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Scopes! What you may or may not know!

In my brief but storied existence upon this Earth, I have learned a few things about buying optics.

1. When you are contemplating optics of any description, bring your wife with you. She is probably less biased to brand names than you are and she probably has better eyes than you anyway.
2. Select three of the top contenders you have been thinking about.
3. Get the store attendant to accompany you and your unbiased wife outside with a couple of chairs. You will NOT be using your glass inside and under florescent or digital lights.
4. Focus the objective and ocular lenses to your eye (sharp reticle and target image) and then look at a street sign at least 100 yards away. See how clearly defined the edges of the letters/numbers are and compare all three scopes. Make notes about color rendition and clarity. Make sure you are sitting in a chair or are resting the optic upon a pillar or post for stability.
5. Adjust the scopes to your unbiased wife's eyes and let her go through the same process. Listen to her input and then compare again.
As an aside, grey, overcast, rainy days are the best for testing. The chances of your hunting/shooting on a perfect clear-blue day is remote.

If the sales associate is unwilling to allow this sort of testing when you are about to plunk down a large pile of shekels for the glass, say "Thanks" and walk away. They really don't have your best interests at heart.

Please note: The most expensive glass/most recognized name brand in the cabinet may not be the best deal.
I have a surprising number of Bushnell products in my safe. It wasn't planned that way, that's just how it worked out.
 
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iklwa said:
In my brief but storied existence upon this Earth, I have learned a few things about buying optics.

1. When you are contemplating optics of any description, bring your wife with you. She is probably less biased to brand names than you are and she probably has better eyes than you anyway.
2. Select three of the top contenders you have been thinking about.
3. Get the store attendant to accompany you and your unbiased wife outside with a couple of chairs. You will NOT be using your glass inside and under florescent or digital lights.
4. Focus the objective and ocular lenses to your eye (sharp reticle and target image) and then look at a street sign at least 100 yards away. See how clearly defined the edges of the letters/numbers are and compare all three scopes. Make notes about color rendition and clarity. Make sure you are sitting in a chair or are resting the optic upon a pillar or post for stability.
5. Adjust the scopes to your unbiased wife's eyes and let her go through the same process. Listen to her input and then compare again.
As an aside, grey, overcast, rainy days are the best for testing. The chances of your hunting/shooting on a perfect clear-blue day is remote.

If the sales associate is unwilling to allow this sort of testing when you are about to plunk down a large pile of shekels for the glass, say "Thanks" and walk away. They really don't have your best interests at heart.

Please note: The most expensive glass/most recognized name brand in the cabinet may not be the best deal.
I have a surprising number of Bushnell products in my safe. It wasn't planned that way, that's just how it worked out.
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I have a 1975 Redfield 1x5 that to this day is a clear as nails tac driver.
But I wont plop down any money for a new, modern Redfield to save my life
 
I’ve found that when it comes to optics, it is a case of you get what you pay for...but after a certain point, it can be a case of diminishing returns. You can also start to pay for very specific features, as well (US Optics offerings are a prime example of this).

However...the difference in clarity between a $600 Leupold VX3 4-14x50 and a $1200 Swarovski Habicht 4-16x50 is stunning, and worth every penny.
 
Dear Has,
The question, I believe, for many hunters/shooters is whether there is sufficient bang for the buck.
Joe 30-06 shooting a couple of hundred yards for whitetail from his elevated plywood stand would probably be well served with the more inexpensive Leupold.
I might mention that my 7mm Remington Magnum wears a Leupold scope that I spent more on than the Swarovski you mentioned...but that is about a toy. Joe, on the other hand, most likely looks at his rig more like a tool.
I'm just saying, not every job requires a hammer.
 
iklwa said:
Dear Has,
The question, I believe, for many hunters/shooters is whether there is sufficient bang for the buck.
Joe 30-06 shooting a couple of hundred yards for whitetail from his elevated plywood stand would probably be well served with the more inexpensive Leupold.
I might mention that my 7mm Remington Magnum wears a Leupold scope that I spent more on than the Swarovski you mentioned...but that is about a toy. Joe, on the other hand, most likely looks at his rig more like a tool.
I'm just saying, not every job requires a hammer.
Click to expand...
It would depend.

If that extra clarity shows the difference between a regular 8-point and a trophy 12 point against a brush thicket in the last light of the day...he might think it was more than worth it.
 
HansGruber said:
It would depend.

If that extra clarity shows the difference between a regular 8-point and a trophy 12 point against a brush thicket in the last light of the day...he might think it was more than worth it.
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I don’t personally, but I know guys that have spent thousands on scopes for their 22 rifles. It is the difference in a .5” group an 1.5” group though. With all the scopes out there, I always try to advise in getting the best glass you can even if you have to step down in magnification. Zeiss, Leica, Swarovski, Vortex Razor series, Leupold Mark series, ect. You get the point. Light transmission is a big deal for me as well be it 100-200 yards or 500 yards. Whether I’m shootings off a bench or out of a stand.
 
I would suggest that many shooters (particularly younger ones) can not afford top quality glass. I would also suggest that most of the sales made in the optics field are made in the mid to economy price range. Most of the profit; however, has always been made in the high end categories.

Everyone wants the best they can afford but usually it is only after someone gets well established financially (after transportation, the house, and the childrens' health and schooling are secured) that room can be found in the budget for toys not absolutely required for day-to-day survival.

I am not arguing the benefits of quality glass. I am only pointing out that the finer things in life usually come later, not first.
 
iklwa said:
I would suggest that many shooters (particularly younger ones) can not afford top quality glass. I would also suggest that most of the sales made in the optics field are made in the mid to economy price range. Most of the profit; however, has always been made in the high end categories.

Everyone wants the best they can afford but usually it is only after someone gets well established financially (after transportation, the house, and the childrens' health and schooling are secured) that room can be found in the budget for toys not absolutely required for day-to-day survival.

I am not arguing the benefits of quality glass. I am only pointing out that the finer things in life usually come later, not first.
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Kids can wear Crocs and Rustlers... i’m Getting good glass !!! 🤣🤣🤣
 
iklwa said:
I would suggest that many shooters (particularly younger ones) can not afford top quality glass. I would also suggest that most of the sales made in the optics field are made in the mid to economy price range. Most of the profit; however, has always been made in the high end categories.

Everyone wants the best they can afford but usually it is only after someone gets well established financially (after transportation, the house, and the childrens' health and schooling are secured) that room can be found in the budget for toys not absolutely required for day-to-day survival.

I am not arguing the benefits of quality glass. I am only pointing out that the finer things in life usually come later, not first.
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True.

But I’ve always scratched my head at guys who buy a $1000-1500 rifle, and then put a $300 scope on it (in $50 rings, but don’t get me started there).
 
KillerFord1977 said:
30% rule
$1000 rifle .. $300 scope
$3000 rifle .. $1000 scope
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And then there’s me...

$500 rifle (Savage 110 Heavy Varmint .308); $800 scope (Trijicon 6-25x50 Accupoint); $150 rings (Badger Ordnance)

$900 rifle (Savage BA Stealth 6.5CM); $1200 scope (Swarovski Habicht 4-16x50) $150 rings (Badger)

I tend to put more into my glass than I do my rifle, at least for precision rifles. A great rifle with bad glass is a bad rifle, after all...and if the rings are bad, well...might as well hang it on the wall, for all the good it will do you.
 
HansGruber said:
And then there’s me...

$500 rifle (Savage 110 Heavy Varmint .308); $800 scope (Trijicon 6-25x50 Accupoint); $150 rings (Badger Ordnance)

$900 rifle (Savage BA Stealth 6.5CM); $1200 scope (Swarovski Habicht 4-16x50) $150 rings (Badger)

I tend to put more into my glass than I do my rifle, at least for precision rifles. A great rifle with bad glass is a bad rifle, after all...and if the rings are bad, well...might as well hang it on the wall, for all the good it will do you.
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Oh, gotcha.. i was just commenting your math in the previous comment was 30% 😆😂😂😅😅
 
HansGruber said:
And then there’s me...

$500 rifle (Savage 110 Heavy Varmint .308); $800 scope (Trijicon 6-25x50 Accupoint); $150 rings (Badger Ordnance)

$900 rifle (Savage BA Stealth 6.5CM); $1200 scope (Swarovski Habicht 4-16x50) $150 rings (Badger)

I tend to put more into my glass than I do my rifle, at least for precision rifles. A great rifle with bad glass is a bad rifle, after all...and if the rings are bad, well...might as well hang it on the wall, for all the good it will do you.
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I get your position, but $1000 for a scope for me is another gun.
though I run expensive thermals, i dont run expensive scope glass. I run Leupold and Vortex for the most part.. i put more $$ into deer rifle glass than hog gun glass.
 
KillerFord1977 said:
I get your position, but $1000 for a scope for me is another gun.
though I run expensive thermals, i dont run expensive scope glass. I run Leupold and Vortex for the most part.. i put more $$ into deer rifle glass than hog gun glass.
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Yep; quality or quantity...they each have their benefits; everyone chooses which they want.
 
My first “modern” rifle was purchased (used) after a year and a half of studying calibers while saving and searching for a versatile bore. At the time, I could not envision having multiple rifles due to my paltry income. I decided on the Ruger Number 1 Tropical in 375 Holland and Holland Magnum. I got the rifle, 300 pieces of brass and a RCBS die set in the boot for $350.

Believe it or not, my first loads were assembled using a manual Lee loader, an oak hatchet handle, FFFg black powder and Sierra 300 grain Gameking bullets!

My vision has never been good and in the effort to install glass, I removed the 3 x 9 Bushnell from my 22 and mounted it on top of the Ruger. Needless to say, the use of modern powders bashed my forehead into the ocular housing so many times I broke that poor scope. When I sent it back to Bushnell for repair, I explained how I had grossly abused their product. They repaired and returned the scope to me “no charge”! I sure they laughed heartily at my antics.

I did eventually get a Leupold 2.5 x 8 optic with generous eye relief and proceeded to produce some of the best groups I have ever recorded! That scope remains in place to this day some 40 years later.

My circumstances have improved over the years, but I still keep a close eye on that budget. Each person has to weigh the pros and cons in making any financial decision. I try hard not to make fun of folks who show up anywhere with less than top-of -the-line equipment be it the archery range, shooting range or drag strip. It has been my experience that the operator, many times, makes a greater difference than the dollars spent unless of course you are competing at the top of the sport (i.e., Le Mans racing).

The main idea, I contend, is to Have Fun!
 
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