Best Scope

[BAMA BOW MERKER]

What is the best scope under $500 in your opinion? Will be purchasing a new scope in the next month for my new 7mm rem mag. I'm leaning toward Nikon's Monarch 4-16 x 50mm. Any reviews of this scope or suggestions of others welcome.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

I like the Nikons and they have a lifetime warranty. I bought a Bushnell $79.99 scope a couple years ago before Bone Collector put their name on it and the price jumped up. It is the best scope I have ever had. It's on my muzzy

 

[redblood]

leupold vx3. for that gun i would get the 3.5-10x40. they will be right at 500.00 but the best warranty and customer service in the biz. they also have the best resale by far. they are sleek,attractive light and trim. you will notice they are used in advertisments for attractive rifles. there is a reason for that,

 

[JCDEERMAN]

Mine is a 3X9X40....FYI

 

[tickweed]

leupold vx3. for that gun i would get the 3.5-10x40. they will be right at 500.00 but the best warranty and customer service in the biz. they also have the best resale by far. they are sleek,attractive light and trim. you will notice they are used in advertisments for attractive rifles. there is a reason for that,

well said.

 

[gatodoc]

I've got the Nikon Monarch on one gun and the Leupold vx3 on another and can't tell enough difference for the price difference. Like em both BTW...

 

[Vermin93]

Depends how far you intend to shoot. 4-16x50 is a LOT of magnification for whitetail deer hunting. I would look at one of the 2-10x40's out there, like the Minox ZA-5. The 2x magnification on the low-end is great for deep woods and thicket hunting and the 10x magnification on the high-end will easily handle any open ground hunting that Tennessee or most places will offer you.

For this sale price ($300) on a 2-10x40 you will not find a better value in a quality 5x magnification scope.

Minox ZA-5 2-10x40

If you want the big 50mm objective then you can pay an extra $100 for the 2-10x50mm

Minox ZA-5 2-10x50

If you really want seriously big time magnification then this 3-15x42 can't be beat at this price of $350.

Minox ZA-5 3-15x42

Or, if you really want a quality scope with big time magnification, side focus, and a big objective, then you can get this 3x15x50 bad boy with an illuminated standard duplex reticle for $500 as an open box special.

Minox ZA-5 3-15x50 w/Side Focus

The Minox scopes are engineered in Germany, built with Schott glass (Schott is owned by Zeiss), and assembled right here in the USA. You will not find a better value under $500.

Or, you could pay $530 for a Leupold 4.5-14x40 and get similar quality, the same warranty and an inferior magnification range for quite a bit more money out of your pocket.

Good scope shopping to you!

 

[Bone Collector]

Either Zeiss or Leupold VX3.

 

[deerhunter10]

leupold

 

[chip]

zeiss .

 

[Rubberduck270]

Listen to Vermin93, ditch big magnification for quality glass. I've got a 4-16x50 Monarch on a 300 Win Mag but I put it together as an elk/mule deer gun. That much magnification is generally not needed for the average Tennesee whitetail hunt.

VX3, Monarch or Zeiss are all good options.

 

[Headhunter]

In my experience, I would not use Nikon if you gave one to me. I would sell it to the next "sucker". Horrible customer service and a poor product, again IMO. Leupold makes great optics and their customer service is first rate. My comparisons as far as quality is concerned have been done watching LOTS of game in low light to extreme low light conditions and Nikon makes a terrible product, I would hunt with Burris Fullfield II before Nikon.

With that said the majority of my hunting and my most used guns have Kahles Helia CL's on them. Kahles makes some pretty good optics. Probably won't get Kahles for under $500 but it will last yours, your kids and grandkids lifetimes and they have great customer service (that is what I hear, never had to use it).

 

[BAMA BOW MERKER]

Thanks guys. I'll look into Zeiss before I make the final descision. I will be using this gun primarily here for whitetail, but I also making a trip to Wyoming for mule deer and antelope this Oct. I hopefully will get to go again, that's why I wanted the larger magnification.

 

[Urban_Hunter]

^^^^
Weird. Never seen someone bash a Nikon that actually has a quality one, such as a Monarch. I have that exact same scope on a 7mag and love it. I agree you don't NEED that magnification for white tail here, but that is why you are looking at variable power right? 4 power isn't too much... and is only slightly more than 3 power... which is most common (3-9). I wanted to stretch mine out at the range is why I went with the 4-16. I also have a Leopold VXIII on my Muzzle Loader and a Bushnell Elite 3200 on another rifle. My opinion, is dollar for dollar, the Busnell Elite is the most bang for the buck, but I got the Monarch on sale and have no regrets. It is crystal clear and actually in my opinion brighter than my VXIII, my only complaint would be that the cross hair is a little thick. (I went with the MIL-DOT on mine, as stated, it was on sale)

 

[Hunter 257W]

The best Leupold you can get for that price. I always go Leupold and have never been disappointed.

 

[Winchester]

Leupold is best choice available dollar for dollar ! Better glass is definitely out there but its at a high price. I will agree the Nikons are overpriced and overrated!

 

[W.Seay]

This is easy! Zeiss conquest!!!!! I've owned them all and the zeiss blows the leupolds and monarchs in the same price range out of the water!! No brainer!

 

[Bone Collector]

This is easy! Zeiss conquest!!!!! I've owned them all and the zeiss blows the leupolds and monarchs in the same price range out of the water!! No brainer!

I said both Zeiss and Leupold VX3, but I have both and like the Zeiss better. both work great in low light though and that is really where you separate the boys form the men so to speak...

 

[BSK]

Leupold is best choice available dollar for dollar ! Better glass is definitely out there but its at a high price. I will agree the Nikons are overpriced and overrated!

Completely disagree (but you already know that).

That said, I am looking at getting a Leupold, simply because of the low magnifications offered.

 

[Nealmeally]

Leupold is best choice available dollar for dollar ! Better glass is definitely out there but its at a high price. I will agree the Nikons are overpriced and overrated!

Agree with all of it. Leupold binos and scope hands down!... Never liked Nikon anything.

 

[deerhunter10]

Leupold is best choice available dollar for dollar ! Better glass is definitely out there but its at a high price. I will agree the Nikons are overpriced and overrated!

x2 not a fan of Nikon.

 

[feldmutze]

Leupold Var-X 3 without any hesitation. I've had a 4.5 x 14 on my .270 forever, usually left on lowest power, but there's been many times the extra magnification came in handy.

 

[ruger7mag]

I really like all of my leupolds. My 7 mag has a vx3 4.5-14 on it and I would recommend that scope to anyone. I'm not impressed at all by Nikon, my dad has a couple and I think they are far below the quality of leupold.

 

[RUGER]

Zeiss Conquest

 

[Vermin93]

I think that suggesting optical brand names without specifics regarding the scope model is not very useful advice.

Leupold, Zeiss, Minox, Meopta, Nikon, Burris, Bushnell, Vortex, Weaver - all of these riflescope companies make different models of scopes with different levels of performance at different price points. A Leupold what? A Nikon what? A Zeiss what? How much is it?

Some people are quick to dismiss an entire brand because they looked at their cheapest model and didn't like it. Put a Leupold VX-3 next to a Leupold VX-1 and you won't think that VX-1 is so great.

I also think this idea that Leupold is the best value in scopes is an opinion that is hard to prove. A close look at their prices compared to their competition seems to indicate otherwise. I am not saying they aren't good scopes. I am saying that Leupold can and does charge more for the same product than other scope brands do. There are multiple head-to-head price and feature comparisons that show this. I have thought about this from a business perspective and this is what I think....Leupold spends big $'s marketing their brand and advertising their products. Those advertising costs have to be recovered through product margin. They charge more than their competitors because they can get away with it since they enjoy some of the best brand loyalty in the industry.

The Zeiss Conquest, Sightron SII Big Sky, Minox ZA, Vortex Viper PST, Meopta Meopro, Bushnell Elite, Nikon Monarch 3, Weaver Grand Slam - all of these scopes can hang with or exceed the VX-3 in terms of performance and they cost about the same or less. Some of them are even assembled in the USA, just like the VX-3.

I think Leupold makes fine products. I also think they charge too much for them. It's like buying a SONY. You're going to pay more just for the Leupold name and the gold ring on the scope that comes with it. Many hunters and shooters obviously think it's worth it, but what other brands and models of scopes have they actually used for comparison?

Also, the Vari-X III and VX-III are obsolete scopes that are no longer made. Leupold hasn't made a Vari-X anything in a long time, which begs the question - how can a company that is so focused on marketing their brand and products come up with such a ridiculous evolution of names for their flagship product? From Vari-X III to VX-III to VX-3...could they have come up with something any more confusing?

 

[BAMA BOW MERKER]

What are the differences between VX-3 and VX-2? The VX-2 is well within my budget for 4-12 x50. Looking at the 4.5-14 x40 VX-3. Is the VX-3 worth the price over VX-2?

 

[GreyGoose]

personally i have never paid more than $250.00 for a scope and never had any issues,sight in,shoot.there have been other issues that have led to misses but not scope.i am sure that money spent means better optics,etc, whatever,but thirty plus years hunting guess i have just been lucky.simmons has always been good to me

 

[BSK]

I've got a Leupold VX 2 and it stinks in comparison to my Nikon Monarch. Now the Monarch is probably below a Leupold VX 3, but the VX 3 costs $200 more.

 

[Roost 1]

IMO Leupolds are over-rated, but they do have brand loyalty..
....and I am not saying they are bad scopes. They are actually very good scopes. However for the same $$$ I'll take a Zeiss every time....
Also, when you can find the open box specials the Minox is alot of scope for the $$$. However I wouldn't pay the full price for one..

 

[BSK]

IMO Leupolds are over-rated, but they do have brand loyalty..

That's for sure!