Scope advice

R

radars

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I just purchased a 270 Weatherby Vanguars S2 sporter and am looking for some advice on a 3-9x40 scope. I was looking at the Bushnell Elite, Leupold VX-1, and Nikkon Prostaff. I like the rain guard feature of the Bushnell Elite. What advice do you all have.
 
These are all excellent-quality scopes in the modest price range. You can't go wrong with any of them, in my opinion.

I, personally, have the Bushnell Elite in the same magnification aboard my A-bolt 270. I am happy (and fortunate) to report that, since it was mounted and sighted 3 years ago, it's never missed a bullseye or a whitetail.
 
I like the Leupold. The others have too little eye relief and too much weight to make me happy. If you're going to spend $300 move up to the Leupold VX-2. Best value for the money. You could spend $600 and only get a marginally better scope. Spend $50 less and get 1/2 the scope.

If you must keep it around $200 the Redfield Revolution or older Burris FF-II are the most scope for the money. The newer Burris E-1 is selling at around $250. I've not used one, but there is nothing wrong with the older version still being produced.
 
I have a Nikon Buckmasters 3-9x40 on my .30-06 and am very pleased with it. I have fired the rifle nine times at deer and put nine deer on the ground. None required a followup shot. The range varied from 25 to 125 yards.
 
I've got two Nikon Prostaffs (new) on my rifles with the BDC recticle and I love them. I've had a Nikon Monarch on one rifle and these are almost as good.
 
Bushnell 3200 is easily in your budget. If you are willing to be patient, you might snag a 4200 in your budget. Cabelas had a sale on them last year for $199 with free shipping. I snagged one as did a forum member on another forum I'm on. I bought the Bushnell 4200 with rainguard specifically for a rifle that I'm putting together to be a wet-weather gun.
 
I am a hardcore nikon prostaff guy myself and I have a prostaff 4-12 power on my weatherby vanguard. I bought a leupold VX1 and could not get it to group...period... I got rid of it and have never even looked at leupold since. oddly enough I like redfields(which are pretty much just a budget brand leupold), you may look at them as well.
 
In that price line, there are lots of choices. I like the Redfield Revolution and the Nikon ProStaff, but I was at a big box store last week and looked at the newer Redfield Revenge. It's made in the Phillipines, but from what I could see in the store, the optics are great for an under-$200.00 scope. I'm also a fan of Weaver scopes and Swift Optics.

Lots of choices in that price range.
 
Natchez has/had the Weaver Super Slams on sale for an excellent price. I bought a couple and couldn't be happier with the optic.

Don't own a Vortex but have heard nothing but excellent things from the.

I do own a Bushnell Elite 4200 and it is one of the best low light hunting scopes I've had the pleasure to use on deer.

I also have quite a few Leupolds and they have all been great scopes. I did have to send a VXIII back last season for a warranty issue that they corrected promptly and haven't had any issues with it since.

I'm not going to open my can of worms on Nikon again, lets just say I won't own another one. I offered the rep here a challenge that he could not accept due to company constraints and I understand it but it does little to change my opinion. Others have very good results with them though.
 
I just purchased a 270 Weatherby Vanguars S2 sporter and am looking for some advice on a 3-9x40 scope. I was looking at the Bushnell Elite, Leupold VX-1, and Nikkon Prostaff. I like the rain guard feature of the Bushnell Elite. What advice do you all have.
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You're all over the place on quality. The discontinued Bushnell Elite 4200 and Nikon Monarch and Burris Signature Select are about on par with a Leupold VX-2 while the the Bushnell Elite 3200 is a 1/2 step down. The VX-1 is a step down from the VX-2 and is more on the level of a Bushnell Legend, Nikon Buckmaster, Burris Fullfield II, or Weaver Classic V. The ProStaff yet is another step down. Chuck Hawks has a scope rating system that I think is pretty good and will help you compare apples to apples.

You should be able to pick up a Burris Fullfield II, Bushnell Legend, Nikon Buckmaster, in 3-9x or a Weaver V10 2-10x38 for around $160-220. All of those are pretty similar and very decent scopes. For the $160 sale price I think I'd snag the normally $180 Weaver V10.

BTW I'm not a brand fanboy - I own Bushnell Elite 4200 (2), Bushnell Elite 3200 (1), Nikon Monarch (3), Leupold VX-1 (1), Burris Signature Select and XTR (1 of each), Weaver T series (1) and Weaver Classic V & K series (6). I have others but those are the ones in my collection that I really like. I just call them as I see them. ;)

Edit: I just found a better deal on a Weaver V10 on sale for $150 :D. The difference is the reticle. Note - the rebate shown on the page does not seem to apply to this scope.
 
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