Scope shopping driving me bonkers

[fishngamereaper]

These threads pop up 2-3 times a year.
Ford, Chevy, Dodge......

My experiences.
Vortex... personal no issues. 5 years going strong on kids 6.5 creedmore.
Leupold... professionally no issues. Mark IV for years functioned flawless zero to 2k yds.
( Word on the street was Sig stole a bunch of Leupold engineer's couple years ago, not sure if it's affecting quality currently)
Nightforce... professionally no issues. Beat and abused for year's out to a mile.
Ziess.. personally no issues. Currently my go to on a 6.5 PRC. Zero issues Idaho to Alaska.

Best glass.....
NF and Ziess.
Best positive detents...
Leupold and NF.
Best eye relief.....
Ziess.
Best IR
Ziess.

 

[treefarmer]

Once again, my first post was mostly sarcasm as I was looking at reviews on some other sites.  I’ve always been a leupold guy.  Just counted and I have 5 riflescopes which I never had an issue with, put leupolds on 3 of the kids rifles and never had an issues either .  Only one has the cds turret and it’s always preformed as is should   I’ve sent binoculars back a few times and been super happy with their warranty     From some of the comments on this forum and people I’ve talked to recently it seems people are less then satisfied with the upper end leupolds specifically the vx6.  I guess I’m looking for a scope with a good warranty that I’ll never have to use.  I can’t help but think Leupold has the assumption that they’ll replace an optic a time or two built into their price?  Again, I consider myself a leupold guy and today just advised my brother today to buy one of their products for my nephew.   I do thank everyone for Their input, it’s nice to hear from people who actually own these optics   

That said I’m going with the nx8 2.5x20 with a Moar recticle 

[MHWASH]

"Leupold. Complete junk, don’t hold zero and will probably break in a padded gun case"

Said no Leupold user ever.
You don't stay in business for over 115 years by making "complete junk" that comes with an unconditional life time warranty.  It's also one of the few manufactures that makes their product in the USA in Beaverton Oregon.  While the west side of the State of Oregon may be way left, it's still better than sending money to China.

On the rare occurrence of having a Leupold scope problem, they go over backwards and then some to make it right, especially to LEO and Military.  If your Leupold branded scope is junk, run the serial numbers.  Odds are it was a counterfeit out of China. They sell tons of Leupold marked scopes off of EBay and other internet sources.

Same thing can be said for Vortex. I've sent both in for warranty work. Vortex is much easier to deal with than Leupold. If i was to buy a scope because of their customer service, it would be Vortex over and over. Leupold's customer service has a chip on their shoulder, they're very arrogant.

[b23]

That said I’m going with the nx8 2.5x20 with a Moar recticle

It's a great optic, I have that scope on my CA Ridgeline, but buyer beware, as I mentioned in an earlier post, they have a tighter eye box that can be head position sensitive.  Also, because they're a shorter tubed scope, they're a little more limited on how far you can slide them back.

[jrebel]

That said I’m going with the nx8 2.5x20 with a Moar recticle

It's a great optic, I have that scope on my CA Ridgeline, but buyer beware, as I mentioned in an earlier post, they have a tighter eye box that can be head position sensitive.  Also, because they're a shorter tubed scope, they're a little more limited on how far you can slide them back.

Yes, that’s why the 4-32 is so much better.  Longer tube for more mounting options and way better magnification.  With that said the 2-20 if a super nice scope and will do you well.

[Alchase]

I don’t think you can go wrong with an NX8, great scope!

[treefarmer]

I don’t know how to reply to a specific message but do you think you would go up to 32 power while hunting?   I have a 24 power Burris in a 22-250 and it seems like when I crank it up it picks up a lot of heat waves, even in colder weather at least that’s what I remember the last time I shot it 20 years ago. ( I actually might list it in the classified as I more or less forgot I had it)   The 4x32 isn’t that much more and I do like the idea of a little longer scope.  Thanks

[jrebel]

I don’t know how to reply to a specific message but do you think you would go up to 32 power while hunting?   I have a 24 power Burris in a 22-250 and it seems like when I crank it up it picks up a lot of heat waves, even in colder weather at least that’s what I remember the last time I shot it 20 years ago. ( I actually might list it in the classified as I more or less forgot I had it)   The 4x32 isn’t that much more and I do like the idea of a little longer scope.  Thanks

I shoot mine dialed to 32 all the time…..it is amazing.   Mine sits on a 338 lapua and it has only killed one bear.  340 yards and my son had it dialed to 32 power.  Put that 260 grain hammer hunter on a dime and flattened a 400+ lbs bear dead in its tracks.  Just because you have it doesn’t mean you need to use it. 

[Magnum_Willys]

Almost zero reason to pick the nx8 2.5-20 over the 4-32.
Both same weight.   Are you ever setting it at less than 4 power?  If not why get the 2.5-20?  The 32 is way better for target/load development.   You don’t need more than 20 for hunting only.  Again if dropping to the 2.5-20 saved weight I woukd be all over it - but it weighs exactly as much as the 4-32.

[Windwalker]

Hmm, interesting exercise to sift out scopes.
All have faults and good attributes. Depends on the use.
If its for hunting, (IMHO) training & repetitions trump most choices if using a major brand.

Some majors have clear glass & crap for reticles. Choose the reticle then chase down the scope.
Generally speaking, 400 yards is a good limit for most skill levels (and bullet performance) which diminishes the need for high power. 200 yards is probably the average shot that could be done easily with iron sights. Which really sucks- justifying 4K for the cool toys is part of the fun.

Long range target shooting is a whole different ball game. Here is one source that may be helpful and give food for thought.

https://precisionrifleblog.com/category/optics/rifle-scopes/

[jasnt]

Most scopes don’t let in a ton of light at max power. The first half of the power range is the brightest.  Would you rather have that good light at 10x or 16x??
How often will you be shooting at 2xor 4x?
Seems a no brainer to me

[cutter]

 Whenever I'm looking to buy a variable scope for hunting, I always remember what the late Bill Jordan wrote about them when they started to become as popular as fixed powers, " A variable scope is only as useful as its lowest setting". After over 50 years of hunting and making a lot of meat in many different types of country I've found his advice to be as sound now as it was back in the 70's.   

[Taco280AI]

Whenever I'm looking to buy a variable scope for hunting, I always remember what the late Bill Jordan wrote about them when they started to become as popular as fixed powers, " A variable scope is only as useful as its lowest setting". After over 50 years of hunting and making a lot of meat in many different types of country I've found his advice to be as sound now as it was back in the 70's.

The late Bill Jordan? Realtree guy?

[Onewhohikes]

Making meat?