Scope suggestions please

I've always been Leupold fan. I prefer the 4.5x14 AO VX3 for hunting and use the B&C reticle. I use that scope on two of my rifles and it's worked best for me compared to others I've used. Depending on your distance you might choose a different power. Close to 400 yards is the farthest shots I have for deer and some are near point blank range, that power and combination has worked well for me for those distances.

G'dale Mike said:

It's time to scope a coupla nice pre 64' model 70's. One in 30-06, the other on 300H&H. Plan to shoot at distance , paper punching and also deer hunt, but mostly, will punch more paper.suggestions for preferred brand, magnificatio range and reticle type. Thanksin advan e.will use the knowledge of this forum to beginmy research, again, thanks

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I'm also a Leupold fan. I have a bunch of them.

The Leupold 4.5x14 AO is a nice scope. I have 3 Leupold scopes in that powrer range but a couple are the Mark 4 model.

You don't say what you mean by "at a distance." I've found 7X on the top end adequate for 300+ yard shots on crows and raccoons. I would be happy with that power on larger animals further than that.

My favorite reticle is Leupold's TMR and second to that the mil dot reticle. I don't think either are available on the VX3.

I've pretty much switched over from Leupold to Zeiss. If you're on a budget, the 3.5-10 Conquest is a great scope. If not, the Conquest HD5 is even better. If you want ranging and BDC, the RZ600 reticle would be a good choice, especially when used in conjunction with Ziess's ballistic calculator or app.

I'm not sure what your price range is but the Leupold VX-2 series is great. Depending on the magnification range you want to go with, you have the option of a ton of their reticles such as the Duplex, German #4, Leupold Dot, etc.



Michael C.

I'll throw one in for Vortex Optics. They've got some nice features at a mid-range price point. I've got a Viper PST and have been more then happy with it, swear I'd sell the gun it's on before the scope. Clear glass, tracks very well and with some ballistic calculations the clicks are on point.

Another nice feature is a raised magnification ring which isn't something I realized I liked until I had it.



Between that and the shim method zero stop I'm confident from 100 yards all the way out to 1000 (It's on a .338 Lapua Magnum and I don't have annywhere to shoot past 1000 lol)

You don't give a budget. There are some very good scopes in the $200 range that I'd not hesitate to use anywhere on anything. Moving into the $300-$400 range gets you a little better scope and for me this is the sweet spot. As price goes up past the $200-$300 range you have to go up significantly in price to see very small gains in performance. The more expensive scopes are better, but most people will never notice the difference in a $1000 scope and a $400 scope. Unless it has special features only available on the more expensive model.

No matter which brand you choose a 3-9X40 will give you more for the money. A typical 4-12X will be about $100 more than the same scope in 3-9X. 9X is more magnification than most people can use on a big game rifle out to 400-500 yards. For varmints or smaller game more magnification is a plus.

Same with 40mm vs 50mm front objectives. The bigger scopes just cost more and don't offer any real advantage for 99% of shooters.

In the $200 range I like the Burris FF-II and Redfield Revolution best. The Leupold VX-1 is a contender as well.

At $300-$350 a Leupold VX-2 is my choice, and what I use on my go-to rifles. I paid $350 and got the long range reticle, the standard duplex reticle is $300. I like the VX-3's, but they just aren't worth the extra money compared to VX-2. Especially those made in the last 3 years.

Zeiss used to make a 3-9X40 version of their Conquest. It was actually made in the USA by Meopta and was considered to be one of the best values in scopes. They originally sold for $550, that is what I paid. Over time to compete with the VX-3 prices were reduced to $400. They dropped that scope a few years ago and replaced it with an imported scope called the Terra. The Terra just isn't as good.

Meopta is now making the same scope, but selling it through Cabelas. It has Meopta in tiny lettering on the bottom where it won't be seen once mounted. The rest of the scope has Cabelas markings on it, but it is the same scope sold as the Zeiss Conquest a few years ago. If you have a $400 budget this is the winner by a landslide.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabe...3BSearch-All+Products&Ntt=euro+instinct+scope

The 3-9X40 version is the one I'm talking about.

HexHead said:

I've pretty much switched over from Leupold to Zeiss. If you're on a budget, the 3.5-10 Conquest is a great scope.

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Isn't the Conquest line completely discontinued? I thought it was replaced with the Terra.

I never owned a Conquest, but looked through them several times, and they were very nice optics for the price. Looked through a (iirc) 3-9x40 Terra a short while back and was thoroughly disappointed. Very mediocre glass. Not outright bad per se, but nowhere near the clarity and light transmission I saw in the old Conquest scopes. I wouldn't discount Zeiss across the board, but I'll never bother picking up a Terra again. There are much better optics at that price range. The Leupold VX-3 is my choice.

Zeiss now has the Conquest HD5, which of course costs more money. Personally I like something in the 2.5-10 range for the calibers you suggest, if you'll be hunting very early or very late the German #4 reticle is hard to beat.

For low-mid priced scopes the Burris FFII, Leupold VX-2, Nikon Monarch are all good choices.

I'm a Leupold fan, but here's my suggestion - look for one of the now-discontinued Zeiss Conquest 3-9X scopes that are made HERE in the U.S. They stopped making them a year or so ago, buy you can still find them for $399. It is a WONDERFUL scope and it is brighter and clearer than the competitively priced Leupold in the same power range. I bought one for my .30-'06 and love it.

I'm not saying all Zeiss are brighter than Leupolds... but this particular scope is nicer than the comparative Leupold. I didn't believe it until it was demonstrated to me in a side by side comparison. It's a great buy if you can find one.