Best glass for under $200? $300? $400? (Read 15017 times)

2aHawaii

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Best glass for under $200? $300? $400?
« on: August 05, 2010, 01:46:33 PM »
Just like the title states, what do you think the best scope is at those three price points? $200, $300, and $400.

I am looking for the clearest and most reliable. It doesn't need to have the highest zoom or illumination. Just the basics.
I am not a lawyer.

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." - United States Constitution Amendment 2 & Hawaii State Constitution Article 1 Section 17

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Tom_G

Re: Best glass for under $200? $300? $400?
« Reply #1 on: August 05, 2010, 06:39:09 PM »
Bushnell Elite 3200.  10x40, mil-dot reticle, 1/4 minute turrets.  Fantastic piece of glass, well under $300. 
The difference between theory and reality is that, in theory, there is no difference between theory and reality.

Heavies

Re: Best glass for under $200? $300? $400?
« Reply #2 on: August 06, 2010, 02:00:27 PM »
The Meuller 8.5x25 scope that I have been using is pretty good. It does start to get fuzzy and dim after 18x. The top covers encase target turrets that can be rezeroed by loosening set screws. So far it's been good at keeping it's zero even with my heaviest recoiling loads(over 500 rounds). The adjustable objective is a little hard to work because it is in the front of the scope and you really gotta mess with it to get zero parallax. I have used it to shoot 600yrds and can live with it.
 One of the guys at the range said that he had tried those too but zero would wander after a while, but they do have a lifetime return. He said he sent it in and they sent a new one, but that one, after a while, had similar issues.
  All in all I think it's a pretty good variable power scope for the price(iirc was around $300).
I would say I may have got lucky and got a good one, but thus far I have been impressed by it.

I have just picked up a new Sightron SIII 20x42 fixed power. I have only been able to take it to the range once and I am not comfortable with reviewing this scope fully yet. I did a fast comparison with my brothers luepold mkiv 8x20.  One thing I can say is that for a scope that costs half of a mkiv leupold I was impressed. Image quality was very sharp, and just slightly dimmer than the leupold. I want to shoot it at a f-class match before I draw a full opinion on th SII. It was about $600 tho.

What did you want to use the scope for? Long range, tactical, plinking?

Heavies

Re: Best glass for under $200? $300? $400?
« Reply #3 on: August 06, 2010, 02:27:02 PM »
Like hear one funny story?

This guy we shoot with at the range had a older leupold varible power 8 to 20, I think it was one of their hunting models. Well any way my brother was shooting his Rock River AR and he let the guy try it out. Now, this AR has one of the sweetest triggers on any AR I have seen, our buddy thought so too. But this rifle has the most crappy scope on it! The guy says, "hey, I got a scope for you to try." Then he comes out with this leupy. He had the factory put target knobs on it, looks very tactical, and damn near brand new, but the reason he doesn't like it is the retical is too fine for him to see.

Now the funny part.
He says, "if you want it, take it for $300."

I hate my brother, he always finds those good deals! Haha 

If you can find a deal like that, that would be the way to go. ;)

2aHawaii

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Re: Best glass for under $200? $300? $400?
« Reply #4 on: August 06, 2010, 08:52:47 PM »
Haha, great for your brother.

I'm really looking for a scope I can go huting with (even though I may never go hunting). The fixed 10x Bushnell Elite 3200 sounds like a great scope but may be to high power for hunting. Now that I look at my requirements more, I should probably get a mildot or BDC reticle.

Does anyone know what the difference between the Bushnell 3200 and 4200 lines are? Is it worth the jump in price? The only difference I can see is 95% light transmission vs 90%. Would that be noticable?
I am not a lawyer.

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." - United States Constitution Amendment 2 & Hawaii State Constitution Article 1 Section 17

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Tom_G

Re: Best glass for under $200? $300? $400?
« Reply #5 on: August 07, 2010, 09:49:35 AM »
I've shot with my 3200 in relatively low light (late afternoon on a cloudy day) and never noticed any image degradation.  If you make a habit of hunting during civil twilight that 5% might be worth it. 

Mildots are really a pain to use.  First you need a good estimate of the size of your target.  Then there's math to be done that tells you how far away said target probably is.  Then you have to make adjustments to your scope based on that math.  Finally you get around to firing.  Unless you've got a calculator-brain, carrying a laser rangefinder actually SAVES time even though it means juggling your grip on the gun.

I've been enamored with the idea of BDC reticles.  Shepherd, in particular, makes one that I love the idea of, calibrated for M2 ball.  When Chuck Taylor was here for the sniper class, I asked him about it.  His comment was succinct: "too busy."

My father-in-law has hunted since he was a child in the Dakotas, everything from prairie dogs to elk.  He is now a geezer in Texas, where pigs are considered a nuisance animal and are exempt from just about every hunting law.  He's friends with several ranchers who beg him to come and eradicate the hog populations on their property.  Over the years, he's developed some pretty strong ideas about what works effectively and reliably.  When it comes to hunting scopes for hogs, he favors fixed 4x40.  A low power scope with a large objective actually provides a little bit of light amplification, extending his hunting time past nautical twilight!  And given the size of hogs and the terrain in which they like to roam, it's a rare thing to get a shot at one too far away for a 4 power to be effective.  Anyway, a summary of Little Eddie's thoughts on scopes can be found here.

I did recently help a family who had inherited a sporterized m1903 that the great-grandfather had used as a hunting rifle.  It had a fixed 4-power scope with a fairly small objective.  With that gun and M2 ball, we were able to approach MOA at 100 yards, and to consistently hit the 200 and 300 yard steel.  The 300 required a little hold-over, no more.  We didn't have line-of-sight to the 440, unfortunately. 

Anyway, my general view on svopes is that "less is more."  I favor fixed over variable power, and the lowest magnification that will work for the job.  I bought the 10x Elite specifically for that Chuck Taylor class, when we were to be shooting out to 600 yards.  I think I've posted the results elsewhere on this forum, but suffice to say that I was the most under-equipped person there in every sense of the word yet was a solid middle-of-the-pack performer at every distance. 
« Last Edit: August 07, 2010, 09:58:41 AM by Tom_G »
The difference between theory and reality is that, in theory, there is no difference between theory and reality.

Heavies

Re: Best glass for under $200? $300? $400?
« Reply #6 on: August 07, 2010, 10:50:43 AM »
One of the biggest problems with BDC reticules (and BDC type turret knobs) is that you are stuck having to use one type of load, at a certain elevation above sea level.  If you decide to try another weight bullet or go hunting at 5000 ft. the BDC would be inaccurate.

An other way is to use your mil dots. If you know that 1 mil = 3.438 minutes of angle (moa), and you know your come ups, you can estimate which mil dot corresponds to what yardage.
Or you could just get a MIL/MIL scope and figure every thing in MILs... =p
« Last Edit: August 17, 2010, 09:35:49 PM by Heavies »

kaylorinhi

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Re: Best glass for under $200? $300? $400?
« Reply #7 on: September 04, 2010, 01:20:40 PM »
+1 for the Bushnell Elite 3200 5-15x40, mine is the Mil-Dot w/ turrets.  Their customer service is quick and friendly. Low-Light is better than most in the price range.
« Last Edit: September 06, 2010, 02:33:47 AM by kaylorinhi »
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Deeeeviant

Re: Best glass for under $200? $300? $400?
« Reply #8 on: September 05, 2010, 06:00:20 PM »
SWFA's "Super Sniper" line up.

2aHawaii

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Re: Best glass for under $200? $300? $400?
« Reply #9 on: September 07, 2010, 07:37:11 PM »
SWFA's "Super Sniper" line up.

I've heard that the clarity isn't that great on the lower Super Snipers but is much better on the 10x HD and the 3-9x. If that's the case, it looks like that Bushnell 10x may be a best buy.
I am not a lawyer.

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." - United States Constitution Amendment 2 & Hawaii State Constitution Article 1 Section 17

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Deeeeviant

Re: Best glass for under $200? $300? $400?
« Reply #10 on: September 12, 2010, 07:43:24 PM »
Depends on what you're comparing it too. I haven't seen through the newer Bushnell's, so it wouldn't be a fair comparison. Though I have looked through equally priced scopes (Millet, cheaper/older Bushnell's, Leapers, etc) and honestly the glass is a lot better then what you would expect for the money. Granted it's not comparable to a Nightforce or S&B, but that is in a totally different ball park.

2aHawaii

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Re: Best glass for under $200? $300? $400?
« Reply #11 on: September 13, 2010, 02:01:44 PM »
After looking around a bit, I keep hearing that the Zeiss Conquest scopes are the clearest you can get for that $400 mark.

I really need to try out some higher end scopes to see what I'd be buying. I really don't need the extra elevation or fancy reticles. Just a good solid scope with clear optics and repeatable adjustments.
I am not a lawyer.

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." - United States Constitution Amendment 2 & Hawaii State Constitution Article 1 Section 17

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Heavies

Re: Best glass for under $200? $300? $400?
« Reply #12 on: September 13, 2010, 03:18:43 PM »
On the bulletin board at Kokohead there is a FS ad with a bunch of scopes in your magnification range. I'm sorry I didn't snap a pic of the ad, I didn't think of it till now. Had some Bushnells and even a Zeiss IIRC. Prices were very good, if the condition is right. You should go check it out. Or next time I am there I will try and get that info for you.

2aHawaii

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Re: Best glass for under $200? $300? $400?
« Reply #13 on: September 13, 2010, 03:19:52 PM »
I won't be able to make it out to the range for a while :( so if you get a chance, I'd appreciate a pic or the info.
I am not a lawyer.

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." - United States Constitution Amendment 2 & Hawaii State Constitution Article 1 Section 17

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Heavies

Re: Best glass for under $200? $300? $400?
« Reply #14 on: September 13, 2010, 03:22:49 PM »
No prob. I'll have to get that next weekend tho. Sorry I didn't think of it while I was there Sunday.

2aHawaii

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Re: Best glass for under $200? $300? $400?
« Reply #15 on: September 20, 2010, 01:43:18 PM »
There is a cool through-scope picture thread over at the Sniper's Hide.
I am not a lawyer.

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." - United States Constitution Amendment 2 & Hawaii State Constitution Article 1 Section 17

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Deeeeviant

Re: Best glass for under $200? $300? $400?
« Reply #16 on: September 20, 2010, 10:03:15 PM »
That thread is the closest I'll get to looking through scopes like USO, S&B, Nightforce, etc  :-[

2aHawaii

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Re: Best glass for under $200? $300? $400?
« Reply #17 on: September 24, 2010, 11:34:37 PM »
Now I am addicted to looking at scopes, just don't know if I'll ever buy one. After looking for many more hours, I've come to the conclusion that the Nikon Monarchs are comperable to the Bushnell Elite 4200 series. For a little bit less, and with mil-dots, I can pick up a Nikon Monarch 4-16x42SF. Does anyone have any thoughts on the Nikon Monarch line?

And can anyone tell me what more expensive would get me?
I am not a lawyer.

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." - United States Constitution Amendment 2 & Hawaii State Constitution Article 1 Section 17

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Deeeeviant

Re: Best glass for under $200? $300? $400?
« Reply #18 on: September 25, 2010, 09:39:54 AM »
That's a SFP scope right?

Honestly I like the concept for FFP better. Granted it might not have much use to a static range shooter, but for the ones competing, or even the guys whose lives depend on it, it seems like a much smarter investment.

2aHawaii

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Re: Best glass for under $200? $300? $400?
« Reply #19 on: September 25, 2010, 10:13:20 AM »
Yes it's a SFP. I do like FFPs better but they seem to double the price except if you go for something made in China like the Falcon Menace.
I am not a lawyer.

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." - United States Constitution Amendment 2 & Hawaii State Constitution Article 1 Section 17

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