Buying a scope
- Thread starter john clem
- Start date
Shouldn't need to spend anything like that money on the Zeiss - £679 at SGC, so bound to do better on a hunt round. If you wan to spend the money, you could do a lot worse than the Nightforce 5.5-22x56 up on here at the mo. Are you set on varimag?
Claret_Dabbler
Well-Known Member
John, with that budget, I would not buy either of the scopes you list, and certainly not the Leupold.
Go on MacLeod's website and look at the ex-demo stock. £900 will buy a new PH 3-12x50, or a Z6 in 1.7-10x42 or a 2-12x50 - These are proper hunting scopes, don't get fooled into big heavy tactical type scope with all the knobs and bells, keep it simple.
308boy
Well-Known Member
you could do a lot worse than the Nightforce 5.5-22x56 up on here at the mo.
Thought he was going woodland stalking????? Cannot see how this fits the bill IMHO keep it simple. Snipers rifles are for snipers and long target folk not stalkers.
As for Leupold scopes, the money is spent on marketing not R&D, some love them I dont, again just my tuppenceworth.
Thought he was going woodland stalking????? Cannot see how this fits the bill IMHO keep it simple. Snipers rifles are for snipers and long target folk not stalkers.
As for Leupold scopes, the money is spent on marketing not R&D, some love them I dont, again just my tuppenceworth.
Agreed, but OP also stated hill stalking too - The mag range of the Nightforce gives him a nice range to cover both activities (IMO), with excellent low-light transmission and is a high quality scope in the price range specified. While I also agree that keeping it simple is best, we are not the OP and are therefore, as requested, offering options for him to consider where no-one is more right or wrong than the other. The OP may not have listed target shooting as a primary purpose of the scope, but in hindsight may want that capability - only he knows. At the end of the day, he will choose what he feels most comfortable with - as we all do.
Agreed on Leupold - not the VfM they used to be. Not bad glass though. And just for the record, I'd go Swarovski if they did what I wanted for the budget. S&B also a good bet.
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bewsher500
Well-Known Member
feel the need to defend the humble Leupold for some reason.
I have two and neither one cost over £500. Both very well made, very clean and clear.
one VX3 6.5-20x40
one VX1 4-12x40
That said I wouldn't dream of spending your budget on one of their higher end scopes. They are a £300-600 option IMO.
I have two and neither one cost over £500. Both very well made, very clean and clear.
one VX3 6.5-20x40
one VX1 4-12x40
That said I wouldn't dream of spending your budget on one of their higher end scopes. They are a £300-600 option IMO.
caorach
Well-Known Member
Americans have a different measure of quality glass than we do in Europe. I have never hunted with Leopold but have looked through a few - last one I looked through the owner offered to swap it for my 8X56 S&B and was gutted when I told him I bought mine second hand for £250. He'd paid a lot more for a scope that wasn't anywhere near as nice. I'd guess mine is now worth more than £250 and his Leopold is worth pretty much nothing.
As others have said take a look at MacLeods and their ex-demo and second hand stock and buy a top notch Euro optic. In your situation, to be honest, I'd buy a fixed mag second hand scope and spend the rest on stalking. I use my 8X56 both in woodland and on the hill and I've shot deer from 20 to 220 yards with it and never wanted more, or less, magnification. You might pick one up for £350 these days, that would leave you £600 for stalking which would buy you 4 days at red hinds and you'd always know you had the best scope money would buy!
As others have said take a look at MacLeods and their ex-demo and second hand stock and buy a top notch Euro optic. In your situation, to be honest, I'd buy a fixed mag second hand scope and spend the rest on stalking. I use my 8X56 both in woodland and on the hill and I've shot deer from 20 to 220 yards with it and never wanted more, or less, magnification. You might pick one up for £350 these days, that would leave you £600 for stalking which would buy you 4 days at red hinds and you'd always know you had the best scope money would buy!
Another vote for McLeods. I recently bought a Zeiss Victory 2.5-10x50 Varipoint Illuminated Reticle from them that was within your budget. Although they rated it at 8 it was unmarked and their service was superb. Couldn't be happier as it's a fantastic scope and for woodland stalking I'd find it hard to beat. Nice as the Duralyt's are, IMHO the build quality, clarity and size of the Victory range sets them apart.
Having managed on the Hill for the last 15 years (bar one) with a fixed Zeiss 6x42, I would also question whether there's a real need for anything more than a max magnification of 10 or 12, but each to their own.
willie_gunn
Having managed on the Hill for the last 15 years (bar one) with a fixed Zeiss 6x42, I would also question whether there's a real need for anything more than a max magnification of 10 or 12, but each to their own.
willie_gunn
lincolnjefferies
Well-Known Member
Nothing wrong with the duralight, but I think it is a rebadged conquest model. I would spend my money on a secondhand S&B or a West German Zeiss. Lightforce are very tough, but owners can be a little disappointed with the light transmission. Leupolds are very good second hand buys too as many of them have a lifetime warrenty.
Cheers
Cheers
Best advice would be to look for a scope that is ?x56 preferably with a 30mm body. Fix mags let more light in than variables because there less glass in them. Variables are useful for the hill just make sure you can dial it down to at last 3 power for close up woodland work. Try to look through scOpes at dusk or bad light and I'm sure a decision will present itself leopold, swaroski,zeiss, s&b are all good scopes.
There is a noticeable difference between scopes with a 50 and 56 objective lens. Also an illuminated reticule is useful especially in bad light.
For the record I did like zeiss glass until I looks through the new z6 swaroski scopes they are leaving zeiss behind in my opinion anyway...
There is a noticeable difference between scopes with a 50 and 56 objective lens. Also an illuminated reticule is useful especially in bad light.
For the record I did like zeiss glass until I looks through the new z6 swaroski scopes they are leaving zeiss behind in my opinion anyway...
Cut+Squirt
Well-Known Member
John,
You will not be disapointed with the Duralite...............I sold a Swarf PF 8x56 to buy the Zeiss and i'm really happy with it.............I also stalk woodland but with some huge clearfell areas, some quarter mile square. The Swarf was fantastic and clear but I missed the ability to zoom in on beasts for longer shots. The Swarf is better when the light starts to go but not that much better than the Zeiss. The retice on the Zeiss is much finer which I prefer. A top scope for the money.
Sometimes it pays to experiment a bit too.
I was looking at Kaps scopes for years at the IWA show. Finally I just bought
one to try. A 2.5-10x50 illuminated. This scope is quite similar in build quality to
a classic schmidt, just a bit longer. Out of all the scopes I had and have, this one
is the nicest to look through. Maybe it's my eyes but I think I can focus much quicker
even at first or last light. My closest deer taken last season with this scope was 5yds
running flat out and the furthest was around 240 yds.
Kaps also have fancy daylight dot scopes, but this one does just fine and doesn't cost the world.
25 year warranty too.
edi
I was looking at Kaps scopes for years at the IWA show. Finally I just bought
one to try. A 2.5-10x50 illuminated. This scope is quite similar in build quality to
a classic schmidt, just a bit longer. Out of all the scopes I had and have, this one
is the nicest to look through. Maybe it's my eyes but I think I can focus much quicker
even at first or last light. My closest deer taken last season with this scope was 5yds
running flat out and the furthest was around 240 yds.
Kaps also have fancy daylight dot scopes, but this one does just fine and doesn't cost the world.
25 year warranty too.
edi
bewsher500
Well-Known Member
surely your objective is the biggest factor followed buy the magnification you are on at the time.
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