Package rifle: good gun, crappy optics
- Thread starter AB3006
- Start date
I had them at the indoor range a week ago. Keep in mind it was only 25 yards.
The Vortex Crossfire II performed as expected, very good. Nice wide, bright field of view with a decent reticle. Keep in mind that I didn't adjust elevation or windage on the turrets. Just manually corrected for POA. Focus and zoom were easy to adjust and crisp (adjusting between me, with glasses, and my oldest, with perfect vision). I had no problem aligning on target and held nice crisp image all throughout adjusting position to the shot.
The Nikko Stirling on my Howa was... subawesome. The rifle itself shoots super consistently, and since I was shooting off a bipod it was easy to keep on target and group. Likewise, I didn't adjust the turrets, but manually corrected for POA. However, the field of focus is very narrow and a bit dark. Unless your cheek weld and eye alignment are just right, the image got all foggy and blurry. With a bit of shimmy, I was able to get consistent groups. I do have to say that the reticle is really nice out of the box, though I don't know if it would be durable in the field.
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Have a Nikko Stirling 4-16 that came with a Howa and at low magnification it’s relatively clear looking, but as you zoom in it’s pretty lacklustre. Clarity and brightness suffers, add any glare or mirage in the summer sun and it’s horrible.
Needless to say it was replaced quick, I just put it on an sks to plink around with at 100-200m but I’d rather shoot irons at those ranges. I’m more curious to see if I like the mildot reticle than if I can find a use for the scope, I already know I hate it lol. Might be fine on a .22 or something but on a center fire rifle it sucks.
Needless to say it was replaced quick, I just put it on an sks to plink around with at 100-200m but I’d rather shoot irons at those ranges. I’m more curious to see if I like the mildot reticle than if I can find a use for the scope, I already know I hate it lol. Might be fine on a .22 or something but on a center fire rifle it sucks.
I've had 4 of them over the years and liked them all. I currently have two in 2-7 with the duplex reticle. They are no long made and getting harder to find. I'm guessing other folks are liking them as well.
Good suggestion.
My 2 cents so limited viewpoint, it is what it is:
Had a Nikko Sterling Diamond, bought it about 25 (+/-) years ago off the LGS who recommended it, he said he was having warranty returns on the Nikon’s.
I think he charged too much, possibly made in Japan if I recall correctly, but it was a great scope with no issues, worked great. No idea on any other current offering from them but maybe they’re like many other optic manufacturers who sell a range of products from cheap junk to higher end?
Bushnell 3200, the only scope I’ve had that ruined a hunt…great warranty, they replaced it with no issue but that didn’t help on the day (severe fogging).
Burris E1, I’ve only just played with one that came on a rifle…I gave it away. Nice glass, felt like good quality but it had a busy reticle that was too small, kind of like an FFP scope at low magnification but this was a SFP scope so stayed hard to see everywhere. Maybe okay for a bench but not my cup of tea. If it had a standard duplex I would have kept it.
Newer Redfield’s, can’t go wrong. I’ve had three or four of them and all of them are better than their price point. Never a problem, never a complaint.
Vortex’s, like Bushnell have a wide range of offerings and I have limited experience with them but I really like my Viper PST 2 and Strike Eagles; good value for the money. Not sure on the hunting scopes or the entry level ones but in my opinion with anything if you buy solely on price quality usually takes a hit.
Nikon, bought a FX1000…came broken in the box (illumination didn’t work) so that told me all I needed about them, plus they left the rifle optics sector so there’s that too.
Sightron SII and SIII, played with a few of these any they were good, but not in an entry level price point so not sure on the cheaper ones but I think there are better known options at the lower price point.
Leupold’s…I have no experience with their entry level optics but there are lots of people who seem to like them.
Myself I’m a big fan of the VX3 line; I know way too many guys who have hunted with the same scope for decades without issue or complaint (I’m one of them).
The cheapest currently is about $670 and it’s a great scope, or keep an eye out for used and a deal can usually be found.
No doubt many decent offerings out there, just know what you want it to do and what you must have it do then rank those needs accordingly.
Sometimes it will show the savings of budget glass is very expensive, depending on your needs (saving $2-300 on a scope that wrecks a $2k hunt isn’t a bargain).
So for me a VX3 is a budget scope, my budget…anything less is just too expensive.
But, YMMV.
Had a Nikko Sterling Diamond, bought it about 25 (+/-) years ago off the LGS who recommended it, he said he was having warranty returns on the Nikon’s.
I think he charged too much, possibly made in Japan if I recall correctly, but it was a great scope with no issues, worked great. No idea on any other current offering from them but maybe they’re like many other optic manufacturers who sell a range of products from cheap junk to higher end?
Bushnell 3200, the only scope I’ve had that ruined a hunt…great warranty, they replaced it with no issue but that didn’t help on the day (severe fogging).
Burris E1, I’ve only just played with one that came on a rifle…I gave it away. Nice glass, felt like good quality but it had a busy reticle that was too small, kind of like an FFP scope at low magnification but this was a SFP scope so stayed hard to see everywhere. Maybe okay for a bench but not my cup of tea. If it had a standard duplex I would have kept it.
Newer Redfield’s, can’t go wrong. I’ve had three or four of them and all of them are better than their price point. Never a problem, never a complaint.
Vortex’s, like Bushnell have a wide range of offerings and I have limited experience with them but I really like my Viper PST 2 and Strike Eagles; good value for the money. Not sure on the hunting scopes or the entry level ones but in my opinion with anything if you buy solely on price quality usually takes a hit.
Nikon, bought a FX1000…came broken in the box (illumination didn’t work) so that told me all I needed about them, plus they left the rifle optics sector so there’s that too.
Sightron SII and SIII, played with a few of these any they were good, but not in an entry level price point so not sure on the cheaper ones but I think there are better known options at the lower price point.
Leupold’s…I have no experience with their entry level optics but there are lots of people who seem to like them.
Myself I’m a big fan of the VX3 line; I know way too many guys who have hunted with the same scope for decades without issue or complaint (I’m one of them).
The cheapest currently is about $670 and it’s a great scope, or keep an eye out for used and a deal can usually be found.
No doubt many decent offerings out there, just know what you want it to do and what you must have it do then rank those needs accordingly.
Sometimes it will show the savings of budget glass is very expensive, depending on your needs (saving $2-300 on a scope that wrecks a $2k hunt isn’t a bargain).
So for me a VX3 is a budget scope, my budget…anything less is just too expensive.
But, YMMV.
