best scope?

[Oldtrader3]

Elmer, the order of things optic may align a little different in this country and Canada (i.e. Leupold, Zeiss and Swarovski) for quality and sales support. S&B and Leica are up there, as well, but just have not had the sales effort here that they get in Europe. I have been unable to harvest game because of scope failure (fogging, lens alignment) but am very fortunate to have not lost injured game because of damaged optics and related inability to accurately harvest an animal, knock on wood. That is a sad state of affairs which in my life is passed now.

I hear laments all the time from people who have bought an expensive rifle and want to save by cutting optics cost, limiting themselves to some arbitrary number. They do not realize in every case they could get by with less rifle and more scope. I have about (10) scoped rifles and in every case, the scope cost more to purchase than the rifle it is mounted on. My gun safe is heavily leveraged in Zeiss optics, as a result. I also own several Leupold's but they aren't cheap anymore.

 

[IdahoCTD]

It is amazing at the rate of which optics prices have climbed in comparison to factory rifles. 20 years ago you'd hardly ever spend more on optics than on a gun and now it's easy to spend double. I think Nightforce started a lot of that and then the European companies and finally Leupold and the others jumped in. Leupold lost a lot, and is still losing a lot, of market share IMO by not stepping up to the plate optically. The really need to work on their lower end stuff (V2 and V3's) because I guarantee Vortex and Zeiss stole a ton of that market from them.

 

[ElmerThud]

Hi OT3, I quite agree different companies have rather different perspectives on which markets they prefer and as a result the after sales service aspects may differ country to country, sometimes quite dramatically.
Here in the UK and I see also from my contacts around Europe, other than Nightforce, European optics are preferred by a big margin for any rifle to be used for hunting. Same with binos.
Maybe it's just much easier for us to get the stuff straight back to the manufacturer if it goes wrong. But the lifetime warranties are very strong pursuaders too.

It's a pity you had some fogging occur, - hope you got the problem fixed OK.

I just had some Swaro. SLC10x42 bins. overhauled after 18 years service and they came back within a month looking like they just came out of the shop & completely FOC. I'm sure lots of companies out there would like to perform in a similar way, but very few actually do. It makes a difference when long ago a considerable sum was paid for the product. ATB

 

[Oldtrader3]

Homer, I have never had a Zeiss (of 5), Swarovski (1), Kahles (of 2) or now a Leica (too new to rate) go bad on me. Some of the Zeiss (Diavari), Kahles (Kx) and Swarovski (Z3) have been mounted and used extensively up to 13 years now without any change or failure.

The only scopes that I have had go bad are some older model Leupold (seals) and a Minox (low light tunneling). Leupold has fixed these scopes that have clouded in less than two weeks, no hassle. Minox has a design issue which can not be fixed, due to low exit pupil and tunneling in low light.

 

[ElmerThud]

Nice range of scopes to have OT3. We (friends & I) also have excellent experiences with those scopes. My Zeiss has been on my main hunting rifle now for many years & been out in some attrocious conditions as has my Swarovski - both 8x56 with 4a reticles. Both perform and look as good today as when they were new.....but I do quite fancy getting a Swaro. Z6 2.5-15x50 with a 30mm tube. I reckon I could get one for just over £1200 GBP/$1960 approx.
Trouble is - I don't actually need one! Cuh! - dillemma or what? :lol: I guess I'll spend the cash going hunting instead :wink: ATB ET

 

[Oldtrader3]

Go hunting ET, while you still can physically! That would be my advice.

 

[big rifle man]

Charlie, I've got a Diavari 1.5X6 mounted on my .338RUM and I couldn't be more pleased. It's been through some interesting hunts without a whimper.

 

[Oldtrader3]

BRM, I have a Diavari 5-15x42, (2) Conquests and (2) HD-5 Zeiss. I have had the Diavari since about 1997 and it never has failed me. Some of the early 5-15x42 Diavari's had parallax problems but mine never has. It is mounted on my .257 Roberts with FN action for Coyotes and deer.

 

[yellow dog]

I've been comparing the new vortex to a 2 year old Zeiss conquest and got to tell you not much difference in glass if any.


had a couple of shooting buddy's look through them while they where Wrapped in paper so they could not tell which was which and of the 3 nobody could tell me one was clearer then the other. Color and contrast seem to be the same. light gathering is better in the vortex but it has a larger objective.


so my question is simple? do these companies use the same glass?

if they do, you seem to get a lot more "BANG" for the buck with vortex

as for the price of most scopes, they are grossly inflated im sure, But that is the world we live in today where profits of 700% seem to be the norm!

 

[ElmerThud]

Go hunting ET, while you still can physically! That would be my advice.

Luv it! Thumbs up on that OT3

 

[Oldtrader3]

ET, the reason that I said that, is when I turned 58 years old, I was single, had a 20 foot fishing boat, went hunting or fishing every week, was retired. Loved it, it was a wonderful life, for a year. Than I got sick and for 11 years, I have had no immune system and can not hardly leave the house without getting sick again. The morale of this sad refrain? Do it while you can!!!

 

[sask boy]

ET, every chance you get to go hunting do not hesitate & go for it! :wink:
We all only get a certain number of chances so take them as you can!!
Enjoy yourself & be safe!

Blessings,
Dan

 

[ElmerThud]

I understand perfectly OT3 & Dan. I have my own health challenges and no plans to give up hunting/shooting while I can still get about.
Fortunately, as well as good top end scope's & rifles, I have good friends of a long time whom I hunt with. All are 100% reliable.
Best wishes & stay well. ATB ET