Expensive scopes vs. cheap ones. What's the difference?

[DrewN]

On the 1,000 yard F class target, I can see the 1" X clearer with my Nightforce at 12X than with my Burris Fullfield II at 14X

Right. No one is disputing that. But he's shooting javelina at 150 yards max. Any 3x9 that will hold a zero will work just fine. No holdover, probably no lead. Doubt he's shooting pre dawn or post dusk and even then modern cheap glass is pretty damn good compared to back in the day. Doubt he'd ever need to take it off 3x.

[ysr_racer]

On the 1,000 yard F class target, I can see the 1" X clearer with my Nightforce at 12X than with my Burris Fullfield II at 14X

I don't know what any of that means, but I'm a little turned on by it

[pennstater]

Ohh, I don't believe 'ol ysr is going there. Naw.

MLC

[THBailey]

My advice, FWIW, pertains to hunting. Go with a low end scope to start, something in the $100 range, and use the optic bucks on the best binoculars you can afford. As a young man I collected a lot of deer with a (then) $39 Bushnell 3x9 on my Mauser 98 Sporter 30-06. Once I had a critter located with the 10x50 Redfield binocs (best I could afford at the time) there was no problem getting the Bushnell crosshairs on it. Still hunt with that gun, been rebarreled with a Shilen, it now wears Leupold VX-3, and my binocs are Swarovski 10x50 SLC's.

[MJB]

Your old.....good glass helps you to see what your shooting at!


Good luck on the stink pig!

[theLBC]

depends on what you are doing, how far you are shooting and how important that first round hit is to you.

[FeuerFrei]

I know nothing about rifle shooting. What does an expensive scope get me, over a cheaper one?

Learn the terms and explanations of the features first.

https://scopesfield.com/choose-the-best-rifle-scope/

Knowing this first will enable you to make a better decision when it's time to through down your ducats.

IMO it's best to get scopes that use German/East European/Japanese made glass.

Stay away from ChiCom wet market crap for quality sake.

[TMB 1]

My favorite hunting rifle scope is 2-7 Leupold Rifleman, it is about the same as the old Leupold Vari X II scopes but has brighter sharper view. Some of the newer cheap scopes I have Nikon and Weaver made in Philippines have pretty bright sharp views but idk if they are as tough as Leupold. Have an old Bushnell ScopeChief VI that is really sharp, bright and is good in low light but it has short eye relief so not good for heavy recoiling rifles.

[Pofoo]

I remember how devastated my friend was when he drooped his Styer rifle right on the big end of his Swarski scope. Large dent, but still worked. Coincidentally, javilina hunting in Az.
All my hunting rifles have mid price 3-9 scopes, probably $200-$500 in today's money. If your Savage came with a $100 scope, I would try it at the range. Probably the most important thing would be repeatability when changing power.

[Jarhead]

Quality, you get what you paid for. The more competitive you are the better Scope, Ammo you need......then it’s reloading, triggers, stocks

[maxx03]

I have no problem paying more for good glass and scope repeatability.

[TMB 1]

Every scope I have including the cheapest and oldest will for sure hit a pig at anywhere from 0 to 300 yards. Slam the scopes on a rock or beat them with a hammer, maybe not, they have never had that test. lol

[AR22]

I have nor see the need for a 2000.00 scope..But to each his own..Most Scopes made in the Lower Range today are much better than they were just 10 or 20 years ago..I have not spent over 300.00 on a Scope in my Life..I think good mounts are very important though..I have old Weavers and Redfields that are great scopes bought used, for less than a 100.00 and they do the job just fine if I am doing my part..Some people who could not even hit the side of a Barn anyway..Think if they buy a 2000.00 Scope they will be a much better shooter..Kinda like how a new pair of Shoes as a kid made you run like Jesse Owens..

I might see the guy who is shooting in serious competition spending the big bucks if He is actually winning and getting a return on his investment..But Plinkers and Hunters can do just fine with sub 300.00 Scopes and good mounts.

I used to think Nikon was a great value..And they were, till they went and stopped selling Scopes..Now I use Vortex if I go modern....They have some really good Scopes in their lower end..

[ptmn]

For the conditions that you posted, a higher end $200 or even a $1000 scope isn't going to get you much more than the 3x9 Bushnell that you already have. Plenty of deer, boar, bear and varmints have fallen to the $40 Bushnell 3x9.

A more expensive scope is going to get you more accurate tracking while dialing in dope, better clarity at distance, better light transmission, a tactical reticle (mil dots, etc.), maybe a BDC, zero stop, tactile clicks or adjustable objectives on some, illuminated reticle, and the list goes on.

You posted that you are hunting Javelina at up to 150 yards, so all the benefits of a more expensive scope aren't going to amount to much if anything for that type of hunting, so long as your Bushnell is operating correctly.

Some will say to buy the best scope you can afford. This has its merits, since you may end up doing some long range varminting or shooting where you are dialing in dope, ranging, low light shooting later on. If you have a better scope than what you need, you won't have to purchase another scope to meet the additional requirements.

If feel that it depends on if you generally know what you want to do. If you are strictly sticking to hunting at reasonable ranges and you're not diving into the rest, save money by sticking with your 3x9 Bushnell, then put the money you save towards your hunting trip or even more importantly during these time, more ammo. The additional benefits of a more expensive scope aren't going to be fully utilized at reasonable hunting ranges of 150 yards.

I have some high end $1000+ scopes, but I also have some lower end Bushnell, Tasco and Simmons scopes that I still use on my 10-22, my FX-1 and my bolt action hunting rifles. I've had them for years and they haven't failed me for what I use them for (shooting and plinking up to 200 yards). I'm not a gear snob, so I'm perfectly happy with those scopes.

[870classic]

YSR-Racer is a trap shooter. Brad, just use a skeet gun with slugs.

Honestly... Depending on where you are hunting, Javelina hunting in Arizona requires a short range brush gun. I suggest you use with a low power scope (Or a red dot). You can generally hear them (and smell them) before you see them. Every time we hunted Javelina, we used iron sights on our Marlin 336 in 30-30 or 35 rem.


Good luck and best regards,
870classic.