What's the best scope for $500 and below??

[SNOT]

Looking for a new scope and wanted some opinions, thanks.

[arduckslayer]

I've got a Nikon Buckmaster 3x9x40 on my muzzleloader and love it. It is a way better scope than the Leupold Vary-X II 3x9x40 I have on my 7 mag IMO. I highly recommend you checking one out.

[cwink]

I went through this whole process a few weeks ago. I only wanted one scope but ended up buying 2 different ones.

I bought a Nitrex by Weaver 6X20X50 BDC for 406.00 shipped with a 100.00 Rebate so that is a 306.00 scope..

Also bought a Nikon Monarch 3x12x42 BDC from Vans for 429.00 + Tax - a 30.00 Mail in rebate.

I shot both of them this past weekend and even though I love Nikon scopes I like the Nitrex better.. It is just as clear, just as good on the eye relief and I like the BDC reticule on the Nitrex better. Only thing I haven't compared yet is how much light they bring in.

Next scope I plan on getting is going to be a Redfield, they seem to be a great buy also.


Here is the topic.
http://www.ducksouth.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=85244

[LawDawg]

what gun is it going on? hard to answer that question without knowing that.

[Blackduck]

Wink how does that BDC RETICLE work? Is it caliber or mv specific?

[tombstone]

Wink how does that BDC RETICLE work? Is it caliber or mv specific?

I have tinkered around with them on several different calibers. 405 win, 300wsm, 223, 308, 45/70. It is not an exact science. It is not mv or caliber specific. On the 300 wsm, it works out very good using the cross hair as a 200 yd zero and the first circle at 300, second at 400, etc.

On the 45/70 shooting leverevolutions, leaving it 3" high at 100 would put the first circle dead on a 150, second circle at 200, third circle was 3" low at 250. I never tried the next circle.

If you have a range finder and have spent a little time at the range knowing what you gun does in relation to the circles it is a simple system that reduces "holdover". I have several scopes now with tds reticles (same principle) in them and they work great. I have a burris ballistic plex reticle on my 35 whelen handi and using the 3rd mark down will ring a disc blade at 400yds. Not too bad for a primitive weapon. Make no mistake though, it is not as fine tuned as target turrets or a system that is based on MV. mileage may vary....

[SNOT]

what gun is it going on? hard to answer that question without knowing that.

I'm putting it on a .270...

[SNOT]

I went through this whole process a few weeks ago. I only wanted one scope but ended up buying 2 different ones.

I bought a Nitrex by Weaver 6X20X50 BDC for 406.00 shipped with a 100.00 Rebate so that is a 306.00 scope..

Also bought a Nikon Monarch 3x12x42 BDC from Vans for 429.00 + Tax - a 30.00 Mail in rebate.

I shot both of them this past weekend and even though I love Nikon scopes I like the Nitrex better.. It is just as clear, just as good on the eye relief and I like the BDC reticule on the Nitrex better. Only thing I haven't compared yet is how much light they bring in.

Next scope I plan on getting is going to be a Redfield, they seem to be a great buy also.


Here is the topic.
http://www.ducksouth.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=85244

I was thinking about a Monarch, I saw someone has a VX3 for $500 new on here....I guess that could be an option.

[deltadukman]

I know its not the question you asked, but if you could spring a little more, you could get a Ziess Conquest for not much more than $100...thats going to be the next scope I sit on top of my .270

[cwink]

Wink how does that BDC RETICLE work? Is it caliber or mv specific?

It comes with a chart that shows you what range the BDC is set for based on your caliber and bullet weight. The Nitrex is set for a 30-06 using a 150, I put it on my 243 and the chart says that

85grain = 200,320,425,525.
95grain = 200,305,405,505
100grain = 200,305,405,505


I have not tried it out past 200 yards yet. But to me the reticule on the Nitrex is easier to use.

It looks like this
_._
__.__
___.___


While the Nikon looks like this
___0___
0
0


Its just a matter of personal preference, but the dots are easier to put in the target for me than the circle, especially when target shooting because it is hard to center the target in the circle

[cwink]

I know its not the question you asked, but if you could spring a little more, you could get a Ziess Conquest for not much more than $100...thats going to be the next scope I sit on top of my .270

I will tell you this.. The gun that I put the Nitrex scope on had a Zeiss Conquest on it when I got it from my Dad. I sold it and put a Nikon Prostaff on it. Granted the Zeiss was a 36mm I believe, but I could not see a difference in the clarity between the Zeiss and the Nikon. I also have a pair of Zeiss binoc that I got from my dad (he was an optics freak ).. And my brother in law bought a pair of Nikon Travellite binocs for 100.00 bucks. One morning we sat in the stand and compared the two side by side. You could see a difference in the two, but not that much... I am not nocking Zeiss, I may actually get one of thier scopes also in the near future. I think the Nikon's are just as good optically as the Zeiss, but I am just not crazy about the BDC Reticule Nikon has out. The Zeiss is more like the Nitrex.

[kwacksmacker86]

i bought a zeiss conquest yesterday and put on my 300 ultra mag and it takes in more light than a vx-3 cause a buddy of mine has one and we compared them side by side. the only way to tell the diffrence is to look through them right before it gets dark during the daylight they all look pretty much the same. got it for 399.00 at bass pro 3-9-40.

[Deltaquack]

I'd recommend finding a Meopta Meostar R1 on Ebay. It's the quality of Swarovski (made with the same internal parts). They cost 800-1000 new. I've bought 3 brand new ones off of ebay and the most expensive one was 500. You can honestly see better with the scope at dark than you can the naked eye. I have the 56mm which sits high.....so i'd recommend the 50mm and they have the 30mm tubes.

[LawDawg]

I'd recommend finding a Meopta Meostar R1 on Ebay. It's the quality of Swarovski (made with the same internal parts). They cost 800-1000 new. I've bought 3 brand new ones off of ebay and the most expensive one was 500. You can honestly see better with the scope at dark than you can the naked eye. I have the 56mm which sits high.....so i'd recommend the 50mm and they have the 30mm tubes.

best post of the thread. I have the meopta binocs and tested swarovski and them side by side and they are the same. only it was $800 vs $1500.

[SNOT]

I found a Nikon Monarch 44mm that my friend wants to sell for $250....said it's pretty much new....sounds like a good deal.