What's the Tikka of the optics world?

I would also say that the Leupold Vari X-III, VX-III, and VX-3 were the best value and performance for the dollar in years gone by.
Today, it's hard to say as I have only been buying higher end scopes over the past 10 years (Swarovski, Kahles, VX-5 and 6), and haven't kept up on the many other brands mentioned above.
(I can say after working in a couple of LGS's that the scopes of 12-16 years ago, the ones I steered clear of were the Zeiss Conquest and Vortex lines due to several factors that had a high return/warranty rate). The newer Zeiss HD4 line seems to be of better quality, but not sure that I wouldn't rate it as a higher level product...Trijicons would probably rate here and higher too
 
ocanuck said:
My Tikka hunting rifles all wear Burris Signature HDs. Nice glass, good reticles, awesome turrets.

I'm surprised at all the love Swaro and Zeiss are getting... in my experience their rifle scopes were way over priced for what they are. Binos/Spotters is a different story.
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Not when you consider glass they aren't. At best Leupold is Japanese glass and have you made any Leupold vs Zeiss/Swarovski prices lately. Major inflation by Leupold to where they are with and higher than the Euros and below the VX3 HD are ridiculous. I wouldn't rank a Leupold Freedom highly and there they are at the $700+ range. Best glass for the $$ is still the Euros.
 
BlackRam said:
I would also say that the Leupold Vari X-III, VX-III, and VX-3 were the best value and performance for the dollar in years gone by.
Today, it's hard to say as I have only been buying higher end scopes over the past 10 years (Swarovski, Kahles, VX-5 and 6), and haven't kept up on the many other brands mentioned above.
(I can say after working in a couple of LGS's that the scopes of 12-16 years ago, the ones I steered clear of were the Zeiss Conquest and Vortex lines due to several factors that had a high return/warranty rate). The newer Zeiss HD4 line seems to be of better quality, but not sure that I wouldn't rate it as a higher level product...Trijicons would probably rate here and higher too
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Surprised you had issues with the older Conquests. Some of the best glass and builds I've owned over many years along with the Nikon Monarch series. Vortex I'd agree 10O%. One of several brands I'd never own.
 
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270AB said:
Surprised you had issues with the older Conquests. Some of the best glass and builds I've owned over many years along with the Nikon Monarch series. Vortex I'd agree 10O%. One of several brands I'd never own.
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The first Conquest I had crapped out over time, with not a real high round count. It was a 3-9; when I sent it in they sent me a Conquest 4 4-16. I guess I won that deal, paid 300 for the first one.
 
270AB said:
Not when you consider glass they aren't. At best Leupold is Japanese glass and have you made any Leupold vs Zeiss/Swarovski prices lately. Major inflation by Leupold to where they are with and higher than the Euros and below the VX3 HD are ridiculous. I wouldn't rank a Leupold Freedom highly and there they are at the $700+ range. Best glass for the $$ is still the Euros.
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I’ve being leupold Guy for years - also Zeiss and Swarovski scopes - and I agree the Freedoms and the Vx3HD s are WAY over PRICED 🤷‍♂️🤪
 
Bought two of the first version Zeiss Conquest MC's, 3-9x40RZ600 and a 4.5-14x40RZ800, they were made by LOW in Japan, so was the Terra, and now the V4. Back then, Leupold wasn't holding a candle to them or the Swaro Z3. Nightforce, Vortex, Apex, Delta, Athlon, Trijicon, Sightron, Tract, Bushnell all have or have had LOW or Japan Optics builds in their lines.They're probably the best bang for the buck these days, pick what features in whichever brand, and a reticle, other than some cosmetics, they're much the same product, bought Tract, Delta and Sightron all sight unseen, not disappointed with any of them, no regrets..
 
209jones said:
Bought two of the first version Zeiss Conquest MC's, 3-9x40RZ600 and a 4.5-14x40RZ800, they were made by LOW in Japan, so was the Terra, and now the V4. Back then, Leupold wasn't holding a candle to them or the Swaro Z3. Nightforce, Vortex, Apex, Delta, Athlon, Trijicon, Sightron, Tract, Bushnell all have or have had LOW or Japan Optics builds in their lines.They're probably the best bang for the buck these days, pick what features in whichever brand, and a reticle, other than some cosmetics, they're much the same product, bought Tract, Delta and Sightron all sight unseen, not disappointed with any of them, no regrets..
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Not many, but maybe 1 Vortex being built in Japan these days. China, Phillipines, and Korea much more prevalent. Dont recognize any increase in quality either. Zeiss Terra has been Chinese for some time now and it's not hard to tell. I think one Bushnell has Japanese origins these days and its a tactical. Most like the 4500x are Korean or lower. Used to be great scopes in the 3200/4200 days. Now Meh.
 
270AB said:
Surprised you had issues with the older Conquests. Some of the best glass and builds I've owned over many years along with the Nikon Monarch series. Vortex I'd agree 10O%. One of several brands I'd never own.
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The Conquests having issues were the version with German parts that were assembled in the US. Not all were affected, but enough that made me steer clear.
 
270AB said:
Surprised you had issues with the older Conquests. Some of the best glass and builds I've owned over many years along with the Nikon Monarch series. Vortex I'd agree 10O%. One of several brands I'd never own.
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Vortex is not the "Tika" of the scope world, they are more the "Savage" of the scope world. People keep laughing or shrugging off my Ritons, but compare them to similar size and power Vortex stuff the Vortex always falls a bit short IMO on both sharpness and features/usability, but they do have their fan-boys.
 
Meroh said:
Vortex is not the "Tika" of the scope world, they are more the "Savage" of the scope world. People keep laughing or shrugging off my Ritons, but compare them to similar size and power Vortex stuff the Vortex always falls a bit short IMO on both sharpness and features/usability, but they do have their fan-boys.
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I have a couple of Riton scopes. They are a bit clunky and heavy, but I’m always surprised by the glass quality when I use them and good features for the price. They have held zero through slips and falls and the turrets feel solid and positive.
Yes they are made in China, but the deer and paper don’t seem to mind.

I wouldn’t imagine they’d compare with a Nightforce or a Zeiss but they’re a lot lighter on the pocketbook and easier on the conscience to use as a tool rather than a jewel.
 
Meroh said:
Vortex is not the "Tika" of the scope world, they are more the "Savage" of the scope world. People keep laughing or shrugging off my Ritons, but compare them to similar size and power Vortex stuff the Vortex always falls a bit short IMO on both sharpness and features/usability, but they do have their fan-boys.
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You're being hard on Savage there. 😄
 
morp said:
I have a couple of Riton scopes. They are a bit clunky and heavy, but I’m always surprised by the glass quality when I use them and good features for the price. They have held zero through slips and falls and the turrets feel solid and positive.
Yes they are made in China, but the deer and paper don’t seem to mind.

I wouldn’t imagine they’d compare with a Nightforce or a Zeiss but they’re a lot lighter on the pocketbook and easier on the conscience to use as a tool rather than a jewel.
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I've had zero problems with any of the Euro brands. Multiple, 4+ with Leupold and not their lower end either. On the positive side Korth service has been very good which saves them imo. I still own several Leupolds but 90% were purchased when their pricing and reliability was better than current.
 
Bought a Delta Stryker 4.5-30x56 sight unseen about 7 yrs ago, no issues with it whatsoever, very happy with it, did the same with a Tract Toric UHD 4-20x50 PRS about 5 yrs ago. Both were built by LOW, Tract has German glass, Delta has Jap glass, just a difference in the "colour" of the image, haven't really noticed any difference in the detail available to me in using them. Both have good turrets, track great. I'd have no issue with buying either again.
 
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