Looking for advice

D

darrstew

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Location
Kawartha Lakes, ON
Hello, I am hoping someone here can steer me in the right direction. I am a new shooter and plan on going out for my first deer hunt this fall. I have done some homework in regards to scopes and optics but there seems to be a lot of information to digest. I was fortunate to pick up a nice older BAR in 30-06 locally but the scope seems to be a Canadian Tire $50 special.


I would rather buy something I won't need to upgrade in a few years but don't want to get into something a have to worry about constantly adjusting either. My budget is around the $250-300 range there is a Leupold Vari-X IIc 3-9x40mm is the EE right now but I am not sure if it is overkill for my current needs. Thanks in advance any assistance is appreciated.
 
Leupold vx scopes will save you headaches down the road just in reliability alone. (Especially on a semi) nevermind that the clarity and warranty are excellent.
A $200 ish option that I always find reliable as used scopes:
Bushnell 3200 3-9x40
Burris Fullfield II
Redfield renegade
 
Leupold VX- and the earlier Vari-X II and III's are great all-round reliable hunting scopes, I have them on all my hunting rifles.
I don't even look at any other brands.

Don't cheap out on optics, cheap optics might seem fine looking through them at the store,
but under low light conditions in the bush you'll quickly see why they are less expensive.

Leupold's warranty is great as well,
in the unlikely event you need to use it,
ship a new or used Leupold to Korth in Alberta and they fix and ship it back in under 2 weeks, no charge.
 
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A BAR can rattle a cheap scope to death in short order.


I wouldn't buy a Leupold Vari-X IIc unless it was very cheap, and I mean really cheap. Right off the bat its three generations old. They didn't even have click adjustments yet.
 
Dogleg, at what price would you say the Vari-X IIc 3-9x40 darrstew mentioned is worthwhile, assuming it's in good serviceable condition?
 
Ditch the cheap scope. If it fogs, or something else goes wrong, you'll have to take the scope off and use the open sights. Stick to Leupold; 1.5-5x, 2-7x, 2 1/2-8x, 3-9x. If your budget's really tight, pick up a fixed 4x. It has a wide enough field of view for close shots, but can still reach out. Leupold is one of the few brands I have no problem buying used, because of their warranty.
 
TheTooner said:
Dogleg, at what price would you say the Vari-X IIc 3-9x40 darrstew mentioned is worthwhile, assuming it's in good serviceable condition?
Click to expand...

I have bought them used for between $200 - $275ish depending on overall condition. Never had one fail yet. I am talking over 8 at least I have bought over the last 20 years.
 
I have an old Vari-X IIc 3-9x40 that I bought new years ago and and put on my old Parker Hale 7mm Rem Mag. It has been rock solid reliable since day one. I have used that scope and rifle for many hunts over the years and it has taken deer, moose and Elk and while it hasn't been abused it certainly hasn't lead a sheltered life. It has been pushed through a lot of bush, gotten soaking wet and tumbled down a number of hills but it is still working just fine.
I recently pulled it off the old Parker Hale and I don't plan on getting rid of it. I now have a VX-2, a couple VX-3 scopes and a VX-R and while the Vari-X has older glass that isn't as bright or sharp and has the old style friction adjustment turrets you really can't go wrong with one of these mounted on your BAR for your first hunting setup. If in the unlikely event you ever have problems with it you can send it into Korth and have it fixed or replaced. See if you can get a good deal on the used Vari-X.
 
TheTooner said:
Dogleg, at what price would you say the Vari-X IIc 3-9x40 darrstew mentioned is worthwhile, assuming it's in good serviceable condition?
Click to expand...

Put it this way, a new VX1 can be had for 350 without even trying, and is a better scope than a Vari X 11 or 11c ever was, and it isn't old enough to vote. The OP could get the new one at the high end of his budget if he looked around.

Maybe 150 bucks if it was perfect. Even then I personally wouldn't bother; it's just not very much money.
 
darrstew said:
Hello, I am hoping someone here can steer me in the right direction. I am a new shooter and plan on going out for my first deer hunt this fall. I have done some homework in regards to scopes and optics but there seems to be a lot of information to digest. I was fortunate to pick up a nice older BAR in 30-06 locally but the scope seems to be a Canadian Tire $50 special.


I would rather buy something I won't need to upgrade in a few years but don't want to get into something a have to worry about constantly adjusting either. My budget is around the $250-300 range there is a Leupold Vari-X IIc 3-9x40mm is the EE right now but I am not sure if it is overkill for my current needs. Thanks in advance any assistance is appreciated.
Click to expand...

You are solidly on the right track thinking about buying a quality used scope off the EE. That 3-9x40mm would be an excellent scope (though I have a general bias against 40mm scopes). I thin kit would make a perfect match for your 30-06 BAR. The BAR is a heavy rifle so you don't want to overwhelm yourself with a heavier scope...that's a good way to get the rifle up in the 11lb range when it's ready to hunt. You might have to pay more for a 2.5-8x Leupold (a model I quite like due to it's 33mm objective) and you could mount it even lower since there is no bolt handle to worry about. Or, if you were inclined, you could look for an older 1.5-5x Leupold (my all-time favorite scope for it's compact size and excellent light transmission) which you could mount even lower.

There are several right answers to this question but you have taken the proper first step by digging through the EE and looking for a quality scope (like a Leupold) with an excellent warranty.
 
Dogleg said:
A BAR can rattle a cheap scope to death in short order.


I wouldn't buy a Leupold Vari-X IIc unless it was very cheap, and I mean really cheap. Right off the bat its three generations old. They didn't even have click adjustments yet.
Click to expand...

I would have said the same thing, but friction adjustments aren't that big a handicap for people who are going to sight in with one load and go hunting. They're worse if you're a fiddler...like you, me and numerous others.
 
BigUglyMan said:
I would have said the same thing, but friction adjustments aren't that big a handicap for people who are going to sight in with one load and go hunting. They're worse if you're a fiddler...like you, me and numerous others.
Click to expand...

Its not so much whether the friction adjustments work, I have a few myself. It isn't that a Vari X 11 C wasn't a decent scope and it may well be just as good as when it was built. Its really just a matter of pricing, expectations and knowing what you're getting for your money. The closest thing that Leupold makes today to a Vari X 11 C is the Rifleman. It has the same magnesium fluoride lens coating and friction adjustments when today even a VX 1 has 1/4" clicks and Multicoat 4 coating.

Ask yourself this. If someone were somehow able to offer you a 16 to 33 year old 3-9 Rifleman today, what would you value it at? Would you even want it? For myself, it would have to be cheap and then I'd likely adjust the parallax and use it on a 22.


On an abrupt change of topic; I've got literally dozens of 40mm scopes mounted in low and extra low rings. What's up with that?;)

Third, I haven't even looked at the ad in question, and don't have a clue what the asking price is, least someone accuse me of slagging his deal.
 
Dogleg said:
Its not so much whether the friction adjustments work, I have a few myself. It isn't that a Vari X 11 C wasn't a decent scope and it may well be just as good as when it was built. Its really just a matter of pricing, expectations and knowing what you're getting for your money. The closest thing that Leupold makes today to a Vari X 11 C is the Rifleman. It has the same magnesium fluoride lens coating and friction adjustments when today even a VX 1 has 1/4" clicks and Multicoat 4 coating.

Ask yourself this. If someone were somehow able to offer you a 16 to 33 year old 3-9 Rifleman today, what would you value it at? Would you even want it? For myself, it would have to be cheap and then I'd likely adjust the parallax and use it on a 22.


On an abrupt change of topic; I've got literally dozens of 40mm scopes mounted in low and extra low rings. What's up with that?;)

Third, I haven't even looked at the ad in question, and don't have a clue what the asking price is, least someone accuse me of slagging his deal.
Click to expand...

Very good points. I guess I was just excited that finally someone was looking at a decent starting point rather than expecting a 30mm tube, 50mm objective, 8x zoom and FFP for that price point which, lets face it, is where these threads usually start.
 
I truly appreciate all of the help on my quest. I honestly didn't expect so many replies. I was under the impression older model optics were the way to go. I had also assumed the quality would have been far superior but that may not be true as well. I have found a BNIB VX-1 3-9X40 on a CGN sponsers site for $299 that may just be what I will go with based on what I have picked up from this thread.
 
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