what scope & bino's do you use in the field?

Scopechief 4 X, Bushnell Legend 8 X 42 WP. Total cost about $200. Rifle is a Parker Hale 30-06 that cost me $165 around 1975.

I agree that 6 X30 is ideal in forested country but its hard to find a decent 6X anywhere around here. I haven't seen a pair in a shop within two hundred miles.

Most people seem to have bought in to "bigger is better and gotta have the big name" thinking about just about everything they buy. Can't see anything without a Swarovski, can't shoot anything without a Leupold, can't drop anything without a magnum.
 
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Mr. Friendly said:
what are some good recommendations for inexpensive optics that work very well? now, I'm not meaning cheap...I'm meaning something that's not worth twice the price of my rifle!
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What are your price ranges for each item? What you are asking is pretty vague, need more details.

Example: maybe you have a $2500 rifle, see what I mean ;)
 
762shooter said:
Most people seem to have bought in to "bigger is better and gotta have the big name" thinking about just about everything they buy. Can't see anything without a Swarovski, can't shoot anything without a Leupold, can't drop anything without a magnum.
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Here we go again :rolleyes:

We should all go back to front stuff smoke poles or bows and arrows :p. Many outdoors men and women use top quality optics to their full potential every day. I myself use top quality(the best I can afford) optics because I spend far more time in the field, scouting, watching and field judging animals than I do killing them.

With the amount of time and money myself and many others devote to hunting and the outdoors, why not use the best your budget can handle? I know for myself, spending a week or more backpacking into a remote area to kill the animal of a lifetime is no easy task and I want the best my budget can handle. There is no way I am going to trust cheap optics that may or may not hold up when the critical time presents itself. I have seen far too many cheaper optics fail to put that kind of trust in them.

IMO buy the best your wallet can afford, you will be a happier person in the end. The frustration alone that you can save yourself is worth every penny...
 
The Bushnell 4200 Line has served me quite well I have 6 in total various powers and am VERY happy with the optics and light gathering capabilities for the money the 4200s are my choice I also have Bushnell Binos and a Leica rangefinder am very happy with the Leica also.
Pete........
 
762shooter said:
Scopechief 4 X, Bushnell Legend 8 X 42 WP. Total cost about $200. Rifle is a Parker Hale 30-06 that cost me $165 around 1975.

I agree that 6 X30 is ideal in forested country but its hard to find a decent 6X anywhere around here. I haven't seen a pair in a shop within two hundred miles.

Most people seem to have bought in to "bigger is better and gotta have the big name" thinking about just about everything they buy. Can't see anything without a Swarovski, can't shoot anything without a Leupold, can't drop anything without a magnum.
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I would say that more people start with cheap stuff, quickly learn the error of their ways and move up to mid-range. Most will stay there, some depending on their needs, acquired knowledge and means will move into the top shelf gear.
I think you will find that guys with the money for a room full of highend gear never got that kind of money by being stupid.
 
Binoculars and Scopes

I have 2 pairs of binoculars, Kahles 10x42 and Swavorski 7x42 SLC New. I have upgraded all of my scopes to Leupold VariX-III, courtesy of GunNutz ( even on my 22 ). There is no substitute for good glass!!
 
I'm using a Leupold VXII on one of my hunting rifles and a Burris FFII on the other. The Burris seems to offer more optical quality for the dollar, but it will take time to determine whether the famous Leupold quality / durability wins out over the cheaper Burris.
 
For my binos I use my grandad's WW1 field glasses. Still optically good and increadibly durable. For my scopes:

Tikka T3 .300WSM - Nikon Buckmasater 4.5-14X40 SF mildot
Remington LTSS .30-06 - Burris Fullfield II 3-9X40 BP
Browning A-Bolt Medallion .375 H&H - Nikon Buckmaster 4-12X50 SF NP
A Nikon Prostaff 3-9X40 BDC waiting for a rifle in it's box.

I like the Nikon because they are inexpensive and arguably (and bet I get a argument) as good optically as the Leupolds, Ziess etc. I just got the Burris cheap.

There ya go... you asked
 
I think best for me are Swarovski, and Zeiss just behind for binos.
Scopes is different story because we don't have to hunt at dark in Canada, so we rather need durable scope with waterproof chassis.
I like Zeiss Conquest for their price and quality, I think Elite 4200 series is another bargain, I can say lots of good about Nikon.
If someone has got cash and serious about quality go with Swarovski and Zeiss.
 
For my binos I use my grandad's WW1 field glasses. Still optically good and increadibly durable. For my scopes:

Tikka T3 .300WSM - Nikon Buckmasater 4.5-14X40 SF mildot
Remington LTSS .30-06 - Burris Fullfield II 3-9X40 BP
Browning A-Bolt Medallion .375 H&H - Nikon Buckmaster 4-12X50 SF NP
A Nikon Prostaff 3-9X40 BDC waiting for a rifle in it's box.

I like the Nikon because they are inexpensive and arguably (and bet I get a argument) as good optically as the Leupolds, Ziess etc. I just got the Burris cheap.

There ya go... you asked
 
For my binos I use my grandad's WW1 field glasses. Still optically good and increadibly durable. For my scopes:

Tikka T3 .300WSM - Nikon Buckmasater 4.5-14X40 SF mildot
Remington LTSS .30-06 - Burris Fullfield II 3-9X40 BP
Browning A-Bolt Medallion .375 H&H - Nikon Buckmaster 4-12X50 SF NP
A Nikon Prostaff 3-9X40 BDC waiting for a rifle in it's box.

I like the Nikon because they are inexpensive and arguably (and bet I get a argument) as good optically as the Leupolds, Ziess etc. I just got the Burris cheap.

There ya go... you asked
 
Well I have a couple of Leupolds. A VX-I on my .338F and a Rifleman on my CZ .22 LR. I have a couple of Tasco World Class Rimfire scopes, and a Weaver K3 I keep around whenever somthing new finds it's way into my safe until I pick up a scope for it. My Bino's are Bushnell Elite 8x42's and so far they've treated me real well.
 
Most of my hunting rifles wear a Leupold VX-III or the older Vari-X III of one form or another.

The binos I use most often are a set of Leica Ultravid 8x42's -- they're a bit heavy, but more than worth it when it comes time to look through them.
 
scopes are a mix of leups,burris and elite 3200. hard to buy really high end when your scoping 15 rifles. bino's i'm using minox 9.5x 42, like them very much for the $$ value. spotter is a burris compact but would like to upgrade.
 
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