I have recently purchased a couple of new rifles and wanted to figure out the best budget scope. The two are guns are 6.5x55 and .308. My definition of budget scope would be under $250. I have a couple of Zeiss Conquest scopes and find them to be awesome. I'm wondering if I should just stick to the Conquest.

Leupold's Rifleman scopes are budget priced and I wouldn't hesitsate to place one on my rifle.

This one. Weaver 2x10x38 new

https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2711043/m/467102675

Although the Rifleman is a great scope, the VX1 has slightly better coating and 1/4 inch adjustments. Moreover, Leupold will change reticles, add target turrets, etc. No options with the Rifleman and they're the same price as the VX1. IMHO, I believe the VX1 is the best bang for the buck. Lou

For 250 ,you can get a VX 1 witch is better than a rifleman.
I have a 3 scopes that fit in your budget. A FF2 Burris is good.(some of the 3X9s were made in the phillipines herd bad things about them)
A Bushnell elite 3200 is prety darn good
And i have a weaver grand slam that was a little more than your budgeting but not much.
A VX 2 leupold is 300.00 and excelent, I have 2 2X7s and both are better than one should expect for 300, mabye get a VX2 for one rifle and VX 1, for the other, you would still be at the 500.00 mark !
...tj3006

I wouldn't touch a Weaver V-10 2-10x38mm. I had one and it was like looking down a tube no matter how you were positioned. Sightron SIIs and Burris Fullfield IIs are pretty good for the money.

quote:

Originally posted by AndreC:
I have recently purchased a couple of new rifles and wanted to figure out the best budget scope. The two are guns are 6.5x55 and .308. My definition of budget scope would be under $250. I have a couple of Zeiss Conquest scopes and find them to be awesome. I'm wondering if I should just stick to the Conquest.

Try the Sightron SII! I use it instead of my
Leupolds or the Zeiss. But maybe it's just the rifle I have it on?

Anyway, Sightron is a damn good scope!

Don't overlook the Browning 2X7 either. I have one NIB, but haven't mounted it yet so I can't comment. I bought it because it has a longer
mounting length than Leupold or Nikon.

http://www.swfa.com/pc-2364-375-browning-2-7x32-sports-optics-rifle-scope.aspx

1.Stick with the Conquest!
2.Burris Fullfield II.

Nikon's Pro Staff scope in 3 x 9 with there new ballistic plex reticle is available locally for $159.00....I own a lot of Weaver scopes, which are great scopes... but I'd recommend the Nikon.

There Buckmaster is available in 3 x 9 with the same reticle for like $209.00.. I like it better because of the windage and elevation knobs are a little better, and it has a fast focus eye piece...

For like $299.00 you can get the Buckmaster in 4.5 x 14 x 40mm with a side focus and the mil dot reticle or the ballistic plex... I have the Mil dot one, and am seeing a couple of the Ballstic plex ones in my future...

What I call a Budget scope tho, and if you are mounting it on a light recoiling rifle....

the Bushnell/Tasco 2.5 x 10 x 42 Varmint Scope... Target turrents and mildot reticle.. all for $59 to $69.00 thru the mail houses...

I have two... one on a Ruger 77/22 Magnum.. and the second on a Rem ADL in 223....It is a solid scope, with good glass... it isn't no Leupold ( which I have a dozen or so of..) but then it isn't sporting a Leupold price tag...

it is definitely worth its asking price!

Another vote for the Nikon Buckmaster... The optics are excellent and the eye relief generous/non critical... Have one on my '06 and have had zero issues with it... The adjustments are accurate and repeatable and it hasn't lost zero in the couple of years that I've owned it...

Ken....

Nikon +1

The Nikon Buckmasters Line can not be beat for the money hands down.

If you go w/ a Buckmasters from www.theopticzone.com you will not be sorry.

IMO the clarity, ruggedness, and light transmission can't be beat for the price they are offered at.

Don't just take it from me cal Jon at The Optic Zone and ask him if the BMs are good scopes.

Good Luck

Reloader

Doesn't anyone like Simmons, Tasco, BSA,or Barska? rroger

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:
Doesn't anyone like Simmons, Tasco, BSA,or Barska? rroger

Ahaaa.....NO! Especially if you can afford ANYTHING else!

Actually the term "budget scope" is an oxymoron!

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:
Doesn't anyone like Simmons, Tasco, BSA,or Barska? rroger

I've used several old Tasco scopes with complete satisfaction.

Since they went belly up I haven't been comfortable with them.

Burris FullField II 3-9x40. You can find them on ebay for $170 delivered. An excellent bargain for a bright scope.

About the least expensive scope I'm running these day is a VX1 4-12x...no complaints. Unlike my Leupold experience I've had a few troubles with Burris scopes over the years but I'd certainly look at them too. Truth be told I'm tempted to try the Weaver 1-3x one of these days but haven't come up with the excuse to do so.

I think that for the money, Leupolds and Zeiss Conquests are tops. But what I want to know from you AndreC is: does the Zeiss Conquest fit your definition of a budget scope? If so, where can you get them for $250? I thought I was getting a good deal, but I can't get one for anywhere near $250!

I don´t know what a Meopta costs in the state but here they are fairly priced and very good. The Conquest is probably a bit lighter in weight.

And you can´t go seriously wrong with a Leupold.

Lot of help this comment was

Got 2 Bushnell 3200 3-9x40's. I'm happy with them. On a 270 and 308.

Rich

The Nikons will work well, I have heard very good reports on the Sightrons and will try one shortly. None of these will be as good as your Zeiss Conquests however. They're not $250 though either.

quote:

Doesn't anyone like Simmons, Tasco, BSA,or Barska? rroger

Roger,

I mentioned the Tasco 2.5 x 10 varmint scope for $60.00 up there...

I also think that the Tasco World Class is still a good scope...

I have a couple of the 6 x 24, and 8 x 32 target scopes.... two are since bushnell bought the name.. both being replacements since they had gone south and were sent in for warranty work... Bushnell honored the Tasco warranty on them...

BSA's I have had experiences with, and I don't like them...

I have about 5 of the Simmons 4.5 x 14 that were being sold at Walmart with the 4 x 4 Rings a few years ago.. they are good scopes...

I also sent two scopes to Simmons that needed replacing.. one was one of those mentioned above and the other was a 3.5 x 10 that went south... I had heard that the new Simmons are supposed to be a lot better..

their customer service manager offered to replace both scopes with something else... and since I had heard that the Master's Series was suppose to be so good, they agreed to send me a 4 x 12 side focus... and a 6 x 18 side focus...

that was in April 2006... Called them in September and was told they were back ordered still... that I would have them in October...in October they told me that they would be back ordered until November, mid November they are telling me January.....

Since the same outfit owns Weaver, I am ready to call them and tell them to substitute a couple of V 16 Weavers.. which I know cost more... but how long do they expect people to wait????

No conclusions implied here.. I am just passing on the experiences so far!

A Hunting & Shooting forum moderator purchased a Sightron S1 scope from Midway tried it in rainy Georgia on a deer hunt w/o problems then I bought one and he added another one when midway had them on sale,read about a returned scope that was replaced with a new one by the company ---good warranty! I have Bushnells,Bausch & Lomb & Leupolds .Never would even consider a tasco or simmons.

Leupold VX 1 for a budget scope. I use one on a howa 270 WSM and no problems. Also another one on my daughters 243, both have proved they are reliable and do not have that fuzzy ring around the outside that mt burris fullfeild II does on high power. On lower powers I think the burris is as clear but eye relief is still not as good as the leupolds. Nikon is a good alternative too.(Prostaff) Good hunting!

If you are happy with the Conquest then you won't like those others.Hard to go back to lesser glass.IMO

Nikon monarch is the best value in moderate priced scopes IMHO.

Leupold

Still have not seen a better choice than the one I mentioned.
2 scopes,500.00 A VX2 in either 3X9 or 2X7, will run you 300.00. A VX1 in either of the same 2 power ranges will run you 200.00.
The Nikkons are good , so are the burris or Bushnell elite .
Weaver grand slam aint bad either.
But unless you find somthing that is claerly a better deal, why not suport The guys working in beaverton oregon(leupold) or Denver co.(Burris) ...tj3006

Weaver grand slam on sale!

One thing is for sure, there are a lot of good optics available now. Twenty years ago, it was Leupold only, no Nikons, no Burris(well maybe 20 years ago), no Sightron, Zeiss Conquest, Elite 4200's ,etc.

I am with Sea on this one, Nikon Pro Staff is gonna be tough to beat for the beans.

The other scope that around here many times can be had on sale for $180 or so is the Burris FF 2 in a 3-9 with the BPlex in it.

I've got two of these and they both are tough, trustworthy and repeatable.

Mark D

I checked out a Nikon Buckmaster 3 x 9 with their new BDC reticle....it has the focusing eye piece, which is a real boon to us older guys with the constantly changing eyesight...

It was $199.00 in a matte finish.. the Pro Staff was $159.00... the Buckmaster also had better elevation and windage knobs than the Pro Staff...both of which I think is well worth the extra $40.00 in this case....

I will see a couple of them sitting on top a rifle or two of mine between now and next summer...I'll just have to retire or sell a couple of other scopes I have... but none of them will be the Leupolds...

Actually on Leupold's website, I was checking out there Special Purpose Reticle... http://www.leupold.com/products/reticles_SPR.htm

That looks pretty darn cool! I didn't get a chance to call them today due to getting held up on business all day.. but I am going to call them Monday and see about if it is available conversion of a 3 x 9 VariX2....and what the cost is...

If I don't do that reticle.. I am going to get a couple converted to mil dot reticles...

the other ones I have either have a heavy duplex, a target dot reticle, or heavy german number one reticles on them...

Leupold is like finding the woman you're going to be happy spending the rest of your life with.

quote:

Originally posted by Mark Dobrenski:
The other scope that around here many times can be had on sale for $180 or so is the Burris FF 2 in a 3-9 with the BPlex in it.
Mark D

I purchased it on ebay for less than $170 last February. I looked earlier this week and you can get it for $160.

I have it on my Savage .338-06 (rebarrled by ER Shaw, 24" SS) and it's a very, very bright and clear scope. It's a steal, IMO.

I am not sure about the other Nikon Buckmaster scopes but my 4.5-14 had the tunnel effect with the black halo around the edges. Other than that it seemed to built really well. IMHO, you can't beat the VX I for the money. I can't speak to the top end scopes but I feel that I don't need anything more expensive than a VX III or Conquest; however, I don't believe that you should settle for anything less than a VX I or the like. When buying scopes over $500, I believe that you witness the law of dimenishing return in all its glory.

I would purchase a Leupole Rifleman scope. They are a real good scope that stands up to everything any other leupole scope does.

By budget price I assume you mean best value. I recently replaced my Leupold VX-1 3-9x40 with a Sightron SII 3-9x42. You get more for the money - much better optics, 1/4 click adjustments with accurate tracking, one piece tube. You also get the lifetime warranty. Yes, the Leupold will always be a good, reliable scope, but for the same performance you need to go to VX-II or higher.

I decided to try a 6X fixed. I bought a Pentax for $100. For the price I am very impressed. Se my post and responses on 24hr. capt david

Having owned and still do a whole bunch of Leupold's, I would say the VX-1 if going with them. The Burris FullField II in 3x9 x 42, or the Pentax Pioneer ballistic plex are the ones I really like for about 200 bucks. In case you dont know, the above two scopes are made by Burris, and are identical in every feature, etc. I have the Pioneer and love it.

I bought 2 Burris Fullfield ll's they have good clarity but the edges are a little blurry. Or is it the reason I found them on sale at such a good price?