Finest Riflescope?

[GaryO]

offered today (under 10x) if price is not a factor? Thanks...

 

[Divernhunter]

The one I am looking thru when I pull the trigger on a trophy animal. For me that is a Leupold or Nightforce since that is what I have and have used(Leupold) for many years.
There may be higher quality but those have been good for/to me for many years of hunting

 

[Bert the Turtle]

I've never seen anything optically better than a Z6 Swarovski except possibly a Hensholdt scope I tried mounted on a 338 lapua Barret 98. I didn't have a Z6 to compare to and the Hensholdt would be inappropriate for most hunting- too bulky. But optically sweet. The Leupolds seem to be more ruggedly built ( not that I've ever broken a Swarovski) but don't optically compete. I have a 1-4 U.S. optics scope that seems very rugged and has excellent optics but I don't love the ergonomics.

To a certain extent it depends what you mean by best. Durability generally plays against weight. Brightness generally plays against size although better quality glass can mitigate against smaller lenses. Taking price out of the equation certainly helps with that. Ergonomics can be personal so it is a good idea to actually handle the scopes you are interested in.

Whatever you choose you won't regret getting quality.

 

[CAustin]

I am partial to Luepold scopes and have them on two of my rifles. They are built to take punishment as mentioned already!

 

[TokkieM]

Can't beat the offerings by Swaro,Zeiss,Khales or S&B. Clarity,quality,durability and repeatability better than anything else. If it has to be a scope made in the US the Nightforce would get my nod.

 

[Hank2211]

I started with Leopold, and when the Gods began to like me for a change, bought a Swarovski. That's been the go-to scope ever since. Is it better than the Leopold? Absolutely. Is it three or four times better? No. Am I still buying them? Yup (but hope I bought my last one).

 

[Hank2211]

I wrote Leupold but got auto-corrected.

 

[JimP]

I have hiked more miles than I care to remember packing a rifle with a scope on it, and 99% of that time my rifle has been packing a Leupold scope. I have use it from 11,000' down to 1,500' in blizzards and -20 F to +100 F. I have taken shots from point blank to 900 yards+ and they have never failed me as long as I did my job.

Would I like a Swarovski? Yes, but I don't know why I need to spend 5x the price for one when the Leupold's have served me so well over the years. It is even a lot like other optics. A friend has a pair of Swarovski binoculars and after he looked through my Leupold's he asked me why he spent $2,000 more when the Leupold's were just as clear.

So if you haven't gotten my opinion yet, I like Leupold optics.

 

[wesheltonj]

Any German built Leica or Zeiss, next Leica Portugal then Swaro (an all Austrian model). Stepping down from there Meopta USA Scope (Zeiss Conquest, Cabelas, etc.)

 

[buckcurtin]

Schmidt&Bender. I joke with my friends, I can the the hairs on a gnats butt at 100 yards. Clarity is unbelievable. Have one on my Model 70 375 H&H. No problems.

 

[Timt]

Zeiss victory models, Swarovski z4-6, Leica Magnus models, S&B, Kahles if you are looking for clarity of glass and build quality. After owning and hunting with them you will wonder who filled your leupold with milk...

 

[Red Leg]

Schmidt&Bender - They are a cut above. I have them on a couple of special rifles. Nearest seconds (and they are very close) are Zeiss Victories and Swarovski Z's. Leica is a close and surprisingly affordable third.

 

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Tasco!!!
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.Ok, O.k, I'm kidding. I don't know what the "finest" is, but the best value for my money would have to go to Leupold, with Nikon being a close second. 8x magnification is the same no matter who you buy from, and as far a "clarity" goes, I think that is something that is somewhat subjective. I could pay thousands of dollars for a scope for a rifle, but the bottom line is A.) does it hold it's zero? B.) does the point of impact change with a change in magnification? and C.) can I see my target clearly enough at a reasonable range in low light conditions in order to accurately put a bullet in it?. If you answer yes, no, and yes, then you've probably found your scope.

 

[Saul]

I have Swarovskis on all of my rifles. Personally, I find clear glass far more useful to accurate shooting than any fancy reticule or super-magnification. Plus, I have terrible vision so the clarity and illumination of the Swaros really helps me.

 

[rookhawk]

The requirements were pretty clear - price is no object relatively speaking.

Thus, the answer is Swarovski Z6 and Schmidt & Bender.

Cheap alternatives almost as good for half would be: Zeiss, Leica, Kahles

Much cheaper alternatives that aren't anywhere near as good, but people try to say are as good in order to feel good about buying cheaper product would be leupold, vortex, nightforce, aimpoint, meopta, nikon and a slew of other brands.

 

[Hank2211]

Much cheaper alternatives that aren't anywhere near as good, but people try to say are as good in order to feel good about buying cheaper product would be leupold, vortex, nightforce, aimpoint, meopta, nikon and a slew of other brands.

You need to stop beating around the bush Rookhawk. Some of us have a hard time figuring out what you really think!

 

[Mr. 16 gauge]

The requirements were pretty clear - price is no object relatively speaking.

Much cheaper alternatives that aren't anywhere near as good, but people try to say are as good in order to feel good about buying cheaper product would be leupold, vortex, nightforce, aimpoint, meopta, nikon and a slew of other brands.

OR........the flip side of the coin is people pay more for the same quality in order to say that they have something "better" than the next guy..................

 

[rookhawk]

You need to stop beating around the bush Rookhawk. Some of us have a hard time figuring out what you really think!

Hah, you got my humor. For the record, I've owned a lot of my as good scopes and they served me well. I also remember being adamant that Leupold was just as good as (insert better scope) for many years. Then I was able to buy better scopes and my opinion changed.

 

[Timt]

Rookhawk I couldn't agree more even though I would place the Zeiss Victory HT up together with the Z6.

Having owned most of the brands and models mentioned here and a fair amount more at one time or another I can't say that any of my rifles use a leupold, vortex, meopta or nikon.

I fairly quickly realised that you get what you pay for. You only cry once when you buy the real deal, when you pay for them the first time.
Leupolds are nice budget scopes and have a very good warranty but they are not even close to playing in the same league as the big european brands when it comes to clarity of glass, build quality and light transmission.

 

[Nyati]

Finest can be be difficult to judge, for low light, long distance shooting, a Zeiss 3-12x56 is hard to beat.

For Africa I use a Leupold LPS 2,5-10x45 which is just fine and half the weight.