What scope do you trust? Most rugged, dependable rifle scope?

[Neil Molendyk]

Trijicon, Zeiss, Leupold, can't afford the upper end spectrum, But I use my optics as optics.

 

[Alaska Luke]

I have gotten Leopolds to lose zero. I can't afford other brands. So I stetched/found bargains and got a couple Trijicons. They've had some bumps and kept zero. With multiple people telling me they don't break easily I think I'll stick with them. A Trijicon 1-4 does what I want for a close in bear scope and my 2.5-10 does everything else. Its really nice now, I don't think I've had to re sight in my scope since I mounted it.

 

[Randy Bo]

Possibly a different perspective:

Best Long Range Scope & Reticle: What The Pros Use

There have been dramatic shifts in what scopes are most popular among these top shooters over the p...

precisionrifleblog.com

 

[mdwest]

Ive got a pretty wide variety of optics in the safe.. Im not particularly brand loyal.. Im much more motivated by who makes something that "fits" the purpose of the rifle I intend on mounting the scope on... that is within the price range Im willing to spend for that particular rifle (I might put a nice euro scope on one of my higher end rifles.. but wouldnt likely mount a $1200-$2000 scope of a $350 "truck gun", etc..)...

all that said, most of the scopes I currently own are Swaro, Zeiss, or Leupold....

For many years I leaned hard toward zeiss before considering other options... but between guidefitter (where swaro offers significant discounts) and leupold VIP (discounts for public servants, veterans, etc) and the pricing I can obtain through those programs.. 9 out of 10 times these days I buy leu or swaro...

 

[Hogpatrol]

Ive got a pretty wide variety of optics in the safe.. Im not particularly brand loyal.. Im much more motivated by who makes something that "fits" the purpose of the rifle I intend on mounting the scope on... that is within the price range Im willing to spend for that particular rifle (I might put a nice euro scope on one of my higher end rifles.. but wouldnt likely mount a $1200-$2000 scope of a $350 "truck gun", etc..)...

all that said, most of the scopes I currently own are Swaro, Zeiss, or Leupold....

For many years I leaned hard toward zeiss before considering other options... but between guidefitter (where swaro offers significant discounts) and leupold VIP (discounts for public servants, veterans, etc) and the pricing I can obtain through those programs.. 9 out of 10 times these days I buy leu or swaro...

Just a heads up for vets, etc. Nightforce has a pretty good discount.

 

[jimbo1972]

I’m sure there are lots of good scopes. For myself I have used and abused Leupold scopes with only one problem and that was my fault. The one time was when I got out of a truck on an elk hunt a leaned my rifle against the wheel to relieve myself. My hunting partner started talking to me and I got in the truck a drove over my Leupold Vari x 3 scope. It was a long time ago. Of course the scope and rifle were toast. A friend convinced me to send to back to Leupold. I did with a note saying I’m not sure if you can do anything but would be grateful if they could. I got a note back apologizing they could not repair my scope but here was a new upgraded one as they no longer made my model. Don’t know if they always do this or I got lucky but I have bought more than a dozen more scopes not to mention binoculars and rangefinders. In short I would stake my life on Leupold dependability.

 

[CZDiesel]

Leupold! I’ve used both Leupold and Swarovski scopes but always come back to Leupold!
Never had one fail though I’ve unintentionally abused quite a few hunting in the Rockies…
Leupold and Swarovski is all I would consider

 

[revturbo9967]

Possibly a different perspective:

View attachment 630126

Best Long Range Scope & Reticle: What The Pros Use

There have been dramatic shifts in what scopes are most popular among these top shooters over the p...

precisionrifleblog.com

Funny how Swaro isn’t even on there. Good glass alone doesn't make a scope great

 

[samson7x]

Possibly a different perspective:

View attachment 630126

Best Long Range Scope & Reticle: What The Pros Use

There have been dramatic shifts in what scopes are most popular among these top shooters over the p...

precisionrifleblog.com

Also important to note that these are mk5 scopes, not lower tier Leupolds. And, according to the article, the last survey had Leupold near the bottom until the recent introduction of the mk5.

Sorry, I’m a leupold hater.

 

[HUNTROMANIA]

Elephant, short distance obviously

2-12x50 is not ideal for that. I used all Swarovski scopes during 30 years of hunting in different hunting scenarios.
2-12x50 is bigger and heavier, is a scope to use mostly “waiting” the animals than stalking. 2 Magnification is a little high for dangerous game, field of view is not the best. I would suggest 1,7-10x42 instead.

 

[Sheldor]

I'd say NF is the most rugged.

 

[Neophyte]

If I’m ever fortunate enough to go Elephant hunting I’ll take a .416 of some sort with open sights or a 1X power optic like a Red Dot. A 1-5 X 24 would be an excellent choice for .416 of some sort. I don’t think I’d want it for plains game unless it was a target of opportunity at close ranges.

Your 2-10 X 42 is what I’m putting on my general purpose hunting rifle. The .416 caliber is better suited for a specific purpose and dedicated to that IMHO.

My general purpose rifle, I own two, is a .338 Win Mag and a .375 Ruger. It’s what I would use on deer, black bear, brown bear, elk, African plains game and moose. The .375 can do double duty and therefore I’m willing to use a little higher powered optic but not too much higher.

I know someone with a .416 Taylor that has a 1-4 X 24 mounted on his rifle. It seems, the Trijicon Accupoint, to work very well for him. It’s a left handed Ruger .338 Win Mag that has been reborn as .416 Taylor. It has a custom barrel, iron sights, and QD scope mount.

Neck up .338 Win Mag brass and you’re good to go. It might be for sale too. Let me know and I’ll introduce you to each other. As far as I know he’s not a member here.

 

[Bandera]

Leupold, Triqicon, Ziess. I have no complaints with any of these.
Red Dot (Prism Scope) tube style, Aimpoint. I have seen these things keep working with an incredible amount of damage and abuse.

 

[PlumberEd]

My most dependable scopes are Nightforces: NXS, ATACR & SHVs. They hold zero and never need to be fiddled with when I shoot. My second choice would be something in the Trijicon lineup.

 

[Challer]

Funny how Swaro isn’t even on there. Good glass alone doesn't make a scope great

Swaro would not be on a PRS list (or a battle rifle list for that matter). The reticles are very different.

 

[Rez Exelon]

Going to be honest here, and this may be a bit of a side bar, but I notice that three pages in not a single person has mentioned US Optics. I'm not intensely familiar with them --- I've got a FDN-10x that I haven't mounted that is destined for a 7mm RM build. But I'm just curious if folks in these parts have a bad view of them, or they just don't enter this space as much as something like PRC shooting.

 

[Inline6]

Swaro would not be on a PRS list (or a battle rifle list for that matter). The reticles are very different.

It's not only that, Swarovski will not make military optics. I asked multiple times when I shot for Kahles (who is a sister company).

Swarovski does not want their optics to be used in war. Is the short answer of it.

 

[samson7x]

It's not only that, Swarovski will not make military optics. I asked multiple times when I shot for Kahles (who is a sister company).

Swarovski does not want their optics to be used in war. Is the short answer of it.

And they aren't exactly known for spot on tracking or durability either. I say this as someone who has never owned one, just done a lot of internet research which is worth a whole bunch...

 

[CZDiesel]

I worked for Swarovski for two years in sales… Swarovski will not make military scopes as was said! Buuuut they are every bit as tough as Leupold and their service is second to none! If you damage a Bino or scope while on hunt they will overnight you one! Who else does that!!!

 

[wesheltonj]

I have all Leica Scopes. One of my friends who has worked for several different German optical companies says: Rifle scope Zeiss, Binoculars Leica.