Nikon or Leupold, another please help me thread!

kam582

kam582

New member
I'm very close to pulling the trigger on a new scope for my prairie dog gun, a Savage 22-250, but I'd like to see some discussion. In my mind I've narrowed it down to a Nikon Monarch 3, 5-20 X 44 with a BDC, or a Leupold VX2, 6-18 X 40, with a long range varmint duplex reticle. I have a Monarch on my AR with no complaints, but have no experience with a Leupold. My limit is between $500 - $600ish so please, I can't afford a $1,200 scope. Thanks.
 
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So you want the varmint hunters reticle?
I don't think that reticle is an option on the VX 2. I think you have to step up to the 3 for that.

That said, I've got a VX2 6-18x40 A/O with target turrets that I mounted up on my sons 223. Its a nice little scope for the money. I think you will like the glass compared to the Nikons.

The VX3 4.5-14 with the varmint hunters reticle is a sweet unit too. A little less magnification but the glass is a step up. They offer it in both a 1" tube and the LR 30MM unit, the later will stretch your budget though.
 
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The Nikon has brighter, clearer glass. Don't take my word for it go to somewhere and look through both side by side and compare for yourself. Your going to be happy with either one.
 
Did you check out the Vortex Viper 6.5-20? I have a Monarch 3-12x on my .270 and it is pretty dang clear. I would definitely buy another.
 
Originally Posted By: Coyote#1http://www.chuckhawks.com/recommended_riflescopes.htm

This is a cut an paste from the above link.

Five-Star Scopes
Leupold VX-6
Schmidt & Bender
Swarovski Z5, Z6
Zeiss Victory series
I have a VX 6 and while its very nice and I do like to brag it up.. I just can't put it in the same class as scopes costing three times as much with options and glass thats in scopes like the Schmidt and Benders. I would add Kahles, Premiers and the new Tangent scopes to this list.

Four-Star-Plus Scopes.
Bushnell Elite 6500
Leupold VX-3, FX-3, VX-R
Sightron Series III (SIIISS)
Swarovski Z3
Weaver Super Slam
Why is the Z3 in this class? Its got the same glass as the Z5 and 6 its just a 3x magnifier.. Should be up with its bigger brothers above. The Sightron and the Weaver, while nice.. Don't belong with the VX3 series Leupolds. I've owned and or spent time shooting both the VX 3 and the SIII and there's no comparison on higher powers the Leupold leaves it in the dust. That 6.5-20 VX 3 LRT is a gem of a scope. I like the Sightron turrets but the glass gets milky and it takes a friggen channel lock pliers to operate the side focus, it should come with a nice set of vise grips.

Four-Star Scopes
Bushnell Elite
Leupold VX-2, FX-2
Minox ZA
Nikon Monarch 3
Pentax Lightseeker
Sightron Series II Big Sky (SIIB)
Vixen Sport Optics line
Weaver Grand Slam
Zeiss Conquest
Putting a Conquest in the same boat as a Pentax light seeker would almost funny if it wasn't so sad. The Conquest should switch places with the Sightron above and this would make more sense as its got glass that's better than at least 5 others in this class. The Elites do have pretty good glass. The Weaver is solid but what's a Vixen Sport Optics what? line? Everything they make that good? Is this subliminal advertising that been inserted here? Some of these are a stretch for a 4 star rating.

Three-Star Plus Scopes
Burris Fullfield E1, C4
Bushnell Legend Ultra HD
Leupold VX-I, FX-I, Mark AR
Sightron Series II (SII)
Funny the Mark AR scopes are basically VX2's with different options and boxes so shouldn't they be grouped with the ones a class up? I'd put the Vortex PST and HS series scopes right here. There's no need for the 3star plus classification. I'd group most of these with the ones right below.

Three-Star Scopes
Burris Fullfield II
Bushnell Trophy XLT
Leupold Rifleman
Nikon Buckmaster
Redfield Revolution
Sightron SI
Weaver Classic V-Series and K-Series, Rimfire

Two-Star Scopes
Bushnell Banner
Mueller Optics line
Simmons Simmons ProHunter, 44 Mag
Weaver Kaspa
 
Great post, I've been looking through more scopes than I care to admit... trying to find a great match for my Tikka T3 lite 22-250. Do you think that the VX-3 and VX-R are really in the same category optically? I've heard that the VX-R is closer to the VX-2 and in my experience it appears to be true.
 
Originally Posted By: Str8ShooterGreat post, I've been looking through more scopes than I care to admit... trying to find a great match for my Tikka T3 lite 22-250. Do you think that the VX-3 and VX-R are really in the same category optically? I've heard that the VX-R is closer to the VX-2 and in my experience it appears to be true.

I think the VX-R is kinda like a hybrid between the two but leans closer to the VX-3 than the VX-2. For instance, you won't find a VX-2 that has a 30mm tube. I think the glass is really, really close to the VX-3. I've had the time to look them over real well and that VX-R is a nice scope for the money. I think a 4-12 with CDS dials would be tough to beat on that 250 of yours.
 
Originally Posted By: Tim NeitzkeI read that list of Chuck's and about wizzed my pants laff'n ! What a joke....

You don't think a Weaver Super Slam is "on the heels" of a Schmidt Bender? LOL
 
Originally Posted By: cedarcreekcoonerI have Nikon monarchs, Nikon Prostaff 5, Nikon Buckmasters, Leupold VX II, Leupold VX 3, Leupold FX 3. I honestly can't tell much difference in any of them.



My friend... If you can't tell the difference between a VX-3 and a Prostaff or a Buckmaster you have got issues.
 
I must have issue then. They all seem about the same clarity to me. But I'm no expert like most people on here.

I can tell a difference in the older Prostaffs
 
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Originally Posted By: FurhunterOriginally Posted By: Tim NeitzkeI read that list of Chuck's and about wizzed my pants laff'n ! What a joke....

You don't think a Weaver Super Slam is "on the heels" of a Schmidt Bender? LOL



Anytime I see Chuck Hawks referenced, I just simply move along...
 
Originally Posted By: FurhunterOriginally Posted By: Str8ShooterGreat post, I've been looking through more scopes than I care to admit... trying to find a great match for my Tikka T3 lite 22-250. Do you think that the VX-3 and VX-R are really in the same category optically? I've heard that the VX-R is closer to the VX-2 and in my experience it appears to be true.

I think the VX-R is kinda like a hybrid between the two but leans closer to the VX-3 than the VX-2. For instance, you won't find a VX-2 that has a 30mm tube. I think the glass is really, really close to the VX-3. I've had the time to look them over real well and that VX-R is a nice scope for the money. I think a 4-12 with CDS dials would be tough to beat on that 250 of yours.

I have been researching VX-R lately. On paper it would seem they are the perfect 3-9 scope for all around shooting/predator hunting that I do.

I know you have handled these and many other scopes, how do you like the thicker reticle on the Mark AR/VXr scopes? I talked to a tech at leupold this week, and he said the reason the TMR reticles are thicker in these lines is that they are made from fiber optic wire (for the illumination), and can only be so thin. I like my Mark AR 3-9 for hunting, but the reticle cover a 1" dot completely at 100 and makes shooting tight groups difficult. I'm gonna have to switch scopes on my AR to do load development. I was recently considering a VXR for a bolt gun, but decided against one because of the reticle. I've read the fire dot duplex reticles are thicker than the etched vx3 duplex as well.

 
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There is more to optics than just the glass! I guess you guys have had a chance to feel the function & see the optical clarity of all the scopes mentioned?
 
Originally Posted By: Coyote#1There is more to optics than just the glass!
Yep, I don't care how good the glass is, if the adjustments suck, the whole thing sucks !
 
Originally Posted By: Furhunter
Coyote#1 said:
http://www.chuckhawks.com/recommended_riflescopes.htm

This is a cut an paste from the above link.

Originally Posted By: Coyote#1 I guess you guys have had a chance to feel the function & see the optical clarity of all the scopes mentioned?
No, but I've seen a few. The bold ones...


Five-Star Scopes
Leupold VX-6
Schmidt & Bender
Swarovski Z5, Z6
Zeiss Victory series


Four-Star-Plus Scopes.
Bushnell Elite 6500
Leupold VX-3, FX-3, VX-R
Sightron Series III (SIIISS)
Swarovski Z3
Weaver Super Slam

Four-Star Scopes
Bushnell Elite
Leupold VX-2, FX-2
Minox ZA
Nikon Monarch 3
Pentax Lightseeker
Sightron Series II Big Sky (SIIB)
Vixen Sport Optics line
Weaver Grand Slam
Zeiss Conquest

Three-Star Plus Scopes
Burris Fullfield E1, C4
Bushnell Legend Ultra HD
Leupold VX-I, FX-I, Mark AR
Sightron Series II (SII)


Three-Star Scopes
Burris Fullfield II
Bushnell Trophy XLT
Leupold Rifleman
Nikon Buckmaster
Redfield Revolution
Sightron SI
Weaver Classic V-Series and K-Series, Rimfire

Two-Star Scopes
Bushnell Banner
Mueller Optics line
Simmons Simmons ProHunter, 44 Mag
Weaver Kaspa
Click to expand...
 


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