Nikon Buckmaster v Prostaff

[BadMatt]

Hi Folks, can anyone tell me the difference between a Buckmaster and a Prostaff? A number of really good deals on Buckmaster's are appearing. It looks like the Buckmaster got discontinued but it used to be the mid-level line for Nikon. Nikon's literature says that the Buckmaster's light transfer was less than the lower level Prostaff. Thanks for your help!

[lewdogg21]

BM - Previously the nikon lineup went like this

protaff< buckmaster < monarch.

When the prostaff 5 came out they were in the $400 range which I couldn't figure out how a sub $200 scope came out with a new model and doubled it's price. I personally have not looked through a prostaff 5 but couldn't understand why I would pay that much when I could get a VX-3 or monarch for that same price. I found the buckmaster to be on par with a VX-2 and the prostaff was like a VX-I. This is my personal eye test. I would definitely say that the prostaffs were not brighten than the buckmaster IMO.

FWIW I have had a couple previous generation prostaffs and current buckmasters. The closeout pricing you are seeing on buckmasters can be screaming deals. If I was in your position I'd snatch up a buckmaster over the prostaff 5.


Of course this is all depending on what you will use the scope for. I hunt and only bench shoot for hunting.

[Coyotegunner]

I own as many as 15 Nikon scopes,maybe more.At least 4 of the Buckmasters.
The marketing strategy,I believe is to get rid of the mid line scope(Buckmaster).
lewdogg is right in his statements.
I have been told that the new Prostaff has new lense coatings,bringing it up to par with the Buckmaster.Personally,I can not vouch for the difference if any.I have new and old Prostaffs.The older Prostaffs were not very high quality,while the Buckmasters,I would rate like lew did.The new Prostaffs are pretty decent.
In looking recently I see the new Monarchs have upgraded glass as well.I purchased 4 of the older Monarchs(2.5-x50)and (4-16x40) recently at Basspro for $299 plus tax.While the new ones were $469 and up.I love these scopes and that was a bargain for me.
The little 3-9 Prostaff dedicated 22Lr scope is unbeatable in it's price range as well.They are usually about $150,but recently Cabelas had free shipping and the little buggers were on sale at $119.Three of them came the other day.For any rimfire,I like them.
Any of the Buckmasters or older Monarchs are a great buy right now.

Another to watch for is the Zeiss Conquest 3-9s at sub $400.The new ones with new glass are about twice that.The old ones,I rate up with Monarchs or Leupold VX3s.

[covingtonhouse]

I shoot the nikon 3-9x40 prostaff rimfires on a couple of semi auto plinkers, and run the Buckmaster 6-18x40's on my rimfire target rifles. The Buckmasters are nicer scopes of the two definately. But for the money, cant beat the prostaffs.

[dfletcher]

Just FYI, SWFA is closing out Monarch 4 to 16X side focus for $299.00.

[BadMatt]

Thanks everyone. It is really good to have these comments. I have looked through scopes at Turner's, and in the store, they all seem the same. I have a Prostaff on my hunting rifle, and I've hit everything I have shot at, so no complaints there. I am thinking of putting a Buckmaster on my AR which I want to use as a coyote gun. I have waited for the new Primary Arms 1-6 scope but its release keeps getting delayed. So it looks like I will be giving the Buckmaster a shot.

[73Jim]

If you are interested in the Buckmasters check these out:

http://www.natchezss.com/Optics.cfm?contentID=productDetail&brand=NK&prodID=NK6421&prodTitle=Nikon%20Buckmasters%203-9x40%20Riflescope%20BDC%20Reticle%20Matte

http://www.natchezss.com/Optics.cfm?contentID=productDetail&brand=NK&prodID=NK6421BR&prodTitle=Nikon%20Refurbished%203-9x40%20Buckmasters%20Reiflescope%20BDC%20Reticle%20Matte

[samrob77]

I have the prostaff and buckmaster and prefer the BM, I really like the side focus.
When you do make your choice, I hope you don't purchase it at turners. They lost my business after their CTD tactics last year.

[supermario]

Sorry to thread jack it but i have relative question.

How do the Nikon 3-9x40 Coyote Series compare to the Buckmaster and others. They are in the $200's and have cool BDC reticle

Anybody use these scopes? Are the durable?

http://www.opticsplanet.com/nikon-coyote-special-3-9x40-matte-bdc-predator-mixeb.html

[sholling]

Thanks everyone. It is really good to have these comments. I have looked through scopes at Turner's, and in the store, they all seem the same.

Speaking in general terms, optical differences usually boil down to light transmission and resolution, often called "brightness and clearity". The fact is that almost every scope is bright at high noon or in a gun shop. Where you see a difference is at dusk where a couple of percentage points of more light might be the difference between being able to see well enough to responsibly take a shot or not.

Resolution is harder to explain. While the physics are completely different you could liken the effect to the difference in watching an old fashioned standard definition TV and a 1080P Blu-Ray. The deer looks good on an SD TV but with Blu-Ray you can count the deer's hairs and colors may look a lot better. In other words, when comparing two scopes side by side at equal magnification a better scope will often allow you to make out a bit finer detail than a lower-end scope with the same magnification. This is usually most pronounced at maximum magnification where the view through a cheap scope can look washed out.

Besides optical differences you'll also find mechanical differences such as ruggedness and repeatability.

Anyway getting back to Prostaff, I'm not sure that I believe Nikon's light transmission claims. I'm not calling them liars, I'm just saying that I'm not convinced that an economy level scope now rivals the best scopes on the market.