Best bang for buck cheap scopes?

[rookhawk]

Best scopes for the money in ascending cost:

Leupold VX3 2.5-8x36 plex
Swarovski Z3 3-9x36 plex
Swarovski Z3 3.5-10 BRH
Leupold Z5 3-15x44 firedot CDS
Swarovski Z6 EE 1-6x24 (discontinued)

I really don’t see any reason to go less expensive than the VX3 2.5-8x36. It is priced way below its quality.

One cautionary note; there were some very good Zeiss conquest 3-9 scopes made. However, something happened at Zeiss with this line and a bunch of crap scopes were sold. If you’ve got a good one (I do) great, hang onto it. However, I wouldn’t buy a new or used one with someone else’s money.

The early conquests and by early, I mean olden times mid 2000s, the glass came from Zeiss Jena and somewhere in the southern US they were assembled and had a full tech department. I know this because I sent one back for a reticle change in maybe Georgia? They were wonderful. Outside of box was silver or white with blue zeiss logos. Inside was white corregated cardboard rolled around the scopes.

Fast forward and the conquests became Japanese at the same pricepoint. Basically, they were Nikon Monarch quality for 2x the price.

You want the original, not the latter.

 

[WAB]

The early conquests and by early, I mean olden times mid 2000s, the glass came from Zeiss Jena and somewhere in the southern US they were assembled and had a full tech department. I know this because I sent one back for a reticle change in maybe Georgia? They were wonderful. Outside of box was silver or white with blue zeiss logos. Inside was white corregated cardboard rolled around the scopes.

Fast forward and the conquests became Japanese at the same pricepoint. Basically, they were Nikon Monarch quality for 2x the price.

You want the original, not the latter.

That explains it, the one I have is one of the originals. I bought a second one years later and it was absolute crap. I actually gave it away.

 

[robtattoo]

Vortex

The only thing Vortexhave going for them these days is their warranty.
Which you WILL use.

SWFA scopes, as cheap as they are, are as reliable, tough & repeatable as NF. Near as makes no difference. The fixed power models are absolutely bombproof & there is literally nothing in the price range (almost nothing up to double that) that is built to their standard.
The LPVOS they offer are exceptional. Regular 3-9, 4-16s etc are a notch down, but it's not a really big notch.
I would, and have taken, SWFA $300 6x42 over and above anything Leupold make in the lower-than-Vx5 class.

For really cheap, the Primary Arms basic model 1-4x24 is incredibly tough & there's literally nothing under $200 that matches up by any measure.

 

[93marlin]

I'm always looking for a good inexpensive scope. Bushnell Banners with B&L on them, are the best deal out there. Usually those are well under $200.
Great glass & tough enough for my Ruger Alaskan 375RSM when I first got it!

 

[meigsbucks]

For eons, I used Leupold VX2’s with no issues as my only scopes. I’ve since upgraded most to Leupold VX3 and VX5 as well as Zeiss Conquest and Swaro Z3 and Z5. No issues with any. I did put a Leupold Freedom on one rifle. It’s OK, but spending the extra $200 for a VX3 is worth it.
Quite frankly, if I had put the Leupold VX3’s on everything, I could have done worse.
I recently stuck a Burris Fullfield 2 on a plinker .22 and I am pleasantly surprised by it.

 

[TroyF]

For the $200-300 range Burris ff2 and leupold freedom. Yes there are better but these are the best in there price range, very good warranty to.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

The early conquests and by early, I mean olden times mid 2000s, the glass came from Zeiss Jena and somewhere in the southern US they were assembled and had a full tech department. I know this because I sent one back for a reticle change in maybe Georgia? They were wonderful. Outside of box was silver or white with blue zeiss logos. Inside was white corregated cardboard rolled around the scopes.

Fast forward and the conquests became Japanese at the same pricepoint. Basically, they were Nikon Monarch quality for 2x the price.

You want the original, not the latter.

@rookhawk
From what I can gather and have read the Ziez Terra was made in America using all Zies components including glass. This was done to meet the needs of the American market. Labour cost in Europe are extremely high and they could produce the Terre in the USA with American labour cheaper than Europe. They could then pass on the savings.
Bob

 

[Bonk]

Leupold. I own a bunch of them. Never had a problem.

 

[lightweight]

I have one Nightforce NXS 5.5 -22x56mm scope,Zerostop 250 MOA illuminated Moar Reticle [c434]

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The Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x56 attributes is superbly suited to the heavy .50 BMG and can achieve outstanding performance and accuracy in ranges beyond a mile in distance

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I'm always looking for a good inexpensive scope. Bushnell Banners with B&L on them, are the best deal out there. Usually those are well under $200.
Great glass & tough enough for my Ruger Alaskan 375RSM when I first got it!

I know where a few are in San Antonio. If interested PM me and I’ll give you the name of the store and the managers name. I saw at least 2 on Wednesday of this week.

 

[GuttormG]

For hunting, Leupold, Meopta and up (due to current $-exchange rate Leupold is pricy over here. Meopta is actually cheaper).
For punching holes in paper-whatever..

And Vortex? Never again...

 

[GuttormG]

The early conquests and by early, I mean olden times mid 2000s, the glass came from Zeiss Jena and somewhere in the southern US they were assembled and had a full tech department.

The early Conquest 3-9x40/50 was really good scopes!

Zeiss Terra are made in China with Japanese glass. Sad to see Zeiss doing this.

Schott glass, my stove top has Schott glass, its optical quality is very low

 

[Woodcarver]

Don't know how many Vari-X IIs and VX-IIs I have. They went on everything for years when I could buy one for $200-$230. Also put a few Weaver Extremes on a couple rifles when they were on sale; should have bought several as they are great scopes and no longer available. When the price for the VXII jumped to $300, I discovered the Nikon line and have numerous Buckmasters and Monarchs (when they had sales). When Nikon announced they were discontinuing their rifle scopes, I bought several knowing there would be a rifle at some point wanting a scope. Used the last one this year.
While there's a few higher end scopes on some rifles in the safe, for affordable but dependable optics, I would still get Leupold Rifleman. Still like Redfields as well when I can find a used one for a decent price.