[r0bb6ub9]

Just bought my first rifle yesterday. Browning a-bolt 7mm rem mag. got it brand new for $400 bucks. heck of a deal. anyway i want to put a real good scope on it that could take the abuse of the recoil an the elements. any advise? thanks

 

[eview326]

Go look at some scopes and see what you like, nikon, burris, leupold, zeiss, all good names, plan to spend at least $200 on something quality.

 

[jcchartboy]

Rob,

Recoil an the elements should not be a concern at all when discussing any "real good" scope. Any reasonably good scope will easily handle the mild recoil of a 7mag.

The only two questions you really need to answer before a good recomendation can be made is:

1)What magnification? (I would think 3-9x or 3.5-10x)

2)How much are you willing to spend? (Everyone has different ideas on what they want to spend on a "good" scope.)

Let us know and I am sure we can give you many good choices, although I admit that 90% of the folks should all agree on the same 3-4 choices.

JC

 

[r0bb6ub9]

like 3-12, 4.5-14. each like40mm
i'd like to spend like 400$ an less honestly

 

[liquidorange]

get a leupold vari x ii 3 x9x 40

 

[flat9999]

At that price point, you are narrowing down your choices to maybe 3 or 4 scopes.
Zeiss Conquest
Leupold VXIII
Nikon Monarch
All of these are top-notch scopes and if you look carefully enough, you can find them for around $400.
IMHO, they are all pretty much equal in quality, although I'm sure some can argue for their favorites.
Personally, Iv'e always bought Leupold with no complaints.

 

[jcchartboy]

Rob,

Frankly, I think you will find that to be a little more glass than you need given that price is a consideration. As I am sure you know the higher you go in magnification the more price rises all things being considered.

While I certainly won't talk you out of going with a little extra glass I personally think you would be better off going with slightly less magnification (10x instead of 12-14), and instead buying a better quality scope.

Basically, if you are looking at a 12-14 the best scope for your money in the price range you are looking is probably the VX-II's.

Once again, in my opinion, I personally would go with a 3.5-10 in which case you would have the money to purchase a better scope and you can get yourself into a Vari-X III or a VX-III.

Having owned most of these scope with the exception of the 4-12 VX-II, (I've owned the 4-12 Var-x and VX-III's in standard and AO models), I can tell you that it is extremely difficult to beat the 3.5-10x40 VX-III.

JC

 

[flat9999]

One more thing, 3x9 is plenty for 99.9% of any shots that your'e ever going to encounter. So better to get a better 3x9 than a lower quality 4.5x14 or greater.

 

[matjok]

get a leupold vari x ii 3 x9x 40

While Leupolds are good scopes, there are scopes out there with better optical quality and better build, available for less money. In my opinion, Pentax and Burris scopes are a much better value for the money.
In fact, Pentax is made by Burris.

Below is a link with some info on scopes. This guy has done some extensive study on scopes.

Advocates for Leupold acopes often quote Leupold's lifetime warranty. However, even cheaper scopes do have that warranty these days.

Do some reading on Pentax lightseeker scopes. They are very good quality. Comparable models from Burris are Black diamond and Eurodiamond.
http://www.charm.net/~kmarsh/sport.html

 

[BROWNING 10 GA]

At that price point, you are narrowing down your choices to maybe 3 or 4 scopes.
Zeiss Conquest
Leupold VXIII
Nikon Monarch
All of these are top-notch scopes and if you look carefully enough, you can find them for around $400.
IMHO, they are all pretty much equal in quality, although I'm sure some can argue for their favorites.
Personally, Iv'e always bought Leupold with no complaints.

I have all of these and I agree.I do own about a dozen Leupolds and that is my scope of choice but am still happy with my Nikon Monarch UCC and my Zeiss Conquest.

 

[lefteye]

Burris Fullfield 3x9 are about $200.00 and will do the job nicely.

 

[jcchartboy]

In my opinion, Pentax and Burris scopes are a much better value for the money.

Better money when is the question?

The day you pay the bill....yes.

Anytime in the future...no.

All one has to do is to look at the resale prices of Leupold scopes to know that they are perhaps the single best scopes in the world in terms of value. This becomes especially true when talking about the VX-III models and up.

A simple review of listing and sales prices of new and used scopes on EBAY will clearly show, in real world dollars, how actual users of each brand of scope value their experience with their scopes. Very simply, the tighter the spread between the price of a new scope and that same model as a used scope...the more value the shooting public places finds in that produce....as mentioned previously, virtually no other line of scope maintains as high of a resale value as the Leupold's...and there is one one reason for that...quality for the money equaling value!

JC

 

[matjok]

Natchezss have a clearance sale on Browning branded Bushnell scopes. These are made supposedly Elite 3200 custom made for Browning, with Elite 4200 glass. If this is true, they are exceptional value for the money.


http://www.natchezss.com/brand.cfm?contentID=productDetail&brand=BH&category=0&prodID=BH883940M

 

[jcchartboy]

Matjok,

They are 3200 glass with 4200 quality coatings (not 4200 quality lenses..though I know where you heard that...LOL)...these are incredible deals...just not what I consider "real good" scopes.

JC

 

[matjok]

A simple review of listing and sales prices of new and used scopes on EBAY will clearly show, in real world dollars, what actual how actual users of each brand of scope value their experience with their scopes

JC,
Prices on Ebay can never be taken as a yardstick to measure quality. In fact, prices have more to do with marketing than the quality of the product. It is true that Leupold is more popular than many other brands of scopes, so naturally their scopes stay in demand.
I am not saying that Leupolds are bad scopes. They are just overpriced for what they actually are. Why? because they know they can get away with it.

 

[r0bb6ub9]

anyone hear anything about the cabelas brand scope?

 

[matjok]

not 4200 quality lenses..though I know where you heard that...LOL

Yep, SGW, as you know

The prices are very good, even for 3200 scope. I agree they are not one of the best out there, but once again, a good deal.

 

[jcchartboy]

They are just overpriced for what they actually are

So let me get this straight...you buy the competitors scope, then try to sell it, and get less than you would get back if you bought a Leupold...and you are trying to say the Leupold is "overpriced"...[drinking]

I really do not get that one at all...

The only way that could possibly make sense is for the guy that buys a scope or two over his lifetime for his two guns and never sells them...in which case he never has to deal with the reality of the fair price for his scope in the first place.

However, for the average hunter that may go through dozens of quality scopes in his lifetime...the resale value of high end scopes is second only to the original purchase price of that scope in determining the value of that scope. (Lets be serious here...when we are talking high end scopes like the VX-III's vs Conquest's no one here is utilizing any possible differneces in "optical value" between the different brands.)

In fact in my mind the single worst thing a new buyer in the scope market can do is purchase a scope without considering the resale value of that scope.

Just consider the fact that by definition anyone that is looking for advice on a new type of scope is very unlikely to have any extensive experience with such scopes and it becomes clear why sooner or later that person is very likely to be in a position where they want to purchase some other type of Scope. This will be when they finally decide a different type of scope fits their specific hunting style...or alternatively in some cases when they find that they don't use the scope and just plain want to get rid of it because they no longer use it.

In the end, IMHO...the only folks that don't consider the resale price of a scope before they buy it...are the folks that have not been around long enough to know any better...[rofl]

JC

 

[matjok]

The only way that could possibly make sense if for the guy that buys a scope or two overhis lifetime for his two guns and never sells them...in which case he never has to deal with the reality of the fair price for his scope in the first place.

In my case, you are probably right about this, but for the number of scopes and guns. When I buy a scope, I buy it for a certain type of shooting onm a certain gun. I hardly think of the resale value, since I do not consider scopes as a commodity to trade. To tell you the truth, I never sold a used scope. When I buy a better one,The "lesser" one gets transferred to a "lesser" gun. The scopes on my airguns are scopes taken off my other guns.
I don't see myself "collecting" a room full of guns. I only buy guns as I need them, and I use them as tools. Resale value is the last thing on my mind when I buy them.

 

[makhunter]

I have a ruger m77 7 mm with a leupold 3.5-10x 40 boone& crockett and its more then compatible. The bullet drop compinsater is well worth the extra few bucks. If i follew the directions right i should be good out to 600 yrds.( 3 inches low at 200 yrds for a 300 yrd zero with noslar partion amo) If you can get the 50 mm lense id get it, better in low light. As i was told my many, dont skimp on the scope.