List of reliable decent glass scopes?

Cleftwynd

Cleftwynd

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Looking to make a list of rifle scopes with decent glass that track properly. Must pass a box test, reliably, and have decent glass.

Price not considered.

reticle not considered.

turret styles not considered.

size or zoom range not considered.


It would be nice if collectively we could produce a list of scopes that track (adjust) as advertised, and are nice on the eyes!! I have owned scopes that will hold zero but adjustments are a guessing game, also own scopes that track well but are very poor to look through, and vice versa!!


Please post only scopes that you have tested properly, or have personal experience with. I don't care if it's a barska (yeah right lol) or a S&B. Any reviews you might have or links to such will also help of course.


Regards, Bill
 
I have a barska 6-24x42 scope that while it's not the brightest tracks perfectly and it's been abused hard. I just bought a Bushnell elite so ill test it tomorrow with 20 rounds of 458 wm. My other Bushnell scopes have done well over the years
 
Currently running a Nightforce ATACR on my 338AI I have had it strapped on the front of my quad to get to various shooting locations and average fifty rounds per week weather permitting -10 to +30 is generally my comfort limits. I have not had to re-zero since installation only once when i replaced the barrel adjustments on external turrets precise and consistent beautiful to look through. I also run a Nightforce SHV on my 300 win mag for hunting with like results only it has not seen as many rounds I will never run anything else.
 
New VXII 3-9x40.
For a lower to mid road scope, price point is great.
Bushnell 4200 3-9x40 works well too.
Had a couple Zeiss Conquest in the same power ranges.
Wonderful scopes for clarity.
Found them to be bulky, heavy and don't care for the +hairs.
 
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I think you should look at where a scope is made....not the name that is on it, to determine glass and build quality.
 
Nikon monarch 3, 4-16x42 nikoplex mounted on a ruger m77 7mm rem mag
very positive controls
very crisp and clear glass
bang on with the box test, excellent low light visibility (at beginning and end of legal shooting times)
and matches the data on the Spot On app from Nikon extremely close.
cost after tax a lil under 600
 
I have a couple of "newish" Leupolds and they all track properly:
VX1 2-7X28 Rimfire (great rimfire hunting scope, can be mounted very low on a bolt gun)
VX1 3-9x40 (replaced my old vari-x II with this one). Much better optics than the older VX I version!
VX2 6-18x40 AO. Great scope, the distance reference on the AO is not exact but close enough. AO is effective down to about 20 meters.

Also have a Nikon Prostaff BDC 150 rimfire. Great glass for hunting; optics, turrets and tracking are outstanding for a scope under $200. Be careful, the adjustments are in 1/2 MOA (1/4 in at 50 yd) which makes this scope useless for accurate target shooting.
 
Every scope is different. The more money you drop on something does not mean it will work perfectly. It just means it is a lot less likely not to work perfectly. You might find a $150 scope that has great glass and spot on tracking, but that is extremely unlikely. At the same time, the odds that you will get a Zeiss or S&B with poor glass and ####ty tracking is also extremely unlikely, but not impossible.

I've used NF almost exclusively, for a reason. That been said, when I shoot my buddies S&B, I have to wipe off the drool every time.

Here is a link to a series of tests done on tactical style scopes popular in the US PRS matches. http://precisionrifleblog.com/2014/09/19/tactical-scopes-field-test-results-summary/
 
Thanks for all the input so far. Other than glass quality and a clear picture I have found most low-mid range scopes won't pass a box test properly, or move POI the advertised amount. Annoying....

I am in the market for 4 rifle scopes, getting too many rifles without decent glass and it made me wish we had a CGN approved list of rifle scopes that work as intended!! I don't have the $$ to purchase 4-6 S&B's either lol
 
Cleftwynd said:
Thanks for all the input so far. Other than glass quality and a clear picture I have found most low-mid range scopes won't pass a box test properly, or move POI the advertised amount. Annoying....

I am in the market for 4 rifle scopes, getting too many rifles without decent glass and it made me wish we had a CGN approved list of rifle scopes that work as intended!! I don't have the $$ to purchase 4-6 S&B's either lol
Click to expand...

When I was on the Cdn National F class team for the 2013 Worlds, the only scopes allowed were Sightron, NF, S&B and MARCH

Enough said.

Jerry

PS.. if money was no object, I would add Tangen Theta to that list today.
 
Alpheus said:
Every scope is different. The more money you drop on something does not mean it will work perfectly. It just means it is a lot less likely not to work perfectly. You might find a $150 scope that has great glass and spot on tracking, but that is extremely unlikely. At the same time, the odds that you will get a Zeiss or S&B with poor glass and ####ty tracking is also extremely unlikely, but not impossible.

I've used NF almost exclusively, for a reason. That been said, when I shoot my buddies S&B, I have to wipe off the drool every time.

Here is a link to a series of tests done on tactical style scopes popular in the US PRS matches. http://precisionrifleblog.com/2014/09/19/tactical-scopes-field-test-results-summary/
Click to expand...

that link is a very good eye opener.
 
I have had good experience with zeiss conquest. And having looked through a s&b or nf or a kahles I would say the conquest is entry level goodness. From purely optical clarity, the conquest is quite nice, but not top of the line from my experience.
 
Leupold vx-1 2-7x28 rimfire
Leupold vx-1 3-9x40
Zeiss 3-9x40 Conquest
Zeiss 2-10x42 HD5
Sightron 4.5-14x50
Sightron 6-24x42 Silhouette
Sightron 8-32x56
Sightron 10-50x60

All passed with flying colours.

I know there are a ton of Vortex fans out there, but they have been nothing but trouble for me. The Sparc II being the exception. That is one fine little red dot.

Thanks,
Cal.
 
calvados.boulard said:
Leupold vx-1 2-7x28 rimfire
Leupold vx-1 3-9x40
Zeiss 3-9x40 Conquest
Zeiss 2-10x42 HD5
Sightron 4.5-14x50
Sightron 6-24x42 Silhouette
Sightron 8-32x56
Sightron 10-50x60

All passed with flying colours.

I know there are a ton of Vortex fans out there, but they have been nothing but trouble for me. The Sparc II being the exception. That is one fine little red dot.

Thanks,
Cal.
Click to expand...

are the VX-1 turrets still friction ?
 
The best I've had so far is the Nightforce SHV 5-25 . Cost $1500. I'm thinking of trying either a Sightron or leupold next. If either has the same clarity and tracking , I'd be happy with it.
 
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