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How much do you pay for scopes?

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koshkin View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: How much do you pay for scopes?
    Posted: March/27/2008 at 12:32
I've been thinking about the economics of the riflescope business lately, and I am curious how much are people willing to spend on a scope. 

Just about all of us here, own more than one scope.  Looking back to what I paid for the scopes I currently have on hand (in today's dollars) I came up with the following table.

Price range          # of scopes I have
$0-$200                            6
$200-$400                        8
$400-$600                        3
$600-$800                        1
$800-$1000                      0
$1000-$1200                    0
>$1200                             1

Now, I buy and sell scopes all the time, so this is just the stuff that is currently in my possession.  I typically I expect to to have one or two more high dollar scopes, but my scope choices are clearly biased toward the $200-$400 range, since considering the number of rifles that I have, I just can't afford to have very expensive scopes on all of them.  Also, keep in mind that since I always have a couple of spare scopes around, I can afford to wait for good deals and/or buy from the samplelist, so many of my scopes were acquired with pretty good discount.

ILya
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Roy Finn View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/27/2008 at 12:44
I have not really found any benefit for hunting to spend more than $600 for a scope these days.  Twenty years ago, was a different story.  Today's scope's have excellent glass in this price range.
 
Roy
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dogger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/27/2008 at 12:58
My comfort range is 200-400
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 300S&W Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/27/2008 at 13:15
   +1,Dogger.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jsimoneaud Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/27/2008 at 13:25
I feel comfortable in the 200.00 to 300.00 range, but I do have 2 that ran me 350.00 each, I don't like spending more than 400.00 but I do want a conquest in the future.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote barefoot Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/27/2008 at 14:13

0-$200           several,  but don't use too much anymore

$200-$400     8 (Leupold, Nikon, Weaver) 

$400-$600     3  (Leupold)

$600-$800     2  Kahles Cl, Leupold 

I don't mind spending up to or a little over $600.00, but that's about my limit.    
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bricat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/27/2008 at 16:08
$400-$800 or as I like to call it,  Zeiss to Kahles.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tahqua Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/27/2008 at 16:16
0-$200                             5 mostly older fixed power
$200-$400                       6
$400-$600                       4
$600-$800                       1

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lucytuma Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/27/2008 at 16:39

I feel that $800.00 is about my max, most of my scopes would fall into the $250 - $500 range.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/27/2008 at 16:50
I'm all over the map on this one, and I probably have a pretty evenly distributed amount of scopes in all categories.  For the average rifle, I'm willing to spend in the neighborhood of $400 - $700 for the scope.  For a really special rifle, I will sometimes spend more, but most of my expensive scopes were bought at a pretty significant discount off the Sample List.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote HuntMaster Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/27/2008 at 19:19
Used to only buy $30 -$130 range ( 20 years ago). Now a rather broad spectrum of $350 - $900.
Derek
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote martin3175 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/27/2008 at 19:35
Price range          # of scopes I have
$0-$200                            11
$200-$400                        24
$400-$600                        3
$600-$800                        0
$800-$1000                      1
So far I have a mixture of several 4200 Elites's, Monarch's, Pentax Whitetail Unlimited's, handful of recent Bushnell "Brownings", 3200 Elites, trio of Leupold 2.5-8's, 2  Weaver  Grand Slams, Sightron SII , Weaver T-series, a Redfield Illuminator, old Simmons 44mag-22mag+ 1.5-5 Whitetail Classic, and a Swarovski  American 3-10 .The quality of the mid priced units available today is exceptional in the $200-$500 range.



Edited by martin3175 - March/28/2008 at 09:33
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote PappaBear Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/27/2008 at 22:37
I have not been able to justify buying anything over the Conquest line. 
But this forum is selling me on Elite 4200's. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote medic52 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/28/2008 at 09:13
0-200  =4
200-400=6 includes two pair Binoculars
400-600=2
600-800=2
 
I like owning different scopes......Bushnell, Nikon, Leupold,Zeiss,Burris, Mueller, Trijicon...I am already thinking toward my next setup. I think my max amount would be around 800.00 and I am leaning toward a Kahles next time.........
 
 


Edited by medic52 - March/28/2008 at 09:17
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tip69 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/28/2008 at 09:33
Price range          # of scopes I have
$0-$200                            7 
$200-$400                        5
$400-$600                        0
$600-$800                        1
$800-$1000                      0
 
Of the cheapies, most are rimfire with the exception of a Vortex 4-12X40 and a Redfield 4-12X40AO I got off ebay from SWFA.  The lone $600-800 is a Kahles CL from Samplelist.  I will be adding a Conquest 3-9X40 before long... will have to see which range it falls into, hopefully the $200-400! Smile
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/28/2008 at 10:10
Price range          # of scopes I have
$0-$200                          2
$200-$400                      5
$400-$600                      0
$600-$800                      0
$800-$1000                    0
$1000-$1400                  2
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mwyates Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/28/2008 at 14:42
$400 is usually well spent.  I just sold my only "expensive" scope, a Kahles CL (I'll start a new post soon with the reasons why).  I wouldn't spend over $400-500 unless it was for a "specialty" scope and I haven't had a need for anything like that.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lennyzrx Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/29/2008 at 21:38
I'd say 70% in the 200-400 dollar range. If I were going on a paid hunt I'd spend some $$$. A failed scope on a varmint hunt 40 miles from home is no big deal. A failed scope on a once in a lifetime hunt is not good.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dale Clifford Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/29/2008 at 21:41
from $100 to $4000
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dogger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/31/2008 at 08:02
Jeez Dale, can't say you don't leave your options open!
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