Excellent Dave, I for one appreciate a good bargain.
I've got a Bushnell 4200 on my .270, It has lost it's zero only once in three seasons, and just an inch at 100yds at that.
I can see far beyond legal shooting light.
I am in the market for another scope for another rifle.
1) how durable is the Minox?
2) what characteristics am I looking for when attempting to compare the optics?

Pogo also said "We have met the enemy, and he is us".

Good info. One question -- where are these scopes made?

The parts come from Germany and are assembled here.

@David,
Thanks

David, thank you for writing about affordable gear. Have you turned over a new leaf? In the future however, please don't tell the manufacturer what you think the price ought to be. I wouldn't want them to get any ideas.

Dave, how would you compare the Minox to the Zeiss Conquest line in general. For affordable optics, that's where I start. The 3X9 has to be one of the best values out there...so far anyway

these scopes seem to be the real deal from all reviews i have read. think i might have to spend some money

DEP - For a guy with fair eyesight, can you easily identify the markings on the parallax adjustment. Minox website doesn't really show any good images.

Priced at about half the cost of a top-quality rifle, these scopes seem to offer exceptional value. I have never believed that a scope should cost as much or more than the rifle.

Fantastic. Looks like Leupold is in trouble. Well, if we had any sense, they would be. I've seen many scopes that are cheaper and yet optically superior.

Nice to see parts from Germany and assembled here. Honestly, they do almost everything better than us so it would be great if they were assembled there too, but them socialists have to pay their union scum quite a bit to do their unparalleled work...

To Oryx: The Zeiss Conquests are great scopes and great values. You're going to have to figure this one out yourself.

To Jim: Depends on the model. The one I have presented no problems.

To Jay: I don't think you'd have any problems. Minox is good at that kind of thing.

Growing up, Leupold, Redfield, Lyman, Weaver were "good" scopes. The other "leading" brands were Tasco and Bushnell and could be had from Gibson's for $10 to $15. An El Paso, Texas built Weaver K4 was about $50 and considered VERY expensive! Leupold was probably $80 to $90 or better! LOL!!!
Scoped rifles were the exception rather than the rule! A rifle HAD to be drilled and tapped for a scope, they didn't come that way from the factory. Twenty-two's were just beginning to get the "ribs" for clamping a scope base to and a .22 scope was 3/4" tube.
Hunted with an older gent who had a M70 Winchester in .270 Win that was topped with a 4X "Kolmorgan"(sp?), the forerunner of Redfield!
Zeiss and Unertle were out there, but were considered "target" scopes and WAY too expensive for a hunting rifle! My parents were 9 and 10 when the Depression hit! My dad and grandad didn't just go out and spend money on a "scope" as long as they could see iron sights! My grandfather NEVER bought a "box" of ammo. Every two years he went to Babcock Bros on Spring St and bought seven .30-30 rounds. That allowed him one practice shot and killed 2 deer each year. LOL!!
HECK! My dad saved all year to afford a $25 annual hunting lease!

Bubba

To Jason Hart: I have just the one scope, and have mounted it on my Nosler Model 48 6.5/284, which I'm taking elk hunting in September.

Lots of brands mentioned, but I didn't see anyone bring up Vortex as a competitor. Thoughts on the quality of Vortex rifle scopes from anyone? I ask, as I purchased one this year for use on my new .300 win mag.

6.5 for ELK?!? That's gonna blow some tops on here...

I've been hunting deer and elk with a 6.5 Rem Mag for something like 40 years - the critters just die on the spot, and I have never used bullets heavier than 129 grains. This little cartridge got bad press in its early days due mainly to the short barrel guns it came in and the old Core-Lokt 100 and 120 grain bullets which acted more like varmint bullets than big game bullets at the velocities the 6.5 was capable of, particularly in longer barreled rifles. My Rem 700 has a 24 inch barrel and will approximate (usually beating) the ballistics of the 6.5-284 using IMR 4831. It is also a great varmint rig with 85 and 87 grain hollow points and shoots dime sized groups with these pills if I do my part, which is getting harder after all these years. Dave P - get an elk for us 6.5 fans and let us know how it all turns out.

Not everyone in Wyoming is a gun nut, consequently several locals have bought/built 6.5/.284s in the last few years primarily for elk. I think this is partially due to the "Best of the West" guys building and promoting this caliber as if it was their own discovery. Anyway those who just learned about a 6.5/.284 are astonished when I mumble something like "if a .270 will kill elk so will a 6.5/.284" or "I had one of those back in '75". The more things change the more they remain the...you know how that goes.

'Best of the West' ???

Bah F@^$*%@ Humbug!

Carney,

You are very astute my friend!

WAM

I acquired a new Minox ZA5 2-10x40 BDC. No instructions were included on how to use the BDC reticle.Any help?