1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Scope Advice!

Discussion in 'Guns & Hunting' started by newfie8, Sep 25, 2011.

  1. Sep 25, 2011 at 3:17 PM
    #1
    newfie8

    newfie8 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2009
    Member:
    #14512
    Messages:
    244
    Gender:
    Male
    newfoundland
    Vehicle:
    09 tacoma
    Tinted windows all around. Fog lights. Intermittent wiper switch. Skid plate. Extra D rings. Grillcraft. Color matched grill. Hella 500ff HID behind grillcraft. Rcbs204 Lighting. 5100's up front. 265/75/16 Duratracs.Firestone riderites. Bora Wheel spacers. Tinted tails. De badged. Blacked out rims.
    Buying a 30-06 Savage Rifle next week and i know zero about scopes. I'm looking at the Leupold VX 2 3-9x40! Any thoughts?
     
  2. Sep 25, 2011 at 4:30 PM
    #2
    meatman

    meatman I deal with dead animals

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2011
    Member:
    #53630
    Messages:
    3,728
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Greg
    Murphy N.C.
    Vehicle:
    (built) 04 Tacoma SR5 4x4 and 01 TRD 4x4 DD
    Leupold make a really good scope. My bro has one on his 30-06 and he loves it. I run a Nikon 3x9x50 on my Tika T3 in 308. I hunt in mostly dense woods so i wanted a little more light gathering
     
  3. Sep 25, 2011 at 4:31 PM
    #3
    Max-4_Yota

    Max-4_Yota The Welfare Cadilac

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2009
    Member:
    #27357
    Messages:
    4,235
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Michael
    South Carolina
    Vehicle:
    3rd gen Tacoma
    Chicken lights, chrome and smoke tunes.
    How much you wanting to spend?
     
  4. Sep 25, 2011 at 4:36 PM
    #4
    SSG665

    SSG665 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2011
    Member:
    #60437
    Messages:
    781
    Gender:
    Male
    Georgia
    Vehicle:
    18 Tacoma
    I have 3, great scopes...
     
  5. Sep 25, 2011 at 4:37 PM
    #5
    t4daddy

    t4daddy Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2010
    Member:
    #39041
    Messages:
    7,432
    Gender:
    Male
    North Alabama
    Vehicle:
    2008 PreRunner Double Cab
    This then double it... J/K but do buy the best scope you can afford. A good (old) rule of thumb was/is to spend at least as much on glass as on your gun.
    Leopold makes some great stuff, but some of there bottom end stuff is starting to look very cheesy to me.
     
  6. Sep 25, 2011 at 4:42 PM
    #6
    Max-4_Yota

    Max-4_Yota The Welfare Cadilac

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2009
    Member:
    #27357
    Messages:
    4,235
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Michael
    South Carolina
    Vehicle:
    3rd gen Tacoma
    Chicken lights, chrome and smoke tunes.
  7. Sep 25, 2011 at 5:05 PM
    #7
    newfie8

    newfie8 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2009
    Member:
    #14512
    Messages:
    244
    Gender:
    Male
    newfoundland
    Vehicle:
    09 tacoma
    Tinted windows all around. Fog lights. Intermittent wiper switch. Skid plate. Extra D rings. Grillcraft. Color matched grill. Hella 500ff HID behind grillcraft. Rcbs204 Lighting. 5100's up front. 265/75/16 Duratracs.Firestone riderites. Bora Wheel spacers. Tinted tails. De badged. Blacked out rims.
    $400 would be the max guys.
     
  8. Sep 25, 2011 at 5:12 PM
    #8
    crazyengineer

    crazyengineer Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2011
    Member:
    #50948
    Messages:
    3,350
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    patrick
    Bristol, TN
    Vehicle:
    05 Tacoma SR5 TRD Offroad
    K&N Cold Air Intake, Warn Winch and Bumper Guard, Wet Okole Seat Covers, Undercover Bed Cover, TRD Kenwood Head Unit, Infiniti Speakers, JL 13.5 inch pancake sub
    If you want a really good scope for the money, try a Burris.
    I just got a burris fullfield II for my 7mm-08 great scope, and i have one on my 10/22 as well.

    the scope on the 22, i have compared it to my stepdad's swarovski binoculars (i don't want to know how much they costed) and when i looked through each, the burris seemed clearer

    i am very happy with the performance of them, they work great. i also have a leupold, it is a good scope as well (its on a 30-06 as well). i believe that if you went with either of these you would be fine.

    a lot of the burris scopes are paired up with different things like binoculars, rimfire scopes, and spotting scopes

    i did this with a pair of binoculars and they are great.


    I wish they had had the spotting scope at that time, i would have got it instead

    like this here

    http://www.cabelas.com/product/Burr...s&Ntt=burris&WTz_l=Header;Search-All+Products
     
  9. Sep 25, 2011 at 6:14 PM
    #9
    t4daddy

    t4daddy Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2010
    Member:
    #39041
    Messages:
    7,432
    Gender:
    Male
    North Alabama
    Vehicle:
    2008 PreRunner Double Cab
  10. Sep 26, 2011 at 10:31 AM
    #10
    thinkingman

    thinkingman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2008
    Member:
    #5971
    Messages:
    1,105
    redmond WA
    Vehicle:
    2006 dbl cab 4wd 6sp
    Foglights are for fog, not oncoming traffic!
    Good suggestion here.
    I own a fair amount of quality sport optics and exactly zero are Leupolds.
    Cabelas has the discountinued Bushnell 4200 Elite for $199 US....great scope, much better than VX2.
     
  11. Sep 26, 2011 at 12:00 PM
    #11
    aficianado

    aficianado Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2009
    Member:
    #25015
    Messages:
    8,093
    Gender:
    Male
    bay area, california
    Vehicle:
    2006 access cab. 4x4, TRD-OR + 2023 TRD off-road.
    back to bone stock.
    i have two scopes. both leupold.

    one on my .257 wtby mag is a VXIII 3.5-10
    on my '06, i have a VXII 3-9. the VXIII seems brighter..it does have a bigger front objective.

    for the money, that Zeiss conquest is a very good scope too.
     
  12. Sep 26, 2011 at 12:11 PM
    #12
    Vandy

    Vandy Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2008
    Member:
    #8566
    Messages:
    78
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jake
    Pasadena, MD
    Vehicle:
    2008 DC-LB, 4x4 SR5, Indigo Ink
    Redline Hood Struts, Blacked out Badges, Blacked out SR5 Wheels, BFG All-Terrains, aFe Pro Dry Air Filter, Wicked Flow Muffler
    What is the purpose of the rifle: Are you shooting paper or hunting?
    What will be the longest shot you will take?

    My suggestion is that if you are hunting and not planning on shooting beyond maximum point blank range of about 285 yards, then I would go with a 3-9x40.

    If you are shooting paper and want to max out your range, then go with a higher variable with a 50mm objective lens.

    Leupolds are a solid choice. Also look at the Bushnell Elite series of scopes. I have one of those on a rifle and really like it for the price.

    I am also a fan of Nikon Monarch and Buckmaster scopes.

    SWFA usually has really good prices on scopes.
     
  13. Sep 26, 2011 at 12:25 PM
    #13
    nomad_archer

    nomad_archer Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2010
    Member:
    #35243
    Messages:
    534
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Trevor
    Brickerville (Lititz), PA
    Vehicle:
    08 DC Tacoma V6 SR5
    You may also want to look at redfields for under $200 you get a great scope. And they are also made by leupold. I have a 4x12 on my savage .300 win mag and that scope has held up great to the abuse.
     
  14. Sep 26, 2011 at 1:50 PM
    #14
    newfie8

    newfie8 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2009
    Member:
    #14512
    Messages:
    244
    Gender:
    Male
    newfoundland
    Vehicle:
    09 tacoma
    Tinted windows all around. Fog lights. Intermittent wiper switch. Skid plate. Extra D rings. Grillcraft. Color matched grill. Hella 500ff HID behind grillcraft. Rcbs204 Lighting. 5100's up front. 265/75/16 Duratracs.Firestone riderites. Bora Wheel spacers. Tinted tails. De badged. Blacked out rims.
    I will be hunting Moose and around 200 yards would be the max i'd say.
     
  15. Sep 26, 2011 at 4:36 PM
    #15
    Max-4_Yota

    Max-4_Yota The Welfare Cadilac

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2009
    Member:
    #27357
    Messages:
    4,235
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Michael
    South Carolina
    Vehicle:
    3rd gen Tacoma
    Chicken lights, chrome and smoke tunes.
    Remember, higher quality glass = more light drawn in. That extra 5 mins might make or break the hunt.
     
  16. Sep 26, 2011 at 6:59 PM
    #16
    newfie8

    newfie8 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2009
    Member:
    #14512
    Messages:
    244
    Gender:
    Male
    newfoundland
    Vehicle:
    09 tacoma
    Tinted windows all around. Fog lights. Intermittent wiper switch. Skid plate. Extra D rings. Grillcraft. Color matched grill. Hella 500ff HID behind grillcraft. Rcbs204 Lighting. 5100's up front. 265/75/16 Duratracs.Firestone riderites. Bora Wheel spacers. Tinted tails. De badged. Blacked out rims.
    Got it! Thanks.. I really want to get this right the first time around.
     
  17. Sep 26, 2011 at 7:06 PM
    #17
    dwalden2

    dwalden2 HBTFD

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2009
    Member:
    #13649
    Messages:
    18,691
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Derick
    Blue Ridge, Georgia
    Vehicle:
    '05 TRD Offroad V6 6 spd
    SCS Stealth 6 Wheels, 285/70/17 STT Pros, Demello Offroad front bumper, 20" LED Bar, LED Fogs, LED interior lights, Wet Okole Seat Covers, Body Armour Rear Bumper, Smittybilt 10K winch, 3" OME Lift
    I try to never spend a lot of money on scopes. I've had some $300-400 scopes , then decided to go with a cheap one for my muzzleloader. I paid $50 for a brand new Tasco and like it better than my expensive one. I'm not shootin 200 yards, though.
     
  18. Sep 27, 2011 at 4:40 AM
    #18
    Vandy

    Vandy Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2008
    Member:
    #8566
    Messages:
    78
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jake
    Pasadena, MD
    Vehicle:
    2008 DC-LB, 4x4 SR5, Indigo Ink
    Redline Hood Struts, Blacked out Badges, Blacked out SR5 Wheels, BFG All-Terrains, aFe Pro Dry Air Filter, Wicked Flow Muffler
    Why say this? To say he can't get a good scope for his needs for $400 is B.S. Sure, if you want to compare a $400 scope with a Nightforce, Schmidt and Bender or U.S. Optics - there is no comparison. Then again, to say Leupold is on par with Nightforce is also B.S. That's too general of a statement. The higher end Leupold scopes may be on par with Nightforce (not really, but close in my opinion), there is no way you can say a VX-1 or Leupold Rifleman is on par.

    The prupose of the rifle is not to defend his life. If it is like most hunting rifles out there, it really will not get shot that much. I would venture to say that most american game is killed by hunters that sit behind rifles wearing glass much closer to the $100 range than the $500 and up range.

    I believe you should spend as much as you can afford on glass. But to say you can't get a good scope for $400 is bad information.
     
  19. Sep 27, 2011 at 5:06 AM
    #19
    nomad_archer

    nomad_archer Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2010
    Member:
    #35243
    Messages:
    534
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Trevor
    Brickerville (Lititz), PA
    Vehicle:
    08 DC Tacoma V6 SR5
    c0b2a your logic makes no sense to me. I put Nightforce, Schmidt and Bender and US Optics in roughly the same class and that is the extreme upper end. But you need to be prepared to pay a few grand to get your hands on one of them.

    The OP case sounds like a hunting rifle that he will sight it in and leave it. He wont be adjusting turrets for each shot and his max is 200 yards. what you suggest my friend is over kill for his needs and budget.

    As vandy $400 will get you a pretty nice quality scope that will fit your needs. I would stay in the 40-42mm obj range because it will allow a better cheek weld and more consistent shooting.

    If you only want to spend $200 the I would look at some of the Bushnell 4200 Elite the ThinkingMan posted that is a pretty solid scope. I personally have experiance with a redfeild and it is a great scope.

    Would I like to have a scope that costs over a grand of course but it just doesnt make sense for me or my budget.
     
  20. Sep 27, 2011 at 5:09 AM
    #20
    Abe Froman

    Abe Froman The Sausage King of Chicago

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2009
    Member:
    #24567
    Messages:
    156
    Gender:
    Male
    Fayetteville, NC
    Vehicle:
    2023 SR DCSB 4x4, White
    Another endorsement for the Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40. I was looking for an all around scope - not gonna be shooting extreme distances, wanted something compact that I could carry around easily, something to fill any basic roll I'd want a bolt gun to play. Most agree this unit competes with others that are twice the cost, so If your budget is $400 this is great bang for buck. Here it is on my Rem 700 .308

    [​IMG]

    EDIT: I will add that I don't have a lot of experience with high end optics, but I did a lot of research before this purchase and I've been very happy with it. Since zeroing I've put about 80 rounds through it and bounced it around in the truck a fair bit and it's still spot on.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top