Dangerous Game Scope

[Green Chile]

I missed the EE part and agree but the newer model is also very good.

 

[WAB]

I missed the EE part and agree but the newer model is also very good.

Agreed, and totally agree with your comment on Mark. I wouldn’t buy anywhere else.

 

[Green Chile]

I bought a lot from Euro Optic and got a lot of good demo deals but on new stuff, from now on I will call Mark first. He saved me $500 this week.

 

[WAB]

I bought a lot from Euro Optic and got a lot of good demo deals but on new stuff, from now on I will call Mark first. He saved me $500 this week.

I’m the same. You are right on euro optic. They have some
Killer demo deals.

 

[Green Chile]

As I understand it, EO buys up a lot of demos to offer them to their customers. It's a good line of business. I check them often and have saved as much as 50% off high end optics.

 

[Tra3]

How long will you use the rifle? If it is only one trip, then maybe there is less value in a top end scope. If you plan to use the rifle for many years, then get the best glass you can. I replaced a swaro 1.25-4 scope with a z8i 1-8x. It was an amazing difference and worth the value. It is about double your budget, but cheaper than buying mid range today, then upgrading in 3-4 years.

 

[Jay Kelley]

I have a 1x4 Trijicon Accupower (accupoint, but with batteries) on a CZ550 in .375 H&H.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I prefer using classic glass ... for the romance factor. You know, like one of those bourbon drinking double gunner guys. My Mauser 98 404 Jeff is topped with a 1972 Weaver K3. But it has tapered crosshairs: top shelf technology back then. No need for lighted reticle. I'm not shooting at dangerous game in twilight conditions!

 

[Beck]

I bought a lot from Euro Optic and got a lot of good demo deals but on new stuff, from now on I will call Mark first. He saved me $500 this week.

The Zeiss I just bought was a demo deal on Euro Optic. $500 off, felt like I needed to move fast. Would Mark have saved me even more money?

 

[Beck]

How long will you use the rifle? If it is only one trip, then maybe there is less value in a top end scope. If you plan to use the rifle for many years, then get the best glass you can. I replaced a swaro 1.25-4 scope with a z8i 1-8x. It was an amazing difference and worth the value. It is about double your budget, but cheaper than buying mid range today, then upgrading in 3-4 years.

I am planning to put this on my stainless .375 Sako. A gun I plan to use on a lot of hunts, so I splurged and bought the Zeiss

 

[WAB]

The Zeiss I just bought was a demo deal on Euro Optic. $500 off, felt like I needed to move fast. Would Mark have saved me even more money?

I don’t think that Mark handles demos but I could be wrong. If it’s a new
Swarovski or Leupold, I doubt you will find better pricing or service anywhere.

 

[Green Chile]

Mark told me he doesn’t have demos but could
beat most pricing on new.

 

[rookhawk]

I'm a scope snob, I just cannot and will not go back to low quality glass under any circumstances.

So if you have beer budget and champagne tastes, you're buying used. Lets review excellent DG rifle glass that is around that $1000 pricepoint.

1.) Used Schmidt & Bender 1-4x24mm with 30mm tube. Non-illuminated, $800-$1000. Illuminated, $1200-$1500.

2.) Used Swarovski Z6 1-6x24mm with 30mm tube. Non-illuminated with a plex or #4 reticle, $800-$1200. Illuminated version with CDS $1100-$1400. Illuminated version with #4 reticle $1400-$1600. EE non-illuminated #4 $2500. EE illuminated #4 $3500-$3800. (virtually unobtainable on the EEs)

3.) Used Swarovski Habicht 1-4x24mm Illuminated. Plex or #4 reticle. $700-$1100.

4.) NEW Leica 1-5x24mm $1400.

5.) Used Kahles Helia 1-4x24mm 30mm tube. I've also seen 1-5x. $700-$1000.

That's as Porky-Pig says: that's all folks.

 

[MLindsay]

I have a Nikon Slughunter on my 500A2 BRNO 602. It is mounted in steel TSR rings on a steel picatinny rail. I just came back from Zim where I took an ancient buff with it. I would say the glass is mediocre compared to the Meopta on my 35 Whelen that I also brought. At least for me, I do not need exceptional glass, what I do need is the toughest SOB I can find in the most bullet proof mounts I can find.

 

[Beck]

I'm a scope snob, I just cannot and will not go back to low quality glass under any circumstances.

So if you have beer budget and champagne tastes, you're buying used. Lets review excellent DG rifle glass that is around that $1000 pricepoint.

1.) Used Schmidt & Bender 1-4x24mm with 30mm tube. Non-illuminated, $800-$1000. Illuminated, $1200-$1500.

2.) Used Swarovski Z6 1-6x24mm with 30mm tube. Non-illuminated with a plex or #4 reticle, $800-$1200. Illuminated version with CDS $1100-$1400. Illuminated version with #4 reticle $1400-$1600. EE non-illuminated #4 $2500. EE illuminated #4 $3500-$3800. (virtually unobtainable on the EEs)

3.) Used Swarovski Habicht 1-4x24mm Illuminated. Plex or #4 reticle. $700-$1100.

4.) NEW Leica 1-5x24mm $1400.

5.) Used Kahles Helia 1-4x24mm 30mm tube. I've also seen 1-5x. $700-$1000.

That's as Porky-Pig says: that's all folks.

Hopefully my illuminated Zeiss Conquest V6 1-6x24 qualifies

 

[rookhawk]

Hopefully my illuminated Zeiss Conquest V6 1-6x24 qualifies

I run the cheaper conquest 1.5-5 z3 illuminated on a slug gun. On blowout for $500, it was passable for the 250 yard and under slug gun. I've never owned a Zeiss z6 to give a fair assessment, but I can say the older Duralyt and other lines are in opinion, not as good as the Swaros/S&Bs/Kahles options I rattled off.

But it comes down to frugality. I'm not comparing new-to-new at MSRP to proclaim what is best, I'm replying to the OPs desire for a Ferrari for the price of a Ford which means used, otherwise he has to buy something substandard new for his budget.

 

[Green Chile]

Hopefully my illuminated Zeiss Conquest V6 1-6x24 qualifies

If you're happy with it, it doesn't matter what the rest of us think. We are just offering suggestions based upon our large expenditure of time and $ chasing the unicorn. Several of us think we have found it. I'm not looking for anything different personally...just more of the same.

 

[rookhawk]

If you don’t mind me sliding your thread in a completely different direction, I would say this.

I’d rather own the cheapest, crappiest scope listed on the options list above than to own the best one in the wrong mounts.

Low or ultra-low scope rings for perfect centering of the sight picture instantaneously is going to result in a lot more properly shot game than having the best glass. I would wager 99% of high-end rifle owners in the USA have irrelevantly good glass in light of their pathetically incorrect mounts and rings.

How fast can you make a perfect shot is the real question, the answers we are all assuming relate to glass which is the 2nd most important consideration.

 

[Green Chile]

I would add to that the cardinal rule is to keep your scope on lowest variable settings and get used to finding the target quickly. Get setup to dry fire and do some practice following through without moving the reticle and reloading quickly. Also if the PH tells you to get on the sticks then do it quickly and quietly…or slowly and quietly depending on the situation. Get used to finding the animal in your scope, not going back and forth with your binos and rifle. There’s a lot to be said for how you handle your binos and rifle around game. Be ready to fire when the animal presents itself. It won’t last long and might be your only opportunity!

 

[WAB]

If you don’t mind me sliding your thread in a completely different direction, I would say this.

I’d rather own the cheapest, crappiest scope listed on the options list above than to own the best one in the wrong mounts.

Low or ultra-low scope rings for perfect centering of the sight picture instantaneously is going to result in a lot more properly shot game than having the best glass. I would wager 99% of high-end rifle owners in the USA have irrelevantly good glass in light of their pathetically incorrect mounts and rings.

How fast can you make a perfect shot is the real question, the answers we are all assuming relate to glass which is the 2nd most important consideration.

This is an excellent point and why my DG rifles have straight tube scopes mounted in Talley or EAW pivot mounts. This allows for the most flexibility in achieving perfect alignment for quick, accurate shooting.