Scopes. This should be fun

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OVERKILL

OVERKILL

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So, I created a thread on a precision rifle group on FB and things have gone a bit sideways with everybody and their grandfather telling me to get a Vortex. I'm not getting a Vortex.

Options are (in no particular order):

1. Leupold Mark 8 3.5-25x56mm FFP - $4,700
2. NightForce ATACR 5-25x56mm FFP - $2,813
3. US Optics ER25 5-25x58mm FFP - $3,135
4. Schmidt Bender PII 5-25x56mm FFP - $3,739

These are all in the same "league" with the Leupold being the most expensive and the NightForce being the "value leader" for features at price (it is the least expensive).

I was originally going to buy the Leupold but I'm having a hard time with the cost/performance here as these other optics are all very comparable and less expensive.

I'm currently leaning toward the NF. Other than Vortex, are there any other optics that should be on this list? Gun it is going on a CADEX CDX-33 in .338 Lapua. Mount is probably going to be a CADEX or Leupold.
 
You're in pretty rarefied air with these. Not many here have even looked through one much less have a qualified opinion about them. Very cool that you can participate at this level.

Question for you, any feel for where the tipping point is for value/performance in scopes? You know, from $X on you have to spend way more to get more performance. thanks

Funny you mention Vortex, a guy I shoot with just got a Ruger Precision Rifle and mounted a $1K Vortex on it. Pretty spendy for my crowd.
 
NF for the win! Their optics are great and the scope is built like a brick S*.*t-House. With proper care consider it a life time investment, that will enable you to shoot that 338 LM to a mile+.

If you ever plan to compete at 1,000 yards you'll have the perfect scope for it. It's cheaper than the other choices which is a big plus for the quality of the product.
 
This is not intended to knock anything Leupold. Which I've been a big fan of, and own many of for well over 40+ years now. But I though I would put this out there. When I purchased my .50 BMG rifle, (Bushmaster BA-50), I went with a Leupold Mark IV 3.5-10X 40MM LR/T scope on it. I had this thing well mounted in bullet proof steel rings from Smith Enterprises. After around 80 rounds or so the power ring locked up tight. So I removed the scope and sent it back to Leupold.

I got it back several weeks, (and phone calls), later. The scope looked and functioned like it just came from the box. I remounted it and continued enjoying the rifle. Then, at around the 180 round mark, I fired a round, and when I went to look through the scope I couldn't see a thing. Total blur. You can imagine my surprise when I found the front ocular lens laying on the bench beside the rifle!

I sent the scope back, and got it back this time in less than 2 weeks. That was it for me. I promptly sold it to a buddy. (He knew the history of the scope, along with what it had been through). He mounted it on one of his AR's, and it's been functioning fine for him ever since.

I replaced it with a Bushnell Elite Tactical 5-15X 40 MM. I was able to accommodate it's 1" tube in my 30 MM Smith Enterprise Rings, because they ship their .50 BMG rings with matching 1" split steel inserts. I've had this setup on this rifle for the past several years, and at least 550 rounds, all with zero problems or trouble. This scope is as clear as ANY Leupold I've ever owned or looked through, and it holds zero perfectly. I'm so impressed with this glass, I've purchased 4 more since, for various other long range rifles I have. Every one of them has performed perfectly thus far.

My point is there is some very good, high quality glass available out there without having to spend well into 4 digits in order to get it. This I've proven to myself. Again, I'm not knocking Leupold, or any other manufacturer of expensive scopes. I'm just saying what I personally experienced. For me spending 3 digits worked out much better than spending well into 4.

 
Personally if I could afford it I would go Leupold based on reputation. Not sure how the other warranty their products but my Dad had a Vari-X III on his .308 out deer hunting and fell on a rock which shattered it. He took the gun to the local dealer with the intent to buy a new one. The dealer told him he would be glad he had a Leupold as it has a lifetime warranty no questions asked for any reason. They gave him a new one. Funny thing is he bought the rifle used with the scope already on it so he wasn't even the original owner. That is great customer support that stand behind their product and I would buy one based on this alone. You pay more but they definitely back their products.
 
Originally Posted By: spk2000
Personally if I could afford it I would go Leupold based on reputation. Not sure how the other warranty their products but my Dad had a Vari-X III on his .308 out deer hunting and fell on a rock which shattered it. He took the gun to the local dealer with the intent to buy a new one. The dealer told him he would be glad he had a Leupold as it has a lifetime warranty no questions asked for any reason. They gave him a new one. Funny thing is he bought the rifle used with the scope already on it so he wasn't even the original owner. That is great customer support that stand behind their product and I would buy one based on this alone. You pay more but they definitely back their products.


All true, and I agree. However it matters more to me to have a scope that simply works as intended, rather than one I have to constantly use the warranty on. Such as been the case with all of the Bushnell Elite Tactical scopes I'm currently running. I'm NOT putting these into the same category as their much cheaper "Banner" models that are available at Wal-Mart for $30 in the blister pack, you find hanging on J-Hooks.
 
I don't know much about scopes in this price range, but a while back when I was surfing youtube, I was watching some long range shooting videos and was curious what scope they were using, in at least a couple videos that I saw, they were using Swarovski glass, and i've always heard very good (pricey) things about Swarovski, but I think you're looking in that price/quality range.

Maybe an X5(i) could be added to your list.
 
Originally Posted By: billt460
Originally Posted By: spk2000
Personally if I could afford it I would go Leupold based on reputation. Not sure how the other warranty their products but my Dad had a Vari-X III on his .308 out deer hunting and fell on a rock which shattered it. He took the gun to the local dealer with the intent to buy a new one. The dealer told him he would be glad he had a Leupold as it has a lifetime warranty no questions asked for any reason. They gave him a new one. Funny thing is he bought the rifle used with the scope already on it so he wasn't even the original owner. That is great customer support that stand behind their product and I would buy one based on this alone. You pay more but they definitely back their products.


All true, and I agree. However it matters more to me to have a scope that simply works as intended, rather than one I have to constantly use the warranty on. Such as been the case with all of the Bushnell Elite Tactical scopes I'm currently running. I'm NOT putting these into the same category as their much cheaper "Banner" models that are available at Wal-Mart for $30 in the blister pack, you find hanging on J-Hooks.


I've currently got a couple of Bushnell Elite 6500's (in fact the scope that came off the 110BA was a 6500 mil-dot in 4.5-30x50) and I've been very happy with them! No issues. My buddy's 300WM kept breaking the Hawke scope he had (warrantied it 3x and it won't hold zero) so I gave him the 6500 that came off my .308 (I put on a Leupold VX-3 in 8-25x50) and it has been perfect. I had two more in 2.5-16x42, one of which I'm currently trying to sell, the other I pulled off my .270 when I sold it.

The Bushnell in the same category is the Elite Tactical XRS 4.5-30x50 but I don't know how the glass stacks up to the NF? I know it is priced very competitively.
 
Originally Posted By: AZjeff
You're in pretty rarefied air with these. Not many here have even looked through one much less have a qualified opinion about them. Very cool that you can participate at this level.

Question for you, any feel for where the tipping point is for value/performance in scopes? You know, from $X on you have to spend way more to get more performance. thanks

Funny you mention Vortex, a guy I shoot with just got a Ruger Precision Rifle and mounted a $1K Vortex on it. Pretty spendy for my crowd.


I think the tipping point here is around the 3K mark. That's why I'm concerned about the Mark 8 because it is a LOT more money and I doubt I would be able to see a difference between it and the NF. Same with the S&B, which is closing in on 4K.

My currently Leupold cost me around $1500, my Elite 6500 around $1K. That seems to be the point where you have to spend a lot more money (like the price of NF here if we are talking tiers) to get something noticeably better.
 
Is there much practical point to a scope on a .338 starting at 3.5 or 5X ? Do the competitions you'd shoot at have targets close in at 50 meters and out to 1000+ ? Seems like something 8-24x or even 10-30x would be more practical, easier to make and cost less. OK, if you're a real deal operator and truly can have no close-in compromise... but for civilians?
 
Originally Posted By: AZjeff
Is there much practical point to a scope on a .338 starting at 3.5 or 5X ? Do the competitions you'd shoot at have targets close in at 50 meters and out to 1000+ ? Seems like something 8-24x or even 10-30x would be more practical, easier to make and cost less. OK, if you're a real deal operator and truly can have no close-in compromise... but for civilians?


I'm not a competitive shooter, LOL! I just enjoy high quality gear/equipment. I'll be shooting 1K+ but not competitively, just for fun. I just like having the best tools for the job
smile.gif
 
So I spoke to my contact at CADEX today and she basically told me the NightForce dealer network in Canada is a *bleep*-show. She actually recommended the Vortex as the best bang for buck and a a few others that weren't on the list such as Steiner, Kahles and Tangeant Theta.

Really torn at this point, sounds like the Leupold isn't worth the money and the Vortex, which is available no hassle locally through my dealer may actually be the best bet
crazy2.gif
 
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Really torn at this point, sounds like the Leupold isn't worth the money and the Vortex, which is available no hassle locally through my dealer may actually be the best bet.


I have heard nothing but good about Vortex. A lot of these lower cost scopes are rivaling the quality of many of the higher cost models. Optics manufacturing has come much the same as electronics. You get an amazing amount of quality and features without breaking the bank.
 
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