Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting Scope thoughts?

[Flying_gage]

Have approx. $600 to spend on a scope. Will be going onto a 20" stainless AR in . 223. I am trending towards vortex in either 3x9 or 4x12, yet am still open to suggestions.



Mostly just plinking and may be used on a different gun at a later date.



Let me hear your thoughts!

 

[CBari]

I know some on here aren't fond of the leupold scopes but I have always been pleased with all of the ones I have owned. I bought about a Mark AR 6-18 about two years ago for my AR and have been extremely pleased with it.

 

[Flying_gage]

I know some on here aren't fond of the leupold scopes but I have always been pleased with all of the ones I have owned. I bought about a Mark AR 6-18 about two years ago for my AR and have been extremely pleased with it.

Is that too much scope on an AR? My shooting will be from 100-300 yds.

One thing I like about the leupold's is that I have heard more than one owner describe them as heirlooms. They obviously engender much appreciation.

 

[AMink]

Nikon makes an AR specific scope. I have some Nikon glass on my LR308 and it's very clear. I have also seen very good reviews on Vortex. They have a no questions asked lifetime warranty. Quite a bit of good glass under $500.

 

[HHhuntitall]

I have only played with the Vortex, I haven't had one to beat on yet. I've also had very good service from Nikon, which is I think is one of the best for the money, IMO. I also have several dozen Leupold, several dozen of which have several thousand rounds shot under... . One particular 3x9 scope is turning purple from time, but still holds zero perfectly, and has shot the bore out of several barrels in the course of 20+years. I could go on and on regarding the service I've had from Leupold, including customer service.



The Nikon's vary a little in glass quality, from scope to scope, it seems. Still, I've got a half dozen or so, and am really pleased with them. I've flogged on them in all kinds of conditions, and they've held up pretty good. Only brands better are 4 times the price, IMO. I really like the Swarvoski and Ziess, but the cost is prohibitive. I've stumbled onto a few in trading, and kept one or two... . Which is hard to do when they're worth so much... . Hard to turn down $600 profit...



You're probably tired of my opinions by now, but it's free, sooooo... ... .....



Also, Burris and Bushnell make good scopes for the money. I've used a Burris rangefinder scope on a 270Win, and it works well. Rangefinding is limited to around 650-700yards... . Also, Burris has a custom made elevation dial for your load..... http://www.burrisoptics.com/c4.html



As a surprise from the outside corner, I have a Bruton 3x9 NRA Fundraiser scope that is indestructible... . The glass is pretty good, and it's got dents in the tube and Objective housing, but it still holds zero dead on. It fell off the hood of the truck a few years ago, and didn't lose zero... . I've hit on trees while running, I fell with it down the side of a big, rocky hill, and it was only shooting high... ... Impressive.



Pentax also has outstanding glass. They build some of the best glass for cameras, naturally it would be good for a scope... ...



Hope this helps in your decision... ..... :-laf

 

[Deleted member 995608]

As long as you stick w/ 3x9, you'll be good to go no matter what ya buy.

 

[Flying_gage]

I have only played with the Vortex, I haven't had one to beat on yet. I've also had very good service from Nikon, which is I think is one of the best for the money, IMO. I also have several dozen Leupold, several dozen of which have several thousand rounds shot under... . One particular 3x9 scope is turning purple from time, but still holds zero perfectly, and has shot the bore out of several barrels in the course of 20+years. I could go on and on regarding the service I've had from Leupold, including customer service.

The Nikon's vary a little in glass quality, from scope to scope, it seems. Still, I've got a half dozen or so, and am really pleased with them. I've flogged on them in all kinds of conditions, and they've held up pretty good. Only brands better are 4 times the price, IMO. I really like the Swarvoski and Ziess, but the cost is prohibitive. I've stumbled onto a few in trading, and kept one or two... . Which is hard to do when they're worth so much... . Hard to turn down $600 profit...

You're probably tired of my opinions by now, but it's free, sooooo... ... .....

Also, Burris and Bushnell make good scopes for the money. I've used a Burris rangefinder scope on a 270Win, and it works well. Rangefinding is limited to around 650-700yards... . Also, Burris has a custom made elevation dial for your load..... http://www.burrisoptics.com/c4.html

As a surprise from the outside corner, I have a Bruton 3x9 NRA Fundraiser scope that is indestructible... . The glass is pretty good, and it's got dents in the tube and Objective housing, but it still holds zero dead on. It fell off the hood of the truck a few years ago, and didn't lose zero... . I've hit on trees while running, I fell with it down the side of a big, rocky hill, and it was only shooting high... ... Impressive.

Pentax also has outstanding glass. They build some of the best glass for cameras, naturally it would be good for a scope... ...

Hope this helps in your decision... ..... :-laf

HH myself and others are blessed by your experience and willingness to share. So no, by no means am I sick of your advice.

In terms of leupold, have you found that the newer scopes live up to the reputation of their older brethren. Have they fell back on their laurels so to speak?

 

[CBari]

The 6x18 is really over kill but the price I got on it kept me from passing it up. I have been shooting in the 200-400 yrd range for fun and I defiantly like it for that distance. I have also shot hogs with it in the 50yrd range and no problem with it.

 

[Flying_gage]

Nikon makes an AR specific scope. I have some Nikon glass on my LR308 and it's very clear. I have also seen very good reviews on Vortex. They have a no questions asked lifetime warranty. Quite a bit of good glass under $500.

AM, I am not sure if I want a cartridge specific glass. Too me this smacks of gimmickry at a lower price point; and useless at higher price points. Like I mentioned, I want the option to mount this on another gun at some point in the future. Really don't have any hard knowledge to point to in my feelings, yet I just know that the snake oil salesman of the past have not disappeared. In fact, I think they are alive and well in our present day.

 

[Flying_gage]

The 6x18 is really over kill but the price I got on it kept me from passing it up. I have been shooting in the 200-400 yrd range for fun and I defiantly like it for that distance. I have also shot hogs with it in the 50yrd range and no problem with it.

CB, Thanks for the heads up. I have a very good friend who has a similar set up to mine and swears that all I will need is a 1x4 for the purposes I am looking at. I don't dismiss his thoughts out of hand yet, I have not had the chance to look through his leupold 1x4 that he swears by.

As an aside, I have visited Jonesboro many times. Looked at working down there at one time yet, the drive across counties to get libations was a little too much for my young mind at the time

 

[Flying_gage]

A little more context as to why I am leaning towards Vortex.

I have read the reviews and appreciation out there for their glass. Too me, it sounds as though it is a chance to get in on the ground floor of a product that could also become a heirloom item. It also greatly helps that I am only about an hour and a half away from their headquarters. You see, I can be rough on stuff and their warranty is a very good selling point to me. As Momma has taken on more hours at work and I have become sort of a stay at home dad when I am not on shift at the fire department, I am always looking for "adventures" to take my 5 yr old, 4 yr old and 3 yr old on. I think we will make a trip up their this week to visit and see what they have to say .

 

[AMink]

AM, I am not sure if I want a cartridge specific glass. Too me this smacks of gimmickry at a lower price point; and useless at higher price points. Like I mentioned, I want the option to mount this on another gun at some point in the future. Really don't have any hard knowledge to point to in my feelings, yet I just know that the snake oil salesman of the past have not disappeared. In fact, I think they are alive and well in our present day.

Understandable. My Nikon is a Buckmaster in 4x9-40. It has the BDC reticle which seems to be pretty accurate for a . 308. It should work fairly well for most mid calibers. I haven't had a chance to shoot the gun much due to ammo limitations. Deer season is coming so I'll be ramping up.

 

[CBari]

The dry county thing is trying at times, however most of the restaurant now serve so it isn't to bad. We travel enough that we stop and bring a couple of cases back with us usually.

 

[HHhuntitall]

I've not seen much of a diminish in Leupold's quality when it comes to the Vari-X III or Mark VI scopes. Other models, yes. The popular rifleman series, sold at Walmart, are good scopes for the money, but then, they sell for less then $200... .

On power, as long as you can turn it down to 4-6 power magnification, the upper end isn't too much of a concern for versatility, IMO. I've found 6 power to be ideal at 100 yards or more, as there is still enough field of view to track game properly. Certainly nothing wrong with 3x9, but I shoot at so many varied ranges, and such a variety of cartridges, I usually use a 4x14 or 6x20 scope, with Mil-dots. That gives me the upper power for longer ranges and correctly being able to identify game, specifically deer and their antlers, without carrying a separate spotting scope. Less weight means I can travel faster. Less setup and take down time from a hide, too.

Given your thoughts on the Vortex, I see why you're leaning towards their product. Sounds like a good enough reason to me!!

 

[BIGNASTY]

Leupold's are on 90% of my weapons NEVER have I had any problems with them. VX-3 6. 5-20x50mm (30mm) Side Focus Target is what I had on my 338/378 until it was re-barreled. This caliber kicks like a mule, the scope took MANY!!!! full house loads and NOT ONE PROBLEM. Upon installation of the new tube I have up-graded to what I THINK IS THE BETTER SCOPE (its just an opinion and NOT THE HOLY GRAIL) Nightforce 8-32×56 NXS RIFLESCOPE with the MLR Reticle. I REALLY like this setup reason being is that im fortunate enough to be able to look at LOTS and LOTS of Elk and Deer at ranges out to 600yards from my deck at our house, I have a laser rangefinder and have been able to make a VERY GOOD guess-ta-ments to 600 yards on these animals by taking a rangefinder to FIND THE REAL DISTANCE and then looking at the animals in the scope and by doing this I can be pretty darn accurate at any distance to 600 yards by matching them up to the reticle ticks. Any distance past 600yards I take a rangefinder and make some calculations and make the shot doing it that way I wont take the chance of wounding an animal and having to chase it over mountain passes, Ive done that a time or two and it cost the hunter LOTS OF MONEY for me to retrieve his mistake, I MAYBE EASY, BUT IM NOT CHEAP!!!

I had my Birthday this month and bought me a new spotting scope The ATX 30-70x95 SWAROVSKI ( I like me ALOT ) im in Yellowstone right now and have been using it in the Hayden and Lamar Valleys spotting game at LONG!! range this scope puts down my trusted of many years and hunting trips Leupold HANDS DOWN!!! It seems like im not the only one with an addiction to game spotting in early AM and late PM light. I have seen more game than others with other scopes.

If this companies rifle scopes are ANYTHING like the spotting scope I think I would give them a try if I were in the market for a new piece of glass.

On my AR's I have one with a leupold Rifleman 3x9x50mm, nothing fancy but has been beat around when in a hurry to poke a hole or two in a yote when they are eating one of my dogs and has been the recipient of MANY thousands of rounds of ammo, and IT HOLDS TRUE AS THE DAY IT WAS INSTALLED. The other is a night vision scope of the same power AND IM NOT REAL KEEN ON, it but its blacker than black at night at home so what is a protector of farm animals to do?

You get WHAT YOU PAY FOR IN GLASS!!!! its simple as that IMO

Good luck in your search
BIG

 

[Flying_gage]

Ended up purchasing a vortex HS-T 4-16x44. Went up to the corporate office and all they had in stock was the mil-rad version. Said if I didn't like it, they would get me a MOA scope.

Put 250 rounds through it and loved the scope and detail, yet could never get over the conversion process in my mind. So sent it back and waiting on the MOA. Actually will probably step up to the PST series as the HS-T is very limited supply now, (brand new) and I will be waiting till early Oct for that scope. So not too much to say on the scope as of yet, especially keeping in mind this is my first nice glass.

What I can comment on though is the service. Was very impressed with the staff at corporate headquarters. They are VERY eager to a person. They have a cool story and a good feel. Also had the chance to look at their case of destruction; scopes that they have warranted regardless of how it happened. Most of the destruction was obvious stupidity as in having your binoculars sitting in front of you when taking the shot with a . 300 win mag. Yet they replaced everything in that case.

The only complaint that I have in the service is the disparity between arrival times from the salesman I dealt with and the customer care rep. The care rep has had to consistently correct the dates the sales guy has offered. As of right now, I am looking at a early Sept date for the scope that I picked.

Also, as an aside, they believe strongly in taking care of military, police and fire. The list price on the scope was $649 and they sold it to me for $475. So that was nice. I could have good glass and save some coin for other stuff!

 

[HHhuntitall]

Good info to know.....

 

[Flying_gage]

Still waiting on the scope... Getting a little frustrated as the dates keep changing. I like the enthusiasm but am really just wanting my scope now.