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Advice on Nikon please

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epaker View Drop Down
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    Posted: July/13/2013 at 09:56
Hi there,
   I generally prefer iron sights and though I have owned and shot scoped rifles they have always had the scopes on them when I bought them so I have no expertise in matching the optics to the rifle or the purpose. I recently picked up a Browning xbar in 30-06 that has no iron sights or scope. I think it will be a good all around hunting rifle and I am considering a Nikon Pro Staff 3-9X40 scope with a BDC reticle. I have never used this reticle before but it seems interesting. Any thoughts on this scope, his reticle or the combination with this rifle/ caliber would be appreciated before I go buy the scope. Thanks, Ed.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bugsNbows Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/13/2013 at 10:03
Mark (Cheaptrick) is one of our resident Nikon specialists / lovers. Perhaps he will soon chime in. IMO, the Prostaff is an ok scope... you could certainly do better and /or worse.  Obviously, the scope choice depends on several variables ...especially your budget. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote epaker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/13/2013 at 10:06
Sorry, in that first post it should say xbolt not xbar Sometimes I type to fast.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Robster80 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/13/2013 at 15:26
i wld not buy a prostaff. i had te 3-9x50 bdc.   had waaay too much veiling flare. was impossible to use in lowlight due to that. even my old Simmons didnt hav that issue. a buddy of mine had the same scope and he said his did the same thing.    
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cpwomack Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/13/2013 at 16:02
I have owned four Nikon scopes, 3-9x40 prostaff (plex), 2.5-10x42 monarch (bdc), 3-12x42 (plex), and a 2-8x32 ( plex). I personally did like the bdc reticle and would recommend that you look through one outdoors if you can. I have sold or traded all of them except the 2-8x32. I would look at the Vortex Diamondback line of scopes, similar price range as the prostaff, but I think they have better glass. This review may help.

http://opticsthoughts.com/?page_id=77
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote epaker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/13/2013 at 18:15
Thanks for the replies all and cpwomack thanks for the review link. Though I was a little surprised that the Nikon scope in the review did not have finger adjustable knobs or a bdc reticle. does anyone know if it has been redesigned? I have read a lot of good reviews of the scope but I am not sure how much use or what conditions those reviews are based on. I can buy a more expensive scope if the price is justified, I just don't know enough about them. That is why I joined up here to ask someone with more knowledge, so thanks for sharing and I open to any other suggestions as well.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cpwomack Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/13/2013 at 19:23
They have been redesigned, so they now have finger adjustable turrets and new optics. I haven't looked at one since I sold my last prostaff. The bdc is only accurate on the highest power and the circles may or may not match the ballistics of your rifle, ie, if you zero at 100 yards, the first circle may not be zero at 200, but you can use Nikon's Spot-On software to get a better idea or go to a range and confirm where the circles put you. Try it out, reticle choice is a personal preference, I just didn't care for the circles. How much do you want to spend and what is the maximum range you will be hunting at?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sparky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/13/2013 at 19:45
Originally posted by epaker epaker wrote:

I have read a lot of good reviews of the scope but I am not sure how much use or what conditions those reviews are based on.


Just wondering, but where did you read these reviews?

And I would look at the Vortex Diamondback scopes as well. It is a better scope than the Prostaff.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JLud Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/13/2013 at 21:14
Might want some info like intended use, budget, etc to perhaps suggest some alternatives to the prostaff that some feel might be a better buy.

For what its worth I have had BDC, 3-9, and i didnt care for the circles.  I had a Burris FFII with the BDC tick marks, and I liked those much better to not obscure target.

My 2 cents.  I thought it was bright and clear though for my 3-9, no complaints, still have it on a savage rifle i think somewhere....
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote epaker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/13/2013 at 22:05
Intended use: good question as I have had no time to hunt for a few years. Been working too much and getting a PhD at night. Now I am just about done and my Dad just retired so I plan to make time to hunt with him while there is still time. Here in Colorado we have mule deer, prong horn and elk that are readily available and with luck and persistence maybe mountain goats and bighorn sheep (I know I may never get a tag!) The family owns a hunting camp in Pennsylvania with whitetail and we have even considered traveling for some exotics.

I bought the Browning X-bolt, white gold medallion for a couple of reasons, first it was at the pawn shop, on sale and too nice to pass up. second I sold a bunch of guns a few years ago when my kids had financial problems. Two of my favorites were a browning highwall (45-70) and a weatherby vanguard (300wby magnum) and this gun reminds me a bit of both of them. I have shot an a bolt in the past and found it to be very accurate and functional so the x bolt had to come home with me.

I have taken my scoped rifles, including the weatherby to the range but I have always hunted with iron sights or with shotguns or my bow. so this is uncharted territory but something I want to try.

Budget is not really an issue except that the more I spend on equipment is less I have to spend taking Dad hunting. There is money but it is not unlimited and I hate to overspend just because I can. I still have a Winchester 90 30-30 and a Remington game master 30-06 I can hunt with and am comfortable shooting at pretty much any range I might hunt at but I really like the x bolt and it needs a scope.

That is probably more info than you wanted but there it is. I figured 3-9 power gives me ability to use it up close or out further than I would want to shoot. 40 mm is bigger than every scope I have ever owned, except the weatherby that had a 50mm scope and The reviews I read said the pro staff had 98% light transmission so bigger did not seem necessary.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rainman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/13/2013 at 23:24
Your thoughts on selecting a scope sound a lot like mine.  Buy solid quality but don't overspend just because you can.  I have two Nikon Monarchs and like them, one with BDC and one duplex reticle.  I like BDC reticles for the types of hunting I do but also don't care for the circle style reference points used by Nikon preferring the cleaner hash mark style Burris and others use on their BDC reticles.  I don't have experience with the Nikon Prostaff but note that it is two price levels below the Monarch line.   I don't own a Vortex Diamondback but have shot one several times now on a buddies Savage .17 Hornet and am impressed with the optical quality, fit and finish for the money.  Other solid reasonably priced considerations would be a Burris FF II, Sightron S II Big Sky and Leupold VX 2.  Good all around magnification ranges for a hunting and first scope would be 3-9x or 2/2.5-10x which are effective for most big game hunters out to 300 or 400 yards.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Robster80 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/13/2013 at 23:35
i looked thro the vortex. great glass but reticle is on the thin side. looked thro a leupold vx-2 for first time this evening and was very impressed with that scope. will probably end up with one in some configuration. also take a look at the meopta meopro
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tman1965 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/14/2013 at 01:53
I would probably go with the burris ffii or the vortex diamondback.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/14/2013 at 07:14
Welcome to Optics Talk. 

Do you have a dollar amount in mind? 

My Prostaff is a silver, fixed 4x that sits atop my Marlin Mod 60 and does an adequate job eliminating rodents (squirrels) and pests (feral cats) from around the homestead.  

I haven't seen the "new and improved" Prostaff, aside from looking through a couple at an unnamed big box, hunting store.  

The BDC reticle is OK for varmint hunting, but I wouldn't make it my first choice for big game. I feel it gets lost in the brier patches where I hunt. 

I did a review of the BDC that was on a Monarch awhile back. 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MZ5 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/14/2013 at 18:02
I have 2 Nikons with the BDC; a Buckmasters and a Monarch UCC. The reticles are different between the two. The Buckmasters' reticle is significantly thicker than the Monarch's. I end up not liking the reality of Nikon's BDC as much as I thought. The Buckmasters' reticle might do well at the very end of legal light in heavy cover, but I'm rarely in that circumstance. 

As to the scope, I also see and hear a lot of positive feedback from users of the Prostaff. Based on the Nikons I have, I'd give the Prostaff a try if it fit my needs and budget. If you decide against, Leupold's VX-2 (or higher), any Redfield, or a Weaver are all hunting scopes I'd buy, if the model in question had enough eye relief for me.

If your hunting is like most people's, the scope really doesn't get any kind of workout. It gets zero'd and _may_ get a power adjustment once in a while. Given what you've shared about what you're looking for and where you're coming from, beware of scope 'snobs.' ;)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JLud Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/15/2013 at 04:52
I'll throw out another option from the sample list that might fit your bill of all around hunting. Minox 1.5-8x32 with number 4 reticle. Might be a tad low on max power for the 06, but for close and medium game hunting would be great. Only 1x less than a 3-9 but with great glass, and 329. I love that reticle as well for hunting.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/15/2013 at 08:29
Concur. Sample List a gold mine.
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