Rifle scopes

[PJGunner]

If I have to replace a scope, I'll probably go with the Burris Fullfield II 3-9x40mm scope. I did get a smokin' deal on a 2.5x10 Minox but have yet to mount it on a rifle. I got it for half price. I've had three Leupolds go toes up on me so probably won't be getting any more of those. I have a couple of Nikons that I really like but to hell with them. Since they quit making scopes they won't honor their lifetime warranty. I have a couple of older scoped that I like, both 3X with post and crosshair reticles. One came on my .375 Taylor wildcat and the other is on a Ruger M77 in .358 Win. The one on the .375 is an all steel original Weaver that has held up under the snappy recoil of that rifle and the one on the .358 is an old pre Redfield (Ithink) Bear Cub. It came on the rifle when I bought it and the idiot tried to clamp down a 30 MM scope tube using the one inch Ruger scope ring. Ruined any value as a collectors item but it's worked OK so far. That one would have worked nicely on my #1H in .375 H&H. had proper sized rings been available.
Paul B.

 

[Ridge_Runner]

Arken optics, at least as good as NF for a fraction of the cost. Every Sunday I dial mine around 31 MOA depending on conditions and proceed to bang steel at 1100 yards, turn it back to zero and whack groundhogs and other vermin at normal distances.

 

[Wenaha]

I have a pile of scopes. Mostly Leupold and Swarovski. But my current favorite is a S&B Summit with no.4 reticule.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

Nikon will repair their scopes if possible if not then give you a gift card for their website and you use the value for their products. My son sent one back last year and they said was unrepairable, so they sent him a card worth $300. He got a nice pair of binoculars. I'm thinking of buying a new scope to go up in magnification on this latest hunting rifle project but not sure I want to add weight. Old eyes not letting me shoot the tightest groups, but they are more than adequate to kill deer. Thinking of moving up from 3x9 to 4x12. As for Burris I have a USA 39 using now and it works well. Wish they made a 4x12x40 in the same size without the crazy looking reticles just for deer hunting, plex, old style.

 

[bdbrown66]

Nikon will repair their scopes if possible if not then give you a gift card for their website and you use the value for their products. My son sent one back last year and they said was unrepairable, so they sent him a card worth $300. He got a nice pair of binoculars. I'm thinking of buying a new scope to go up in magnification on this latest hunting rifle project but not sure I want to add weight. Old eyes not letting me shoot the tightest groups, but they are more than adequate to kill deer. Thinking of moving up from 3x9 to 4x12. As for Burris I have a USA 39 using now and it works well. Wish they made a 4x12x40 in the same size without the crazy looking reticles just for deer hunting, plex, old style.

I didn't think they are still made, but up until a year or two ago they were still making the Fullfield E1 4.5-14x42, with just a basic BDC reticle. I have a couple of them. They also have the Droptine 4.5-14x42 with the same reticle. But it's an AO, whereas the Fullfield is a side focus.

 

[diverdown]

Over the years I've run the total gamut of Rifle Scopes. In the old days had very good luck with the Rectangular Eyepiece Redfields. Low power Weavers for my Woods Deer Rifles. I used a Nikon 1X4 on a Ruger Deerstalker carbine. Over the years I transitioned to Leupold with a 2.5X8 on my 7-08. A 3X9 Kahles on my Christensen arms .300 Mag. A Leupold 1X4 Firedot on my AR. And last but definitely not least a 1X6 Zeiss Diavari on my .338 Ultramag. I purchased the Zeiss a number of years ago when it was on sale for a very short time. The sale price made me cough but looking at the present price I couldn't afford it anymore. That is a beautiful piece of glass.

 

[RiverRider]

I used to be Leupold's best customer, but they lost me seven or eight years ago by refusing to acknowledge tracking issues. These days I am using a couple of Optika5s from Meopta and I am satisfied with them, but I have learned (or maybe I should say I read a rumor) that Meopta scopes will be made in China from now on...if that's true and I wanted another scope, I'd look elsewhere. I also have one Tract Toric which I like, it's a very good scope. I also have found that I like the old Weaver Super Slam line---great glass and reliable turrets. I don't twist 'em in the field but I sure do like being able to sight in a rifle with none of the ridiculous drama Leupold scopes nearly always provided at the range.

I'm just glad that I am not likely to be shopping for scopes anymore. The ones that suit my needs and tastes with simple reticles in SFP tubes are getting rare as can be.

 

[SJB358]

The Athlon 2-12 Helos is a very good scope for the money. I have one on my Kimbers and my smokeless ML. The dot in the center is enclosed with a circle that allows non illuminated use up close and when illumination is turned in the optic works well as a red dot optic. Glass is very usable and the dials are very accurate with a good zero stop and lock. For 500 bucks street price you have to spend 2x-3x more in a similar trijicon or NF to get the same feature sets.

I’ve gotten past the Chinese part mostly. A lot or most of the glass comes from Asian countries at this point, even Zeiss top tier glass is being constructed by LOW in Japan. Definitely a global economy.

Arkens are a very good scope too for the money if you have the need for what they offer.

 

[RL338]

I’ve went out on limb several times when new manufactures bring scopes to market. When Athlon came to market I ordered a Argos BTR 8-34 still have it and does what I expect from it. Bought several Athlons since.
Next one I tried was a Crimson Trace 2-series in 4-16 excellent scope except there was a sometime floating in the field of view. Sent it in and they upgraded it to a newer model. Again I’ve purchased many Crimson Trace optics since.
Arken was a disappointment for me on 2 fronts. First the scope can’t handle recoil and second the customer service is awful , it takes forever to respond. Yes they did finally replaced it.

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

I've got a little bit of everything these days. Burris, Nikon, Vortex, Leupold, Nightforce, S&B. They all work for their intended purposes. I use to be strictly a Leupold guy, but over the years my eyes just haven't agreed with them.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

My Nikon Prostaff 5 started not tracking correctly the other day. Have had it since 2019. Was on a 7mm08 and for the last few years a 223, no heavy recoiling rifles. Just got off the phone with their customer support. They are emailing me the information needed to return the scope for a redeem card to be used for their products. Not a repair or replacement scope but at least I'm not left holding the bag so to speak. Might look at a pair of binoculars or range finder. Will see.
Dan.

 

[bdbrown66]

My Nikon Prostaff 5 started not tracking correctly the other day. Have had it since 2019. Was on a 7mm08 and for the last few years a 223, no heavy recoiling rifles. Just got off the phone with their customer support. They are emailing me the information needed to return the scope for a redeem card to be used for their products. Not a repair or replacement scope but at least I'm not left holding the bag so to speak. Might look at a pair of binoculars or range finder. Will see.
Dan.

FWIW, I moved from Nikon to Burris when Nikon closed their scope line. Still have a couple of them, but the Burris Fullfield and Droptine scopes have been a suitable replacement. They tend to have a little less eye relief than the Nikon's, tho.

 

[longrangehunter]

Well what started out two years ago is back up and running.

I’ll add my two cents. Lately I’ve gotten back into hunting, and as such I haven’t changed what’s important in a hunting scope.

#1 would be robust and repeatable tracking. #2 would be a WIDE field of view.
#3 would be is the reticle useless, or aides in distance holds.
#4 crystal clear glass, definitely nothing blue chromatic abrasion.
#5 cost vs value for what you get.

My best guess for in the $1,000-$1,600 range… I really like the S&B Klassik line and Leica Amplus 6 which have the widest field of view in anything I’ve ever looked through. Nice red Dot too, and easy to adjust turret cap(s) although the windage cap uses too fine of threads, and could lead to failure staying on.

You can’t beat S&B’s glass, although they have tunneling on their lowest magnification settings. And small turrets to dial, along with not a lot of elevation to dial, but in hunting situations they have enough for 600 yard shots. What they excel at is for a first focal radical, you can see the radical very clearly throughout the power range.

That said, scopes are very much like men’s tastes in women…… You never really know what that guy finds attractive when it comes time for doing his business. Lol

 

[TexasLife]

Uh...I think this must be a trick question
Like, all of the above, except no Maven, Leica, Steiner, Zeiss, or Sig Sauer.

i mentioned sig, but didn't state it as sig sauer