What scope for a MAG caliber?

[Antlershed]

The Zeiss is out of the question cause something in the 4-16 range is around $800, and the Bushnell Elite is out cause I want the BDC reticle. How do the high end Burris scopes compare to the Nikon and Leupold?

[Timberstalker]

Antlershed-  Have you ever looked at the SHEPPARD scopes they are awesome.  They build it for the ballistics of the gun and if you like the BDC reticle this is very similar.  Check them out

[Timberstalker]

http://www.shepherdscopes.com/

This is their website.  Their scopes work.  My buddy has it on a 300 ultra and we have shot paper out to 700 yds.  They live up to what they say they are.  Trust me you will not be dissapointed

[Intruder]

The Zeiss is out of the question cause something in the 4-16 range is around $800, and the Bushnell Elite is out cause I want the BDC reticle. How do the high end Burris scopes compare to the Nikon and Leupold?

Wasn't sure if you were set on the higher end magnification.  I believe Bushnell has a custom reticle available for like 50 bucks.  While not a true BDC, it is a mil dot.  Some of the high end Burris stuff is pretty dang nice.  Again, I think it hangs there (or comes darn close) with what you're looking at.  There's a lot of good choices in your price range but you're definitely have some limitations based on the features you're wanting.  Of the scopes you originally mentioined I'd probably lean to the Leupold.

One suggestion.... go look through a bunch of different scopes in that price range but don't pay too much attention to the features like power, BDC, etc.  Just look through various scopes from basic 3x9s on up to the more powerful, featured filled scopes you're targeting.  See if you see any differences and then you can make a more informed choice... it may help you balance the cost vs. features vs. need vs. want equation a little.       

[fc2038]

Between the two options that you have on the board, I have had both I prefer the VX-III in the 4.5 14X40. I think it is brighter and collects more light in low light situations. I have had them side by side in the low light conditions and to me the difference was clear. VX-III

But to each their own

[Red Dawg]

I own a 300 RUM and I installed a leupold 4.5-14x40 BC scope on it and love it. However I would not do it again. I would install a standard issue heavy duplex 4.5-14x40 LR varixIII on it with dual dovetail bases. That 30mm tube is much better in my opinion that the standard one inch tube. I do like the BC scope but the RUM has to much *censored* for the retical. It takes a lot of rounds to get it dialed in the way you will want it believe me. And with the range finding capability of the adjustible objuctive with the heavy duplex you dont need the BC retical.

[EastWaViking]

I have a burris on my 300 weatherby and really like it.

[high country]

i have a zeiss on my 700bdl/mc millan 300RUM, it is still alive. on my christensen 300ultra, I broke a couple leuys, a nikon, a swarovski and a burris. a 4200 and a mark 4 were the only ones to go more then a couple boxes. I have a huge respec for the 4200's. they are as tough as a montana boot. the swaro did not make it 20 rounds.....never again.

the christensen was about 5.5 lbs w/o a scope and un broke. my 700 mc millan setup is about 6.5 lbs w/o a scope. if you are shooting a light 300 I would seriously heed what I have posted. my swaro puked on my spring bear hunt. my wife had to drive me a rifle 100 miles from home. I was beyond pissed.

[Antlershed]

Thanks for the tips. It will be going on a heavier rifle. Maybe I will have to re-think the BDC reticle...

[EastWaViking]

i have a zeiss on my 700bdl/mc millan 300RUM, it is still alive. on my christensen 300ultra, I broke a couple leuys, a nikon, a swarovski and a burris. a 4200 and a mark 4 were the only ones to go more then a couple boxes. I have a huge respec for the 4200's. they are as tough as a montana boot. the swaro did not make it 20 rounds.....never again.

the christensen was about 5.5 lbs w/o a scope and un broke. my 700 mc millan setup is about 6.5 lbs w/o a scope. if you are shooting a light 300 I would seriously heed what I have posted. my swaro puked on my spring bear hunt. my wife had to drive me a rifle 100 miles from home. I was beyond pissed.

How on earth are you breaking scopes?  You are supposed to look through them, not shoot at them!     I had a cheapo Tasco Euroclass on my 300 Weatherby before the Burris, and there
was never a problem with in on a large caliber gun, it just was a cheap tasco and I wanted to up
grade, it's still going strong on one of my 22's.  The Burris is as good as the day I put it on.

[Red Dawg]

good question. How do you break a scope. In the back of my mind I thought that an RUM could break a scope. But have never heard about it till now.  That is crazy what are you doing to them. I have also learned lately that it should be better to put dual dovetail bases on your gun instead of a windage screw base. I have the windage screw base on mine and never had a problem but I guess they have had plenty of problems.

[ICEMAN]

I moved an older Leupold VXII 3X9 50mm, from my .270 to my .300RUM without incident. Have hunted with that scope on the RUM for 5 years, had a seal leak occur in 2006 during the big rain, Leupold replaced with a new scope. (I would have converted to the larger tube, but they sent me a newby in 1"...)

I really like the way the 50mm front objective seems to pull in the light. Plus, I like the extra 3/8inch height the scope rides, I can carry the whole gun from the scope tube. (I know...I know...probably not a cool thing to do....but I have been doing this for years, and I have big hands and like the extra room. ) Whole package shoots wicked good. 

[high country]

good question. How do you break a scope. In the back of my mind I thought that an RUM could break a scope. But have never heard about it till now.  That is crazy what are you doing to them. I have also learned lately that it should be better to put dual dovetail bases on your gun instead of a windage screw base. I have the windage screw base on mine and never had a problem but I guess they have had plenty of problems.

on my 700 the only thing I ever broke was screws. if they are too loose or too tight they WILL break.

on my christensen, the gun was just too violent. if you do the math on recoil velocity and force it is unreal.  the recoil velocity was faster then the 460 roy and dang near equal on force. it was a time bomb. I spoke to burris about a posi lock, they told me not to waste my time....it WOULD break. after talking with the leupold cs they too did not think there was any lightweight scope that they could offer me that would take it. swaro was my own thought, that was a mistake. that thing was a waste of time. I should have known when it took longer then normal to zero. the rifle itself actually blew the bedding somwhere between 0 and 500 rds. I pulled the stock when I sold it and it was cracked in several pieces. cool gun to carry, horrible on optics.

ps if you have a rifle that has a recoil vel of 28-30fps and better then 80ft/lbs you might as well go open sights.

[7mag.]

I have a Leupold 4.5-14x50 VXIII, and I wish I had bought a 40mm. The real nice thing about Leupold, besides excellent quality and customer service, is you can send in your scope to them after you buy it, with your ballistics information, and they will install a custom bullet drop compensator turret for about $140. They are pretty fast too, about 2 weeks, door step to door step. It really works amazing, I have several friends that have done this, and I am really impressed. I will be sending mine in soon.

[Antlershed]

Well, I had the chance to check out the scopes in person today. The Nikon 4-16 was very clear, but at 16 power, the crosshairs seemed to get blurry or almost not as visible. The Leupold on 14 still had crisp crosshairs and was also a very clear scope. Then, I made the mistake of looking through the Zeiss  This could get expensive...

I did come home with a new toy today though.