Need advice: Budget scope comparison

C

CDMMA

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After searching around this, and other, forums for a scope, I came up with a few options all in the same price range (which is limited at this point). Currently, I'm not looking to spend all that much on a scope, and in the future when I acquire more funds, I'll probably be looking into the Zeiss lens' (I'm a photographer, and Zeiss is what's up).

Unfortunately, most of my findings were from 2009-ish, so if there are some newer and better scopes for the same price that have been recently released, I'm open to suggestions.

Here is what I came up with:
Burris 3-9x40mm Fullfield II
Bushnell Elite 3200 3-9x40
Swift Premier Waterproof 3-9x40
Swift Premier 2-7x40mm
Swift 4-12x40mm Premier

My main uses would be for hunting (medium-larger game) and target practice, on a low EGW 20 (or 15, can't decide) MOA picatinny rail on a Remington 700 SPS. Not positive what rings I'll be using atm.

Thanks in advance for the help!
 
Don't overlook the new Redfield scopes. I have two and like them a lot, the both cost me less than $200 and both are 4-12X40 scopes. Plus they are backed with a lifetime no questions asked warranty, just send it back and they'll replace or repair for free.

If it is just mainly for hunting I wouldn't mess with canted bases. The regular 1" tube should give you all the adjustment you will need to get out to normal hunting distances. If you buy a 30mm scope when you go to replace your budget scope you can usually get to 1K yards without needing a canted base anyway.

Any good brand of PRW or QRW rings should suffice for you as well. I've used Burris, Warne, and Leupold the most. I have no complaints about any of them.
 
@tobnpr - Thanks, I've actually seen a few suggestions for the Vortex lately.

@taylorce - Alright, I'll look into those. And sounds good, I'll skip on it then.
 
First off, I'm a Leupold fan and most of my scopes are Leupolds of various ages and magnifications. My newest scope, which I bought because I wanted to try a Burris, has turned out to be optically very good and overall pretty nice, is a 4.5X14 Fullfield II (not the E1). So far, I'm very impressed, and the price was about half of what it'd cost me for a Leupold VXII and a third of what a VX3 would cost me. I can't say it's as good as a Leupold or any other name scope, but I'm pleased at what I got for the money. In a year or two I expect to have further field test info, so stay tuned.:)
 
@603 - Good to hear, though it appears there are better options for the Burris at the same price :p

@Doyle - Nice, the Burris isn't getting great feedback :p
 
The Burris would be a good choice, my 270 wears one and I have taken several deer with it. Also take a look at the nikon offerings like the pro staff or buck master. They are also great scopes at that price range
 
Of the ones listed I'd go Burris. Have been very impressed with the new Redfield too. Others to consider are Nikon and Sightron.
 
@SD & JMR - I actually just heard some pretty negative things about the Burris, contrary to what I had initially found. And I actually did check out the Nikon's, but they were a bit pricier than I was looking for.

@Catfish - I actually have too, unfortunately, the Tac II is out of my price range.

I am also currently looking at the Vortex Viper 2-7 which I was recommended to several times.
 
I should also include the Nikon Buckmaster 3-9X40, for whatever reason, I thought it was over the same price of the other scopes.
 
I just put a Vortex Diamondback on my Savage 110 .270 win, and so far it's been killer!! I tried the "Crossfire", (stay away from that mistake) I like the glass Redfield is putting out now. My second oldest son just put a Weaver 4x12x44 on his deer rifle, he says he likes it fine.. Bottom line is that if you do dilligent studying, you'll find the scope you want for the price!!;)
 
I actually just heard some pretty negative things about the Burris,
Click to expand...

Look long enough and you will hear some pretty negative things about every brand of scope, rifle, shotgun or handgun ever made. 1 or 2 people can make a lot of noise when they are mad. I rarely make recomendatons about products I have not actually used and when I do I make it clear that I'm basing that on reports I've heard.

I have 2 Burris Fullfileld-2 scopes that have been great for me. I have also been quite impressed with the 2 Redfiels scopes I have on a couple of rifles. I think the Burris is a little sharper and I like the reticle better. The Redfields are lighter, and have better eye relief so it is hard for me to say which of the 2 I like better. If it were me, I'd buy Zeiss Conqest or Leupold VX-3. That is what I use on my go to rifles, but those are a lot more expensive than what I think you want. I've never used Bushnell for 1 simple reason, they don't have enough eye relief for my needs and that is a deal breaker for me.
 
The deal killer for me with the Burris was that the Eye ring turns when you turn the power ring. If you don't use flip-up lens caps then that won't bother you. However, if you are like me and use flip-up caps, then that means the cap turns as you adjust the power. It will only flip straight up on one power setting.
 
Of those you mentioned I would choose the Burris. I have 2 of them and love them. good glass and the bullet drop compensating reticle matches up to my 30-06 perfectly. The only reason I would avoid the bushnell is the bad stories I hear about the customer service. If I have a problem I want it resolved according to the warranty and as fast as possible...All of the stories I hear are how long it took and that it was like pulling teeth without novicaine. I will also recommend Vortex either the Viper or the diamondback. The viper is nicer but it costs more to. I have 2 viper scopes and 1 diamondback binocular. All have functioned flawlessly so far and are very clear. Great warranty and cs as well.http://vortexoptics.com Check the link for the model and retical choices.
 
It's my understanding that the new Burris FFII (the E1) has the magnification ring separate, so that lens caps would stay put as you turned the power up or down, and I think the price for that is about $350. I usually don't use lens caps, so the older FFII version gave me no problems. A week or so ago I had 'shooting company', so I dragged out my favorite rifles for the guests to shoot. We'd shoot one and let it cool and switch to another one for a bit. All but one had Leupold scopes, and that one had the Burris. As we swapped rifle for rifle, I noticed that the Burris was extremely sharp optically and about the same as the Leupolds. I had a few small bullseyes on the targets just for my old 220 Swift, and those were small circles about the size of your little fingernail. It wasn't until I looked at one of those with the Burris that I realized just how sharp the scope was. If you forced me to complain about any feature of the Burris, I'd have to say that the adjustment clicks weren't as sharp as the ones on the Leupolds. As the weather cools I'll be out in the woods with that 260 and the Burris, looking for pigs and coyotes and we'll see how the scope does in low light situations.
 
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