New scope for me - Burris? Leupold?Nikon?

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Yep, here's the same old topic by a fellow that wants a new scope. And heaven knows I've commented plenty of times to ya'll on what I think and what I recommend and what I don't like. So here's the deal. I came into some money and it's more than I expected (that's nice, huh). I could now afford a Nighforce or S&B if I really wanted, but I don't really need that level of scope. I want good scope for a reasonable price, and I want a power range of 4.5-14 or 4-16 or something similar. I want more than 12 power on the high end. I don't need a 30mm tube or a 50 mm bell. I'm looking at another Burris 4.5-14x40 unless you have something else to suggest. For $300 I can have that Burris, which is a very decent scope. For $600 I can move up to the Leupold 4.5-14x40 with B&C lines. So the question here really is: At $300, is there a better option than the Burris? If I'm going to spend $600, I'll get the Leupold.
 
I had a Burris once. I did not like the way the ocular ring rotates when you change the power setting. This prevents you from using a flip-up scope cap (something all my rifles cary). I don't know if all their scopes do that but the Fullfield II did.
 
Both are good scope companies

Leopold is in my locale, their warranty is unequaled, and their quality is excellent. I have a Burris and they are rugged which is why I put one on a .338 WM.
 
I was looking at the FF2 and the Nikon Buckmaster 4.5-14 also.
In the end I decided on the Nikon.

Reasons being:
I don't like how the whole eye piece on the Burris turns, I find it quite annoying.
The Nikon has Target like turrets which you can buy an exposed turret kit for at a latter date.
I prefer the Mildot reticle over the Ballistic Plex one and the FF2 does have a MD option.
 
2 others to consider:
Weaver Grand Slam 4.5-14 at Natchezss
Vortex Viper 6.5-20 at CameralandNY.
 
If you don't want the Leupold, Try a Vortex Diamondback, 4-12x40 AO , at $289.00 at Midway USA, if you van pick one up and look through it you'll be amazed at the clarity and overall quality of that scope.
For the money it's almost impossible to beat, I own one of the Diamondback 4-12x40, without the adjustable objective, I swear by this dude, it's a phenominal scope.;)
 
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SWFA is offering $100 mail in rebates on Zeiss, and some of the Conquest models are deeply discounted, mainly the rapid z 600 models.

You really have to look at what is being offered when you compare scopes. I feel the 4.5-14x40 LR Leupold is worth the extra money if you are going to take advantage of the features. However if you are a "set it and forget it" scope user then I'd say the Burris is probably your scope.
 
As an across-the-board excellent scope, I have a marked preference for Leupold.


However, I have a very affordable and very nice Vortex and got wonderful, personal service when I needed it. I don't think their product is Leupold-level, but neither is the price. Vortex is fully aware they're an economical choice and in my opinion they absolutely rock in that capacity. Sorta the Ruger of scopes.
 
I have more Leupold scopes than any other. Started purchasing Leupold scopes after buying cheaper scopes to save money in the short term. That was my biggest mistake. When I buy a new rifle, I always figure to spend anywhere from 350 to 500 on a new scope.
 
I got one of the Zeiss scopes and haven't done the rebate yet but will after the holidays. Mine isn't over 12x on the top end but for my uses it is awesome.
 
Why does it have to be greater than 12X? What type of rifle and what are you going to use it for? I have never found anything above 9X to be helpful and you will get a lot more scope for the money by staying in the 3-9X40 range.

I've tried others, including Zeiss. I keep coming back to Leupold. Overall you can't beat them for the money. I'd save $300 over a 4-14X40 Leupold and buy a 3-9X40 VX-2 with the long range Reticle. A quality scope at 9X will show the target clearer at long range better than a cheap scope at 14X.
 
Leupold or Nikon

Leupold is a quality product. They have some really creative reticles. I went to the LGS to get their varmint reticle scope and looked through a Nikon. I left with the Nikon and about $150 extra in my pocket.

If you can find the opportunity to look through several side by side, it will make your choices easier.
 
Guys, thanks for the feedback. I'm a Leupold guy, though I could go for a Zeiss 4.5-14 and probably be happy. I have a VXIII Leupold in 4.5-14 and a Burris in the same power range. I have a VX2 6-18 with the BDC dots, and several other scopes. And, having hunted and paper punched for decades, I've developed my preferences (like we all have). I used 3-9's for years and finally decided that I wanted more upper end magnification. I went to the variables with a max of 12. Finally, I bought that Leupold in 4.5-14 and decided that was exactly what I wanted. The 4.5 is low enough for me on the low end and the 14 is high enough for paper punching at 100 yards. Yes, you can see the bullet holes at 9 power (barely) and at 12 (adequately), but 14 is like Goldilock's porridge. It's juuust right. A Nikon 4-16 would do, but I had a bad experience with one, so I'm a bit leery about getting another one. So...that leaves me with Burris at $300, Leupold at $600, and the Zeiss at a somewhat higher price than the Leupold (I'm a bit vague on what might be best price). There are a lot of other scopes out there that I have no experience with, so I'm leaning toward what I know and trust. And I am a 'set and forget' guy, so I don't need the big target/sniper turrets. My shooting is almost always at 400 or less, so holdover or BDC lines or dots work fine for my needs - except for those Nikon open dots. I just don't like that, though I think some of ya'll do. Just my preference.

As for what power I keep a scope on for hunting, I generally have it on 8 power when I'm edge hunting. When I get into thicker cover, I usually go to 5 power.
 
You really need to go look through some scopes. Everyone will have a different preference. I compared Leupold with Nikon (a few years ago) and walked out with the Nikon. To my eyes it was just better. Others would walk out with the Leupold. I would love a Zeiss Conquest someday.

The Vortex Diamondback got rave reviews in some article when compared to other similar cost scopes.
 
Leupold is a quality product. They have some really creative reticles. I went to the LGS to get their varmint reticle scope and looked through a Nikon. I left with the Nikon and about $150 extra in my pocket.

If you can find the opportunity to look through several side by side, it will make your choices easier.
Click to expand...

Exactly right.

I went to a LGS to look at really nice Leupold VX3 / VX3L 's ... and I then compared a Nikon Monarch to a VX3.

I wound up coming home, Googling me up a search, and ordering a Nikon Monarch for half price and being happier.


I cannot say enough about the 3 Nikon Scopes I have, 2 ProStaffs and one top of the line Monarch.

You may want a Leupold show piece, which I wanted at one point, but I will just say, I am happier with a Monarch $550 than the $1000-1300 VX3/VX3l's I was lookin at.
 
I've decided. I'm going with the Leupold VX3 4.5-14x40 with the Boone&Crockett reticle. Now I've got to decide which rifle to put it on. I may want the new one on my Sako, which has always been my long distance hammer for deer.
 
I came real close to buying an almost exact copy, I was looking at the VX3L, Boone and Crockett, 4.5-14x40mm Illuminated Reticle. It was really beautiful but it was over $1000. And I wound up with a Nikon Monarch 5-20x44mm Side Focus BDC reticle for less than half, and am happy, but the Leupold was very very nice, I'm sure you'll love yours congrats.
 
I own zeiss, leupold, and a couple of the new redfields. My zeiss is a 4.5-14 with the rapid Z 800 reticle, I really like the scope its crystal clear, but so are my leupolds and new redfields and are about half the price of the zeiss, my vote goes to leupold, they are rock solid and have stood the test of time over and over again, and their customer service is very good, leupold will take care of you. I wouldn't turn away from the new redfields either, I am very impressed with them, I even bought a pair of their rebel binos and I really like them, and with leupolds name attached I don't think you could go wrong. Good luck with whatever you choose!
 
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