battling over the right glass

[unseencamo]

so lets get right to it.

i've recently purchased a stainless Browning xbolt 30-06 and want to put some quality glass on it. (i'd like to hit 100-600 yds on range day and 50-350 in the field) i know of zeiss, swarovski and nightforce plus some others but wanna throw it out to the forum on whats being used or not being used anymore.

Here is the specs of what i'm trying to find.

etched glass (quick target ranging no mildot)
50mm objective
around a 3-12 or so magnification range mabee more
and perferably silver (but it seems everything is black)

now i'm a leupold fan and they have everything i'm looking for but the etched glass.

is there any real advantage to the 50mm lens or is it possible i'm over scoping the rifle.

Here is pretty well where i'm siting with what i've found. any feedback on these products or ones i haven't heard of is apprciated.

quigley ford 416 or 520
trijicon acupoint
Leupold VX-3 4.5-14x50mm
nightforce 2.5-10 x 42 NXS™ COMPACT (not 50mm, not silver)

[catnthehat]

I've used both the NXS and the Leupold and both would work well IMO.
Both are good scopes .really like the NXS , though, but fir the record I fold the NXS and still own three Leupolds!
I know nothing about the Quigly Ford scope
Cat

[elkhunter11]

I would take the Zeiss HD-5 3-15x42 or the Swarovski Z-5 3.5-18X44 over any of the scopes the OP has listed. I own two Z-5s and six HD-5s, and I have owned over a dozen Leupolds, and a couple of Nightforces. I have looked through Quigley Ford scopes, and I would rate them far below the other scopes listed.

[unseencamo]

i never knew Ziess and Swarovski both had the ballistic redials. Oh man decisions keep getting harder.

is it possible then that these scope are to much for the rifle? ideally i'd like to pay somewhere in the range of 9-1000. or am i dreaming and gonna have to spend far more.

[Bergerboy]

.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by unseencamo

i never knew Ziess and Swarovski both had the ballistic redials. Oh man decisions keep getting harder.

is it possible then that these scope are to much for the rifle? ideally i'd like to pay somewhere in the range of 9-1000. or am i dreaming and gonna have to spend far more.

The Zeiss HD-5 with Rapid Z-600 reticle runs in the $1100-$1200 range, and the Swarovski Z-5 with the BRH reticle runs about $1600-$1700. One retailer has the Swarovski Z-3 3-10X42BRH on for $900 right now.

[unseencamo]

ya pretty well. thats what makes the Quigley Ford so appealing. out of all of them thats the scope i know the least about.

[Bergerboy]

I would get a scope with a zero stop and a custom turret. That way if you want to change ammunition or rifles, you can simply get a new turret.

[unseencamo]

Originally Posted by Bergerboy

I would get a scope with a zero stop and a custom turret. That way if you want to change ammunition or rifles, you can simply get a new turret.

i seen the Swarovski has something like that. seen the scorpion optics on wild tv with that. who else makes that kind of setup? or makes the turrets?

[Bergerboy]

We need Chuck to chime in. He will know exactly what to buy.

[unseencamo]

the last time i ventured away from leupold though i wasn't to impressed. im sure the vortex is a decent mid range scope just not one for driving some tacks.

[nelsonob1]

Leupold are good scopes. I have owned Zeiss, Nikon, Sworavski but Leupold V3 are great optics, especially for the price. Personally I am not a fan of the 50mm - the extra weight and bulk do not justify the increased performance in low light condition. Quality glass does not need to be 50mm.

[Cowtown guy]

I have handled the Quigley and am severely unimpressed.

I say Leupold or Zeiss. I own a Vortex Viper as well but it isn't in the same class as a VX3 or any of the Zeiss.

Over scoping? The glass is the most important piece of the equation as far as I am concerned. A lot guns will outshoot their shooters. But if you can't see it you can't shoot it.

[bchap22]

Leica ER 3-14x42 IBS reticle. Have the same scope and its awesome and grouse river has them on sale right now.

[JWCalgary]

Zeiss or Swaro. I have vortex binos (after driving away with my Zeiss on the spare tire of my jeep) and would say that Zeiss womps vortex. my problem is spending the amount of money . . . for that reason, Zeiss over swaro.

I would stick with the higher end in both brands, Z5 and up or HD and up for zeiss

If you want to get crazy, check out Schmidt and Bender.

A good analysis of scopes is done by tiborrosaurus rex on you tube. He has a "sniper" series that really gets to a lot of detail on selection, brands, value, etc. The guy is VERY thorough.

[Kurt505]

One to look at is the Leupold VX-6 with CDS.

I've had the Swaro Z5, the VX-III, Zeiss HD5, and I prefer the VX-6 over them all. I still have the HD5 because one of my rifles is a top load only and the 30mm tube on the VX-6 doesn't leave a lot of room to load, that's why I put the HD5 on it, otherwise it would be wearing the VX-6 too.

[roger]

Don't cut corners on optics. Buy the best you can afford and maybe a bit more.
A scope/ binos will pay you back every time you look through it.
A scope can move from gun to gun to gun.
Don't forget to include quality rings and bases in your optics solution.

[Salavee]

Have a look at the Sightron SIII

[Blackice1106]

I just put a new Leupold VX-3L on a new Remington Mountain SS .280 and LOVE it!!! Leupold low rings and bases and that scope fits with enough room to get my oiling rag between barrel and scope bottom.

I'm really digging this setup. First Leupold and it may be hard to change my mind short of maybe going to a Nightforce but the Leupold was enough $$$ for my hunting.

[Kevlak]

I have a leupold vx3 4.5-14x40 cds. I love this scope! It's sitting on my tikka t3 308. Crystal clear glass, worked perfectly in the field. Would not hesitate to buy a other, and proboly will.

Kevin

[Ice Fishing Maniac]

These might be ones to look into.
Huskemaw Canada.

I know Corlanes installs quite a few of them.

Me, I love my Leupolds I have on my rifles. From the older Vari-X III's to the newer VX II / III and VX3's.

The BC reticle works great for me.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by Ice Fishing Maniac

These might be ones to look into.
Huskemaw Canada.

I know Corlanes installs quite a few of them.

Me, I love my Leupolds I have on my rifles. From the older Vari-X III's to the newer VX II / III and VX3's.

The BC reticle works great for me.

Huskemaw are likely the most overpriced scopes on the market.

[Smokinyotes]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Huskemaw are likely the most overpriced scopes on the market.

I had a Huskemaw. I thought the glass was pretty good till I sold it and bought a Nightforce.

[Ice Fishing Maniac]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Huskemaw are likely the most overpriced scopes on the market.

Never looked thru one myself. I am happy with my Leupolds. Seen a sweet deal from a dealer on CGN that had Leica riflescopes........was very tempted to try it on a future rifle to be built on a Sako m75 rifle.

[unseencamo]

Chances are I'll be grabbing the lupold but it's amazing how fast thing's can change at the optics counter. So many times the salesman doesn't need to say a thing and I upsell myself hahaha.

I am gonna try that scorpion optics varmiter on my .223. Not to sure on how it'll perform but for what it is I'll give it a go. My buddy snipes yotes with a Simmons and anything should be better then that.

As much as I wanna get out there and buy this now and start shooting. This is the season of Christmas overtime. Oh the dreaded pay to play.