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Best scope for my money

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Category: Scopes
Forum Name: Rifle Scopes
Forum Description: Centerfire long gun scopes
URL: http://www.opticstalk.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9624
Printed Date: March/28/2024 at 15:56
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: Best scope for my money
Posted By: concreteman
Subject: Best scope for my money
Date Posted: January/28/2008 at 16:23
I just picked up a 300 weatherby mag and i am looking for a scope. I live in California and I am new to hunting. I hunt deer here and also plan to go out of state some day for elk.  I am looking for a good all around scope but dont know alot about them.  I was thinking Leupold but dont know which one. Thanks for the advice.



Replies:
Posted By: cheaptrick
Date Posted: January/28/2008 at 16:28
Welcome to The OT!!
 
Brother, do you have any certain budget in mind?
 
Concreteman, huh? Flatwork or vertical??
Hell, I like ya already.  
Wink 


Posted By: antleraddiction
Date Posted: January/28/2008 at 16:35
It depends on what you want to spend, but IMO the best overall value is the Zeiss Conquest line of scopes.  Personally, due to game pressure and only low light movement by game in most places I hunt, I am switching out several of my Leupolds to 30mm euro glass scopes for more light gathering in the mornings and at dusk.  The Conquest line can be bought in the $400-$600 range but they only have 1" main tubes.  Still a very bright scope.  Kahles is also a good scope to take a look at.  Possibilities are endless depending on what you want to spend.  GL.


Posted By: Tip69
Date Posted: January/28/2008 at 17:05
This has the makings of a pretty fun thread!

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take em!


Posted By: martin3175
Date Posted: January/28/2008 at 18:40
No budget on this one leaves it wide open >>>>  need an idea of how much dinero you have in mind


Posted By: concreteman
Date Posted: January/28/2008 at 21:42

 I would like to spend between 400 and 600 



Posted By: dunagan15
Date Posted: January/28/2008 at 23:37
Well if your limit is $600 I would recomend the Kahles 3.5-10x50 Helia KX off the sample list for $599.95, also, as previously said take a look at the Zeiss Conquest line of scopes, great glass and many reticle choices, again cant go wrong there. The only Luepolds that I like are the VX L and the VX 111 but IMO are overpriced when they arnt even close to the conquest much less the khales. Just my 2 cents.

Good luck


Posted By: medic52
Date Posted: January/29/2008 at 07:05
http://www.swfa.com/pc-4421-227-trijicon-3-9x40-accu-point-rifle-scope.aspx - http://www.swfa.com/pc-4421-227-trijicon-3-9x40-accu-point-rifle-scope.aspx  you can not go wrong with any of the recommendations given, so here is another to look at.....Nice gun and good luck with your choice...

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"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him." G.K. Chesterton


Posted By: Rancid Coolaid
Date Posted: January/29/2008 at 07:38
Avoid Leupold!  They don't make "bad" scopes but you can do much beter for the same or less money.





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Freedom is something you take.
Respect is something you earn.
Equality is something you whine about not being given.


Posted By: Tip69
Date Posted: January/29/2008 at 07:56
Originally posted by dunagan15 dunagan15 wrote:

Well if your limit is $600 I would recomend the Kahles 3.5-10x50 Helia KX off the sample list for $599.95, also, as previously said take a look at the Zeiss Conquest line of scopes, great glass and many reticle choices, again cant go wrong there....

Good luck
 
I second that!


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take em!


Posted By: pyro6999
Date Posted: January/29/2008 at 09:15
Originally posted by Rancid Coolaid Rancid Coolaid wrote:

Avoid Leupold!  They don't make "bad" scopes but you can do much beter for the same or less money.



 
i agree with this statement as well, and yes buying a kahles off the http://www.samplelist.com - www.samplelist.com would be a great option i also agree with the zeiss conquest notion too


-------------
They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead"

343 we will never forget

God Bless Chris Ledoux
"good ride cowboy"


Posted By: tahqua
Date Posted: January/29/2008 at 09:28
If you are thinking about Leupold I would get the 3.5-10x40 VX-III. You won't need extension rings and you can mount it low.
The Zeiss and Kahles will give you better glass, though.
 
http://www.swfa.com/c-307-leupold-vx-iii-riflescopes.aspx - http://www.swfa.com/c-307-leupold-vx-iii-riflescopes.aspx
http://www.swfa.com/c-1219-kahles-helia-kx-riflescopes.aspx - http://www.swfa.com/c-1219-kahles-helia-kx-riflescopes.aspx
http://www.swfa.com/c-259-zeiss-conquest-rifle-scopes.aspx - http://www.swfa.com/c-259-zeiss-conquest-rifle-scopes.aspx
 
http://www.samplelist.com/default.aspx?display_num=10&mfg_selection=5&prod_type=1&hide_sold=false - http://www.samplelist.com/default.aspx?display_num=10&mfg_selection=5&prod_type=1&hide_sold=false   Kahles
http://www.samplelist.com/default.aspx?display_num=10&mfg_selection=15&prod_type=1&hide_sold=false - http://www.samplelist.com/default.aspx?display_num=10&mfg_selection=15&prod_type=1&hide_sold=false  Zeiss


Posted By: samspade
Date Posted: January/29/2008 at 10:32
Leupold 2.5-8x36 VX III is a great scope that will mount low and their service is hard to beat.
If you plan low light hunting you should also look at the Trijicon 3-9
as its unique glowing post can be seen when others fade out and needs no batteries.
Pay close attention to eye relief with the big 300, as it can bite you, especially if shooting uphill.
Dollar devaluation means a huge premium on European scopes that is
hard to justify on any quantitative basis.


Posted By: tahqua
Date Posted: January/29/2008 at 10:36
I like the 2.5-8 Leo a lot but it will require extension rings on a .300 Wby action.


Posted By: pyro6999
Date Posted: January/29/2008 at 10:37
thats a good point t!

-------------
They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead"

343 we will never forget

God Bless Chris Ledoux
"good ride cowboy"


Posted By: cyborg
Date Posted: January/29/2008 at 12:59
I like the Kahles with the heavier reticle for low light in this application. Zeiss would be good as would the Trijicon. Nikon also has some offerings that might be of some interest to you.
Generally speaking low light game movement will require some sort of a heavy post, or Illumination of the reticle depending upon your local game laws allowance for legal hunting times and the type of areas that you hunt in.


-------------
With Freedom comes great responsibility, you cannot have one without the other

An armed public are citizens. A disarmed public are subjects.

OATH KEEPER #8233 Support us, and join our cause.

Cyborg


Posted By: Optimus Prime
Date Posted: January/30/2008 at 03:53
Originally posted by samspade samspade wrote:

Leupold 2.5-8x36 VX III is a great scope that will mount low and their service is hard to beat.
 
Yep, well said Sam!


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He did it HIS way!!!


Posted By: Focus
Date Posted: January/30/2008 at 09:17
Look long and hard at the conquest line, great reticle - excellent eye relief - constant eye relief - and good stateside service. I swear by mine for lowlight early and late deer movement.......

   Focus

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I Can See Clearly Now......<><

If Accurate rifles Are Interesting.....I've Got Some Savages That Are Getting Mighty Interesting......


Posted By: Dolphin
Date Posted: January/30/2008 at 12:40
With the 300 Wby., you can really reach out and touch something and still have enough energy to do some damage.  At 900 yards with most loads you will have more energy than most standard 30-30 loads at 100 yards.  Therefore, I would up the magnification a bit to maybe 14 to 16 power and choose a scope with at least a 4x erector so that you can still use the scope at relatively short distances.  I have 3 300s and all are scoped differently.  One wears a Trijicon TR-22 2.5x10, another a Sightron SII I believe 4.5x14 and the other an Elite 3200 fixed 10x (the later has had several scopes on it and I have not found a dedicated scope).  The first rifle is a project rifle that I use for black bear hunting in eastern NC and there are going to be no really long shots and the other is an all arounder that can be used for that extended shot.  The Trijicon affords me the light gathering that I need for those low light situations when bear hunting where I do it.  Bottom line, all of the recommendations are good, but would pick out a scope with a higher upper mag. and at least a 4x erector and you will have the ability to have a good all arounder scope.  Now, if you know you will be shooting short distances, thats a whole different story and you can save alot of money on a good quality scope of the many mentioned above.  Another point.  Look through it before you buy it and compare it to others, indoors and more importantly outdoors.

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D. Overton


Posted By: Big Squeeze
Date Posted: January/30/2008 at 12:55
Originally posted by samspade samspade wrote:

Leupold 2.5-8x36 VX III is a great scope that will mount low and their service is hard to beat.
If you plan low light hunting you should also look at the Trijicon 3-9
as its unique glowing post can be seen when others fade out and needs no batteries.
Pay close attention to eye relief with the big 300, as it can bite you, especially if shooting uphill.
Dollar devaluation means a huge premium on European scopes that is
hard to justify on any quantitative basis.
......................................................Hey Sam!!!!..........Aren`t you the one that was experimenting with IMR 4007 SSC in your 300 WSM with great results??? Read your posts on another site regarding the 4007!..........Any updated load info with the 4007??? When I use up what I have, that is the next powder for my 300 WSM!......................Sorry to off topic here, but I had to ask!

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300 WSM/375 Ruger....."All science, is truly the study of God`s wonderful work!"..."Bad news for liberals, is good news for America!".."What liberals hate, I love!".."What liberals like, I despise!"


Posted By: Skunk
Date Posted: January/30/2008 at 17:14
Originally posted by samspade samspade wrote:

Leupold 2.5-8x36 VX III is a great scope that will mount low and their service is hard to beat.
If you plan low light hunting you should also look at the Trijicon 3-9
as its unique glowing post can be seen when others fade out and needs no batteries.
Pay close attention to eye relief with the big 300, as it can bite you, especially if shooting uphill.
Dollar devaluation means a huge premium on European scopes that is
hard to justify on any quantitative basis.
 
 


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Let me give you my two scents worth


Posted By: Skunk
Date Posted: January/30/2008 at 19:16


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Let me give you my two scents worth


Posted By: Ed Connelly
Date Posted: January/30/2008 at 19:59
Skunk-man, you are TOO MUCH! J'adore them French license plates!  Excellent  --Ed


Posted By: pyro6999
Date Posted: January/30/2008 at 20:38
dude thats a wyoming plate i lived there most of my life

-------------
They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead"

343 we will never forget

God Bless Chris Ledoux
"good ride cowboy"


Posted By: Ed Connelly
Date Posted: January/30/2008 at 20:51
Hey, PYRO!! I bet it's a SUBLETTE COUNTY plate!! Let's go on down to the Wrangler Cafe and get us a chicken fried steak with Rootman..... we'll have to buy because he shore skunked us!!!  Laugh


Posted By: pyro6999
Date Posted: January/30/2008 at 20:54
hmm i cant read the 23 if it is a sublette plate the picture is too fuzzy, how do you know about the wrangler??

-------------
They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead"

343 we will never forget

God Bless Chris Ledoux
"good ride cowboy"


Posted By: Ed Connelly
Date Posted: January/30/2008 at 21:01
I dun et there a zillion-dy times....whilst working in the oilfields. I used to live in Douglas. I use to live in Gillette, Glenrock.....does Wamsutter count? I got married in Esterbrook. My daughter was born in Casper...Bandito 


Posted By: pyro6999
Date Posted: January/30/2008 at 21:06
who did you work for out there?

-------------
They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead"

343 we will never forget

God Bless Chris Ledoux
"good ride cowboy"


Posted By: Ed Connelly
Date Posted: January/30/2008 at 21:31
Google%20It    Is this a test?    --Ed


Posted By: cyborg
Date Posted: January/31/2008 at 06:27
Skunk, That's very interesting, You wouldn't happen to know L-arry would you?
Ed you never said anything about this before, all the crap with L-arry and you stayed in the shadows. We could have used your help!!!!!!


-------------
With Freedom comes great responsibility, you cannot have one without the other

An armed public are citizens. A disarmed public are subjects.

OATH KEEPER #8233 Support us, and join our cause.

Cyborg


Posted By: Ed Connelly
Date Posted: January/31/2008 at 16:04
I wuz hidin' in ambush.....................Batman          


Posted By: ncdrummer
Date Posted: January/31/2008 at 17:25
Don't forget about Meopta Meostar!  Great scopes, great prices, you'll love them.  If you don't need too much magnification the 3-12x56 is VERY bright, and you can get it with an illuminated reticle if you like.  30mm tube, too.  Drummer


Posted By: green-grizzly
Date Posted: February/01/2008 at 09:09
I really like the Bushnell 4200 series, especially the Rainguard feature.  I would not buy another hunting scope that didn't have a similar coating.


Posted By: pyro6999
Date Posted: February/01/2008 at 09:17
i would, i dont hunt in the rain its to cold during my rifle season for it to rain, the 4200 is a pretty good scope but i would take a zeiss conquest or a kahles kx or a trijicon accupoint over the 4200 all day long, when i compared the 4200 to my nikon monarch, and i know tahqua did the same we both concluded optically its to close to call, but the rainguard is nice if you hunt in rainy conditions no doubt.

-------------
They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead"

343 we will never forget

God Bless Chris Ledoux
"good ride cowboy"


Posted By: green-grizzly
Date Posted: February/01/2008 at 11:22
The Rainguard not only helps in the rain but it helps in the cold too (I know for a fact it gets cold in MinnesottaBig%20Grin).  The 4200 does not fog up as easy in the cold, and it clears up quicker.  I remember one time I climbed this big old mountain to get on a herd of elk, and when I finally got into position my Leupold was all fogged up.  This probably happened because I was breathing so hard after climbing the mountain.  By the time I got my optics cleaned up it was a long shot and the elk had gone over another ridge (I refer to what followed as the longest night of my life).  I don't think I would have had that problem with the 4200.
 
On of my friends has a Zeiss Conquest, and when I compared the two they seemed almost identical optically.  This was a few years ago, so maybe the things have changed.
 
I had a trijicon accupoint (the 1-4x) and was quite disapointed.  It was not all that bright and it had a lot of distortion.  Maybe I just got a bad one.  Are they really in the same class optically as the 4200/Monarch?  I had an ACOG and it seemed quite a bit better than the Accupoint.


Posted By: Big Squeeze
Date Posted: February/01/2008 at 12:38
Originally posted by green-grizzly green-grizzly wrote:

I really like the Bushnell 4200 series, especially the Rainguard feature.  I would not buy another hunting scope that didn't have a similar coating.
..............................................................................As a 3x9 4200 owner, I agree! There are better and/or slightly better scopes optically than the 4200 such as Kahles, Zeiss, Meoptas, Swaros, IOR`s and so on!............But certainly, their better optical clarity or resolution over the 4200 percentage wise, is alot lower percentage when compared to the percentage of increased price!......................A $600 Meopta or Zeiss, twice as clear, twice as bright & better than a $300 Elite 4200?... Nope!!!!.......... The tags will still be filled with a 4200 and under any possible weather conditions!

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300 WSM/375 Ruger....."All science, is truly the study of God`s wonderful work!"..."Bad news for liberals, is good news for America!".."What liberals hate, I love!".."What liberals like, I despise!"


Posted By: supertool73
Date Posted: February/01/2008 at 12:54
Ya but, to brag to your buddies you have a Kahles or a Zeiss is worth the extra cost right Wink

Its just like everything else though, once you hit the point of diminishing return you always start to get less and less improvement for the added effort or cost.
I don't think my 4200 is in the same league as my IOR and Meopta optics, I think its a nice scope but it ended up on my .357 lever gun for a reason.  But that being said I don't think you can go wrong with one for the price.  I think they are built to the exact point where the return you get is in perfect balance with the cost.  It they made them better the cost would really jump up. 


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Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.

"A Liberal is a person who will give away everything they don't own."


Posted By: Big Squeeze
Date Posted: February/02/2008 at 04:12
Originally posted by supertool73 supertool73 wrote:

Ya but, to brag to your buddies you have a Kahles or a Zeiss is worth the extra cost right Wink

Its just like everything else though, once you hit the point of diminishing return you always start to get less and less improvement for the added effort or cost.
I don't think my 4200 is in the same league as my IOR and Meopta optics, I think its a nice scope but it ended up on my .357 lever gun for a reason.  But that being said I don't think you can go wrong with one for the price.  I think they are built to the exact point where the return you get is in perfect balance with the cost.  It they made them better the cost would really jump up. 
.....................................................................Are bragging rights worth the extra cost in a scope??? Not to me!! I consider bragging rights to mean more in the dept`s of accuracy, caliber, firearm and velocity!!.............At the range, I have seen guys that use the high dollar scopes that can`t group as well as others with the lower dollar scopes!! Unless there is a problem with their scope and mounts, it is certainly they who have the problem and not their scopes!! It is not a matter of affordability to me!............But if a $300 or $400 scope can accomplish the same thing as a $600 to $800 scope, I`ll take the lower priced scopes! The actual percentage of optical improvement is quite small compared to the percentage of increased price!!.....................Without any instigation from me, my little 300 WSM Ruger Frontier compact, along with my chronograph and its readings, attract far more attention at the range than any scope I could possibly put on it! Same with my 375 Ruger! Wink  

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300 WSM/375 Ruger....."All science, is truly the study of God`s wonderful work!"..."Bad news for liberals, is good news for America!".."What liberals hate, I love!".."What liberals like, I despise!"


Posted By: pyro6999
Date Posted: February/02/2008 at 09:20
it wouldnt impress anybody at my deer camp if i rolled up with s&b scope, they dont care, which is why most of them still use 1980's bushnell banners and such, now if i showed up with a high dollar kimber rifle that would make a wave or two. having the most expensive equipment on the planet doesnt make you a good hunter or a good marksman, if you have the skills to back it up it will but if you dont have any of the skills to use with the best stuff money can buy, all you are is a poser who spent a ton of money for no reason.

-------------
They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead"

343 we will never forget

God Bless Chris Ledoux
"good ride cowboy"


Posted By: Big Squeeze
Date Posted: February/02/2008 at 11:25
Originally posted by pyro6999 pyro6999 wrote:

it wouldnt impress anybody at my deer camp if i rolled up with s&b scope, they dont care, which is why most of them still use 1980's bushnell banners and such, now if i showed up with a high dollar kimber rifle that would make a wave or two. having the most expensive equipment on the planet doesnt make you a good hunter or a good marksman, if you have the skills to back it up it will but if you dont have any of the skills to use with the best stuff money can buy, all you are is a poser who spent a ton of money for no reason.
..........................................................Very well stated!!!Excellent

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300 WSM/375 Ruger....."All science, is truly the study of God`s wonderful work!"..."Bad news for liberals, is good news for America!".."What liberals hate, I love!".."What liberals like, I despise!"


Posted By: tahqua
Date Posted: February/02/2008 at 11:34

If I showed up with a Kimber, it wouldn't turn a head unless it had a Bushy Banner on itWink

I'll still take a Kahles C over a 4200 or Monarch any time.



Posted By: pyro6999
Date Posted: February/02/2008 at 11:40
Laugh%20Above

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They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead"

343 we will never forget

God Bless Chris Ledoux
"good ride cowboy"


Posted By: cyborg
Date Posted: February/02/2008 at 12:04
The guys I hunt with aren't impressed with anything unless it's lever action with iron sights and you can kill with it.

-------------
With Freedom comes great responsibility, you cannot have one without the other

An armed public are citizens. A disarmed public are subjects.

OATH KEEPER #8233 Support us, and join our cause.

Cyborg


Posted By: pyro6999
Date Posted: February/02/2008 at 12:05
the guys i hunt with all use pumps for the most part

-------------
They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead"

343 we will never forget

God Bless Chris Ledoux
"good ride cowboy"



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