. 30/378 and 338/378 are the biggest STANDARD RIFLES I've put them on. A S/S 50 BMG in the largest caliber.
But I remember Kent Lomont putting one on a dual 40mm Orlekon (sp) trying to shake one loose to no avail. The 5.5x 22 50mm is my all around favorite. FWIW

[toroflow]

I am somewhat embarrassed to say, but the Super Sniper scopes sold by SWFA are great IMHO. I have one on my Barrett M82A1 .50, and another on a Remington 700 LSS in .257 Weatherby. It is all the scope I will ever need.
swfa.com/SWFA-SS-MRAD-Scopes-C4225.aspx

[curmudgeon]

Don't be embarrassed, I've ordered 3-4 for customers and they are acceptable. But no Niteforce, but price is right for the quality. FWIW

[crazycarl]

Look at the Redfield Revolution series. Built by Leupold in Oregon. Very clear, VERY bright. Weaver Classic series are very nice, as well, as are Vortex Vipers.

No experience with Nikon Prostaffs, but a bud swears by 'em & uses/hunts with several.

[jwp475]

Jul 8, 2013 23:52:49 GMT -5 Paden said:

With aging eyes, I find higher quality more important than higher magnification. Kahles and Swarovski get my vote.

I could not agree more clarity and resolution are by far more important than magnification and I have settled on S&B

[bushog]

Swarovski AV 3-10x42 with a 4A reticle gets my vote. They're light, crystal clear and you cannot beat Swarovski service for anything. You can pick them up used for around $600 if you look around. S&B, Zeis and the other European scopes are great too but they can be HEAVY.

Check out the Sample List at SWFA they sell demos of most of the companies mentioned and most will warranty other than original purchaser.

www.samplelist.com/Riflescopes-C3391.aspx

[magnumwheelman]

Thanks for the link ( I'll save it ) ... the cheapest Swarovski demo ( that's over 6X ) at SWFA is over $1,700.00... so they ( even as a used demo ) are well out of my price range... S&B has a 2.5 X 10 for $1,400, which is still a little over twice what I can justify paying for a recreational shooting scope... Ziess ends up at $1,400 - $1,500 for a similar demo...

I do have a 6.5 X 284 custom long range rifle I'm building, & my budget could be stretched a bit for that one rifle, a higher dollar demo may be my best value for this rifle... but my "everyday" fun to shoot bolt actions I need to stay in the $300 - $600 dollar range, as I need to buy 5-6 of them... the scopes I'm replacing are generally in the $150 - $200 range older & lower magnification scopes

so I guess I'm looking for something durable, with OK glass for viewing to 300 yards & repeatable, in the less than $700.00 range

[toroflow]

How about a used Redfield 6-18x of about 1970's vintage? I have a few of them on various varmint rifles, and have never paid over $250 for one in used/like new condition. When my eyes get so bad that I need a $1500-2000 scope, of which I will need 10 or so for my various varmint rigs, I will have Lasics surgery done to my eyes!!! It's cheaper!!!