Rifle scopes

Well, i guess im in the market for a scope now. Just curious on your guys thoughts about leaupold or some of the higher end scopes. Are they really worth the extra money or are they more of a status symbol?

Ive never spent over 200 on any scope to date. My current self declared "long range" rifle is a savage tactical 25-06 heavy barrel. The scope ive been using is a BSA 6x24x44. It has served me well the past few years but it finaly took the provebial "crap". I could send it back to them but i think instead im ready to upgrade. I have used the scope for shots out to 500 yds with great results. I did see mirage with this scope but im not sure i wouldnt see it also with higher end scopes. I guess where im getting at here is.....Will i be able to tell much if any difference in lets say.....a Leaupold or Nikon vs BSA or Tasco? Keep in mind i wont be doing much shooting, if any, out past 500 yds. Also i would like my next scope to have mil-dots....you know the kind.....tacticool...... and be at least have 24X capabilities.

so lets hear it.....Should spend 4 times as much as my rifle is worth or buy another low-end scope?

I will tell you that if you can't see it, you can't hit it.
I will also tell you that the military uses Unertl scopes (or used to when I was in) and they don't sell to civilians but if they did, you'd rather buy a Leupold as it would be easier on the wallet.
That being said..I will tell you what *I* would do, and have done.
On the longer range rifles like a 30-06, my scopes generally run around 2 to 3 times the cost of the rifle..(ball park).

Just remember, if you can't see it, you can't hit it.
I don't want to tell you what you need, and have you go buy something you're not happy with. I AM telling you that everyone is different and some guys here will probably have a good brand name scope that they've found good use of that won't cost you your britches to buy.

Dan,
I am in the same boat. I have completed my new project rifle and I am trying to decide on the scope. Initially I wanted a NightForce, but they are very expensive. Now I'm considering a Leupold Mark4. I'm looking for eyes out to 900 yds. If I go with Towers estimate, I would be spending between $2800-4200. I haven't received my Obama bailout and I doubt it's coming. I would like to keep my range at $1500 and below.

Any ideas?

Bushnell Elite Series? Nikon?

I myself am a NIKON fan, but there are many others to choose from. best suggestion I could say is go to range and see what others are using and look down range. I saw one that I liked the other day and will do further research on it. it was a Leatherwood, but I like the "Loopy" Mk4 as well.

Search the archives. I believe possibly Popeye listed some better quality, less expensive scopes several months back.

Ron is right Dan he did. To save yourself a little time just go to Popeyes info and choose look for all his messages.... then go direct to page 10 as that is where he wrote the two messages about scopes... good info.

there will come a time, I think, when you'll see that spending THAT much money on a scope is kind of like buying a 4 carat diamond...too much money for the job it does.
The guys have the right of it. (keep in mind that MY rifles? they're old milsurp rifles so they're probably not the kind of money you spend on quality firearms. I take in the urchins, clean them and give them new life in the arms rack)
Look around and find a scope that works well for you. the Leup. mkIV is a nice scope but it's more expensive than I'd want to pay. Find something comparable in quality and job but less money. (thats the tough part. )

For LONG RANGE shooting a good and relatively inexpensive scope to consider is the Sightron III series of rifle scopes.

http://www.sightron.com/index.php?action=view_document&did=1201816362&cat_id=6

It is important to remember that when you buy optics, you are buying glass and coatings. Quality glass and coatings are not cheap. Generally speaking, you get what you pay for. The more you pay, the more you get.

Quality glass and coatings at 6X will allow you to see more, and see it clearer, than will cheap glass and coatings at 12X. Magnification is not critical. Quality components are critical.

Right now, the best blast for the buck in acceptable quality scopes is this line.

http://www.sightron.com/index.php?action=view_document&did=1201816362&cat_id=15

The US military let a new contract for sniper's scopes about two years ago. Schmidt Bender won the contract.

If you get a chance, compare any Schmidt Bender scope with the best Leupold scope the store has in stock. The differences will stun you. The best Leupold makes does not compete with the least Schmidt Bender makes.

I would certainly think so with prices of $1,000 to $3,200 they should be quite nice...

Those are suggested retail prices. Sightron, in collaberation with several national distributors, has reduced dealer cost to ridiculous levels. So low that we can offer this scope http://www.sightron.com/index.php?action=view_document&did=1201816362&cat_id=15&id=13 for $289.99 to our walk-in customers.

Shop around. You may be surprised.

Ahh, you were talking about Schmidt Bender scopes.

Well, when you want the very best you get to pay for the very best.

Popeye wrote:Ahh, you were talking about Schmidt Bender scopes.

Well, when you want the very best you get to pay for the very best.

Hey Popeye, when you get tired of yours will you sell it to me? Ive never heard of this brand but I would like to look through one to see for myself. Not at all questioning just would like to look.

The Zeiss Diavari line is of equal quality to Schmidt Bender.