Scope

[river_rat]

I am buying a 7MM SS Ruger, any advice on a scope? The dealer has some $75.00 scopes that have a life time warranty. He is just trying to get rid of them and doesn't have any thing else in stock. I don't mind spending the money for a good scope but I would rather hear it from some one that knows and not just trying to unload a scope.

Thanks

Jon

[End of the Line]

I'm assuming deer hunting rifle? 3x9-40 is probably the most popular for that. If its a $75 scope I doubt the quality. Try staying with a Burris, Leupold, Nikon. There are others but these are the ones I own. Burris is hard to beat for quality vs price. Your looking at $160 for for a Burris 3x9-40 and the prices go up from there. Do a search here too for scope info, it has been discussed here in the last couple of months and there is some good info there. Being you bought a Ruger, if I am not mistaken anything larger than a 40mm you'd have to get different rings than the one that probably come with it.

[WaveWacker]

I'll throw in Bushnell as well.

[iffwalleyes]

I wouldn't ever consider a $75 dollar scope. With optics the more you spend the more you get. I myself use only Leupold scopes and binoculars. I have don't have the high end Leupold's just the VX II models and have been very happy with them. Nikon also makes a good scope but I felt with a Leupold I had better eye relief. I hunt in ND and having good eye relief is important when shooting at something that is moving. You don't want your scope to continually be blacking out. Pretty much all of us in my hunting party in ND have switched to Leupolds. All I know is that when I am done hunting for the day it is because my eyes can see anymore but with the Leupolds you could still shoot. That is where they really shine the low light conditions. All scopes will work to an extent but you for sure get what you pay for with optics.

[jlm]

Yup, all good choices guys, I agree. I am a Nikon fan myself and have pretty much stuck with that over my last few purchases. Nikon makes a good product as do others. One other that I would like to throw in is Redfield. Very well priced and pretty good optics. Good luck!

[catman71]

i have the exact same gun River Rat. You might not be able to tell in the store but going from 75 bucks to the 159 nikon is worth every penny at first light. I have a VXIII as well, it was 400 if i recall, the you can tell the differece but not as much as what that first 100 buys you. So i'd go Nikon or something comperable at least. I have never looked thru either one and thought to myself, "I wish i would have paid less" when you think about how often you get to go hunting and what your time is worth, I find it easy to justify the best gear....good luck.

[lawdog]

I've turned into a big Nikon guy now too. I have a Leupold on my 30-06 but everything I've bought since has been Nikon and I actually like them better for the same if not less money.

Skip the $75 scope, you'll kick yourself if you can't see Mr. Big because the scope won't transmit enough light for you at the magic moment!!! eBay by the way is full of scopes, including 3x9x40 Nikon prostaffs in silver finish that would really complete that gun nicely.

[babytrav]

i have both Nikon and Leupold they are about the same. it seems the one i am shooting is my favorite.

[CodyDawg]

I am a Burris man. Love my binocs, 1.5X6 scope, 2X8 scope, and spotting scope. All but the binocs are signature series. My dad has Leupold binocs that I am not that impressed with.

[Cooter]

I'll add to the Burris fan club, great for the money.

[New Yankee]

RR - I'm with iffwalleyes on the Leupold VX-II. Both my wife and dad have them and the difference between them and my Khales is small. I've never owned a Nikon so can't comment on them. The VX-II's run right at $300 from memory, for the 3X9X40.

Good Luck!

[almostthere!]

Nikon-

Pros- Great optics in the Monarch series, cheap ($199+)

Cons- Short eye-relief

You need to buy either the Monarch or Titanium series for brightness and clearity, anything less is just plain less.

Bushnell-

Pros- Firefly reticles, rain guard

Cons- Very Short eye relief

Just not a big fan of Bushnells. To get any good optical brightness and clarity, you need to purchase the Elite 4200 series. At this point, you may as well buy the Leupold VX-III.

Zeiss-

Pros- Great optics from Conquest series on up, long eye-relief.

Cons- Anything above a Conquest series is 2 to 4 times the cost of your rifle.

Zeiss Conquest is right around the $400 range.

Leupold-

Pros- Great optics, clearity, long eye-relief, Made in USA

Cons- pricy

Get the VX-III for best brightness and clearity in the VX series. $400+

Burris-

Pros- Great optics (from Signature seriess on up), long eye relief, made in USA

Cons- none

Buy either the Signature series or the Euro-Diamonds. Price is slightly less than Zeiss or Leupolds.

Like someone posted earlier, the longer the eye relief, the quicker you can zero in your target. Plus, you do not have to lean so much forward towards your scope. With the recoil of the 7mm or any magnum, you want to be as far away from the scope as possible. A member of my hunting party found this out the hard, painfull way. You need the 4 inch relief of Leupold, Zeiss, and Burris. I have seen the Nikon Titanium in action and it is too close for comfort for me. Sorry Nikon users, trying not to bash Nikons here.

Leupold VX-III is the most expensive of the mid range scopes followed by Zeiss Conquest, then Burris Euro-diamond and Signature Select. Of all these, the best buy for your money for your Ruger would be Burris Signature Select. Look on eBay for price.

[SUNNYD]

If you get the chance take a look at the Weaver Grand Slam line as well. I had one on a 7mm before trading the gun in and mounting a Ziess Conquest on yet another 7mm (synthetic stock). The optics on the grand slam are very very good. In my opinion better than Leupold and Nikon. I still have my Grand Slam Binocs and have been very pleased with them..

Hope you find what you are looking for....

Take care!

[huntingmaxima]

SUNNYD you wouldn,t know a good scope from a peep sight. see you saturday.

[bigyooper]

Sunny,

If you call me I can get you into a scope that will personally fit your needs. I have put people in $2000.00 scopes and had them exchange it for a $200 scope.

It's not the price that matters it's what works for you.

My favorite scopes out are the Bushnell Elite series. These scopes used to be the Bausch & Lomb Elite series, when Bushnell bought them they didn't buy the name. The series has remained the same except for the name, which shouldn't make a difference. Let me know how I can get a hold of you and we can get you into a perfect scope.

[SUNNYD]

Thanks for the offer but I am pretty set at the moment with my Zeiss on my 7mm. I did extensive research before purchasing my Zeiss and I am very happy with it. I did look at the Bushnell Elite Series as an option as what I found was the only scopes delivering the optics of the Zeiss were Kahles and Swarovski and since I didn't want to pay $800-1200 for a scope I paid about $450 for my 3-10x44 Zeiss and have been very pleased with its performance.

Thank you for the offer! I will look you up for outfitting any rifles I may purchase in the future.