best value in a scope

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Sluice

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I am trying to decide between:

Bushnell 3200 - 3x9x40
Weaver V9 - 3x9x38
Leupold VX1 - 3x9x40

I am looking for the best combination of optics and price. It will be mounted on a Husky .30-06 for hunting in Alberta in the forrestry and on the prarie.

your input is appreciated
 
The Leupold because of the lifetime, unconditional warranty.
If either of the other two break when you drop your rifle, YOU pay for a new one. If the Leupold breaks when you drop it, THEY give you a new one.
It's quite simple when you look at it that way.
In all honesty though, I think the Bushnell has better optics than a VX1, but I would still go Leupold.
 
I believe Leupold's lifetime warranty doesn't just cover the original owner, it covers all subsequent owners as well.
Guys correct me if I'm wrong.
 
If either of the other two break when you drop your rifle, YOU pay for a new one. If the Leupold breaks when you drop it, THEY give you a new one.
It's quite simple when you look at it that way.
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Not at all true.I do know of people that have used the Bushnell warranty,and they did have their scope fixed for no charge.The service took longer than Leupold,but it did get done at no charge.I also know people that sent in a failed Leupold,and it was repaired,not replaced.

As for my opinion on the best value,without a doubt,is the Elite 3200.The Leupolds are good scopes,but other companies provide a product that is just as good for less money,or a better product for the same money.All of my hunting rifles used to wear Leupolds,but now,I never hunt with a Leupold,and in fact I have sold all but one of my over a dozen Leupold scopes.
 
Sluice said:
I am trying to decide between:

Bushnell 3200 - 3x9x40
Weaver V9 - 3x9x38
Leupold VX1 - 3x9x40
All these are ok, all have warrantys, all are repairable.

I am looking for the best combination of optics and price. It will be mounted on a Husky .30-06 for hunting in Alberta in the forrestry and on the prarie.
However, In this class I believe the very best combination of reliability, warranty, ruggedness and great optics is the Bushnell Scopechief series right up to the the Scopechief VI. All of them can be bought on the used market for under $125.00, and if they aren't broken when you get them they likely never will be. Optics are much better than the VXI and VXII, equal to or better than some Weavers, and I can't comment on the Bushnell 3200s since I've never had one. Heard some stories though.:confused:

your input is appreciated
Click to expand...

:):):)
 
I have to say that I feel that the Bushnell optics are superior to the Leupold VX1, and have never ever had any issues with their warranty. The one and only time I did have to fix a scope I did drop it and they replaced it, no questions asked. They didn't ask how it got broken, only what was wrong with it. It did take a little while to get a new one, but if I didn't break it, it wouldn't have been a problem would it. Have you given any consideration to Burris Fullfield though? I believe they also are an excellent scope, and in the 3x9 they are a very good value as well.
 
If you get a chance to compare, I would throw in the Nikon Buckmaster into the mix.

The glass is surprisingly sharp and I would rate this above your three options.

Of the three you have chosen, 3200 by far.

However, I would also suggest you look at the used scope market. An Elite 4200 will cost the same or less used and the optical clarity and low light clarity will be what gets on game when it matters.

Better to buy good used and get great performance, then to have a new factory box and wonder if that is a deer or cow.

Jerry
 
Thanks for the imput:

I'll check out the Burris and the Nikon and compare them to the 3200.

I plan to buy used if possible and I might upgrade to a 4200 if the right deal comes along.

r
 
Scope

mysticplayer said:
If you get a chance to compare, I would throw in the Nikon Buckmaster into the mix.

The glass is surprisingly sharp and I would rate this above your three options.

Of the three you have chosen, 3200 by far.

However, I would also suggest you look at the used scope market. An Elite 4200 will cost the same or less used and the optical clarity and low light clarity will be what gets on game when it matters.

Better to buy good used and get great performance, then to have a new factory box and wonder if that is a deer or cow.

Jerry
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Now Jerry
come on a deer or a cow through a 3200, lets not confuse people who are seeking advice from those supposedly in the know, and you do know better.

Last year you could get the Elite 3200 3-9 for $214.00. P&D in Edmonton may still have one at that price, even if this scope is slightly higher in price this year, in my opinion is the very best bang for your scope buying dollar.

Nikons are nice, I have a couple of them, Leupolds in the VX series Esp. in rimfire products are great, but comparing a VX1 and a 3200 as far as value for the money, Bushnell wins every time.

I find it odd that Leupold folks rave about the warranty, I can't honestly count how many scopes I have had as well as friends that have hunted for longer than myself, that have ever had an issue with a scope that needed to be sent back to the manufacturer. FS
 
If you note, I said the 3200 was the best of the options.

The last line was to describe going cheap for new and not getting reliable performance. Made no reference to the 3200 or any of the other options infact.

There are a number of entry level scopes that will not give you the optical clarity and low light viewing that more expensive scopes will. Coatings matter when the light is dim. Poor glass shows up even more under these conditions.

I am sure you are aware of that.

Jerry
 
Around the time the Bushnell 4200 scopes came on the market Rifle Magazine did an article about scopes for Africa, where reliability is everything. Their conclusions were several.
First, most 'good' scopes will fail with the first 20 rounds fired, and if they survive that they'll probably be good forever.
Second, you can spend really big bucks for top of the line glass, but that doesn't always mean much in terms of reliability.
Third, at what they referred to as an acceptable price level, with good glass and mechanics the higher end Leupolds were king.
Fourth, the conclusion was that the Bushnell 4200 scopes showed promise as the best of the best of the best in both categories. **Warranties were not considered as all important, as they don't mean diddly if your scope fails when you're a long way from a post office or service center. This applies to Canada as well as Africa, the only differences being the amount one has spent getting there and the degree of dissapointment felt when you realize your hunt's over for the season.
 
Burris Fullfield II 3-9x 40mm Ballistic plex. You can find them NIB for $200 if you shop around. IE not the regular mail order. Call stores and check the EE.

It's a no thrills well made scope with very good bright glass. It's also a real bargain.

I have NF, Zeiss Conquest, Leupold VXIII EFR, etc. I've kept my Fullfield II and put it on my Winchester model 70 Coyote.

The bottom line, any of the scopes mentioned will work. Some are better than others though.

Sniper Central did a review of this scope. But.. they had a tactical purpose in mind. It's a hunting scope.
Here's what they said about the optics. Judging from the optics on mine, I'd have to agree.

"First, the optics. The actual clarity of the scope and light transmission is on par with scopes of much higher price. Comparing directly with a Leupold Mk4 M3 10x, the clarity is not quite as good across the whole spectrum, but it is not far behind either. It is much better than other $200-$300 scopes. The light gathering is excellent, the specs say it has 95% light transmission with these lenses, and to get to that level with other manufacturers, you have to bump up to their top of the line scopes. During an early morning evaluation (hour before sun up) I compared it again side by side with the Leupold Mk4. The light gathering was nearly on par with the top of the line leupold. Both were excellent and the slightly better clarity of the leupold seemed to help the perception of light gathering to put it ahead of the burris. In terms of optics quality, the Burris performed very well."
 
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Bushnell has a lifetime warrenty as well. Their service is top as I've sent an old Scopechief after it gave up from years of heavy recoil and abuse. 2 weeks later I had a replacement brand new scope in my mail. I have to agree 3200 and 4200 are the best value for the price.
 
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