Banging head on wall!

J

jkc

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I am in the market for a scope for my newest toy. So, off I go to the computer to get some feedback.

It seems to me that I've read every opinion on the web. "I like this type" or " I prefer the this to the that model"

I just can't get around the fact that without holding, and seeing the piece, I don't think I can make a decision.

Being budget minded(cheap), and from what I have read on these and other pages, it was a toss up between a Vortex and Sightron. The big issue I have is that the nearest Sightron dealer is two hours from where I live. Upon calling they said they never stock them and they aren't good sellers. So much for that!

Another issue, the Vortex dealer only carries Vortex and nothing else. So there won't be any side by side comparisons. I looked at a Viper the other day, but inside a building with flouresent lighting probably isn't the best test either.

Finally, I am really particular to a Cabela's Alaskan guide scope at the local Cabela's. It seems like a good scope as well, but I just don't want to settle for something, and then not be happy.

Maybe I'll just go with open sights?
 
The new Sightrons offer some of the best optics in a scope that I have looked through and this is comparing to many products on the market.

The new side focus is one of the hottest selling scopes in the US right now as comp shooters have been blown away with the resolution, contrast and colour of the glass all at way less then other top tier brands.

I agree that the low end products are not all that great but that goes for every manf.

I have not looked at the Vortex so can't compare. Used their dot scope and was not impressed.

If you are truly on a budget and want good mechanicals and just want decent glass, then the Elite 3200 and Nikon Buckmaster gets my nod.

From there, Nikon Monarch, Elite 4200/6500, Sightron SII, then SIII LR. For the money spent, I am not a fan of Leupold but they are a decent product too.

If I can help get you a scope, let me know...

Jerry
 
How much are you looking to spend and what is the scope going on?

I don't have allot of money to spend on things at the moment due to other things in my life.

I put a Tasco Varmint 6-24 on my Savage Mark II .22LR because I like being able to see the target at many differences. Decent scope although can be fuzzy at higher magnifications (although this is because people are trying too high of a magnification at to low a distance. If you turn the bell to infinite and then the magnification to say 20 and look at an object hundreds of yards away the scope is clear). I bought the scope for the local rimfire club shoot as a prize and won it back.

I bought a Bushnell Banner 6-24 for my Remington 700 VTR and the scope was nice although I got a lemon that had to be shipped off to Bushnell for warranty so I can't really comment although many people here have sworn by them. I paid $120 shipped for it NIB so I can't complain too much.

Since the Bushnell went for a trip across Canada I threw the Tasco onto the Remington 700. So far Ive put about 100 rounds down the barrel and never had a problem with the Tasco to which Im quite surprised (since everyone has been saying how junky they are here on CGN :D). I'm currently hitting golfballs with it at 200 yards.
 
My price range would go up to $450.00. I will be putting it on a 25/06 that I purchased to be my all around gun. I'd like to spend the money one time and be satisfied for as long as I own the gun. So, I don't want to spend $120 now and then 5 years down the road spend another $400-500 on another scope. That is why I'm leary of the Cabela's scope.

Mystic; as you have said, the sightrons are some of the best on the market, but I would like to hold one and see for myself before I lay out the cash. As I'm sure you can understand. The side focus has really got a hold of me as well because I'm a lefty.

Again, the 3200 and Buckmaster were on the list, but I truly can afford better than that. Not that there is anything wrong with these pieces.

If you are a player then I'll check out your stuff, and maybe we can make a deal on a sightron?
 
jkc said:
My price range would go up to $450.00. I will be putting it on a 25/06 that I purchased to be my all around gun. I'd like to spend the money one time and be satisfied for as long as I own the gun. So, I don't want to spend $120 now and then 5 years down the road spend another $400-500 on another scope. That is why I'm leary of the Cabela's scope.

Mystic; as you have said, the sightrons are some of the best on the market, but I would like to hold one and see for myself before I lay out the cash. As I'm sure you can understand. The side focus has really got a hold of me as well because I'm a lefty.

Again, the 3200 and Buckmaster were on the list, but I truly can afford better than that. Not that there is anything wrong with these pieces.

If you are a player then I'll check out your stuff, and maybe we can make a deal on a sightron?
Click to expand...
I would beleive Gerry's opinion of Sightron quality but Sightron has had very little consumer interest in Canada. The previous company that was representing the manufacturer in Canada dropped the line due to poor sales and most of dealers did the same. Early less expensive models that we sold were very unimpressive however some of the newer stuff looks interesting. They get a much bigger push in the USA (marketing) than in Canada and appear to sell well there. Unless some big distributor that offered warranty picked them up we won't be carrying them again.

The Cabela's scope is just a branded low/mid level scope from one of the main scope manufacturers off shore (not sure which one). It may be a good bang for the buck but you wonder about warranty down the road and also resale value as to be honest we would not take in a used Cabela's scope on trade.

The side focus you speak of is on there as a parallax adjustment and would only appear on higher magnification scopes more suited for long range hunting or target shooting(is that what you are looking for?). Most hunters tend to stay with fixed parallax scopes.

If you like the 3200 or the Buckmaster but you can afford better then look at the upscale models for those brands like the 4200 for Bushnell or the Monarch for the Nikon.

Try to shop local and support the guy who spends a little time with you and lets you handle the product. If that does not work out and you don't buy a Sightron then give me a call or PM. Phil.
 
Why dont you just go with something like a Leupold VX-I or a Rifleman. I have a couple Rifleman scopes that I cant complain about. The VX-I comes in a 4x12 40mm if you are looking for a bit of power. (There is also a new one for $350 forsale on the EE right now).

If you could afford a bit more, I'd go with the VX-II in like a 3x9 40mm.

I have a Bushnell 4200 4x16 on my 22-250 and its night and day different than my VX-II 3x9 (Leupold being nicer).

You pay a bit more for a Leupold but that covers the cost of the unlimited warranty and excellent resale value. Just look in the EE, Leupolds dont go for cheap and seem to hold their value quite well.
 
I've got a couple Nikon Buckmasters. I like them. Nice and crisp and clear. I was out in a bad snowstorm last weekend, and my bushnell binocs fogged up, but my buckmaster scope did not. I have an Elite 3200 on another rifle. I haven't really put it to the test yet, but so far at the range it seems to be doing fine. I have a VX-II on another rifle. It has never let me down, but I don't see any optical difference between it and the Buckmaster scopes. It is a bit lighter than the nikon's, so I put it on my mountain rifle. I have a Simmons Aetec, and 2 months ago I'd have said it was great for the money. Nice a crisp right out to the edges. But about 6 weeks ago I was at the range, and the reticle became unattached just due to the recoil of my .308 Norma Mag. I sent it into the factory in Ontario within a couple days, but I still haven't heard from them. Simmons was bought by Bushnell, so I sent it to the Bushnell repair lab. Like I said, that was 6 weeks ago and I haven't heard anything from them. Quite frankly, based on my experiences so far, and a couple similar stories from friends I know, I'd strongly recommend against Bushnell. Busnell anything is just not very good. And if it breaks [and likely will] then you'll be waiting forever to get the warranty work done.
Stick with Nikon or Leupold. Far better quality and likely better service.
 
i have two luep vx1 and several vx11 2x7 and 3x9 scopes all work great. the one suprize i have had are the bushnel 3200 series. i have three 2x7 and 3x9 3200's. i have tried them on hard kickers like rem8 and 338's without problem. considering i haven't paid over $200 for a busnell 3200 nib there a great bargin. i had quit using busnell scopes due to all the wauernty issues years ago. due to the pricing i had to try them again. curently they sell for half of what i paid for my vx11's.
 
jkc said:
My price range would go up to $450.00. I will be putting it on a 25/06 that I purchased to be my all around gun. I'd like to spend the money one time and be satisfied for as long as I own the gun. So, I don't want to spend $120 now and then 5 years down the road spend another $400-500 on another scope. That is why I'm leary of the Cabela's scope.

Mystic; as you have said, the sightrons are some of the best on the market, but I would like to hold one and see for myself before I lay out the cash. As I'm sure you can understand. The side focus has really got a hold of me as well because I'm a lefty.

Again, the 3200 and Buckmaster were on the list, but I truly can afford better than that. Not that there is anything wrong with these pieces.

If you are a player then I'll check out your stuff, and maybe we can make a deal on a sightron?
Click to expand...

for 450 ish, why not go with leupold vxII 3-9x40, or a bushnell 4200 3-9x40.

if you're looking for more power, there are also the falcon series from allen gun works(a site sponsor), i've never seen 1, but take 5 seconds and you can find plenty of reviews here in the optics forum.

hope that helps
 
Depending on your budget right now, there are a number of dealers, some CGN sponsors included, who are clearing out discontinued VXIII models at great prices.
 
WOW, what great posts, and way more than what I expected from my rant!?! I didn't know that the side focus was strictly for the parallax adjustment.

What I did have in mind was the Nikon Monarch 2.5-10x42. Being that I want this to be an all around gun its low enough for up close but enough mag for out to 500 yards, which would be my maximum.

I'm sure a trusty 3-9 would work just as well, but I like the power range on this scope.

Back to the beginning though, after all the posts I've read, I would feel ripped off if I wasn't able to compare it to a Sightron of the same caliber. Maybe this is where 'mystic' could chime in?

Silverado, who and where should I look for these deals on scopes?
 
When getting cheaper/economical scopes - (not to be offensive but a 450 budget is on the lower end) the biggest factor is going to be warranty. The Elite 4200/3200 and Leupold lower ends have pretty comparable glass and are both reliable scopes. Leupold gets the nod when it comes to warranty but Bushnell isn't horrible when it comes to their 3200/4200 series scopes. I will never buy another Nikon scope - their warranty is terrible and they treat you like a criminal if you try to use it compared to Leupold or Bushnell (I had a pair of binoculars that they demanded original receipts for whey they crapped out almost 5 years later - who keeps receipts that long?) Sightron has nice optics but nothing special I have looked through most of their line side by side to Leupold and Bushnell. The uncertainty of warranty work is an issue - As scopes can crap out (Every brand I own or have owned, except Schmidt and Bender and Swarovski, has crapped out on me - Leupold, Bushnell, Nikon, Leapers, Springfield Armories, Browning at one point or another. The S&B/Swarovski haven't but I have only ever owned 1 of each) and the warranty is what makes the difference - at least for me.
 
Thanks for the heads up on the Nikon warranty issue. No offense taken on the cheapness. I have to hunt on a budget, not because I want to, but because my wife and 4... yeah four kids keep me in line!
 
Mad_Mikee said:
Why dont you just go with something like a Leupold VX-I or a Rifleman. I have a couple Rifleman scopes that I cant complain about. The VX-I comes in a 4x12 40mm if you are looking for a bit of power. (There is also a new one for $350 forsale on the EE right now).

If you could afford a bit more, I'd go with the VX-II in like a 3x9 40mm.

I have a Bushnell 4200 4x16 on my 22-250 and its night and day different than my VX-II 3x9 (Leupold being nicer).

You pay a bit more for a Leupold but that covers the cost of the unlimited warranty and excellent resale value. Just look in the EE, Leupolds dont go for cheap and seem to hold their value quite well.
Click to expand...

MM
You should start a poll and see how many other folks agree with your assessment of a VXII being a better scope than a 4200. FS
 
Huntin' Gun said:
I've got a couple Nikon Buckmasters. I like them. Nice and crisp and clear. I was out in a bad snowstorm last weekend, and my bushnell binocs fogged up, but my buckmaster scope did not. I have an Elite 3200 on another rifle. I haven't really put it to the test yet, but so far at the range it seems to be doing fine. I have a VX-II on another rifle. It has never let me down, but I don't see any optical difference between it and the Buckmaster scopes. It is a bit lighter than the nikon's, so I put it on my mountain rifle. I have a Simmons Aetec, and 2 months ago I'd have said it was great for the money. Nice a crisp right out to the edges. But about 6 weeks ago I was at the range, and the reticle became unattached just due to the recoil of my .308 Norma Mag. I sent it into the factory in Ontario within a couple days, but I still haven't heard from them. Simmons was bought by Bushnell, so I sent it to the Bushnell repair lab. Like I said, that was 6 weeks ago and I haven't heard anything from them. Quite frankly, based on my experiences so far, and a couple similar stories from friends I know, I'd strongly recommend against Bushnell. Busnell anything is just not very good. And if it breaks [and likely will] then you'll be waiting forever to get the warranty work done.
Stick with Nikon or Leupold. Far better quality and likely better service.
Click to expand...

HG

I have worked at a gun shop the for last 5 years or so and in that time we have sold and mounted several hundred Bushnell scopes every year. I this period of time I don't recall a single customer coming back to the shop telling us that this POS bushnell has failed me. I have Bushnells's, Nikons Leupolds and they all work just fine. Now I don't have any Simmons product, and likely never will. FS
 
An interesting anecdote, but the only scope I have ever personally witnessed at the moment of it's death was a Schmidt & Bender on a friend's Sako rifle.

Getting out of the truck into a very cold Alberta wind caused the seals to pop; the scope instantly fogged up and was useless on that hunt. It took 18 months for my friend to get it back from warranty service, from Germany.
 
Silver: I won't argue with you there - every brand I have own except the two I have mentioned have crapped out on me - I forgot about Simmons :) I had a Blazer that crapped out on me too from them. I firmly believe that every single scope company - Swarovski/S&B included can crap out. When you stick a piece of precision optics on any hard recoiling rifle, guaranteed there is a chance that it can break. I just find that with the higher end optics you get a better warranty and lighter scopes. That Simmons Blazer 4-16x40AO weighed about 1.5 lbs as I recall, it had a nice yellowish tint to the observed picture but man I sure used it hard on my 10/22. I easily put 20 bricks of all types of ammo through it. In the end the the cheap logo decal fell off and the turrets leaked out the Nitrogen and I only could use it at one power setting (you could actually see the reticle move when you were aiming at a target when you switched magnification) but I only paid like 150 bucks for it. Similiar stories for Tasco World Class Plus (I was told at the time it was the "premier" cheapo scope), Bushnell Legend? (the one with the deer antlers as the logo), Leapers (shudder - total POS), Browning and Springfield. Looking in hindsight I don't think I was the brightest kid on the block to keep buying cheapo scopes. I guess I was really gullible to the I-net and was always hoping to "beat" the odd with them. When my Mark 4 LR/T was messed up Leupy fixed it up (albeit it took two trips back to the USA for it but at least they honored the work). I also had a Vari-X III 4-14x40 that I had to send to Okotoks that one was fixed quickly and came back. Some may say I am unlucky but if you shoot enough and own a lot of guns/scopes guaranteed you will be doing the same thing.
 
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