Want To Buy scope cheap/cheerful (or recommend)

[KevinB]

A major firearm vendor that is not a sponsor here has Vortex Viper hs 2.5-10x44 for $240. It isn’t the best glass I have seen but it has good eye relief and a good eye box for the price. I have one on my daughter’s 35 Whalen and it has held up well so far.

I won’t claim it is more durable than a Leupold but at that price might be worth trying.

 

[Ericedwinbates]

Just trashed a bottom tier german made scope practicing w/ .375HH.

While i figure out what’$$$ next, I need something.

Whatcha got?

How are those $300 Vortex LPVOs?

Hold up to boomers?

Leupold, Leupold, Leupold!!!!

 

[Ray B]

Just trashed a bottom tier german made scope practicing w/ .375HH.

I'm wondering what sort of practicing was done that trashed the scope. The recoil of a standard weight 375H&H usually won't damage a scope provided it was mechanically sound. What gets them are aids such as Lead-Sleds and similar things that modify the recoil.

 

[Luminous Ham]

I'm wondering what sort of practicing was done that trashed the scope. The recoil of a standard weight 375H&H usually won't damage a scope provided it was mechanically sound. What gets them are aids such as Lead-Sleds and similar things that modify the recoil.

Would also like to learn from this, thanks.

 

[ChooChoo404]

Totally normal bench and handheld. No weird aids. Some faster factory loads in the mix.

Shot the same stuff the same way out of a too-light for me M70 with a Swarovski and go figure it’s peachy.

So I’m blaming the scope. Finally heard back from the maker, Seeadler, and their desperately garbled note (hello, online translator?) seemed to be suggesting that I may have a counterfeit. Gotta dig up the box and papers, if I kept them that is.

Got a line on a Trijicon 1-4x24 must be early as there’s a lightpipe. Like new.

Any experience w these?

 

[ChooChoo404]

The Seeadler was on a bone stock CZ550.

 

[steve white]

Okay, everyone will throw eggs at me but I've done okay with a new Bushnell 1-4x30mm with plain Jane tapered crosshairs mounted on my 404J. So far so good. I use Warne QD rings mounted low. Very wide field of view and clear. Scope is mounted low enough to acquire instantly with me firmly on the gun. So low it barely clears the bolt handle. If it craps out, I'm not too worried. My rifle is only good for 100 yards and my right eye is still good enough to make the backup irons work at that range if necessary.
View attachment 710557

What is the eye relief on that Elite scope? The one I have on a .22 is 3.5 inches--which is why it's on a .22

+1 on the low mounting

 

[ChooChoo404]

Seeadler, but let’s give em the benefit of the doubt for now as they “seem” to be suggesting I may have a counterfeit. It’s 20yo so I’m skeptical.

 

[steve white]

Used Nikon Monarch will not fail on a heavy kicker, well known fact.

Leupold vx3i has same glass as the 3HD and is cheaper if you can find it.

 

[Uncontrolled_round_feed]

Vortex warranty is the strongest … because it gets so much exercise!!

 

[Ray B]

Vortex warranty is the strongest … because it gets so much exercise!!

Similarly, I've seen people who had so much respect for the truth that they NEVER used it.

 

[rookhawk]

The cheapest quality scope I know of is the Swaro z3 3-9x36mm at about $650. Those fit in low rings for a DG rifle and the quality is exceptional.

For good durability and cheaper, you can look at Leupold but the clarity isn’t even in the same stratosphere.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

What is the eye relief on that Elite scope? The one I have on a .22 is 3.5 inches--which is why it's on a .22

+1 on the low mounting

Factory advertises them at +4". Hard for me to confirm because my eys are so deep set (Neanderthal brow). The old Weaver 3x I brought out of retirement was hammering my eyebrow on the 404J so I picked up this Bushnell for a price that was hard to pass up. Figured I had nothing to lose giving it a try since I knew it would be a while before I would get back to Africa. I had time to see how it holds up at the range. So far perfect. It has touched me lightly a couple of times but not unexpected off the bench. The Weaver was cutting me standing up. And cutting me badly! My right eye is all I have left and both retinas have poor history so I needed something else. The clarity is good ... good enough for me anyway. The thicker tube was a big question mark. Fortunately, I discovered a discontinued Weaver 1-piece mount for Mauser that is very low. It has worked out perfectly.

The scope went back on warranty after first trip to the range. Took a while to get it back as plant was moving to Utah. Turns out it was a case of defective instructions in the box and operator unfamiliarity with modern turret technology. Nothing wrong with the scope. Very embarrassing. But at least I learned they stand behind their lifetime warranty.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

What is the eye relief on that Elite scope? The one I have on a .22 is 3.5 inches--which is why it's on a .22

+1 on the low mounting

Okay, using a ruler I was able to obtain the following approximate measurements for eye relief:

Rim of ocular bell to my eyebrow = 3 3/8"
Eyeball recessed from eyebrow = 1/2"
Scope's ocular lens recessed from rim of ocular bell = 1/8"

Therefore if "eye relief" is measured as distance between scope's ocular lens and lens of shooter's eye (and I assume that must be the formula), then for this scope it's ~4". I surmise this is the only way scope manufacturers can measure eye relief as they have no way of predicting or assessing the variable brow prominence of individual shooters.

 

[coreydb]

Well....like Ontario Hunter, throw eggs at me. I don't bad mouth anything I have not used or seen used with my own eyes. I use both Leupold and Vortex on my hunting rifles, and a $400 Vortex on my DG rifle; the one in my picture. It withstood multiple trips to/from South Africa, dispatched Cape Buffalo, the Sable in my picture, Hartebeest, Golden Wildebeest and more, and never lost zero. All my other scopes are around the $800-$1200USD range. The Vortex was story of desperation where I happened in the end, to be shown the quality of Vortex.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I have a Simmons Aetec 3.5x10x44 in Leupold rings/mounts on my Browning A Bolt .338WM that I’ve used elk hunting since about ‘95 when I bought the rifle and then the scope. The Aetec was Simmons’ top of the line scope at $250MSRP back then. I found a new one for $150. It’s been banged around quite a bit, loaned out a couple of times, been hunted with in heavy snow, rain and sleet in below 0F temperatures, but the glass is still clear and it continues to hold a zero. I’ve thought about replacing it but I don’t know what more I could’ve and continue to ask from a scope? I fell once from a standing position when hunting with my late son’s Remington 700 .300WM with a Vortex Diamondback 3.5x10x50 in Leupold rings/mounts.The rifle landed six feet away on hard ground with small rocks. It had a small divet in the top scope cap but still held a zero. I had a mid ‘70s Bushnell 4x on my Winchester M70 .270 that still held a zero after it fell out of a rifle scabbard and a horse stepped on it and sheared off the windage adjustment housing. I have a couple of Leupolds and a S&B too but they haven’t been through what those other scopes have (yet). I guess sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good? LOL

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Just trashed a bottom tier german made scope practicing w/ .375HH.

While i figure out what’$$$ next, I need something.

Whatcha got?

How are those $300 Vortex LPVOs?

Hold up to boomers?

@ChooChoo404
To me the scope that would be best is a nice Meopta optica 5 in 2-10x44.
Long eye relief, great clarity and will handle the recoil. Two power will be fine for you close and personal while 10 power will allow you to shoot a long ways out
They cost around $650aud in Australia.
Plenty of bang for your buck
But once cry once.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

@ChooChoo404 - I wouldn't trust a Vortex scope to watch cat videos. I've had two RDO's from them fail and sent back the same set of binos twice for minor bumps that damaged the housing. I apologize, but hunting Africa is expensive and the kit needed to do so is pricey as well.

Leupold is the brand I'd consider to be the entry point for DG optics and considering you have a 375H&H, DG is on the menu. Look at the VX-3HD 1.5-5x20 with Firedot reticle, available for $700 USD on Amazon. It has 3.6" of eye relief at 5x and 4.4" at 1.5x which should have your eye safe from scope cut.

Leupold also make it in the Freedom series in the same scope, but the upgrade in glass with the 3HD is worth the extra money.

Other brands to consider would be Trijicon and Kahles...but from there it only gets more expensive.

@BeeMaa
Whilst Leupold make good scopes I personally find the non illuminated reticle to fine even in the 3hd series.
To me both Meopta and even the budget ( not birdshit) Zeiss Terra are better, clearer and offer heavier outer bars on their duplex reticle whilst still having the finer centre cross hairs. Plus neither are as expensive as the higher grade Leupold.
That's just my opinion but to each their own. I only have a beer income tho but I buy the best I can afford.
If'n you would like to donate a Swaro Z6 2-10 illuminated to me to evaluate I won't say no.
Bob

 

[maxtheflyinghorse]

I have a GPO spectra on my .375 H&H no complaints so far.

 

[BeeMaa]

@BeeMaa
Whilst Leupold make good scopes I personally find the non illuminated reticle to fine even in the 3hd series.
To me both Meopta and even the budget ( not birdshit) Zeiss Terra are better, clearer and offer heavier outer bars on their duplex reticle whilst still having the finer centre cross hairs. Plus neither are as expensive as the higher grade Leupold.
That's just my opinion but to each their own. I only have a beer income tho but I buy the best I can afford.
If'n you would like to donate a Swaro Z6 2-10 illuminated to me to evaluate I won't say no.
Bob

I have zero experience with both Meopta and Zeiss riflescopes other than looking through them at EuroOptic when I was trying to decide on what I wanted. Because I eliminated them, I didn't consider the prices at the time. The Swaro scopes worked the best with my eyes so that's what I went with. I couldn't (in good conscience) make a qualified recommendation to a product or brand I haven't used, however that doesn't mean they don't make top quality pieces.

On the other hand, I have extensive experience with Leupold, Trijicon, Leica, Swaro, Kahles, Schmidt & Bender and Vortex. However I also understand (from others) that the newer Leupold scopes are not nearly as good as the ones they made just a few years ago. In the end I'm glad I'm no longer on the market for a scope...there is a lot to sort through.

I would happily donate a Swaro Z6 to you Bob, trouble is that I don't have one. All mine are Z8i's. And those are spoken for at the moment. Looking forward to our get together. Cheers mate.