Which one of these scopes is the best?

SDCoyoteCaller

SDCoyoteCaller

Active member
I want to upgrade the scope on my coyote calling rifle to one with a bullet drop compensating reticle to help me hit the occassional long shot. These are the scopes I have narrowed it down to so far:

Burris Signature Select 3-12 X 44 Ballistic Plex for $419

Leupold VX-II 4-12 X 40 Long Range Duplex for $429

Nikon Monarch 4-12 X 40 BDC reticle for $344

Please comment on any experience you have with each one of these reticles. Especially Nikon's BDC reticle because it has circles on the vertical line, and I would like to hear anyone's experience with these. The most important thing probably would be the optic quality on each one of these scopes, so please let me know what you think.

I have also considered the Burris Fullfield II scope, but after doing some research here on the board it sounded like the clarity in these scopes didn't match a Nikon or Leupold. What is your experience with the Fullfield II and how would it compare to my above choices.

Thanks for all the help in advance.
 
Man...lol...I just done ranting about Nikon's service department, so I'd hate to say the Nikon, but, for the money, it is the best up there. BTW, I think that scope goes for less money on www.theopticzone.com

Don't forget to check out the Bushnell Elite 4200 too. They are also good scopes. I think that Leupolds are too expensive. You're only paying for the name. Perhaps they have good customer service though. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Go with Leupold. You'll only pay the price once(unless you get completely hooked on them and start a Leupy collection!). Their customer service and warranty are unequalled.
 
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I have a Burris Fullfied II, BP 4.5-14 by 42mm A/O, when I first got it, I wasn't sure about it. However, the more I use it, the more I like it. Good optics that seem as tough as nails. My only complaint has been that during cold temperatures, below -15 Celsius, the bell A/O is stiff, hard to move.
I recommend the Fullfield II.
 
Although I don't have any of the scopes listed, I do have a Nikon Monarch 3-9x40 on my 7mm mag. The VXII does not even compare to the other two scopes you have listed. Give Jon a call at the optic zone and he will set you staight on which scope would be best for you.
 
if your comparing apples to apples then you would have to compare the luppy vx-II to a burris fullfield II...the burris you have listed is a way better scope than the luppy or the nikon...(not knocking nikon, but I have had too many issues with them)for the $400 range get the burris signiture select, save yourself some cash and get the fullfield II 4-12 with ballistic plex...you won't be disappointed.
 
I have the burris fullfield II 4.5-14 x42 mounted on my ar-15 and I also have a leupold II 3x9x50 and I like the ballistic plex reticle on the burris a lot.Just in case you don't know,that spotting scope with the combo deal with the burris is really junk.IMO your better off just buying the scope alone,unless you can sell the spotting scope to some sucker,er I mean buyer.take care,daveyboy /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif
 
I have all Nikon scopes now on every rifle I own. From my AR to my Encore muzzleloader. I have three Nikon BDC scopes and I can tell you from experience if you take the time to properly sight them in they can definately come in handy when you need them too. I shot a male this year at 242 yards by placing the first circle on his shoulder and giving the trigger a nice squeeze.
I spent a day at the range getting to know where the bullet wound up when I shot using the circles. If you do this you will be golden.

I have had Bushnells 3200's they are good but thats it. I have tried the burris but never found them to be to my liking. and I have had the Lueys, but got rid of every dang one of them after I got my first Nikon. Clearest optics on the market for the money.
Rus
 
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I have the burris fullfield II 4.5-14 x42 mounted on my ar-15 and I also have a leupold II 3x9x50 and I like the ballistic plex reticle on the burris a lot.Just in case you don't know,that spotting scope with the combo deal with the burris is really junk.IMO your better off just buying the scope alone,unless you can sell the spotting scope to some sucker,er I mean buyer.take care,daveyboy /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif



i dont know about the spotting scope. but the riflescope alone is $399. may as well save the $$ and get a spotting scope too.

http://cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/...s&noImage=0
 
sweatybetty, you're right...when they are running those promotions you really do get a great deal.

I have 2 of those "landmark" spotting scopes from the burris package deals...what you do is give them to your kids so they have somthing to watch the target with when you go to the range...or you can regift them and give them to your brother-in-law who really doesn't hunt but would love to have a spotting scope...well, you get the idea.

I now have a burris on every rifle that I own...I know some poeple are crazy about brand loyalty but that is not me...I have tried many, many differant optics in the field and as soon as you can show me another scope with more "pro's" and less "con's" than the Burris FFII and at a better price...I'll buy it.
 
I think it depends on what your mating it to. I just bought a Mueller sport dot in a 4x16 50mm AO, and so far I love this thing! You will not believe how nice this scope is and how clear the multi coated glass is, for the money. Now... that's on my 204 Ruger, which has no recoil. Not sure how well it would hold up on a 30 caliber rifle. For that, I'd go Bushnell Elite 4200.

I had one when they were still sold by the sub division, (bausch & lomb) and that was a terrific scope. Also had one on my 700 22-250, and the thing was a real tack driver. Scope always held zero, and would shoot 1/4" groups all day long, on a slightly modded rifle.

Luppy scopes are very nice, but not worth the asking price IMHO. I have had several, and while they have never let me down, I cannot justify the price as compared to other scopes. I did once try a simmons Aetec scope on my 7 STW, and it was IFFY. Seemed to not hold zero, and never got much consistant accuracy out of the rifle.
 
Nikon Monarch gets a lot of rave reviews all over the internet, and if this is the 1st ballistic reticle u've used then it's a good basic system to learn long-range tactical-type apps. with...and it looks like the cheapest of them all to boot.
 
While I can't speak to the 4-12s, I have a Nikon Monarch UCC 3-9x40 and a couple Leupold VX-II 3-9x40s. The Nikon is a brighter scope. Shooting at and after sunset with the two types makes this very apparent. The Nikon, however, has a much thicker standard reticle than the Leupold's. For night calling the thicker reticle is easier to pick up, but when punching paper, leaves a lot of target covered.

I've seen the horror stories here and elsewhere of Nikon customer service, although I haven't used them myself.

I did have a pair of Leupold Wind River Katmai binoculars that got trampled on MSR Tampa and Leupold replaced them at no cost. This is what prompted me to purchase my last two Leupolds.
 
You need to compair the same range go to burris.com and look at fullfiled II compaired to others like the vari x I&II and also the Nikon monarch all within the same price ranges and you can see the differances. I have a leupold 2 3.5x10 40mm on a 22-250 nice scope and holds zero well. I also just purchased the FullfieldII 4.5x14 AO 42mm with free garmin GPS and it is as clear as my Vari XII scope and I like the reticle on the Burriss scope. I will be mounting it with Burris signature rings on a new 25/06 rem 700 soon, I'm plumb happy so far and from what I have heared from others that hunter better than 180+ days a year for coyotes the Burris scopes can take daily abuse and hold zero very well.

You can't compair a 400+ scope with a 250-300 dollar scope, also Burris has the forever warranty and from what I hear backs there stuff just as well as others. If going leupold I wouldn't go any lower than the vari x II then it is a new game with the III and higher end scopes same with Burris there high ends are great as well. I shoot coyotes at 300-500 yrds and many complain the clarity of the Vari XII isn't what the higher end scopes are but I kill them plenty dead just the same.

Each to his own but if the Burris does what others I trust say it will I will be a Burris buyer for many years. To me those that spend 600.00 + on a scope do it for name brand reconigtion, because unless your a 1,000 yrd comp shooter I see no need for them when hunting game in North America MY .02 cents.
 
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I would go with the Burris Signature. Very bright and clear scope. The Nikon Monarch would be 2nd and the Leupold last.

Also, consider the Bushnell 4200. Very good glass.
 
I recently put the Burris 6.5X -20X -50M Fullfield scope with Military Dot ballistic plex reticle. If it gets any better than that, it is too rich for my blood. Once you figure out the point of impact you want at 100 yds, it is a piece of cake to hold properly at 200, 300, 400, 500, and further. The scope is relatively compact for a 50M, and super clear. I don't know if it is as clear as the top shelf Nikon or Leupold, but I could easily see how to shoot at 200 yds, looking into a thick fencerow background that I could not see details of with my naked eye. I am sure the top of the line Burris may be better, but how good is good enough. This scope is lifetime guaranteed like the top of the line, and it is considerably clearer than the 4X-14X Scopechief I have shot successfully for the last 6 years. My soninlaw, who is a good rifle and stock man in his own right, has done extensive comparison testing between Burris and other scopes, including Leupold, and when comparing apples to apples, Burris outperformed all in poor light conditions. He switched all scopes on his considerable arsenal to Burris.
 
bronco..is correct to my eye's the nikon has a thicker reticle..that's a plus to me...i hope i never have a problem with the two i own...as i hear the repair service is terrible..i think with the scope's mentioned it's probably a "toss up"...i really wonder who you can believe as far as promised warranty's are concerned...so far i haven't heard anything bad about leupold...maybe that say's something ??
 
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