Need some advice/help picking a "good" scope

[PAUL_MAUSER]

Admittedly I'm out of the loop a bit on optics. Grew up on Leopold's like many but understand they are not the same these days and suffer from issues of holding an actual zero I am told. Have read this a bunch on another very popular hunting forum and have seen mentions of it on many others. Enough so to cause me to stop considering the VX3HD 3.5-10x40 I was looking at.

I'm trying to pick a scope for a Mauser M18 in 30-06. Most of my hunting for now at least will be in east TX for whitetail and hogs at ranges less than 200 yards or so.

Are the Zeiss Conquest models a decent pick for that task, and do they actually hold zero and not require constant re zeroing if I dial the turret? I don't necessarily want to dial but would like the option I suppose. I also like a simpler reticle and not one that's busier than what a damn seal team 6 sniper would have that seems all the rage.

If this isn't a good scope what else is recommended without going all the way to a S&B which I would like to have just not on this $600 dollar rifle. Would prefer to deal with a vendor from here that actually has something in stock as I would like to purchase in the next couple days tops.

Let me know what you all think. I'll be slower to respond this evening but will try and check in tonight and will be active all day tomorrow.

 

[JimP]

Leopold's are still a great scope, just avoid the ones with the CDS dial.

If I was to buy one tomorrow it would be a Leopold

 

[Longwalker]

Just curious why you would want a quick dial turret scope for hunting shots under 200 yards? makes the scope unesessarily complicated and expensive, and offers zero benefits. Zeiss Conquest scopes with capped turrets have served me well, and I currently have them on five rifles. Better optics and a better mechanism than the Leupold scopes I also have on four rifles. If you really want a S&B, the Schmidt & Bender Klassic Hungaria 6x42 is not too costly, and the one I have is very good. I'd recommend it if you can live with a fixed magnification. Simple, rugged, brilliant optics, positive controls.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Admittedly I'm out of the loop a bit on optics. Grew up on Leopold's like many but understand they are not the same these days and suffer from issues of holding an actual zero I am told. Have read this a bunch on another very popular hunting forum and have seen mentions of it on many others. Enough so to cause me to stop considering the VX3HD 3.5-10x40 I was looking at.

I'm trying to pick a scope for a Mauser M18 in 30-06. Most of my hunting for now at least will be in east TX for whitetail and hogs at ranges less than 200 yards or so.

Are the Zeiss Conquest models a decent pick for that task, and do they actually hold zero and not require constant re zeroing if I dial the turret? I don't necessarily want to dial but would like the option I suppose. I also like a simpler reticle and not one that's busier than what a damn seal team 6 sniper would have that seems all the rage.

If this isn't a good scope what else is recommended without going all the way to a S&B which I would like to have just not on this $600 dollar rifle. Would prefer to deal with a vendor from here that actually has something in stock as I would like to purchase in the next couple days tops.

Let me know what you all think. I'll be slower to respond this evening but will try and check in tonight and will be active all day tomorrow.

I have had a Leupold 3.5-10x40 on my .300 Win Mag for the last 10 years or so. I've used it in Washington, New Mexico British Columbia and Zimbabwe. That's a lot of bouncing around in pickups and planes. I have changed the settings to accommodate different loads but that's it. It does not have a bullet drop compensating reticle and I haven't felt a need for one. I taken one mule deer at about 5 yards, and another at 389. I've also used it to take a bear, a moose and a bunch of plains game. The Leupold is still holding it's zero.

 

[Mountaineer]

The last few scopes I have bought have been leupold, but not new. I look for estate sales and buy one a few years old. The one I mounted last night was made around 2007-2010. Good luck.

 

[Rare Breed]

Admittedly I'm out of the loop a bit on optics. Grew up on Leopold's like many but understand they are not the same these days and suffer from issues of holding an actual zero I am told. Have read this a bunch on another very popular hunting forum and have seen mentions of it on many others. Enough so to cause me to stop considering the VX3HD 3.5-10x40 I was looking at.

I'm trying to pick a scope for a Mauser M18 in 30-06. Most of my hunting for now at least will be in east TX for whitetail and hogs at ranges less than 200 yards or so.

Are the Zeiss Conquest models a decent pick for that task, and do they actually hold zero and not require constant re zeroing if I dial the turret? I don't necessarily want to dial but would like the option I suppose. I also like a simpler reticle and not one that's busier than what a damn seal team 6 sniper would have that seems all the rage.

If this isn't a good scope what else is recommended without going all the way to a S&B which I would like to have just not on this $600 dollar rifle. Would prefer to deal with a vendor from here that actually has something in stock as I would like to purchase in the next couple days tops.

Let me know what you all think. I'll be slower to respond this evening but will try and check in tonight and will be active all day tomorrow.

So many to choose from. I highly recommend reaching out to @Mark Biggerstaff to both have him provide the pros and cons of each and no one beats his pricing and service. He is the best

 

[Rimbaud]

Just buy a Swaro and be done with it. I have Leopold and Steiner hunting scopes, too, but Swaro Z6i is hard to beat.

 

[PAUL_MAUSER]

Just buy a Swaro and be done with it. I have Leopold and Steiner hunting scopes, too, but Swaro Z6i is hard to beat.

After much contemplating last night and this morning, I'm accepting the thought of just biting the bullet and buying once to cry once. Really considering just going with the Schmidt & Bender 3-12x42 klassic as I have a couple other rifles that when the time comes, I think i would like to stick with S&B on them also.

 

[Philip Glass]

Admittedly I'm out of the loop a bit on optics. Grew up on Leopold's like many but understand they are not the same these days and suffer from issues of holding an actual zero I am told. Have read this a bunch on another very popular hunting forum and have seen mentions of it on many others. Enough so to cause me to stop considering the VX3HD 3.5-10x40 I was looking at.

I'm trying to pick a scope for a Mauser M18 in 30-06. Most of my hunting for now at least will be in east TX for whitetail and hogs at ranges less than 200 yards or so.

Are the Zeiss Conquest models a decent pick for that task, and do they actually hold zero and not require constant re zeroing if I dial the turret? I don't necessarily want to dial but would like the option I suppose. I also like a simpler reticle and not one that's busier than what a damn seal team 6 sniper would have that seems all the rage.

If this isn't a good scope what else is recommended without going all the way to a S&B which I would like to have just not on this $600 dollar rifle. Would prefer to deal with a vendor from here that actually has something in stock as I would like to purchase in the next couple days tops.

Let me know what you all think. I'll be slower to respond this evening but will try and check in tonight and will be active all day tomorrow.

Leupold have worked for me my whole life with no issues. Go with the VX5 (if VX6 is out of budget) and you will have ye best bang for the money today. The locking dial and illuminated reticle are key for me.

 

[mdwest]

Ive had no issues with any of my leupold products.. and if I ever did, leupold has a stellar repuation for customer service and their lifetime warranty really cant be beat... a lot of my rifles wear leupold, to include my current primary deer/PG rifle (a christensen mesa 308)..

that said, after leupold, the second most common optic in my safe is Zeiss... Ive got a few of the V4 conquest scopes on a variety of rifles ranging from a 375 H&H down to a .270 winchester... I find the V4 conquests to be a really great balance between quality and price point.. you get a whole lot of scope for the money with the conquest line... clear and bright glass.. rugged build.. etc... I really like the Rapid Z reticle for rifles that I might shoot at greater distances (like my 300 PRC).. its simple enough (basic cross hairs, with hashmarks for 300, 400, 500, and 600 yards below).. and if you use the zeiss app to get your ballistic calculations, you can figure out exactly what distance each line really represents for your specific load...

I also really like Swaro (who doesnt?).. the Z3 line is affordable (you could probably pick up a 3-10x Z3 used for about what youre looking to spend).. and like Zeiss, is a whole lot of scope for the money..

 

[mdwest]

After much contemplating last night and this morning, I'm accepting the thought of just biting the bullet and buying once to cry once. Really considering just going with the Schmidt & Bender 3-12x42 klassic as I have a couple other rifles that when the time comes, I think i would like to stick with S&B on them also.

Do you have access to guidefitter?

Zeiss offers pretty solid discounts via guidefitter.. Right now you can get a V4 Conquest 3-12x44 for $559 there..

 

[Hogpatrol]

Two hundred yards, you could get away with a Sightron, Leupold or Trijicon. As others posted, turrets should not be necessary for that shot distance.

 

[cajunchefray]

After much contemplating last night and this morning, I'm accepting the thought of just biting the bullet and buying once to cry once. Really considering just going with the Schmidt & Bender 3-12x42 klassic as I have a couple other rifles that when the time comes, I think i would like to stick with S&B on them also.

S&B of course are great scopes .
A client has one on his rifle that he let me handle. He can buy anything and that’s his choice. That said the illuminated reticle is out. I think it’s only 4 years old and on for repair.

Nice to work with a client that has a gun safe in his office with everything he needs to hunt, birds, bipeds and quadrupeds.

 

[PAUL_MAUSER]

Do you have access to guidefitter?

Zeiss offers pretty solid discounts via guidefitter.. Right now you can get a V4 Conquest 3-12x44 for $559 there..

What is guidefitter? That is a pretty nice discount

 

[Major Bonkers]

Get a 'scope with an illuminated reticle; because the black reticle posts will get lost against the black of the pig's hide.

 

[mdwest]

What is guidefitter? That is a pretty nice discount

Outdoor Gear: Hunting, Fishing, Hiking, Camping | Guidefitter

Shop now for hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, grilling & outdoor lifestyle gear from top brands featuring reviews from thousands of true outdoor professionals.

www.guidefitter.com

Guidefitter is a website that hundreds of companies in the "outdoors" industry participate in.. you can find everything from hunting to fishing to hiking to mountaineering to biking, etc..etc.. there..

Several optics manufacturers like Steiner, Zeiss, Maven, Vortex, Swarovski, etc.. offer discounts through Guidefitter..

There are several ways to qualify for a guidefitter membership.. if youre a veteran, member of the military, first responder, front line healthcare worker, outdoor educator (hold an NRA instructor credential for example), work for an outdoors govt agency (fish and wildlife, forest service, etc), work as any sort of outdoors guide or trainer, work for an outdoors brand, work for any outdoors retailer, work for any conservation organization ,etc..etc.. you qualify... you just go through their application process.. and typically within a day or two youre approved and start getting pretty substantial discounts across all of their associated brands/companies..

Honestly the discounts alone IMO are worth going and taking an NRA instructor or coaches course (few hundred bucks to become an NRA shotgun "coach" for example.. or an NRA Range Safety Officer).. if you dont qualify some other way... or.. Form an "outdoors business" (pay the state $50, form an LLC, build a $50 website, and open a "business")..

I probably save anywhere from $1K-$3K a year depending on the year making purchases there...

Several gun manufacturers also participate.. Christensen, Savage, etc.. and several ammo manufacturers as well (Federal, and others)..

 

[WyoBull]

Leopold's are still a great scope, just avoid the ones with the CDS dial.

If I was to buy one tomorrow it would be a Leopold

Why avoid the CDS dial? All of my scopes are Leupold and the majority of them have the CDS dial. I absolutely love the simplicity and accuracy of the dial.
As a 45 year reloader, when I work up a load and get it dialed in, I just send them my load information, they send me the dial, have never had an issue with the dial.
I am curious as to why you comment to avoid the CDS dial?

 

[odonata]

Really considering just going with the Schmidt & Bender 3-12x42 klassic as I have a couple other rifles that when the time comes, I think i would like to stick with S&B on them also.

My S&B 3-12x42 Klassik has been trouble-free but if I had any reservations about it, it would be that it is a longer than my other scopes. On some of my rifles, it feels a bit too big. Last year a friend of mine asked me if I would cull some of the does on his farm in Mississippi so I used a Ruger No. 1A chambered in 6.5x55 with a 140gr Partition just to put some venison in the freezer. As you can see from the photo below, the S&B worked great on a 115-meter shot. But personally, I like the smaller Minox ZA5 1.5-8x32 I replaced it with.

On my 30-06's, I have a Swarovski z6 1.7-10x42, a Schmidt & Bender 1.5-8x42 Stratos & a Nikon 1.5-6x42. Because most of my shots in the southeastern woods aren't very long, I generally don't need high magnifications. In your case I might also consider the shorter illuminated S&B 1.5-6x42 Zenith. I think it can be found for lower prices than the Klassik. I like the S&B Zenith I have on my Winchester M70 Safari Express in 375 H&H. I really like my Leupolds so I will always consider a VX-3HD 2.5-8x36 if I ever get another rifle. I've heard a lot of positive reviews about that model.

The Swarovski z3 3-10x42 on my Steyr has the same magnification as the S&B Klassik but is shorter & noticeably lighter. More affordable too.

I must be lucky because I've had nothing but good luck with all of my scopes. I have three S&B, three Swarovski, two Leupold, two Meopta, a Zeiss & a Minox. No complaints.

 

[PAUL_MAUSER]

My S&B 3-12x42 Klassik has been trouble-free but if I had any reservations about it, it would be that it is a longer than my other scopes. On some of my rifles, it feels a bit too big. Last year a friend of mine asked me if I would cull some of the does on his farm in Mississippi so I used a Ruger No. 1A chambered in 6.5x55 with a 140gr Partition just to put some venison in the freezer. As you can see from the photo below, the S&B worked great on a 115-meter shot. But personally, I like the smaller Minox ZA5 1.5-8x32 I replaced it with.

View attachment 655406

On my 30-06's, I have a Swarovski z6 1.7-10x42, a Schmidt & Bender 1.5-8x42 Stratos & a Nikon 1.5-6x42. Because most of my shots in the southeastern woods aren't very long, I generally don't need high magnifications. In your case I might also consider the shorter illuminated S&B 1.5-6x42 Zenith. I think it can be found for lower prices than the Klassik. I like the S&B Zenith I have on my Winchester M70 Safari Express in 375 H&H. I really like my Leupolds so I will always consider a VX-3HD 2.5-8x36 if I ever get another rifle. I've heard a lot of positive reviews about that model.

The Swarovski z3 3-10x42 on my Steyr has the same magnification as the S&B Klassik but is shorter & noticeably lighter. More affordable too.

I must be lucky because I've had nothing but good luck with all of my scopes. I have three S&B, three Swarovski, two Leupold, two Meopta, a Zeiss & a Minox. No complaints.

Excellent information, Thank you. I did also consider the Zenith and I do see the Swaro z3 is a good bit cheaper. Now more decisions

 

[SETH RINGER]

A FEW OF OUR PRICY RIFLES ARE FITTED WITH SWAROVSKI BUT EVERYTHING ELSE GET LEUPOLD. NEVER A PROBLEM WITH EITHER.