[HKTracer]

Hi Everyone,

Im a long time shooter, but new to using scopes. What would you guys recommend as a good mid to long range hunting scope for a .308 Weatherby SMOA Vanguard? I just got this rifle and I want to transition it to my primary hunting rifle. I know that Trijicon, Leupold, & Bushnell are some of the better brands out there, but there are just so many to chose from. Any personal experince with these scopes, or other recommendations would be greatly appreciated.


-John

 

[kev]

The scope on the Weatherby Vangaurd is a Nikon, Buskmaster series, 3-9X40.

The scope on this rifle (Remington 700 BDL mountain rifle) is a Bushnell Banner, Dusk - Dawn, 6-18X50

The Nikon would not fit the Remington 700 - 280 / 7mm express. The cone on the scope was sitting on the rings. So I took it back and exchanged it for the Bushnell. The Nikon model I had looked like it was for a short action rifle, such as a 243 or 223.

Something I noticed right away, the cross hairs on the Nikon stayed in focus better. As I backed away from my target with the bushnell, I had to adjust the focus ring on the rear eye glass.

With the 50 mm lens of the Bushnell, I should be able to see better in low light as compared to the 40mm of the Nikon.

In comparison:

My dad has a bushnell that is about 20 years old, and has never had any problems with it.

A buddy of mine has had several Leupolds on his 30-06 and 7mm magnum. Every few years the cross hairs will break or move, the scope will not sight in, just all kinds of stuff. So he keeps replacing the leaupolds since the model he bought has a life time warranty.

My first bushnell started shooting in a circle, almost 2 feet off at 100 yards. So this new scope was a replacement for it.

To me, brand name does not mean a lot. But stay away from the Tasco scopes, with those you do get what you pay for.

One of the questions you should ask yourself, what are you going to be using the scope for? Long distance target shooting or hunting? If you are hunting, at what ranges will you be shooting your target?

 

[HKTracer]

Well the main use for the Scope/Rifle is Deer hunting, and I would say Im shooting them 2-500 hundred yards out. But what I am looking for is something that is versatile between 300-1000 yards, and most importantly is reliable. Meaning I want something that can easily aquire a good sight picture, without alot of blur, fogging up etc. When I hunt sometimes I will stay out in the field overnight, and we have pretty adverse weather conditions here. It can get fairly cold at night, and pretty hot in the day, with random showers that are sometimes unpredictable. I have had some people tell me to just pick up a tactical scope, but those I know of have no magnification at all, and are thus, no good for hunting. I dont care about brand names, or any of that nonsense, I just dont want a piece of junk that could fail me in the field. What do ya think?

 

[Kenno]

It's true the market is flooded with scopes! I would stay with an American product, if the factory or Business HQ is close to you all the better, Leopould is only 2 hours from my home and the locals here love the quick customer service.
There are generaly 3 price lines with American scope Mfgs. Cheap, Semi-Pro and Pro. The Semi-Pro and Pro price lines are the only products to concider for an expensive centerfire rifle.
On my 270win I have a 3.9-10 power Redfield with a bulet drop compensator and a 40mm objective lens. The compensator is not as fancy as the really expensive models but I have practiced with it and can tell where the bullet will hit at long range. I think the low end 3.9 magnification is a bit too high, a 2.5 would be better but this aint exactely a brush gun anyway. The 10 power is fine for me as I cannot shoot any further than that anyway. Super high power scopes suffer from optical distortion unless you get into the scopes that cost as much as an automobile. I like the Redfield, I have had several of them over the decades, this one cost as much as my rifle. For a general pourpose scope a quality 3X9 power with a large (but not gigantic) objective lens will probably be the most versitile and the best bang for the buck. extras like Bullet drop comp. and target turrets bump up the price. Do not invest in a used scope!

 

[Beaterar]

Well I personally dont mind forgin optics, in fact as a whole I find them superior to American made scopes.

Leopould, as was said is hit and miss. Some of there high end optics are great , but there lesser grades are no better then High quality China optics only you pay twice to three times as much for the name.

IOR/Valdada http://www.valdada.com/ optics are probably one of the best buys on the market, there glass comes right out of the ziess factory at a much better price. The only bad thing I can say is they are heavier then others. We regularly shoot a X4 on a FAL with consistant hits on clay pidgions at 400+ yards.

Burris is probably the best cost to preformance scopes out and if it was me this is probably what I would buy, though I rank Nikon right along with them for both value and preformance.

Milliet is doing some great things now and my MBR AR15 has there glass sitting on top , I have been tottaly happy.

Scopes I would avoid
Busnell
Tasco
Bazerka
Springfield armory(Actually a peice of china made crap at way to much cost)

 

[Ammo]

Burris used to make really good scopes, but mine are so old, they (like my weaver) were made in the U.S.

Also if you are taking about shooting 500/1000 yards, you might consider a scope with adjustable objective.

 

[Kenno]

That is the big problem, I own 7 scopes? all are "old", made in the USA. I like USA MFG scopes because they had high MFG standards like the Krauts but local loyalities.
Today I don't know who makes the optics, japan, USA, germany,China, Korea, Taiwan? Who assembles them and to what standards.
I figgure a 1000 yard scope is gonna cost about $1000.00. For that money I wanna know who built the scope, where he lives, What kind of a PU he drives, what is his wife's name and how many kids he has! I also wanna know who is gonna win the Super Bowl for that kinda money!