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Q:
Other than the money prospect of the question, Is it really needed to put a $1400,00 scope on a $400.00 gun. What is the Benefits and differance's, I have used the same scope for years, costing about $150.00 and have taken many a animal. The area I hunt has a Max of about 100 yards to make the shot.
Question by Treestand. Uploaded on November 07, 2009
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Answers (9)
NO it's not needed. You can get the same performance from a 2-400 dollar scope. What matters is if it suits your needs. There are so many choices now for scopes but I've heard Nikon makes an awesome $200 - $600 dollar range line of scopes. Bushnell optics are good. If you want made in US.. Leupold or Simmons.
I have a Savage-110 (30-06)spent 200+ (new)on it years ago new.
Same year as a graduation from basic training present for myself I bought a RedField 3-9X40 PartnerII Scope spent $80.00 (new) for it at the PX. Scope has served me well and I wouldn't upgrade for anything.
I even have it mounted on Uncle Mikes Wide view scope mounts (lets you use scope or iron sights)Anyways my point is Redfield was top of the line back then and it has held up to the test of time. I just happened to get a great deal on it. It was over $100 everywhere else.
I've got a Leupold VX III(600.00+) on my "go to" rifle and LOVE it !
I do use it for LOTS of different stuff though. Deer in Ark/Elk,Deer,Lope' in Colo. so LOTS of range differences.
(Ark-100yds mostly to 400/500 yds in Colo.
With the "pricy" stuff you get a "better" set of glass(grinding,quality,etc.) but your also paying for the "name" as well.
For all that additional money, you get extra brightness, clarity and color-definition across the entire field of the scope. But there is a point of diminishing returns. At double the price, you don't get double the quality. Try one or two percent more.
In a $150 scope, you get about 98% of all there is to be had, and the missing two percent is only discernible under the most extreme conditions.
Good hunting and good luck.
just get a regular $200 dollar 10 power scope since the shots are only 100 yards
As an afterthought, I would like to add that in the case of high dollar scopes, one should expect greater durability and more precise windage and elevation adjustments. Conversely, at the lowest end of the price range, I have heard of scopes being damaged from recoil!
I see it as 99% of the time an average scope will work just as well as a high end scope. But there is that 1% of the time that that extra arm and a leg will make a difference. I take my chances.
Nikon monarch buck slayer draws so much light in i can see clear in the dark shadowy swamp i hunt in thats the difference. being able to pick out the exact area of the animal you want to hit and faster with the increased visibility.
I think Nikon Buckmasters and Leupold VX-I are the starting point on scopes, anything cheaper is likely junk for most the most part, and you are literally ripping yourself off if you go lower level. You will save money by buying good stuff.
If the glass is for a serious centerfire hunting rifle, I wouldn't consider anything less, but a cheap scope might just be mounted to a 10/22 that may or not be right behind me now...
F&S "Best of the Best" Weaver 40-44s are interesting to me, they sound great for under $200. It almost seems impossible that a scope for that kind of money is getting vaunted by a magazine that hasn't hawked a scope for under $600 in 94 1/2 years. Must be pretty solid.
Unless you are shooting house flies at 100 yards, you won't need such a fine scope. If you are talking about hunting deer at that range, an inexpensive 2.5x or 4x would do the job for you just fine. I still like decent scopes so that I can be as accurate as possible. In the cheap scopes you have to watch paralax and their zero changing due to recoil. There are lots of good scopes out there for under $200 and those mentioned above will serve you well. If you want to shoot prairie dogs or long range varmints/targets, a more expensive scope often will allow a $400 rifle to shoot with the big boys though.
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For all that additional money, you get extra brightness, clarity and color-definition across the entire field of the scope. But there is a point of diminishing returns. At double the price, you don't get double the quality. Try one or two percent more.
In a $150 scope, you get about 98% of all there is to be had, and the missing two percent is only discernible under the most extreme conditions.
Good hunting and good luck.
NO it's not needed. You can get the same performance from a 2-400 dollar scope. What matters is if it suits your needs. There are so many choices now for scopes but I've heard Nikon makes an awesome $200 - $600 dollar range line of scopes. Bushnell optics are good. If you want made in US.. Leupold or Simmons.
I have a Savage-110 (30-06)spent 200+ (new)on it years ago new.
Same year as a graduation from basic training present for myself I bought a RedField 3-9X40 PartnerII Scope spent $80.00 (new) for it at the PX. Scope has served me well and I wouldn't upgrade for anything.
I even have it mounted on Uncle Mikes Wide view scope mounts (lets you use scope or iron sights)Anyways my point is Redfield was top of the line back then and it has held up to the test of time. I just happened to get a great deal on it. It was over $100 everywhere else.
I've got a Leupold VX III(600.00+) on my "go to" rifle and LOVE it !
I do use it for LOTS of different stuff though. Deer in Ark/Elk,Deer,Lope' in Colo. so LOTS of range differences.
(Ark-100yds mostly to 400/500 yds in Colo.
With the "pricy" stuff you get a "better" set of glass(grinding,quality,etc.) but your also paying for the "name" as well.
I see it as 99% of the time an average scope will work just as well as a high end scope. But there is that 1% of the time that that extra arm and a leg will make a difference. I take my chances.
just get a regular $200 dollar 10 power scope since the shots are only 100 yards
I think Nikon Buckmasters and Leupold VX-I are the starting point on scopes, anything cheaper is likely junk for most the most part, and you are literally ripping yourself off if you go lower level. You will save money by buying good stuff.
If the glass is for a serious centerfire hunting rifle, I wouldn't consider anything less, but a cheap scope might just be mounted to a 10/22 that may or not be right behind me now...
F&S "Best of the Best" Weaver 40-44s are interesting to me, they sound great for under $200. It almost seems impossible that a scope for that kind of money is getting vaunted by a magazine that hasn't hawked a scope for under $600 in 94 1/2 years. Must be pretty solid.
Unless you are shooting house flies at 100 yards, you won't need such a fine scope. If you are talking about hunting deer at that range, an inexpensive 2.5x or 4x would do the job for you just fine. I still like decent scopes so that I can be as accurate as possible. In the cheap scopes you have to watch paralax and their zero changing due to recoil. There are lots of good scopes out there for under $200 and those mentioned above will serve you well. If you want to shoot prairie dogs or long range varmints/targets, a more expensive scope often will allow a $400 rifle to shoot with the big boys though.
As an afterthought, I would like to add that in the case of high dollar scopes, one should expect greater durability and more precise windage and elevation adjustments. Conversely, at the lowest end of the price range, I have heard of scopes being damaged from recoil!
Nikon monarch buck slayer draws so much light in i can see clear in the dark shadowy swamp i hunt in thats the difference. being able to pick out the exact area of the animal you want to hit and faster with the increased visibility.
Post an Answer