rifle scope recommendations

hogiron

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I'm looking to upgrade one of my rifle scopes that is on a Ruger 77 204cal. Currently there is a Bushnell Banner 3-9x40. It does the job in bright daytime conditions, but dusk and dawn the object is very cloudy and seems out of focus.
I use the the gun mainly for coyotes. Any recommendations? I've looked at the Nikon coyote special 4.5-14x40, a couple of Bushnell's Elite 4200 and 6500 and a Burris diamond two. I'm not stuck on any one brand name.
I've got high mount rings and could probably get a scope with up to a 50mm lens.
What's a good scope out their, and availability? Thanks for the help.
 
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My varmint rifles all wear Zeiss Conquests, either 4.5-14x44, or 4.5-14x50. I bought all of them new, or like new, off of the EE for $700 to $800.
 
My 204 has the 6-18 VX II on it, seems to work pretty well. Any thing over $300 is going to be a real improvement over what you have. FS
 
Thanks for the reply's. They're not giving those VXIII's away. Are they that much better then the Nikon Buckmasters with the same specs? I also notice there are quite a few VX's on the EE, some NIB, what might be the down side?
 
How much do you want to spend.


The price will be relative to the quality of scope. I don't have a limit, but I'd like something variable to 16x or 20x and a 40mm-50mm lens, also something good in low light. I'm going to check out the suggestions from Cummins, fassteel, and stubblejumper on Monday.
I've been hunting and shooting with low end scopes for too long, and Fassteel's comment confirmed it. So I'm starting with the 204, and eventually all my rifles, will get better scopes. I just don't know enough about them to go out and buy the first thing I see.
Thanks again for the help.
 
hogiron, just a comment, all my rifles wear VXIII or VXL glass. I have spent from 50% of the cost of the rifle up to 150% for optics and quality mounts. Never regretted buying quality glass, rifles come and go but I keep the scopes and mount them on the next rifle.
 
One reason that I no longer purchase Leupold, is that the eye relief changes significantly as you adjust the magnification. That isn't the case with the Conquests.
 
One reason I continue to buy Leupold is that the warranty depot is in Okotoks and the warranty service is for any scope regardless if you bought it used. FWIW I have never had to send a scope in personally but did so for customers and the service was tops IMO. The Euro glass is awesome but getting something repaired MIGHT be a PITA.
 
The Euro glass is awesome but getting something repaired MIGHT be a PITA.

I have never had a warranty issue with Zeiss or Swarovski, but I have had damaged scopes(horse wreck and bad fall) repaired by both of them. The repairs took longer than with Leupold(two warranty claims) but both were painless and free of charge, despite both being the results of damage, and not defects.
 
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