Opinions on a scope

[emptybottle151]

Rifle: Remington 700SPS 30-06 22''

Shooting: bench/hunt 300yds hand reloads

Scopes in question 3-9x40mm

http://www.leupold.com/tactical/scopes/vx-r-patrol/vx-r-patrol-3-9x40mm-30mm/

http://www.leupold.com/hunting-shooting/scopes/mark-ar-riflescopes/mark-ar-mod-1-3-9x40mm/

[Fjold]

It will work fine and has a lifetime guaranty. I have a bunch of Leupolds and they've never let me done yet. I have them on both of my dangerous game rifles.

[middleofnowhere]

Looking through the Patrol, the AR and the VX-3, I couldn't see any difference with my eyes. Looked in light and shade.

Patrol has a 30mm tube while the AR has a 1" tube.

Nice scopes.

[Divernhunter]

All you need is the Leupold 3X9X40 Duplex reticle and 1" tube. If you want a Leupold 3.5X10X40 will also be good.

[NordicDave]

Middofnowhere is right that few if any can tell the difference between the Leupold 1" tube AR series and their 30mm counterparts. 30mm tubes are slightly stronger & provide greater MOA elevation adjustment and that's about it.

AR series is a bargain, as they are the same lenses and coatings as Mark 4.

Zeiss is astonishing as well. Checkout SWFA's Samples list for deals on Zeiss Conquest. I bought 2 Conquests from them last year. Both were refurbs, that frankly were really new scopes. The 3-9x40mm was $275, and the 6.5-20x50mm with target turrets was $625!

A Vietnam vet was shooting next to me at the range last month and was struggling a bit with accuracy. He had a Redfield revenge scope. He then tried my 3-9x40 Zeiss and the difference was dramatic. His groups seriously tightened up, and said he would never buy low end glass ever again.

I agreed with him, as I came to the same conclusion years earlier. Run away from $180 scopes. You truly get what you pay for, and it's especially true for glass.

-NordicDave

[ScottsBad]

I think you are in the right variable power range. I'm not sure it makes that much difference if it is a 1" tube or 30mm tube 3-9X scopes have been around a long time and the design is well known. I like long warrantees. Look through a few and pick the one you like best. And buy the best one you can afford. Some have better light gathering and that might be important early in the morning or late afternoon.

I was unable to pull the trigger on a deer many years ago because the light was low and I couldn't be sure about the spikes with a brush background. A better scope might have helped.

[titleist686]

tag

[Cowboy T]

A Vietnam vet was shooting next to me at the range last month and was struggling a bit with accuracy. He had a Redfield revenge scope. He then tried my 3-9x40 Zeiss and the difference was dramatic. His groups seriously tightened up, and said he would never buy low end glass ever again.

I agreed with him, as I came to the same conclusion years earlier. Run away from $180 scopes. You truly get what you pay for, and it's especially true for glass.

The one exception I can think of would be Redfield's Revolution line, which is basically a VX-1 at a lower price point. The VX-1 itself would be a pretty good choice, too; Optics Planet is currently running a 10% off their $199 price (brings down to $179), with free shipping.

Checked out that SWFA option for refurb'ed Zeiss scopes. Looks like the well done plum gone dry on that one. You got a good deal there.