VORTEX DIAMONDBACK

Ill get the sob story out of the way first...Im on a very limited budget (social security). I have found  a scope that I can afford. the Vortex Diamondback 4-12X40. It will be mounted on a 270 Win. I will be using it for hunting whitetail deer, and hopefully elk. I have been told that the shots at  elk, if im lucky to see one, will be from 100-400 yards.

I'm assuming you are looking at the version without the A/O since you are on a tight budget. I had that same scope on a .243 and it wasn't a bad scope at all for the price. Eye relief is a bit short but not too bad and i'm sure it would be fine on a .270. As for the optical clarity, it's better than most scopes in that price range but does get a bit fuzzy above 10x due to the lack of A/O or S/F, in any case it was still sufficiently clear for hunting purposes.

Thank you for your reply.I really appreciate your advice. I think that I will save up untill I can get one with the adjustable objective. I think that if I do see an elk at 400yds, I would have time to focus the scope. I will only be using this rifle during the Deer/Elk/Wolf season,  and the rest of  the year it will not be used.

I personally would recommend getting a bushnell elite 4200. in 3-9X40  You can get a pretty sweat deal on them right now.  I'm not sure if SWFA has any left,(might call them) but they had a fantastic price on them.  But they are selling right in your budget area elsewhere as well.  For shots between 100-400 yds the 3-9X40 will be more than suitable.  And for the money I think the 4200 compares with the Zeiss conquest in optical clarity.   

Another 4200 vote

Eagle

Edited by EAGLE - December/18/2011 at 15:22

Go with the Bushnell 4200.  A 3-9x40 should be more than sufficient to shoot out to 400 yards.

I was all set on getting the Diamondback until I saw the Bushnell 4200 and read its reviews. Then I was all set on getting the 4200 until I found a Minox ZA3 for $250 on the SampleList plus a $50 rebate, which makes it the same price as the 4200. Similar specs to the 4200 but a lot longer eye relief, which I'll take over the rainguard anyday.

You can get the Bushnell elite 4200 for $150.00.  Which is way cheap compared to anything even close to it for the same price.

Get the bushnell 4200 and don't look back, nothing close as has been said for the price.

I had originally looked at the 4200 for this rifle, but then I heard some awful things about Bushnell customer service and didnt want to go through a lot of hassle in case I had mechanical problems with the scope. Thats why I was leaning to the Vortex, I had heard great things about their customer service.

i have heard some real nightmare stories with Bushnell customer service, and no real positive ones. 

Never had an issue wih any of my bushnell scopes so I have no idea about their CS.

Eagle

I had a chance to get a good look at the Redfield 3-9X50 scope with the Accurange reticle, and ive pretty much decided this is the scope for me.I want to thank all of you for the help you have given me, and I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

Just thought I would chime in with my experience. I bought a diamondback and sent it back. I own a couple other vortex scopes and was very disappointed with this line over all. I will not by another scope from this line. Clarity was substandard and the edge to edge clarity was awful. I thought perhaps it was just the one I had bought but my neighbor got one and had the same issue. In my opinion anything below the viper line you can find better elsewhere, that being said once you get to the Viper line there pretty there hard to beat for the money. I have a red dot and the Razor HD1-4 and used it on a deployment to Iraq and couldn't be happier. That being said if your hunting out to 400 yards need a good reliable scope that you can see clearly out to 400 yards I would recommend the new Burris Full field E1 scopes they are exceptional for the money they have an illuminated BDC with windage hold overs (great for medium range hunting) they are light, esthetically pleasing and reasonably priced. You can pick up the 3-9x40 for 199.95 with a life time warranty. This is just my experience and what I would choose if I had your particular needs. I hope it helps.