Current ranking table of scope Manufacturer/Models

SandRoad

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I came across this on the SWFA forum.


http://www.opticstalk.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=8185

The scale below was formed by SWFA sales staff, customer service, pro-staff and owners using personal experience, customer input and facts supplied by the manufacturers. The ranking system is based on the following criteria.

51% Optical Quality - How bright and clear the scope is.
15% Specifications - Field of view, eye relief, weight, adjustment travel, etc.
15% Durability - How do they with stand the test of time.
12% Special Features & Options - Proprietary items (reticles, design, turrets), Zoom ratio.
7% Warranty & Customer Service - How good are they.
0% (Value - Bang for your buck.) This criteria has been removed due to O.T. member input.

In order to maintain the scale's simplicity we are not listing every single manufacture and only major manufactures will have several of their brands listed. This scale also does not have discontinued brands or products like the old U.S.A. made Redfields, Japan Tasco or Japan Simmons Aetec. This scale is heavily weighted toward HUNTING as being the application the scope will be used for.

This scale will be kept current with changes that the manufacturers are making that affect their rank. Many of the lower end companies have been bought and sold a lot recently and while the names have stayed the same......the product has not.

2009 Riflescope Rating Scale

  • Leica ER, Swarovski Z6, Zeiss Victory

  • Kahles C - CL & CSX, Premier Reticle, Schmidt & Bender

  • Kahles KX, U.S. Optics, Swarovski PH & American Lightweight

  • Bushnell Elite 6500, Leupold VX-7, Nightforce NXS, IOR Valdada, Vortex Razor

  • Bushnell Elite 4200, Leupold VX-3, Nikon Monarch & Monarch X, Zeiss Conquest

  • Leupold Mark 4 VX III & VX-L, Meopta, Nikon Monarch Gold & Titanium, Sightron SIII & S2 Big Sky, Vortex Viper

  • Burris Black Diamond Signature Select XTR & Euro Diamond, Pentax Lightseeker, Trijicon Accupoint, Weaver Grand Slam

  • Bushnell Elite 3200, Leupold VX-II, Millet Tactical/Buck Gold, Nikko Stirling, Nikon Buckmaster, Sightron SI & SII, Vortex Crossfire & Diamondback, Super Sniper Fixed

  • Burris Fullfield II & Timberline, Leupold Rifleman & VX-I, Leatherwood, Mueller, Nikon ProStaff, Simmons

  • Barska, Sightmark, Swift, Truglo

  • BSA, Tasco, Yukon

  • ATN, Leapers, NcStar

This is a work in progress and continuously changing, please discuss your opinions, ask questions and make suggestions HERE. This post will be updated as the scale changes and the fact that it is in the F.A.Q. section allows it to be easily accessed at any time and also restricts any posts from being added to it.

Edited by Chris Farris - April/05/2009 at 14:50
 
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A rating scale for hunting scopes with a 12% weighting on the factor of "special features and options" while only 15% is assigned to "durability" isn't very useful to me.
 
A rating scale for hunting scopes with a 12% weighting on the factor of "special features and options" while only 15% is assigned to "durability" isn't very useful to me.

No scope can climb very far up the rankings if durability is poor, you know, the "all else being equal" type of thing.

If you want more specific answers, they have hundreds of individual reviews in their forums, or just pick one of; Leica ER, Swarovski Z6, or Zeiss Victory
 
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Very interesting info but you change the criteria, you change the ranking. Also, some of the new gen products would change in their ranking especially around the optical quality side. The new gen Sightron SIII LR would rate with the Euro scopes as far as optical quality goes.

What I do agree with is the grouping of the Japanese made scopes starting with both the Elite 6500 and 4200. My personal experience agrees that these all share very similar optical attributes. Of course, many of their the features vary but the glass is all very similar.

What they didn't compare was mechanical prowess. From the position as a LR shooter, being able to dial up matters. Unfortunately, many scopes don't always give you what you expect. This would be a sizeable rating value for me if I were to make a comparison.

Ultimately, there can never be one set of critieria to rate scopes. There are different scopes for different applications and that means different priorities.

But is it a great start...

Jerry
 
I believe the Vortex Razor mentioned in the 4th group should be the "Viper". The Razor is a binoc.
The Viper looks like the "best buy" of that group at $580 for a 6.5 - 20X
Yes, it would be nice to see where the Falcon Menace would fit into these ratings.
 
I believe the Vortex Razor mentioned in the 4th group should be the "Viper". The Razor is a binoc.

The Viper is listed in the 6th place group. The Razor is the all new tactical scope from Vortex coming out this summer. SWFA got a sneak peek at it already which I assume is why they included on their list.
 
The IOR rates up with the NXS yet the Mark 4 rates well below? Suspicious.

Why would it be "suspicious"? Look at HOW they came up with their ratings. It is easy for a couple top ratings in a few areas to bump a scope up a couple of ratings.

Doesn't mean those are the particular features are the most important to you. You can apply your own criteria and come up with a completely different list.

At least this list is consistent. (with their criteria)

Rating IOR with Nightforce is BS big time. We
dropped IOR as the Canadian importer due to too many failures and piss-poor customer service. Top shooters use Nightforce for good reasons.

Regards,

Peter Dobson
www.hirschprecision.com


I wonder if it is because they are having a different experience with customer service? Again, look at their ranking criteria.

However, it is really good to know that their customer service is poor and that there were lots of failures and I was hoping for this type of knowledge/comments to come out to put some of the rankings into better perspective.
 
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