I am either goin to buy a Burris Black diamond 30mm , In 8-32x50, or a Leupold VX III 8.5-25x50. I can get a way better deal on the burris. My Question is would I be losing quality by going with the burris, or is it just a good as the leupold. Can anyone tell me if the glass is comparble, or if you have had the pleasure (or displeasure) of either of these choices. I value everyones opinion, buying a several hundred dollar scope Is a big buy for me, please be brutally honest. Thank You very much

I wouldn't have too much use for either scope as I have never seen real life conditions in which that much power could be used due to mirage or other limitations, and I don't use scopes with objectives as large as 50mm, so I'll take no position as to between the two which might be the better optical gunsight.

Those issues aside, judge the scopes on economics alone. If you should decide that you don't care for the scope for some reason, or decide to sell the gun for which it was purchased, or have any other reason to need to resell the scope, which of the two will have cost you the least money after all is said and done? I suspect that, despite the lower initial cost of the Burris, the much stronger resale value of the Leupold will make it the less expensive scope.

Regardless of what people think of the scopes themselves, it seems as if virtually everyone here on AR agrees that if you should have any technical problem arise, the Leupold customer service is significantly superior to that of Burris.

I think you should be able to save some money and get a more practical scope by getting one in a smaller size. I think they are probably easier to resell than 50mms also.

Leupold, first, last and always.....if your Burris develops a defect and you have to send it back, don't plan on hunting for a long time....not so with Leupold....

I have to comment on this one. I have always owned leupold. Decided to try a Burris, exact same model you're talking abt. Hated it from the moment it arrived. Sold it, got Leupold 8.5-25x50. Love it like all my other Leups. Buddy just bought the same Burris, after looking thru my Leup, he's selling it. Mark

I prefer Burris products but admit the black diamond line has too little adjustment range. I still prefer them to a leupy though.

A friend bought a Black Diamond three years ago. It was impossible to get the reticle to focus. I sent it to Burris, and they returned it stating that it was OK. That would never happen with Leupold!

Once upon a time Burris had a good reputation. But not for a long time. Buy the leupold scope.

The 8.5-20 would make a good varmint/target scope, and of the two, I would choose the leupold. The VXIII would be the line to go with. Burris doesn't seem to be as bright in the low light as the leupold. And as you will hear often, Leupold tends to have the best customer service of all the mfgs.

John