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mako1
12-05-2011, 06:05 PM
i have use leupold scopes for over 20 yrs and have no problems with them but wanted opinions on different scopes with good low light condition views.

LPfishnTIM
12-05-2011, 08:12 PM
Nikons and leupold are the two I'd stick with!

mako1
12-05-2011, 09:11 PM
yea i have always shot leupolds so i have nothing to compare them to

weedeater
12-05-2011, 09:21 PM
I have a Nikon that I shoot a lot and like it but I just put a $80 Bushnell on a 45-70 and so far its fine, I can see good in low light and its very clear

Montauk17
12-05-2011, 09:22 PM
I like nikon

LPfishnTIM
12-05-2011, 09:24 PM
I had a pentax scope 3-9x50 with adjustable eye relief, it was great. well worth the $159 which I think it compared to many higher cost scopes, One problem about buying a scope its kind of hard to see which scopes work best in low light conditions when your in a store.

Armand16
12-05-2011, 09:27 PM
Diavari V Zeiss. Captures light like none other

flounder_smacker
12-05-2011, 09:37 PM
dont look through a zeiss you wont like any other scope after.

Montauk17
12-05-2011, 09:42 PM
dont look through a zeiss you wont like any other scope after.

You can also buy two browning rifles for the price of one.

weedeater
12-05-2011, 09:49 PM
I am deer hunting and only shooting about 100yrds, $150 scope does what I need but if I was sharp shooting I would want better

Armand16
12-05-2011, 09:59 PM
While we are on the subject, anyone have experience with a Barska?

hadabite
12-05-2011, 10:36 PM
i have a Nikon and a Schmidt & Bender and prefer the Nikon

speck-chaser
12-05-2011, 11:34 PM
I was told to stay away from Barska, doesnt hold zero. Im fixing to get a Zeiss with the rapid x reticle to put on my 308.

Armand16
12-06-2011, 12:07 AM
While we are on the subject, anyone have experience with a Barska?

Or Steiner scopes?

BIGJ
12-06-2011, 12:13 AM
IMO, Nikons are the best scopes for the price.

BIGJ
12-06-2011, 12:15 AM
Or Steiner scopes?

Not scopes, but I have a pair of Steiner bino's and like them.

mikedatiger
12-06-2011, 02:43 PM
The question is, how much do you want to spend? I have owned/used about all of them. The best two scopes I ever owned were Zeiss Diavari and surprisingly a Burris Black Diamond. For the money I would put the Black Diamond up against anything - a great scope for the money. I would buy another Black Diamond before I bought anything else within it's price range.

Montauk17
12-06-2011, 04:17 PM
No matter what you do don't buy a simmon's scope. Cost me a deer sunday morning in the rain. Fogged up so bad you could not see a damn thing. Time to buy a new one myself.

Armand16
12-06-2011, 04:21 PM
No matter what you do don't buy a simmon's scope. Cost me a deer sunday morning in the rain. Fogged up so bad you could not see a damn thing. Time to buy a new one myself.

good to know. have one and was thinking about putting it on a 22-250. that prob explains their price. just saw at academy they sell for $50

Montauk17
12-06-2011, 04:28 PM
good to know. have one and was thinking about putting it on a 22-250. that prob explains their price. just saw at academy they sell for $50

I bought 3 a few years ago for a good price. Gave my uncle and grandpaw one. All 3 gave problems,send them back to the factory. They would not stay where you set them and fog up after a couple years. I was so pissed I threw it in the trash. Hard to beat a nikon pro staff for the price. I have one on my muzzle loader and like it alot. My uncle has a nikon buckmaster on his rifle and likes it too.

MikeinSlagle
12-23-2011, 03:57 PM
Ive only had cheap scopes LOL.

I have had a 100 dollar Swift on my 25/06 for 15 years. I sighted it in back then and haven't adjusted it since. Granted, I dont shoot it alot anymore, but it was good enough I could consistently shoot the lids off coke bottles at 200 yards. Its my only experience with a Swift though. It has never been in the rain so dont know if it fogs or not.

nimbus73
12-24-2011, 10:55 AM
I have a Swift 2x7x40 ($175) on my muzzleloader and I think it is retty good.
Just put a Leupold VX3 3.5x10x50 illuminated reticle ($750) on my 270, and a Sightron Big Sky II 3x9x42 ($380) on my 243. Love both. The Big Sky II is their mid grade scope which many compare to the Leupold VX II. I like both, but the illuminated reticle is the shiznit as far as seeing the reticles in low light.

spiderman1
05-19-2013, 09:09 PM
Bushnell Elite 3200 series are very good low light scopes.

mr crab
05-20-2013, 08:58 AM
I bought a bushnell trophy 6x12x54 with a 30mm tube and ill ret. I hunt hogs at night with a feeder light from 80 yards in a box blind. Absolutely top notch performance for hunting in the dark. I think the scope was around $300

K W
05-20-2013, 10:57 AM
I have a zeiss conquest for my 308 - love it - very clear and brings in a lot of light.. Also have I think a bushnell $150 scope on my 444 that gets the job done for where I hunt with that gun...

DannyI
05-20-2013, 09:39 PM
I have a Nikon on 45-70, great, a 40 yr old Redfield on a 30-06 4-12 variable ( only leaked one time and factory replaced all seals and recticles no charge ), and a 4 power Widefield Redfield on another 30-06. Redfields have been good. Also a Red Dot on a 50 cal muzzle. Oh an a Simmons on a 22LR Remington.

OnePunchRex
05-21-2013, 09:28 AM
Another vote for the Zeiss Davari, best scope out there. The Nightforce would be my 2nd choice.

Crawl79
05-21-2013, 10:03 AM
I have tried many quality scopes over the years and the Zeiss wins hands down. I'm sure there is some competition but I won't use anything else for the time being.

I did pick out a new rifle and scope for my teenage cousin and found there are some really good scopes for less than $300 but still don't compare to my Zeiss.

Reggoh
07-05-2013, 10:16 AM
I have heard lots of good things about the Vortex line of scopes... I have a friend that is into custom rifles and accuracy shooting... he has owned several $1500-$2000 (Nightforce, Zeiss, Swarovski, etc) scopes and he swears by the Vortex scopes for their performance and their warranty.

Spunt Drag
07-05-2013, 11:22 AM
Don't let this thread won't die!

specktator
07-05-2013, 12:17 PM
I have a Zeiss Conquest 4-12x50 on my 300wsm. For $500, you aren't gonna find anything better.

jldsc
07-05-2013, 04:34 PM
my dad has some top end Zeiss and Swarovski's...some of the best ive shot...I put a Leupold 8-32x50 Mark 4 TMR and absolutely love it..


Sent From an Apple Tree.

MathGeek
07-05-2013, 05:06 PM
I've scoped a lot of rifles. I recommend Leupold for most average to serious gun enthusiasts and shooters. Guns I've scoped have taken hundreds of deer and won a number of long range shooting events, often outshooting NightForce and other higher end scopes. The Leupolds on my daughter's guns are often the lowest end scope on the line. The Army sniper types with their NightForce scopes are often surprised when they are out shot by a 14 year old girl.

We've also done a lot of low light hunting over the years. We had nuisance damage control permits for deer and it was legal to shoot them at night. Shooting racoons, foxes, and coyotes at night was also common. The Leupold Vari-X III and later VX-III models with 50 mm objectives were always up to the task and the 40 mm objectives worked well as long as we dodn't turn the magnification up past 6 or 8. You could see more through the scope (in terms of light collection) than you could with the naked eye. "Legal" shooting hours were never a problem. Often, the scope alone extended practical shooting light well past "legal." Other common tricks (bait on a light background, moonlight, etc.) extended shooting hours even more.

We've never had a Leupold fail.

Dogface
07-05-2013, 07:24 PM
Got 5 Leupolds and 1 Zeiss. The Zeiss gives me about 10 minutes earlier and later due to increase light gathering. They are expensive but I find myself using the. Zeiss 95% of the time.

spiderman1
07-06-2013, 10:22 PM
Bushnell Elite 3200...is great scope fro the price..I like it better then my leupold..but my best scope is Swarovski Z3 3-10 but it set me back 1k..For the money I lean towards the Bushnell Elite...I also like Zeiss HD5 but it to is expensive.

seapro21
07-12-2013, 08:26 PM
I would have to agree Nikon pro staff is great for the money!

Big Tee
07-21-2013, 05:21 PM
I shot Nikon & Leupold for years, recently I have become a huge Burris fan. Love them clear bring in a ton of light and doesn't cost a load of money.

wtretrievers
07-21-2013, 06:54 PM
I've shot Leipolds for years & still do. Vari X 2's & 3's have several Nikons & Zeiss conquest also. I bought my wife & son's the Alpen Kodiak. Check em out. They are nice good low light & very clear, very impressed with these.
http://www.alpenoptics.com/RScope-kodiak.html
A scope is only as good as te rings & bases.

hawgsquatch
07-21-2013, 08:35 PM
No matter what you do don't buy a simmon's scope. Cost me a deer sunday morning in the rain. Fogged up so bad you could not see a damn thing. Time to buy a new one myself.


Bauch and Lomb elite 4200 with rainguard. Never EVER foggs. Rain, snow, breathe on it. Never a problem. It is worth looking up a used one if you need to.

specktator
07-21-2013, 08:53 PM
I've shot Leipolds for years & still do. Vari X 2's & 3's have several Nikons & Zeiss conquest also. I bought my wife & son's the Alpen Kodiak. Check em out. They are nice good low light & very clear, very impressed with these.
http://www.alpenoptics.com/RScope-kodiak.html
A scope is only as good as te rings & bases.

X2 on rings and bases

DA COVE
07-22-2013, 05:15 PM
I've got Nikon, Burris, and Zeiss. The Zeiss is by far the best. I'm a firm beleiver in quality mounts/ rings also. I'm sold on the DNZ mounts,simple and solid.