What should I get for my 308?
My current toss up is between a Nikon prostaff or leupold vx-1 or 2
Anybody had experience with the nikons?
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What should I get for my 308?
My current toss up is between a Nikon prostaff or leupold vx-1 or 2
Anybody had experience with the nikons?
loopy all the way.......even if you decide to upgrade to flasherer model later on the loopy will still be there and still be reliable forever and a day. they do all I will ever need a scope to do and lets face it .a scope is just a fast way to aim precisely......if you normally shoot less than 300 yards you really dont need all the expensive bells and whistles.
Nikon Monarch series is better glass than Prostaff. I'd also look at the Burris FF2 and Bushnell 3500 3-9 x 40's. I'd rate those ahead of a VX1. And both come up 2nd hand pretty frequently for good $.
I have a VX-1. It’s OK. Clicks on windage/elevation are not very positive. That would be my biggest complaint.
where are you based huglife ?
based in palmerston north. does this seem like a fair price for second hand vx-2?
https://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Lis...?id=1718299895
Yep
Thats a polite way of putting it. Helped a mate sighting his in and I don't think it had clicks at all, just variable mushy friction.Quote:
Originally Posted by MightyBoosh
I think at the lower end of the market you pay extra for the Leupold name without getting the quality to justify it, they're ok optically but not class-leading. I have Weaver classic v9 and Bushnell Elite and I'd rate both higher than the VX1s I've used.
Also have a couple of Nikons (Prostaff rimfire and Coyote) which are pretty nice for their price point too.
sig sauer optics are good bang for your buck
I've just set up a mate with a fast twist 223 with a Sightron Stac 3-16x42 -30mm tube! I have had them myself on both 308 and 223 - and really like them as bang for buck particularly the moa-3 reticle for dial on the fly.... Can get 'em for around $800.
Also have a VX2 3-9x40 CDS Leupy for my bush pig. Which in duplex is a bloody good wee scope.. you can find those for around $500-ish...
My gunsmith friend from the gun club has suggested to me the Vixen range of scopes are good value for money. Looked through his one and it was pretty sharp but cant comment on use out in the rain etc.
good tips folks, looking at spending $400 or less. Still not sure what to get haha everybody seems to have their own opinions so I'm guessing it is much of a muchness at that price point.
Weaver V9
Redfield 4-12x40 $275
I would second that, I have the 3-9 and the 4-12 and they both do the job nicelyQuote:
Originally Posted by Echo
$400 secondhand will get you a much better scope than the same amount new, and several scope makers have transferable lifetime warantys so its really hard to justify buying those new.
What sort of mag range are you after? I seem to be ending up with a draw full of scopes as I sell off rifles and spend the $ on upgrading the optics on what remains
Many many years ago, a good friend of mine told me never to buy cheap optics's, buy the absolute best you can afford, and then some. So I bought a brand new Tikka 22.250 and a Weaver scope. Have never had the expendable income to buy top of the line, but I spent as much as I could possibly could. I now have 12 Weavers [I think], never regretted it, but the initial purchase did cause some heartache at times. His second piece of advice was to buy Kahles, every time. Thats all good and well for a guy on $70k in the 90's, with a wife earning much more. So I started to buy the odd Kahles and now have a few of them. Buy once, cry once has been quoted on here many times, but it holds true. Pick a scope that is possibly beyond your budget, look through a few and buy wisely. A cheap rifle can be made to shoot, but a cheap scope cant be made any clearer at 300 or 400 than what it is. It cant pull in any more light in dull conditions than what it is, we cant pimp a scope. Weaver have served me well, wouldn't touch a modern Zeiss, seen too many issues with them. But an older Zeiss Diavari is way better than many modern scopes. And Kahles, well thats another whole league ahead, definitely not in the modest budget category. For reliability and reasonable quality its hard to go past a VX2 - dont even look at the VX1. Have fun and let us all know what you finally choose.
Not everyone can afford $400 and up for a scope so the answer to your question is yes! Nikon's PROSTAFF scope will let you get dialed in and will not let you down. The PROSTAFF scope has outstanding light gathering and Nikon's BDC reticle can be dialed in using Spot On for excellent longrange accuracy. I put on one my Father In-Laws .308 and he has gone 12 shots 12 deer over the last 4 years. Considering he used to average about 1 deer per 10+ shots that is pretty darn good. Nikon's No fault warranty will give you pice of mind too.
http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/...F4-12BDC-1.jpg
Yeah man the eye box on the cheaper loopies is a bit fussy. At the very entry level I don't think Leupold represents the best buying. Vx2 and up are aightQuote:
Originally Posted by muzza
There is a VXII (of mine) for sale on here if interested.
+1 for the V9.
Had one on my 308 bush pig for a number of years now and it has been great. Got it on line from the states for less than half of what they sell for here.
Dont buy a Weaver classic 3-9 if you intend to take it outside ever.
Bit of a wierd statement vietnamcam. Care to elaborate?
He had a bad experience with one fogging once. Plenty of us on here and elsewhere have had years of reliable service from them though, any manufacturer has the odd lemon.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 300wsm for life
Not one but THREE in a row!Quote:
Originally Posted by GravelBen
Replaced not repaired each time, Time the fourth one arrived I told them to put it on there shelf and credit me its cost against a shiny new vx3 and lived happily ever after.
Now it may well be just that particular model that has fogging issues which is why I was specific instead of bagging on all weaver scopes, I have a steel tube fixed 4x Weaver here that must be at least 30 years old that has never fogged or shifted zero.
Thanks for all the advice folks I have whittled it down to a Nikon prostaff 4 to 12 for 225 Or a vx3 3-10 for 450. Think I will probably go with the Leopold just because I will feel fancy
The leupy is far superior if you can afford the extra awesome low light ability and very clear
I am going to advocate a different view to some that has been expressed in this thread.Quote:
Originally Posted by huglife
Scope these days have so many different features and attributes. much of what you pay does not go into simple glass clarity. Every additional feature cost money to make and cost money to buy, therefore it is important to know exactly (or in the ball park) of what feature matters to you and therefore you need or want it, and what does not matter.
For example, is extra magnification important to you? I for one, do not like 3-9. I am short sighted and am too used to shooting bigger magnifications. My 7mm-08 sports a Bushnell Elite 6500 4.5-30. Other people can do excellently using just 3-9.
So, if you do not want features such as zero-stop, 50mm objective, 15x magnification, 5x zoom range, FFP, then for the same money or slightly less amount of money you could get a better scope. On the other hand if you bought a scope with all these modern day features without being the top of the line (but is the most that you could afford), optics quality may suffer a little.
editedQuote:
Originally Posted by dannyb
I have the 6-16 Nikon Monarch and love it. Solid build nice easy adjustment and holds zero as it should. I keep my eye open for a 3-9 or 4-12 for my boys 223 to replace his Nikko Stirling as although his 3-9 Panamax works ok, I love the extra clarity the Nikon offers. I have used many others and think the Nikon is underrated for the cost.
Hey mate the nkion i was going to buy is a prostaff 4-12 and that will still be for sale for 225 let me know if you are keen pretty mint deal i think
Nikon Monarch or Prostaff.
I see the Monarch line as being VX3 or better glass for VX2 money.
I have 4 Monarch's. Got my first one about 10 years back 2-8x32 bdc, Then 5 years back a 4-16x44 Side focus which a friend used for 2 years then I put it on my 243. Its seen some good wet weather that's filled the ends up with water. while carrying it. Did not miss a beat.
This year I got a 1-4x20. Its also been swimming in rain. 4th one is a 8x set of binoculars.
Zq
Just a little extra.
I have also inherited a late 1960's Hertal & Reusss 2.75x 26.5 Post and Rail.
It was starting to get a little cloudy so I sent it back to NickelAG who now own the H & R brand. for aprox $400 they stripped it, cleaned and reset the recital, polished and re coated the lenses, assembled tested and returned. On the outside it still looks like a 50 year old scope that spend a week in a river but optically it is still better than my Nickon's at dusk and the reticale is crisper in low light.
So seriously consider looking at some of the 20-30 year old euro scopes for sale on Ebay. A number have been reconditioned and are a like new.
Zq
Got it in one.Quote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
Optic clarity is the NOT only important thing. VX-1 are certainly not the best to look through but they ARE rugged, they DO hold zero and adjust where you tell them and the warranty is GOOD. Don't plan on buying too many scopes over your lifetime. Even if you do get a top of the range one in years to come that VX-1 will still be there on your spare rifle, ready to go on the .22, lend to a mate when he needs one. Nikon are essentially the worlds best camera lens manufacturer with excellent "glass" but their pedigree has yet to be proven for hunting telescopic sights.
VX-3 is a bit better and if you can get one for $400, great.
Don't forget good rings. I'd rather spend less on a Redfield 3-9 and get good Leupold, Weaver or Burris rings than have a new VX-3 in Alluminium gun shop specials.
A Bushnell with rainguard is worth a look.