Scope Suggestions.

Q

Q-Man

New member
I need a quality scope and I want to keep it under $1,000 if not well under $1,000. I like to buy nice things that will last a long time and I'm will to pay more for them if they will indeed make me happier in the long run. Then again, I don't want to break the bank on a scope.

I'm buying it primarily for my M1A for which I just bought an ARMS mount with quick-detachable low rings (30mm). I've done some measuring and some figuring, and I have come to the conclusion that the external objective bell of the scope can't be any bigger than 2.1 inches in diameter for it to fit with the low rings.

So far I've only considered the Leupold LPS 2.5-10x45 scope. This scope will fit on my rifle (2.0 inch diameter bell) and seems to have excellent specifications. The downside is the $850 price tag.

I guess I'm a little biased toward Leupold because they are based right here in my home town and I've always heard how good they are. However, I would like to hear about all the options before I spend a lot of money, so any suggestions you could give would be appreciated.
 
You can buy German or Austrian, but I'd still go with Leupold. Considering they're in your home town, how can you beat them for servicing? No lost by UPS/USPS.

BTW, at six scopes, one binoculars & one 12x40 spotting scope, I own more Leupolds than any other brand.
 
Q-man sounds like you are on the right track. Another scope you might want to look at is the 3.5-10x40LR M1. It's about $729, with mildots, at www.swfa.com and an excellent scope. You can also look at www.snipercountry.com in the Emporium and you can usually find some Leupold Mark 4s used for about $75-850 as well as the LR M1s for about $600. I don't mind buying used Leupolds because of their great warranty.

If you want more power than the 6.5-20x50 LRT with the side focus and 30mm tube and mildots for about the same as the above. Then send it to Premier Reticles and for about $75 they will install the Mark 4 knobs in place of the target knobs that come on it. I have one and it's great. You have the 20x when you need it but can set it on 10x or lower if that's the power you like to shoot at.

You can't really go wrong with any Leupold and at least you are being realistic about the price. You get alot of people that come on here and say I need a top of the line tactical scope with mildots and side focus but I can't spend over $100. What can you tell them?
 
I have one Leupold Vari-X II 3X9 which was brand new in 1973; a 2X7 which I got in 1981. I rather think the durability is adequate. :D The Weaver mounts have survived a few raps from tree limbs and an occasional "involuntary" descent down steep hillsides.

I have found that 3X will still let you kill a deer at 350 yards (It just happened to be set on 3X at the time), and 9X is fine on Bambi at 450. No problem finding my 500-yard range targets, either.

Another way to look at is would be that these scopes work just fine "as is", but if you need additional bells and whistles, you're paying for more bells and whistles.

FWIW, Art (aka "The Old Cheapskate")
 
Q-man,

I thought I got the last ARMS #18 mount on the face of the Earth - great choice!

My scope choice for my M1A Scout was the Schmidt & Bender 1.5-6x42 scope with an illuminated reticle. It was slightly over your $1,000 mark, but if you don't need the illuminated reticle, SWFA can get you very close to your price target.

Why 1.5-6 instead of something higher power? My Scout will not be used beyond 500-600 yards. It will also be used a LOT closer (3 yards on back). I can hit steel targets at 500+ yards consistently with a 6x scope, and the close quarters stuff is well handled with the 1.5x or 2.5x setting.

Why Schmidt & Bender? Great optics, and the "European style" eyepiece diopter adjustment is quick and effective.

Why the illuminated reticle? Low light use and a surprising benefit in fast target acquisition in daylight - much like a red dot scope.like an Aimpoint.

Leupold makes marvelous scopes, I own several including a Mark4 M1 10x, but the only Leupold scope that would meet my requirements for the Scout is the LPS 1.5-6x42 - and it is not available with an illuminated reticle.

HTH
 
Art there was no offense meant by the comment about people wanting a cheap scope. I kinda felt you took some by your last comment. What I meant was people wanting everything for nothing and it can't happen. No elitism here. Just if you want the bells and whistles like you said you are going to pay for them.
 
Leupold is the best scope, without getting rediculous with the price. Pick one of thiers, and you cant go wrong.
 
I expected someone to try and talk me out of it, but OK, looks like it's going to be Luepold. I wonder if I walk over to their headquarters (yes, they're that close), if they will give a free sample or a good discount. :D

I've found some places that are selling the 2.5-10 LPS for under $800. Where should I get it at assuming Leupold doesn't just hand me one when I show up at their front door? :)

http://www.bearbasin.com/catalog.htm - $799, no shipping cost
http://www.skyoptics.com/catalog/Leupold_RiflescopesIII.html - $782, no shipping cost
http://www.ultout.com/leupold&stevens-optics.htm - $778.70, $11.95 shipping = $790.65
 
Rob01, no sweat. No offense taken!

Let's face it: There are some needs for which the absolute best is just barely good enough. (A lot of my tools are Snap-On.) I'm usually trying to get the occasional fella to do some thinking before he spends a bunch of money on something that's a lot more than what's needed.

:), Art
 
That's a good point Art. I probably don't need as nice a scope as an LPS. However, seeing as how it will probably outlast me, I might as well get something I'll enjoy for as long as I'll have it. Besides I got some money burning a hole in my pocket.
 
Do Not Buy

A scope WITHOUT TARGET turrets................and last I looked, the LPS did NOT have them.

If you are planninng on shooting past 100 yards.......

You need a scope you can make "Quick", adjustments on, and the standard hunting scopes don't cut it.

IF, you DO get the LPS, MAKE SURE it is a NEW model..the first series had problems........that cannot be corrected.:(
 
I probably won't spend any money for another week or two, so it's still good to hear things like that, Tshoes.

I thought about getting a scope with target knobs. I've heard that some M1As will smack brass into them though.

According to the Leupold catalog I downloaded, the LPS has "finger adjustable, low-profile" knobs "with crisp, sharp, audible, and tactile clicks for precise adjustments." Also, "once sighted in, pull-up/push-down dials can be reset to zero."

Will this cut it?

All the specs on the scope seem great. Has anyone compared a bunch of scopes side by side, including the LPS?
 
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