Thread: Price points in centrefire hunting scopes

This wee outline is meant to help orient people on the scale of “you get what you pay for”.
I'm hoping others will chip in and say what they think is good and where it fits (or say my framework is wrong for them !)
I’ve focused in on hunting scopes around the 3-12x40 spec. Target and tacticals have more features, more mag and more weight and of course there are more compact scopes like 2-7x32 which will suit a lot of people. The prices are just what I could find online in one evening so are a rough relative guide and you may well be able to get a better deal somewhere. Just now, in August 2022, we’re going through a change when supply has been limited and although list prices may not change deals and specials will likely appear. The exact amount you pay won’t matter in 5 years time but could be a decider on the day. The links definitely don't endorse any particular retailers but were just where I could find one advertised tonight and give current prices; the links will deteriorate over time and break down to 404.

I’ll start with a couple of solid brands that don’t have sky high prestige but do have a track record and reputation. If you find yourself thinking of paying more for something with similar features, think again.

Classic American scopes
These are standard scopes with no extra features and if you want a good tool without spending a lot then just do without dialling elevation, parallax and any special features – the quality will be there.

Burris 3-9x40 $449 https://www.huntingandfishing.co.nz/...ballistic-plex

Bushnell 3-9x40 $449 https://www.huntingandfishing.co.nz/...capped-turrets

Contender Brands
There are too many of these to mention but they are often Chinese and often relatively new brands which may or may not last the decades. Some appear as house brands for large retailers. They generally have higher specs than the classic brands and often better glass or other performance but what you see is what you get and I would recommend not relying on one as your main scope.

Simmons 3-9x40 $249. https://www.huntingandfishing.co.nz/...-3-9x40-rscope
Vixen V1 3-12x40 $489. https://www.outdoorsupplies.co.nz/Vi...Scopes.html#V1
Hawke Vantage 3-12 X 44 $559 https://www.youngsairgun.co.nz/

Leupold range
These are tried and true, durable, tough, light and have legendary factory and NZ support. Other scopes may be better or worse but these are the benchmark for comparison with whatever you are looking at. If not clearly superior to the Leupold in the feature you need, then go for the Leupold.

VX Freedom. $679. https://www.huntingandfishing.co.nz/...x40-cds-duplex Entry level scope but even if you move up later, this one will stay in your drawer as a trusted backup or loan out scope.

VX3 $1049. https://www.huntingandfishing.co.nz/...5-10x40-cds-zl
The predecessor Vari-X 3 used to be top of the range in NZ and the current VX3 High Definition are still good. There is no reason why this model shouldn’t be your main scope for 30 or 40 years

VX5 $2199. https://www.huntingandfishing.co.nz/...cds-zl2-duplex
A very light full featured hunting scope and capable for field target competition or long range hunting. This would be about the top of the curve and returns for extra dollars spent flatten off above here.

Nightforce
A premium American brand with models starting near the top of the Leupold range. Early models were for professional military use and remain a benchmark of ruggedness, precision and weight in field target and tactical shooting.
SHV 2.5-10x42 $2078 https://www.hardyrifle.co.nz/product...ated-moar-c610 The SHV is a more compact, hunting oriented range.
NX8 2.5-20x50 $3447 https://www.hardyrifle.co.nz/product...m-ptl-moar-cf2

European scopes
European hunters are a more privileged elite than New Zealanders or Americans and cost is no object to many. Both Zeiss and Swarovski have European and American ranges. Glass quality is said to be better than “American” glass. Fantastic engineering is important to these manufacturers and their customers, so we see large zoom ranges and cunning ballistic turrets.

Zeiss
Conquest (1”/US oriented) and Victory (metric / EU oriented) ranges. Resolution and clarity are visibly better than other scopes’.
Conquest V6 3-18x50 $2500 https://www.reloaders.co.nz/shop/Opt...g+Turrets.html
Victory V8 2.8-20x56 $4431 https://www.optics-trade.eu/nz/zeiss...8-20x56-t.html

Swarovski/Kahles
Z5 3.5-18x44 $2290 https://southernwild.nz/products/swa...z5-rifle-scope
The Z5 is a particularly light weight inch scope that has been around a long time. Optical quality is extremely good but ruggedness perhaps not. I couldn’t find many Swarovski advertised online when I looked today. Kahles was purchased by Swaro and is more military in orientation but are hard to come by in NZ at present.

Schmidt and Bender
These are perhaps best known for their military PMII models that are popular for target shooting where weight is no object. They also make a range of hunting and target (“sport”) scopes. Features like zoom range and focus adjustment can look modest on paper but it is done simply and done well. They are legendary tough and also pride themselves on being specially bright in low light. I gather that generally each scope is made to order and some large retailers buy in models with specs they hope will sell well off the shelf. Search out and get in touch with the NZ agent and you may get a better deal, but will wait many months to take ownership.
Klassik 3-12x44 $2599 https://www.guncity.com/schmidt-bend...minated-377949
Polar 3-12x54 $3499 https://www.guncity.com/schmidt-bend...reticle-368441
Exos 3-21x50 $4999. https://www.guncity.com/schmidt-bend...reticle-377946

Steiner
Another European prestige brand, currently imported by Beretta and advertised with Sako rifles.
TX5i 3-15x50 $3799 https://www.guncity.com/steiner-t5xi...reticle-353732
MX5i 3-15x50 $5499 https://www.guncity.com/steiner-m5xi...0-msr-2-378626

Nicely done.

It’s a cliché because it’s true that you get what you pay for, but I think the thinking is so ingrained that it’s hard to have a discussion about value for money when it comes to scopes.

Try asking what is the best cheap scope….

It would be really interesting to see the results of an objective comparison of money spent vs amount of scope received. Seeing in your post that the bushnell and burris are the same price for the same specs at 449 I think they can’t be of perfectly equal quality. It follows then that one would be of better value for money than the other. And if either is more than .661 times as good as a VX freedom, than it would be better value for money again.

I recently bought a VX Freedom and am quite impressed with it. It would have to be my first pick for best return on investment from a scope. Not that I have used a huge variety. It just seems like a great scope for the money.

How much did you pay for the freedom can i ask ? Last time i looked they were in the $400 range but not this week.

Originally Posted by Bagheera

How much did you pay for the freedom can i ask ? Last time i looked they were in the $400 range but not this week.

I nearly had kittens when I saw they were nearly $700 in the H&F catalogue earlier this week!
I got mine not too many years ago from a retailer as an add-on to a rifle they had on TM for an extra $250 above the buy now or $350 above their reserve.
But also a lot of the scopes the newer versions of models have more features (CDS, HD glass. etc) so you would expect them to cost more

Everyone is going to have an opinion on this topic. Sold a perfect condition VX1 for not much money a little while ago. Regret that now. Would have been happy with that scope on any rifle. How do the VX Freedoms compare apart from being nearly double the price?

Had a VX3i 3.5-14x. Feature packed at the discounted price point, but I didn't get on with it at all. Main issue was eye relief, but also FOV.

I will be scope shopping in the future. Something to go on a new hunting rifle once I've decided what I want. Had my fingers burnt with the VX3i, don't want that to happen again. Thinking about a VX5, but wondering if I'm spending money unnecessarily.

Originally Posted by MB

Everyone is going to have an opinion on this topic. Sold a perfect condition VX1 for not much money a little while ago. Regret that now. Would have been happy with that scope on any rifle. How do the VX Freedoms compare apart from being nearly double the price?

Had a VX3i 3.5-14x. Feature packed at the discounted price point, but I didn't get on with it at all. Main issue was eye relief, but also FOV.

I will be scope shopping in the future. Something to go on a new hunting rifle once I've decided what I want. Had my fingers burnt with the VX3i, don't want that to happen again. Thinking about a VX5, but wondering if I'm spending money unnecessarily.

surprisingly well mate they seem to gather more light I just personally like the caps that the vx1,2,3s have for asthetics
they feel lighter but that is only an advantage to me. mine is a Mark AR but from all accounts it seems just like the vx freedom series from what I can tell just with a few bells and whistles added

nine hundred something. Mine has illuminated TriMoa reticle

Nice work. There really are some good options on the market now.

Im even sitting on the first samples of a new one that arrived in the country last week

A good helpful thread thanks Bagheera

Re: the Euro Scopes, you missed Minox Scopes off the list. I have owned and used a few of them. Their top of the line (German-made) scopes are the equal of any Leica or Swarovski, which is not surprising given that Minox has a lengthy fine optics history right up there with Leica.

But, different from Leica, Swaro, S & B etc, Minox also makes a range of more affordable scopes (approx.$499 - $899) which I have found to be very good. And they are generally available in NZ.

I have no association with Minox - just thought I would add them to this List.

(Another underrated scope line which I have also found very good and affordable are Burris Scopes, which are on your List.)

Originally Posted by mcche171

Nice work. There really are some good options on the market now.

Im even sitting on the first samples of a new one that arrived in the country last week

Attachment 204431Attachment 204432

$2k in the States. Price would be eye watering here?
https://www.steiner-optics.com/rifle...ator-8-2-16x42

Originally Posted by Tahr

$2k in the States. Price would be eye watering here?
https://www.steiner-optics.com/rifle...ator-8-2-16x42

$2,799 for the 2-16x42
$2,999 for the 3-24x50

Priced very well when looking at what they are competing with. Ie z8i

The older, Japanese made (Light Optical Works) Bushnell scopes really punched above their weight, especially at second hand prices

LRHS 3-12x44 , FFP, zero stop, over 11mils worth of dial up, capped windage, side focus, 30mm tube, MIL reticle with close range 'donut of death'.

What more do you want? Can be found for less than $800NZD in the UK...

Originally Posted by caberslash

The older, Japanese made (Light Optical Works) Bushnell scopes really punched above their weight, especially at second hand prices

LRHS 3-12x44 , FFP, zero stop, over 11mils worth of dial up, capped windage, side focus, 30mm tube, MIL reticle with close range 'donut of death'.

What more do you want? Can be found for less than $800NZD in the UK...

I have a LRHS 3-12 and a LRHS 4.5-18 illum among numerous other brands and have always thought these models to be seriously underrated and work really well in the field. Built solid as well. You mean $800 secondhand? they were more 1500-2k here I think?

There are only 2 major manufacturers of optical glass in riflescopes….

Vixen a Jap scopes

Apologies for my dpelling above. The edit function is not working for some reason