Nikon Monarch 4-16x50 SF vs. Leupold VX-II 4-12x50?

[jamesjett]

Looking to scope my new Ruger M77 .22-250.  Would like to hear some thoughts?
Thanks!

[uplandhunter870]

cant speak to the lupy as i do not own one but i do own a nikon monarch 4-16x42sf its a great scope have it sitting on a ruger m77 hawkeye its crystal clear and holds zero perfectly. as a matter of fact last time i shot that rifle/scope was a year ago yesterday until this afternoon (so 366 days ago) and ive moved twice in that time frame went out today to "resight" it in for the montana rifle opener this coming saturday first three shots at 100yds were one ragged hole 1inch high of the bull, exactly were i set it about 13 months ago

i like the side focus as it takes the parralax out of the equation, one less thing i have to worry about. i also have the BDC recticle and have used the nikon "spot on" deal on their website and a word of warning is that the "spot on" gets you in the ball park you really have to go shoot at various distances to see exactly where each circle puts you once you do that its potential really shows the BDC is not an out of the box cure for shooting dead on long range

[wastickslinger]

I own both and love them both. So I guess I am no help. 

My .204 has the Leupold VX II 4-12X50. I love it!! You cant beat the warranty either.

My 7mm has the Monarch. Nikon now has custom dial up turret available. I got tired of waiting for it to come out and had Kenton Industries build me one.

So the plus to the Leupold is warranty. The plus to the Nikon is the dial up turrets. Tough call. Cant go wrong either way.

[thinkingman]

For optic quality and historic durability, I'd take the Nikon.
Too many Leupold warranty stories for me to risk it.

[landcbeitner]

Of those two I'd take the Nikon, but Leupold makes some of my favorite scopes.

[jamesjett]

Thanks for the input!  Look through both several times and I think the
Nikon is clearer.  Same warranty.  Just waiting for my Cabela's gift
cards to show up!

[addicted]

I think you went the right way. Nikon tends to be clearer than leupold when you compare optics in the same price range. Then later on you can order some SPot on Turrets from nikon.

[fishngamereaper]

Ive got two monarchs, love them both, no problems. Of course leupold isnt a bad choice, I have a Mark iv that is a great scope as well...Just started shootin a nightforce...so far a sweet scope as well. Look at what you can afford then spend a little more. Good glass is a must.

[rtspring]

Nikon all the way!

[addicted]

Ive got two monarchs, love them both, no problems. Of course leupold isnt a bad choice, I have a Mark iv that is a great scope as well...Just started shootin a nightforce...so far a sweet scope as well. Look at what you can afford then spend a little more. Good glass is a must.

I would like to see a side by side 500 round test with a monarch X and a mark IV 

[carpsniperg2]

Leupold all the way Best warrenty in the business if you ever have to use it! Which out of the 20+ that I own I never have.

I have had nothing but junk from Nikon myself, I was asked to rep for nikon at the trade shows, good money BUT! I won't sell or use gear I don't trust.

[addicted]

Leupold all the way Best warrenty in the business if you ever have to use it! Which out of the 20+ that I own I never have.

I have had nothing but junk from Nikon myself, I was asked to rep for nikon at the trade shows, good money BUT! I won't sell or use gear I don't trust.

I read a thread 2 nights ago where 5 separate lupy owners had their turrets screw out on them, the whole mechanism so they could see into the tube. 

[jamesjett]

I do have two Leupold's. They have been good scopes.  One thing I don't like is that if you are
not centered you lose the whole field of view.  The scope goes black. Some like this.  On the Nikon's I noticed the
reticles will change color if you are not centered but you do not lose the field of view.  That being
said...I know this creates a window for error but you can tell if you are not centered on the Nikon's.
Just something that kinda irritates me about the Leupold.  I decided to try a Nikon!

[bman940]

James, I think you will be pleased with the Nikon. I didn't want to chime in until you had made your decision for fear of a biased suggestion. Make sure you check out Nikon's Spot On Ballistic Program as well.
Addicted, earlier this summer I put 1000 rounds of .223 followed by almost 1000 rounds of .308 through two rifles and the Monarch Scope I used functioned flawlessly on both rifles, as it should. Better then I did for sure as it took 8 hours to do in the Texas heat that was over 100 deg., so hot it melted part of my front rifle rest!
Keep us posted and I'd love to see a pic of your rig.
Bart
Nikon Pro Staff
bbk940@verizon.net

[C-Money]

I am A Leupold fan. Of the two you mentioned, Leupold.

[MDGrand]

cant speak to the lupy as i do not own one but i do own a nikon monarch 4-16x42sf its a great scope have it sitting on a ruger m77 hawkeye its crystal clear and holds zero perfectly. as a matter of fact last time i shot that rifle/scope was a year ago yesterday until this afternoon (so 366 days ago) and ive moved twice in that time frame went out today to "resight" it in for the montana rifle opener this coming saturday first three shots at 100yds were one ragged hole 1inch high of the bull, exactly were i set it about 13 months ago

i like the side focus as it takes the parralax out of the equation, one less thing i have to worry about. i also have the BDC recticle and have used the nikon "spot on" deal on their website and a word of warning is that the "spot on" gets you in the ball park you really have to go shoot at various distances to see exactly where each circle puts you once you do that its potential really shows the BDC is not an out of the box cure for shooting dead on long range

I will have to echo the statements made here.. For a very long time, I have been a Nikon fan.. I think just as clear as a Leupold, but for the past several years.. just few dollars less.. And the warranty is identical.

That being said, when it comes to the "spot on" technology... even when calculated with an exact load, it just gets you in the ball park. Here is what I mean... I hand loaded and chrony'd a load for my 300 WSM.. when I put these variables in the spot on system with my BDC reticle, it said the 1st circle below the cross hairs was 207 yards..

so.. I went and tried this out.. I took all equations out of the rifle.. put it in a lead sled, and focused in.. turned out my shots came probably within the circle, but about 7-8" high. With the ballistic data, I should have been maybe 2" right above the bullseye.. But I wasn't.. the area just below the cross hair and above the 1st BDC circle was where 200 is at.

So.. you really do have to go try it out to see where your rifle is at.

Given this info.. I decided to try a different method.. instead of hold over points, I am going to try and CDS dials from Leupold

[MDGrand]

I know.. there were other reasons I chose to make a change.. Trust me.. I have been a Nikon promoter forever..

But

Leupolds new VX R line.. is awesome.. standard 30mm tubes, and an illuminated reticle is pretty freaking awesome.

Add that to the dial option.. and I decided to make a change.. I would rather have built in Hold over marks, but the more I read about them, the more they are hit and miss. As opposed to dials that you can adjust for. We will see.