If interested on our previous discussions.

I purchased the Nikon Monarch 1x4 20mm African scope. Only ~$280, so I thought I could find other uses if it wasn't my "elephant" scope.

Pros - It has a very broad German reticule with fine inner wires, so it likely a good compromise. It appears to be a true 1X and at the lowest setting with both eyes open, one only sees the ring of the scope obscuring the view. The eye relief is very forgiving of eye distance at 1x but tightens up at 4X to the advertised 4". The field of view is huge. I cannot image anything but a red dot being perhaps faster. With my eyes, it would be considerably faster then the irons.

Con - Although it has only a has a 20X objective. The rear bell is 41mm. I understand the optical reasoning and compromises, but I had to use med rings (included Ruger #4 and 5) to get good clearance of the bolt handle. It is not as trim as my original Leupold 2.5x choice and throws the balance a bit, as would any other scope.

I will report back if it doesn't hold up to load development and practice.

Thank you metalman! I've been looking at that scope for my Little 16 ga/8x57JR cape gun.

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Been looking for a new scope for the Lott. That might be the ticket. What's the eye relief?

Listed as a constant 4". It is very forgiving at 1X.

metalman 29,
I used the Nikon scope on a Ruger .375 B/A rifle this past August in Africa and it performed very well, in my opinion. Eye relief is adequate and for the money I believe it's a great buy. As a testament, mine is still on the rifle and I don't intend to take it off!
Brittman

There are two african's by nikon a 1" & a 30mm that is 800 bucks qnr a very fine scope for.the money. I do not know any thing about the 1" scope. If it is half the acope of the 30mm its a.steal.

JD

quote:

Originally posted by J D:
There are two african's by nikon a 1" & a 30mm that is 800 bucks qnr a very fine scope for.the money. I do not know any thing about the 1" scope. If it is half the acope of the 30mm its a.steal.

JD

http://swfa.com/Nikon-11-4x24-...flescope-P42306.aspx

This is the one I'd buy! It also comes with a green dot, and is the color I'd prefer! The cpmbination of German Post and cross wire with a lighted apex is a perfect reticle for big game hunting, and the 30mm tube is a plus as well.

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The new VX 6 (1X6X24) has twice the field of view at the low end as the Nikon (223' vs 108'). About $50 more and 6X on the top end. Both scopes have illuminated German #4's.

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:

quote:

Originally posted by J D:
There are two african's by nikon a 1" & a 30mm that is 800 bucks qnr a very fine scope for.the money. I do not know any thing about the 1" scope. If it is half the acope of the 30mm its a.steal.

JD

http://swfa.com/Nikon-11-4x24-...flescope-P42306.aspx

This is the one I'd buy! It also comes with a green dot, and is the color I'd prefer! The cpmbination of German Post and cross wire with a lighted apex is a perfect reticle for big game hunting, and the 30mm tube is a plus as well.

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Some may or may not know, but I run a serious torture chamber here for rifles, scopes, and most anything related to shooting big bores. If it breaks, I can break it. Since 2006 I have had continuous issues with scopes. There is hardly anything that can match the little Leupolds for size, eye relief, and field of view. Most popular here was the 1.5X5 VX3 and older Vari X III, followed by the newer VX2 1X4. I had one 2x Fixed small scope, but I found it short on field of view for what I wanted. During 1 18 month period from 2006 I sent back 13 different Leupold scopes for repair. Serious talks with Leupold at that time and they wanted me to go to the 30mm VX7. I declined because of the extra size, weight of said scope. They insisted I try, I did, and did not like the size, sent it back to them.

I searched hi and lo, bought one of these little Nikon African 1X4--the $280 version. Along with a small 1X3 Weaver, and a 1X4 Trijicon with the German Cross. All of which were close to the size, weight, field of view and eye relief of the Leupolds, but none of which were better than. The little Weaver was equal or even less in size, but come up short on clarity, and field of view, so it was assigned light duty on other rifles. Trijicon was, and is good, little longer, little bigger, don't care much for the German cross, but getting used to it. Good eye relief and good field of view up close, 10yds and less. I have used it a good bit on several of my hard on scope rifles, have not broke it yet, and that really says a lot.

The little Nikon! Did not really like it much at first. The adjustment knobs were big, eye piece big, little longer than the leupold, and at first I really did not care for it. Put it on one of my 458 B&Ms and shot several 100 rounds with it, maybe 300 + over a few months time.

I found there was some things I was really beginning to like. Loved the rear focus that was very easy to use. Clarity, I could actually see better with the Nikon than my Leupolds. Those adjustment knobs, while bigger than I was used to, they worked proper, positive clicks, and the scope moved mechanically correct!

I sent 4 Leupolds back last week. 2 1X4 VX2s, 1 1.5X5 VX3, and the only 2X fixed I had. About a month ago I purchased a second Nikon 1X4 African, and a 2X8 Monarch, and a Slug Master something or other. Currently I am working hard to bust them, but have not been successful as of yet! The one I had on the 458 B&M I have placed on one of the 500 MDMs, it has had about 150 rounds through it now of 500 MDM and 300+ of 458. Not broke yet? So we will see. I have to say, I am really beginning to like these little scopes. You may find you like them as well if you can get over or past some of the things that are a little different from the leupolds. I have been a Leupold fanatic for many years, but damn, enough is enough! These little Nikons just might be the ticket for some of us! For me, right now, for sure. We will see.

Michael