Nikon Buckmaster, Leupold VX III, or Bushnell Elite 3200/4200???

F

Full-choke

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Well, my friend got his 300 Win Mag. We were looking at scopes and we really like all three of these. He and I looked through the Nikon Buckmaster, and it was amazingly clear and sharp. He looked through a VX III and said that it definitely got him interested. Then, at the same time our gunsmith friend told us that the 3200/4200's have rave reviews.

So, in your opinion, out of those three what is the best?

FYI: He is wanting an adjustable power, somewhere in the range of 2.5-10 to 5-15 range and he isn't sure yet on an AO Adjustment, so advise on powers and such in those three would be good too.

Ryan
 
Out of those 3 I like the Bushnell. Alot of people bash them because they make alot of cheap scopes but their higher end scopes are, from what I've seen, better quality than alot of the other similarly priced scopes.
 
I would go with the Leupold VX-III. You can get it in 2.5-8, 3-9, or 4.5-14 power magnification all which fill the magnification range your friend wants. The Leupold's are garunteed for life, top quality, and in my experience their adjustments are dead on. All of my rifles wear Leupold's (VX-I's,II's,III's)and they have never failed me or dis-appointed me. I have a Leupold VX-I in 4-12power on a .300 Win Mag and love it.
 
What will your friend be using the rifle for? What kind of reticle is he wanting as well?

I've no experience with two of the scopes that you are checking out. I have four Leupold scopes and three are the VXIII line. I really do like the Leupolds and I think they are worth the money. I've been buying most of them for around the price of the Nikon Monarch maybe a few dollars more.

I really like the lower power end on my hunting scopes and objective bells no larger than 40mm. I have one VXIII in 1.75-6 and two in 2.5-8, most hunting situations don't call for any higher power. I haven't seen any Leupolds in 2.5-10 except the LPS which I think has been discontinued for the VX7 models. If you can find an LPS you will get it much cheaper than the VX7 which I think runs about $1800. If your friend wants the top end of the power he will have to start around 3.5 power in the VXIII Leupolds.

Before anyone thinks I'm a scope snob I do use other scopes such as Barska, BSA, Bushnell, Pentax, Tasco, and Simmons even had an NC Star once. I just bought a few rifles that I felt were deserving of better quality scopes. I've looked enough through Burris, Nikon, and Bushnell Elite rifle scopes to be very interested in them as well and wouldn't turn them down if the price was right.

I'm considering the Bushnell 4200 2.5-10 for my .25-06 that I'm having built. I plan to use this for a pronghorn and preadator rifle. Unless I can come up with a NIB or slightly used LPS, I just don't have the money for the VX7 after paying the gunsmithing bill for this rifle.

I don't like AO scopes on my hunting rifles but they are fine on my Varmint rigs. Unless I'm at the range I find I set the AO on 300 yards and leave it when I'm shooting varmints. On colony varmints and targets a 5-15 or higher power will serve your friend well except he will find the caliber will probably wear him down fast if that is what he is using it for.

Tell your friend if he is seriously considering the VXIII scopes to check out Zeiss Conquest and Nikon Monarch scopes as well. Check out this guy for a great deal on a VXIII scope, I picked up the 2.5-8 that I used on my black bear hunt for $370 NIB shipped to my door.http://www.alaskaoptics.com/
 
I would recommend adding the Leupold european scopes to the list

3x9x40 w/german reticle #4 to be more specific

good luck
 
I have a Leupold on a Rem 700VLS in .308 and a Nikon on my M70 Winchester in .270. Both are 3X9X40 and have performed flawlessly for me.
 
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I looked at some of those scopes for my Tikka Tactical in .223 last year. I walked around with the specifications sheets in my hands wherever I went. I bought a Nikon but not the Buckmaster. I bought the Nikon Monarch 3.3-10x44mm AO MilDot. For less than $300, it's a heck of a scope. I've noticed when firing toward the sun that the coatings do a heck of a job eliminating flare.

So check out the Monarchs!

http://www.swfa.com/pc-1916-218-nikon-33-10x44-monarch-ucc-riflescope.aspx

Gregg
 
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I am a big fan of the bushnell 4200 series ( mostly because the company is local to me and I get them for an obscenely low price ) but the 4200 isn't quite a VX-III leupold, I would compare it to the VX-II all day long for quality, clarity and durability. The nikon Monarch is in this class as well.

If you can swing the cost the VX - III is well worth the cost, otherwise the bushnell 4200/ Nikon/ VX-II are all similar- at least to my eyes and wallet.
 
Of those 3, the VX3 is the best. But it's gonna cost a whole lot more too. If you were to ask best *for the money*, that'd probably be the Elite 4200. The Buckmaster is no slouch of a value either though.
 
You missed the best choice the Zeiss Conquest and you get the same lifetime warentee. secound place is crowded Leupold VXIII ,Nikon Monarch,Bushnell 4200. how ever the Zeiss has a constant 4 inch eye releaf and on a magnum that is a nice feature,yes the Leopold has 4 inch eye releaf too but I don't belive it is constant from lowest power to highest power .for under $400.00 you cant beat the Zeiss Conquest .:D
 
Good point Buster, the Zeiss Conquest is a great scope at a great price and is right up there with the other scopes mentioned in this thread.
 
the 300 mag is a kick'in mule... scope quality & unfortunately the warrenty should be considered here, not only the scopes clairity

for me... it'd be a Burris posi lock... but of the ones you listed, probably the Leupold...
 
I think of those 3 you can't go wrong, it just depends on the money you want to spend. I'm a Bushnell Elite man, but admit the Leupold XV3 is an amazing scope. I'm just a tightwad and Bushnell Elite is good enough for me. Nikons are amazing scopes as well, I think they are probably the best in the general optics field. One of the few that actually make their own lenses, along with bushnell.

I'd say go with you're wallet. If you can easily afford a leupold and not have to worry about spending the $$$ then go for it, or better yet a schmidt & bender. If you can technicaly buy the leupy without going bankrupt, but would have to pinch pennys for months, then I would go with the Elite or Nikon. I think all of them are quality scopes, but I also think best value is the Bushnell Elite.
 
The one thing that the VX-III has that your other choices don't is generous eye relief; in my opinion, the 4200 is equal in every other respect.

If you have a tendency to creep up on a scope, I'd definitely would go with the Leupold as "scope ring" is painful; something I learned based on personal observation. If you have good technique (i.e. consistent cheek weld, etc) then go with the 4200.
 
Well, yeah, but the Conquest wasn't among the choices - if it were ME spending VX3 money, then I'd sub out the Conquest instead. Or as Gregg said, the Monarch. But of those 3, the question was, which is BEST. Answer is VX3. :)
 
I've not looked though a Conquest, though I've heard many good things about them.

I have used the VX-III (on a friend's rifle at the range), and the Elite 4200 (mine on a Winchester Model 70). I honestly see no significant advantage between those two, except for the longer eye relief of the Leupold.

More or less, eye relief isn't a deal-buster for me, unless it's unusually short (never encountered that), or the rifle the scope is to be mounted on is a bruiser (i.e. a 300 Winchester Magnum).
 
I have the Buckmaster in the 4.5x 14. At close to the same time I bought a Burris FFII of the same power. The Burris is far more clear and has much better low light capabilties than the Nikon. The Monarch scopes I don't have one to compare. Leopold scopes- I have several of the 6.5x 20 target scopes that the mailman almost refuses to send back anymore. I have just about wore out the mail sending them back. They won't hold zero but I can put my 40 year old Weaver V12 on the rifles and they shoot in a hole. I wouldn't recommend the foriegn made Leopold scopes. Yea, they are assembled here but the lens and other parts are made in China. The Bushnell scopes I only have one in 4 power so as far as experience with Bushnell, it's limited. But the guys on the firing lines are having great luck with them, especially the 4200 series. If I were buying a scope in 4.5 to 14 power, it'd be a Burris. My .02 and your mileage may vary.
 
A lot of people of been talking Zeiss Conquest, and as much as people like them and everything...but, between Karl and I were have heard too many bad things about them.

I have read about guys who took them on extreme condition hunts and they don't fair well. For the average paper puncher rifle, I think the Zeiss would be okay. The only problem is that there is nothing simple and easy about where he and I are planning on hunting. We have heard and experienced that Nikon and Leupold set industry standards and that Bushnell is closely following.

The other major factors are price range as well as total accuracy. If I am putting a performance scope on a stock rifle, it really defeats the purpose. There is no point in putting a scope on a rifle that is more accurate then the rifle itself. And there is also a saying, the rifle is only as accurate as the shooter holding it. So that is why the Zeiss is out of the question.

-Ryan
 
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