Scope Opinion

Elmacho

Active Member
Messages
546
Just wondering what you all think of Nikon rifle scopes.
quality, durability, clarity, how is the balistic compensator?

How do they compare to leupold?

anyone have bad experiences.?

There sure is a big price gap........


Thanks,

Mark
 
i have a nikon scope on my .300 wsm and i love them they are durable and clear, just as clear as the leupold and i hear people talk about the leupolds warranty but nikon also has a lifetime warranty and the great thing with nikon is ive never had to use it, even after my scope took a good fall on a boulder on a high country deer hunt never even lost its zero, all i ever hear about leupold is people having to send them back to be repaired.

And i dont have any experience with the BDC so i cant help ya out with that one
 
I have both Leupold & Nikon scopes & i think the Leupold clarity is better. I'm comparing the VXIII 3.5x10 vs the Monarch in bacially the same magnification. Nikon scopes are good but if i had the extra dollars it would be a Leupold for me.

7 Mag
 
I have used Nikon scopes on most of my rifle. They are
great scopes and I have never had one problem with them.

I would spend the extra $$$ on Leupold. However, that is just me. The only scope I have found, with comparable price, is Burris.

If I wanted to spend extra $$$, I would buy Swarovski. Otherwise, the Nikon does just fine IMO.
 
How about this....has anyopne every had a Nikon compromise a hunt....say by fogging up, breaking, malfunction???

do they stand up to harduse. ie backpacking, goat hunting, alaskan hunting?

Thanks and keep it coming...
 
I'll give you a vote for the Leupold. I'm sure the Nikons are good but I have always used Leupold and never had a failure. My feeling is if it ain't broke don't fix it. Some of the other brands would worry me. I liken it to buying a 80k sports car then going to discount tires for shoes. What's the point, go with the Goodyear. :)

498a6f395e505405.jpg
 
When I buy a cheap scope I buy burris. I have had a couple nikons in the past and had problems with all 3 of them. If you can afford one buy leupold.
 
I've never had a Nikon compromise a hunt as i mentioned they're good scopes but just not as good as Leupold. That doesn't mean a Nikon won't get the job done. I have a pair of Nikon Monarch binos in 10x42 & i think they're great. But if i could afford Swar. binos i would spend the cash. The thing is you can never have to good of optics, get the best you can afford.

7 Mag
 
Never ever had 1 problem with a Nikon.

Having said this, I am not a big fan of their spotters and
the binos are OK for the price. But, again, the scopes are
their best product IMO.

I see no "better value" with Leupold. In fact, I actually think Nikon is better. But its been several years since I have owned one and only compared the newer models inside a sporting goods store.
 
I own Leupold scopes (and a Zeiss). They are great; favorite is a Leupold with a bullet drop compensator.

My (other point of view) thought is buy the VERY BEST binos you can afford (my vote is Swarovski) and worry less about the very best scope; it must be reliable and durable but..... If the scope is accurate, you really do only look through it for a few (admittedly critical) moments and only after the deer is located and a decision has been made. You use those binos for HOURS.


Within the shadows, go quietly.
 
"My (other point of view) thought is buy the VERY BEST binos you can afford (my vote is Swarovski) and worry less about the very best scope; it must be reliable and durable but..... If the scope is accurate, you really do only look through it for a few (admittedly critical) moments and only after the deer is located and a decision has been made. You use those binos for HOURS."

Agree 100%
 
I think that woodruff has an excellent point. I bought a pair of binos (Cabelas) and yes they work good, a-lot better than what I had before.

My brother bought a pair that same year (don't remember the brand) but spent a-lot more money than I did. I thought to myself is it worth the price?????

When we went out in the field with our new binos I found myself wanting to trade off with him. Like mentioned above you use them a lot more than a scope.

Now as far as a scope, I do not own a Pold, but I think I will get one this year. Nikon is not bad have those to.
 
I have both Nikon and Polds.I havent had any problems with either brands.A couple of months ago,I looked through a Vortex Diamondback 4x12 with the BDC.To me ,the clarity of the glass was better on the Vortex.I bought the scope and love it.For my eyes,it was better.(ROD)
 
I think this post is a good example of how hypocritical we hunters are. Please note that I said "WE".

Elsewhere on this site, people are always moaning about America being overrun with imported crap.

On this post, a quality American product is getting second billing to a Japanese product that is MADE IN CHINA!

Leupold scopes are the most durable scopes on the market....that is their number one priority and they test for it way beyond what ANYBODY else does. They are made in the west for western style hunting.

Almost every person working at Leupold is an outdoorsman, giving them an understanding of what hunters want and need.

Their warranty is the best around, and although others will match it for length of time, factory repair turnaround at Leupold can't be touched.

They don't have a camera division, copy machine division or a "Greenpeace" agenda.

Now, before I fall off my soapbox, I have BSA scopes on ALL 4 of my varmint rifles. They are made in China and cheap. I don't believe there is better optical clarity anywhere out there.

Would I trust one if I bumped it hard?....never.

Would I have one on a rifle with recoil?....never.

Would I be confident with a trophy on the line?....never

My 300 and my '06 both sport Leuys'.
 
I have both Nikon and Leupold's on my rifles and I would go with a Leupold if the price was not an issue. Since price must be an issue, the nikon's have worked great for me and I would not hesitate to recommend them as well.
 
From what I have read, Leupold now gets lots of material and some scopes from China...so don't worry yourself too much.
 
LAST EDITED ON Mar-26-09 AT 02:38PM (MST)[p]I've had a Nikon 3X9X50 BuckMaster onto of my Win 270 for several years now. At least twice now I have had the scope fog up on me when the moment of truth presented it self. Both times I sent the scope back in and had the scope returned with in a couple weeks. The first time the scope fogged up on me I never tested it out when it was returned to verify that is was indeed fixed. When the scope fogged up on me again two years later I was sure to test it out the moment I got the scope back. Sure as $hit the scope fogged up immediately. I called Nikon up too tell them that they neglected to read me letter when I sent it in the first time and told them that it was coming back UPS paid by Nikon. They were not to happy about that but said OK. I went on to tell them if they cannot fix the problem this time to be sure to send me a new one back. About 2 weeks latter a new scope came in the mail. I believe that Nikon will try everything they can to stand behind their product. Where the scope has failed me twice now I have lost confidence in their products and have since went out and bought me a Leupold scope time will tell if it was the right thing to do.

400bull
 
I have a brand new Nikon Monarch 2.5-10X42 gloss that I will sell you for 250.00.

Adam
208-602-5439
 

Click-a-Pic ... Details & Bigger Photos
Back
Top Bottom