First foray into ‘premium’ scopes? What would be good?

[Navarone]

Hi All,

At the moment most of my hunting is with air rifles, but looking to move to fac in the future…

Up until now I’ve used scopes at the more budget end of their spectrum, bought new. I was wondering if I was to invest in some proper glass which would last me (leupold, S&B, Zeiss, Swarovski etc) what would be good to look out for in terms of particular models?

Nothing too big, budget around £300 so will obviously have to be second hand and of a certain vintage.

Where would be somewhere good to start?

Any tips or advice appreciated!

Patrick

 

[the scudd]

Swarovski 8x56 though you might have to stretch your budget

 

[nun_hunter]

Depends what you plan on shooting. If it's rabbits/foxes at night with an NV add on then a cheaper scope with parralax would be better than a "quality" European fixed scope. Again deer stalking in woodland then a fixed power 8X56 would be good at low ligh but likely the mag may be too high for the majority of shots.

It would be handy to know your intended cartridge and use to help give you a more meaningful answer.

 

[JTO]

Any of the big names in 8x56, because that is out of fashion.

 

[Navarone]

Swarovski 8x56 though you might have to stretch your budget

Happy to stretch if there’s something really standout. Is the a particular model of 8-56 swaro or is it the same thing they’ve done for years and years..

 

[Will the chippy]

Schmidt and bender 8 x56 or 6x42 Hungarian. Usually 50 cheaper than the German ones. And apart from the stamp on the top you can't tell the difference.
Great no frills scopes.

 

[old 30-06]

Hi Patrick, I am sorry to disappoint you, but I think you will struggle to find what you want for that amount of money. Scopes have come down in price as people have purchased night vision and thermal, but not that much. I have two second hand scopes by Zeiss that I paid £400 each for. They are really really good, and I would thoroughly recommend them. But, as I say, I think your budget will have to stretch.

 

[3595wilk]

I’ve been on a similar journey starting out sub 12 which still remains but now spend majority of my time using FAC:air, RF and CF…..but still have a place for my sub-12.

For RF the Air rifle scope manufacturers transfer easily across. A reasonable scope with SF works perfectly well on my WMR and an Optisan 4x16x44 is perfect. Picked one up for £120 delivered second hand, and used with an add on.

Similar story with my LR.

I have though moved up a grade for CF, and my .243 has a 2.5x15x42 Bushnell 6500. Good option and as SF can stick on an add on for Fox if needed. Think it was about £300 second hand. It’s good for daytime stalking too - so although others may disagree - will definitely do a job for you.

However, my 308 is dedicated for Deer so have sourced a Zeiss second hand and £500 seems a figure that you will need to pay.

Overall though, take a look around for a Bushnell 6500, good option at your price point. Japanese made and will give me an image not far off my Zeiss at dusk.

 

[Navarone]

Depends what you plan on shooting. If it's rabbits/foxes at night with an NV add on then a cheaper scope with parralax would be better than a "quality" European fixed scope. Again deer stalking in woodland then a fixed power 8X56 would be good at low ligh but likely the mag may be too high for the majority of shots.

It would be handy to know your intended cartridge and use to help give you a more meaningful answer.

Hmmm yes, that’s the tricky bit about buying for the future I suppose because I can’t fully answer those questions. I suppose for as general use as possible which sounds like a good quality 8-56.

 

[Navarone]

Hi Patrick, I am sorry to disappoint you, but I think you will struggle to find what you want for that amount of money. Scopes have come down in price as people have purchased night vision and thermal, but not that much. I have two second hand scopes by Zeiss that I paid £400 each for. They are really really good, and I would thoroughly recommend them. But, as I say, I think your budget will have to stretch.

That’s ok! I put 300 just as I saw a bit of a range of prices on classifieds for various bits but if it has to stretch that would be ok. What Zeiss did you buy?

 

[Scotty99]

I’d try to find a Schmidt & Bender Klassic 8x56 (Hungarian), great scopes for the money with good quality glass. I’ve recently bought one for £300 second hand.

 

[Navarone]

I’ve been on a similar journey starting out sub 12 which still remains but now spend majority of my time using FAC:air, RF and CF…..but still have a place for my sub-12.

For RF the Air rifle scope manufacturers transfer easily across. A reasonable scope with SF works perfectly well on my WMR and an Optisan 4x16x44 is perfect. Picked one up for £120 delivered second hand, and used with an add on.

Similar story with my LR.

I have though moved up a grade for CF, and my .243 has a 2.5x15x42 Bushnell 6500. Good option and as SF can stick on an add on for Fox if needed. Think it was about £300 second hand. It’s good for daytime stalking too - so although others may disagree - will definitely do a job for you.

However, my 308 is dedicated for Deer so have sourced a Zeiss second hand and £500 seems a figure that you will need to pay.

Overall though, take a look around for a Bushnell 6500, good option at your price point. Japanese made and will give me an image not far off my Zeiss at dusk.

Really good advice, thank you. I’ll have a look at the bushnell. What you have described above is pretty much the journey I’m hoping to go on over the next few years…

 

[Navarone]

I’d try to find a Schmidt & Bender Klassic 8x56 (Hungarian), great scopes for the money with good quality glass. I’ve recently bought one for £300 second hand.

The Hungarian ones go for slightly cheaper than the German don’t they?

 

[Scotty99]

The Hungarian ones go for slightly cheaper than the German don’t they?

Yes they do. Everything manufactured in Germany but assembled in Hungary, I believe, so yes a bit cheaper.

 

[old 30-06]

Hi Patrick, I bought a Zeiss Duralight 3 to 12 by 50mm illuminated. It is superb. The illumination is variable, and only the centre dot lights up. Thoroughly recommend it. I see other people have advised some others, many going for the 8 by 56. I think the variable is more universal.

 

[maximus otter]

Hi All,

At the moment most of my hunting is with air rifles, but looking to move to fac in the future…

Up until now I’ve used scopes at the more budget end of their spectrum, bought new. I was wondering if I was to invest in some proper glass which would last me (leupold, S&B, Zeiss, Swarovski etc) what would be good to look out for in terms of particular models?

Nothing too big, budget around £300 so will obviously have to be second hand and of a certain vintage.

Where would be somewhere good to start?

Any tips or advice appreciated!

Patrick

Speaking for myself, l shoot only “handbag” deer on lowland agricultural land, and l never shoot beyond 200 yards. (And that far only if l have no choice.) 90% of my deer are shot at between 100 and 150 yards.

My main stalking rifle is fitted with a Schmidt u. Bender 3-12 x 50 Klassik ‘scope; my .223 with a large Nightforce NXS 3.5-15 x 50 (IIRC). Both rifles were bought secondhand; both had those ‘scopes already fitted.

I wouldn’t feel hard done by to use a fixed-power 6x or 8x ‘scope, although the option of higher- or lower power is occasionally nice.

I’d look for a used Hungarian S&B or comparable model in those powers, or a new Hawke zoom.

maximus otter

 

[artschool]

my first zeiss was a 6x42 that cost about your budget.

 

[baguio]

Hi All,

At the moment most of my hunting is with air rifles, but looking to move to fac in the future…

Up until now I’ve used scopes at the more budget end of their spectrum, bought new. I was wondering if I was to invest in some proper glass which would last me (leupold, S&B, Zeiss, Swarovski etc) what would be good to look out for in terms of particular models?

Nothing too big, budget around £300 so will obviously have to be second hand and of a certain vintage.

Where would be somewhere good to start?

Any tips or advice appreciated!

Patrick

Is this scope for an FAC air rifle, a rim fire or a centre fire?

 

[Navarone]

Is this scope for an FAC air rifle, a rim fire or a centre fire?

Only sub 12 air rifle at the moment, but just with an idea for it to be a really good big of kit that I never get rid of. (I understand that a premium scope on an air rifle is a bit mad…)

 

[TringSaint]

I’m probably going to upset some on here, but I don’t see the point of sticking really expensive glass onto hunting rifles.

My scopes are delta, Rudolph, Nikon and nikko Stirling, with the most expensive being the delta at c£800, and they all perform perfectly for their role, ie enabling me to hit animals at my chosen distances, as well as target shoot out to 600m with ease.

I have also done a lot of target shooting at Bisley and regularly out performed people with serious kit (Sako trg with £2.5k s&b glass on it) with my old rem700 and MTC taipan scope!! So it’s not the kit that makes the difference!

Yes, good glass will let in more light, but would you want to be taking shots at a deer if you couldn’t see what was behind it? I wouldn’t. Plus the normal range in the UK for most hunting is <200m, so in reality a 3-9x40 scope is ‘enough’ to hunt with, and all of the extras are really just to make the shot a little bit easier.

My suggestion would be to go up a notch into the premium normal scope range and see how you fare. If you shoot well and don’t find it limits you then you have found your scope. But simply whacking a grand+ of glass on your rifle won’t make you a better shot!