What to spend on Scope?

Nope.

Time in the field gets you deer.

That of course is true

But I’ve had deer filter out on last light with rubbish optics and not been able to shoot, and I’ve had the same with really decent optics and whacked a few.

Not withstanding the lamp argument….we aren’t all allowed to you know 🤣🤣
 
They do, I have owned optics that would be considered among the best.

In my experience (for deerstalking) some much lower pricepoint scopes work just as well.

I cannot think of a single occasion over the last couple of years since i ‘downgraded’ my optics, when i missed an opportunity of a deer as a result a f the scope on my rifle.
Great optics may help you shoot into the last minutes of light past a cheaper scope but you've still got to find the deer. Even with Vortex Diamondback binoculars I can spot deer that I'd be unable to see up close with the naked eye so all well and good shooting one but then by the time you've walked over and can't even see the shot site let alone which way it ran off you'll be cursing the fact you took the shot when you did. Then you'll be buying thermal or a dog to find the deer😂

Money spent on ammo to practice with and time out will be more beneficial. I can count the deer I've not shot due to the quality of my scope on one hand but the number of deer I've not shot due to overthinking the shot or waiting for the perfect shot are too numerous to count😂🤦🏻‍♂️
 
Lots of good advice in previous posts.
I am in western canada, where hunting can be 25 yards for whitetail deer, up to 400 yards (my maximum limit based on my ability) for mule deer, black bear, moose, elk, and cougar).

We cannot use lamps here, so one hour before sunrise and one hour after sundown.
Most of the deer I have successfully hunted have been in low light situations, so for my circumstances, and my eyesight, I have bought scopes with that in mind. I have meopta meopro, meopta meostar, kahles cl, swarovski habicht av, and s&b hungaria. All were bought used, in great condition and continue to function perfectly. In North America, Swarovski and Kahles hold their second hand value extremely well, so if one decides to make a change, there is little, if any loss. Meopta tends to lose more value here, as it is not as prominent in terms of marketing or brand awareness, but the meostar has the wow factor in terms of glass.

Even used they cost more than most of my rifles, but I place ability to see and take the shot, ahead of the rifle, as long as it is accurate. I also consider the reticle as important, with #4 being my favourite for fast target acquisition at closer ranges, and duplex for other purposes.

Thats my two cents (sorry 2p) 😁
 
Real world experience here. I bought a new 3-12x56 Zeiss illuminated 17 years ago 2k euros + on my drilling and have shot lots with it seemingly always on 6x never once used the illumination and I have usually sat out late 3-4 evenings per week for roe or boar. Make of that what you will.
BavarianBrit, It’s strange how things work out. If you replaced the scope today, what would you buy?
 
Yep, lots of people regurgitate that. Seems like it’s one of those things people hear and repeat without really questioning it too much.
I think it goes back some years when it was definitely true- you could buy awful scopes when I first had them on air rifles 40 years ago.

Coming into centrefires 12 years ago I’ve had Redfield, leupold VX5?? (Sold it third hand for £500 so must have been alright) sig sauer, delta and a few more budget ones…. Tbh the delta titanium I bought 2nd hand from here has glass that seems as good as my mates Swarovski …… either that our our eyes are too crap to tell them apart…..

Spend between £500 and £800 second hand or new and you’ll be grand IMHO
 
How much to spend?…..
As much as you can afford to get the features you want in the scope.
No point buying a scope because it’s within your budget just to find that you don’t like the reticle or the turret adjustments don’t match the reticle graduations etc….

My preferences are
Second focal
Variable mag
Side parallax
1cm/0.1mrad clicks
Exposed E and W turrets
Zero stop
Fine plex reticle with ill. centre dot
This normally leads to premium Euro glass. I’ve yet to find those specs in the more budget friendly marques.
 
Massive thanks to all who contributed to this thread.

In the end I went for a 2nd hand Swarovski Z6i 2.5-15 x 56.

I have no doubt it will be the perfect tool for Roe and Sika in Peeblesshire.

Figured that as much as I'll be living on beans for the foreseeable, it was a good investment that will perform excellently forever and retain value if I choose to trade it in. Very nearly went with Vortex, but the above scope appeared in the local store just when I called. So it was meant to be...

Sam
 
No connection with seller but assuming perfect working order........This would do me

great scopes but i wouln't buy one with compresion rings in the body personally.. If it hasnt damages any mechanisms it could very well have bent the tube out of centre
 
May well be worth considering a Hawke Sidewinder. I have one on every one of my rifles (different mags for different uses) these scopes also work so so well with my add on NV setup. Some of the more expensive optics have coatings on the lenses that do not work well with NV.
 
If you can afford a decent scope spend the time finding one you like and suits you and your shooting, the worlds your oyster, I run swaro’s, zeiss & Schmidt and bender with low mag start to 15 x as a max with fine cross hairs and good illuminated ret
 
If you can afford a decent scope spend the time finding one you like and suits you and your shooting, the worlds your oyster, I run swaro’s, zeiss & Schmidt and bender with low mag start to 15 x as a max with fine cross hairs and good illuminated ret
That's a revival
 
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