scope cost madness

[Cottontail killer]

Rite I've read enough what you spend on a scope is entirely up to you but don't be fooled into thinking that bushnell,leupold ect are anywhere near the same league as the big 4 euro makers let alone in it. I've had the lot in my 32 years shooting and the truth is you get what you pay for. And also if you do your homework theirs no reason why you can't get into a ferrari for Mondeo money and lets face it we all want a Ferrari

 

[Forbie]

Its getting away from the original post BUT!
At a 1000 yards the only thing you are going to be shooting is a target. As good as the Swaro's are they are NOT a target scope. Why they dont make one I don't know they certainly could. Same for Ziess no dedicated target scopes unless you count a Hensoldt. You need Nightforce, Sightron, IOR, March, Kahls, S&B and a few others for good repeatable 1000 yard shooting. Any of them don't give much change from 2K plus An couple of articles on Optics Thoughts by ILya Koshkin named High End Tactical Scopes: East vs West and High End Tactical Scopes Part II are good reading if you have a 20 minutes or so to spare and is very informative.

 

[sauer]

why people told to spend more than they can afford on the scope or double the rifle price?

simple.....if you cant see it you cant shoot it



you wouldnt buy the worlds most expensive best produced stereo then put a pair o tesco speakers on it?????




then again why all the difference in opinion and people rubbishing others comments?

i wish folk would remember we are all different with different abilities of eye sight and what may be crap for one may be fine for another.....


then again there are some folk who blind themselves by their pocket..


i was told to go as much as i could afford when i started and was just gonna buy a cheap tasco.....
i was taken out at last light and was viewing a buck thru a tasco that was just in our pocket...wasnt mounted on a rifle.....i could see the deer outline but couldnt make out the shoulder line or tell what sex it was ....just a silhouette or blob....
was then handed the rifle with an older swaro on it of at least 20yrs old now and immediately could see the shoulder line coulde see clearly it was a buck and could even differentiate the colours of his coat as he was between winter and summer coats.......it was like someone had turned back the clock at least 45 minutes

sorry that was enough convincing for me.

if you dont agree and think im mad for spending decent money on a scope fine no probs but my choice.....& keep yer opinions to yourself.....as i wont rubbish someone if they are convinced they dont need a more expensive scope...some folk dont for what they do

WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT ....ACCEPT IT

there isnt any right or wrong just whats for you!

paul

 

[marksika270]

if u can't see it,u can't shoot it.there is good deals to be had on secondhand scopes out there

 

[Milligan]

I am curios as to what people think they'll get in a £2k scope?

Once you've accounted for good mechanics and glass the rest goes into gadgets you won't use in a stalking rifle.

• You don't need 5-25 zoom range.
• You don't really need a BDC.
• You're unlikely to ever use the illum reticle - or at least I don't.
• You don't (or shouldn't) need more than 40 minutes of adjustment.
• Probably don't need parrallax adjustment.

I have a Zeiss Duralyt on my .260, can't fault it. In reality I use it on 5-7x depending where I am stalking. it runs out of minutes on the range at 400yds but that's ok, I won't ever shoot a deer that far. On sub 100yds I don't think I'll ever stop to think if parrallax is going to be an issue.

On my target guns I've got a pair of conquests, my TRG will let me get out to 900yds with some adjustment spare - not had chance to do 1000yd with it. There is more expensive glass but mine will suffice for now.

P.S. I don't think there are many scopes that cost twice the price of top end rifle.
In reality, buy the most suitable combo, if you go too much on one you'll simply create a bottle neck.

 

[eggy s]

I am curios as to what people think they'll get in a £2k scope?

Once you've accounted for good mechanics and glass the rest goes into gadgets you won't use in a stalking rifle.

• You don't need 5-25 zoom range.
• You don't really need a BDC.
• You're unlikely to ever use the illum reticle - or at least I don't.
• You don't (or shouldn't) need more than 40 minutes of adjustment.
• Probably don't need parrallax adjustment.

I have a Zeiss Duralyt on my .260, can't fault it. In reality I use it on 5-7x depending where I am stalking. it runs out of minutes on the range at 400yds but that's ok, I won't ever shoot a deer that far. On sub 100yds I don't think I'll ever stop to think if parrallax is going to be an issue.

On my target guns I've got a pair of conquests, my TRG will let me get out to 900yds with some adjustment spare - not had chance to do 1000yd with it. There is more expensive glass but mine will suffice for now.

P.S. I don't think there are many scopes that cost twice the price of top end rifle.
In reality, buy the most suitable combo, if you go too much on one you'll simply create a bottle neck.

To quote myself
"Last weekend a client of mine used my rifle, he took a 200m shot using my "Euro" scope in very bad light conditions. He is a very very experienced hunter and he said it was one of the best scopes he had ever used and was off to get one.

There is no way in hell I would have taken the shot using my Duralyt. There is good glass, very good glass and exceptional glass. You pay for what you get."

He would not have taken the shot without the IR, simple.

View attachment 18132
and this buck which was a silver medal buck would not have been shot without the high end glass on top of the rifle.

Your assumptions are what YOU use your scope for not what other people use your scope for.

For example I use:
My IR the whole time. Ok it is not needed the whole time but there are situations like above where they are essential.
I am off after a Chammy later this year, The shot ranges are much higher than over here so a bigger zoom than 5-7x is important to me.

My current rifle setup would cost 6-7k. I would not change anything on it. I am now 100% happy with the setup and it suits MY needs except driven hunting, but that setup is coming soon.

 

[leadpig]

Its getting away from the original post BUT!
At a 1000 yards the only thing you are going to be shooting is a target. As good as the Swaro's are they are NOT a target scope. Why they dont make one I don't know they certainly could. Same for Ziess no dedicated target scopes unless you count a Hensoldt. You need Nightforce, Sightron, IOR, March, Kahls, S&B and a few others for good repeatable 1000 yard shooting. Any of them don't give much change from 2K plus An couple of articles on Optics Thoughts by ILya Koshkin named High End Tactical Scopes: East vs West and High End Tactical Scopes Part II are good reading if you have a 20 minutes or so to spare and is very informative.

you don’t need to spend 2k,you can get a sightron from between £750-£1000 depending on what mag/ret you want ie 24,32 or 50x

 

[Tom D]

Rite I've read enough what you spend on a scope is entirely up to you but don't be fooled into thinking that bushnell,leupold ect are anywhere near the same league as the big 4 euro makers let alone in it. I've had the lot in my 32 years shooting and the truth is you get what you pay for. And also if you do your homework theirs no reason why you can't get into a ferrari for Mondeo money and lets face it we all want a Ferrari

This is not what my experience shows, I have a new Leupold VXR and A new S&B Zenith, there really is not much difference between them.

The difference between a £1-200 chinese scope and a decent brand may be huge, but I think many make the mistake of assuming that all the non european brands are the same, they are not, by all accounts leupold, sightron etc can and do compete with the big european brands and are better value for money.

However if having anything other than a swaro will make you feel sad inside, then get one. Just don't assume that its 10 times better than a leupold because it isn't.

 

[willowbank]

My thoughts are that you can suffer real pain (frustration) when you can see clearly through your high end bins but then cannot take a safe shot through not being to see detail through the glass in the cheaper scope, I now use Swaro or Schmidt scopes and Zeiss bins and swear they give me a good extra 15mins at dusk.

 

[eggy s]

Just don't assume that its 10 times better than a leupold because it isn't.

No one is saying they are ten times better, we are just saying they are better.

 

[Cottontail killer]

This is not what my experience shows, I have a new Leupold VXR and A new S&B Zenith, there really is not much difference between them.

The difference between a £1-200 chinese scope and a decent brand may be huge, but I think many make the mistake of assuming that all the non european brands are the same, they are not, by all accounts leupold, sightron etc can and do compete with the big european brands and are better value for money.

However if having anything other than a swaro will make you feel sad inside, then get one. Just don't assume that its 10 times better than a leupold because it isn't.

I think you got the wrong end of the stick old man I'm not saying that my zeiss is ten times better than the leupold I traded in for it all I'm saying is that it is better

And I payed for it second hand the same as the equivalent leupold new so it seems you totally missed my point and my Ferrari for Mondeo money analogy

Paul

 

[Milligan]

To quote myself
"Last weekend a client of mine used my rifle, he took a 200m shot using my "Euro" scope in very bad light conditions. He is a very very experienced hunter and he said it was one of the best scopes he had ever used and was off to get one.

There is no way in hell I would have taken the shot using my Duralyt. There is good glass, very good glass and exceptional glass. You pay for what you get."

He would not have taken the shot without the IR, simple.

View attachment 18132
and this buck which was a silver medal buck would not have been shot without the high end glass on top of the rifle.

Your assumptions are what YOU use your scope for not what other people use your scope for.

For example I use:
My IR the whole time. Ok it is not needed the whole time but there are situations like above where they are essential.
I am off after a Chammy later this year, The shot ranges are much higher than over here so a bigger zoom than 5-7x is important to me.

My current rifle setup would cost 6-7k. I would not change anything on it. I am now 100% happy with the setup and it suits MY needs except driven hunting, but that setup is coming soon.

My point still stands, once you're past the lenses you're paying for features, many of which aren't needed on a run of the mill stalking scope.

 

[Irish Bob]

Its all getting a bit like carp fishing...

 

[bewsher500]

I would love to set up a box with holes in it, fit 10 scopes inside the box so the only thing you can see is the lens just to see how much people can tell between a £400 scope and a £2500 scope in the same conditions.

no badges, no labels, just your eyes and the exact same conditions

 

[Brithunter]

Its all getting a bit like carp fishing...

I am afraid your right there. Hence the demise of the standard fixed mag scope by some makers .

 

[bobt]

I would love to set up a box with holes in it, fit 10 scopes inside the box so the only thing you can see is the lens just to see how much people can tell between a £400 scope and a £2500 scope in the same conditions.

no badges, no labels, just your eyes and the exact same conditions

so try it.

 

[bogtrotter]

I could add up the cost of all my stalking gear and would still have change left from 2k

 

[caorach]

I would love to set up a box with holes in it, fit 10 scopes inside the box so the only thing you can see is the lens just to see how much people can tell between a £400 scope and a £2500 scope in the same conditions.

no badges, no labels, just your eyes and the exact same conditions

I often wonder why the magazines which review scopes don't do this. Or don't put up a bit of newspaper at 100 yards and get 10 people to record the time, as it gets dark, when they can no longer read the headline with each scope.

Then I see the full page adverts from a small number of the scope makers and I realise why the magazines don't do this.

 

[bewsher500]

so try it.

OK I will.
Send me you best scope please.....

unfortunately if I did it with the 7 or 8 scopes I own with a combined price of less than £1200 I probably wouldnt be proving much!

 

[Jollypoacher]

Nope Engineers using the 50 are using 3-12 x 50's and the snipers are using 5-25 x 56 S&B's

Fact.