We sell most popular brands of scopes that cover the full price range available. The adage that you get what you pay for is mostly true, IMO, from the standpoint of durability, optical clarity, resolution, light transmission and other measurable aspects. Patterns emerge relative to customer satisfaction, warranty returns, etc. Here are some:

-For centerfire rifles, avoid scopes made in the Phillipines, China, Thailand.

-Some Japanese sourced scopes are good dollar values. Sightron is often a surprise in terms of dollar values.

-American made scopes are the dollar value leaders and usually have the best warranty in terms of replacements and turn around time.

-German or Austrian scopes cost significantly more and offer only slightly better optics than the best of the American scopes.

Since Meade Optics acquired Redfield, Weaver and Simmons I believe they will make serious inroads on the scope market over the next five years. The new American made Redfields are worth looking at. The Weavers, often overlooked, are solid values and some of the Simmons innovations will result in a general upgrade in their value and usefulness.

That said, for most of our customers that take their hunting very seriously, it is not a question of which brand but which Leupold. These customers can be characterized as experienced and will priortize the optics over the rifle. These are customers that have learned the fallacy of having large objectives and high powered variables.

Our most popular scope for big game? Leupold 2.5-8. The new FX series is coming on strong too and may herald a trend toward more fixed powers.

DallanC and GilMartin,

I'm also going to have LASIK early 2006. Let me know what you have problems with also.

Later, D

It's good to hear that Redfield is back in business. I hope that the quality of their current scopes meets the quality of their old line. They really made some great scopes. I bought a used 3X9 Widefield with BDC at a pawn shop in the mid 90's for $75.00 and I have never had a problem with it at all. Nice clear optics, not quite as clear as some of the newer models, but still very good.

You said value for the money right? Well I own several Leupolds and a Zeiss and they are both great scopes. Never had any problems with them. But I will tell you about one that, for the money is, in my opinion, a great scope. And that would be the Alaskan Series Scopes sold by Cabelas. I've got a scope and binos in the Alaskan models and they are terrific bargains. You could easily pay nearly twice as much from another name brand to get quality such as that. Think you might be interested? Try one. And if you somehow feel like it's not what you thought it would be, then send it back. They have a great satisfaction guarantee. I wager though that you'll keep it.
Yotebuster

No way!!!

Swarovski and Zeiss lead the way in terms of Optical Supremacy and overall build quality. There isnt a single other scope on the market that has the overall look of real quality as these scopes do. Schmidt and Bender are almost as good and are like a poor mans Zeiss or Swarovski!

You will pay though for these scopes and they are guaranteed for 30yrs

Being a professional hunter all my European clients use either Zeiss or Swarovski while all you guys from over the pond that come and hunt with me seemed untill recently to prefer Leuopold. You dont have to be so patriotic in your choice of scope guys!

I have began to notice though that more and more Americans who come over to hunt with me are now using the leading German brands and say they will never go back to anything else. These guys tend to be well informed hunters who hunt all over the world not just in their homeland and like the best, they are nearly always i might add rather well heeled!

I you want the best for Big game hunting its Zeiss or Swarovski without a doubt!

Keep the Leuopold's on the Varmint Rifles where they belong!

deermanager wrote:

Being a professional hunter all my European clients use either Zeiss or Swarovski while all you guys from over the pond that come and hunt with me seemed untill recently to prefer Leuopold. You dont have to be so patriotic in your choice of scope guys! Keep the Leuopold's on the Varmint Rifles where they belong!

I rather enjoy being patriotic, and when given the choice i will buy american made products every time. I served my country in the ARMY and i serve my country buy buying american products includeing scopes. Leupolds do work well on varmint rifles and they work well on my deer rifles too. I have never had a leupold cost me a animal infact, i have never had any problem with my leupolds at all, so i think i will stick with them.
Your intitled to your opinion deermanager and i am as well.

Amen!!!

I've tried alot of scopes on alot of different guns over the years and have found good and bad in most all of then.
I am not a big fan of leuopold i just didn't like the feel of the adjustments af far as focus, gritty almost crunchy , factory replaced it and same thing
just my opinion mind you,
I have a Sightron on a remington 700 in 30 -06 that i dearly love!
I also have a Simmons 44 Mag , old style on a Browning bar 7mm magnum that i like alot too.
that said my favorite scope i own is a .........Zeiss crystal clear optics and gathers light like crazy. this scope sits on top of my 300 weatherby vanguard

A Redfield 3 X 9/40mm compact sits on top of my Browning A bolt .30-06. Been there for years. The only adjustments I have had to make is when my eyes change or I change something in my cartridge assembly...

deermanager wrote:

You will pay though for these scopes and they are guaranteed for 30yrs Being a professional hunter all my European clients use either Zeiss or Swarovski while all you guys from over the pond that come and hunt with me seemed untill recently to prefer Leuopold. You dont have to be so patriotic in your choice of scope guys! I have began to notice though that more and more Americans who come over to hunt with me are now using the leading German brands and say they will never go back to anything else. These guys tend to be well informed hunters who hunt all over the world not just in their homeland and like the best, they are nearly always i might add rather well heeled! I you want the best for Big game hunting its Zeiss or Swarovski without a doubt! Keep the Leuopold's on the Varmint Rifles where they belong!

Well then, no doubt Zeiss and Swarovski are good scopes...but are they "better" in terms of light transmition....I highly doubt that! I've hunted with them and they are no different (nor in anyway better IMHO) other than the high$$$$ you pay, than a Burris or Leupold. Plus, i don't like soft, somewhat mushy clicks that i found Zeiss and Swarovski to have. What i like the positive click of MOA adjustments Burris and Leupold offer.

And while it may be about patriotism, and also while BOTH Burris and Leupold don't provide a 30 year warranty, that's ok because they both provide warranties that EXTEND to my future great grand childrens life times and beyond!

Everybody has their own opinion, but unless you've tried them first hand, it becomes biased (one sided) personal preference.

Peace

Only a 30 year warranty? Whats up with that? Last time I checked Leupold had a lifetime warranty.

I bought a Leupold in a pawn shop, dropped it (and the gun it was mounted on) on a rock. Sent the pieces in with a note explaining what had happened, and 4 weeks later I recieved a new scope in the mail.

I agree with 10 ring. Unless you have tried every brand you are talking about, then you are just biased.

IMHO once you get to a certain point on the price scale, all you are really paying for is the name on the product.