stephencee wrote:I'm looking at some new hunting scopes and thought this.
I'm no aficionado or expect but I reckon the VX-1 is a pretty decent scope
I'm sure the VX-2 and VX-3 are good scopes, but seems like they're asking a lot for them.
e.g.
VX-1 3-9 x 40mm is $300
VX-2 3-9 x 40mm is $400
VX-3 2.5-8 x 36mm is $550 (there isn't a 3-9 x 40mm VX-3, that's the closest).
VX-1 4-12 x 40mm is $400
VX-2 4-12 x 40mm is $550
VX-3 4.5x14 x 40mm is $750
Basically double the price to go from the 1 to the 3 in an equivalent scope. Hard to justify to to me.
What do you reckon?
It is the old price versus use thing, I have one on my .243 and it is a nice scope. It probably does allow an extra minute or two at dawn and dusk when sitting and waiting and it is a joy to use. No point in worrying that you will lose the trophy of a lifetime simply because you didn't have a top notch scope- there is usually more to it that that.
The bulk of my scoped shooting just isn't that critical and I am more interested in a scope that costs as little as possible but still does the job. They need to have a lifetime warranty as well.
ATM the $150 nikko 3-10.5 nighteaters are sitting on two rifles without any issues at all and the 36 and 8-36 targetmasters are still posting as good a range scores as some of the dearer brands.
Don't get me wrong if I had unlimited money I would have Mausers and Zeiss scopes(but the VX3 is up there with the best of Europe as far as I am concerned) but for now it is Ruger, TIKKA, Omark and howa etc with NIKON and Nikko (with one each of a VX1 and VX3 pointing the way).
However, I have a few scopes that have gone from rifle to rifle and when you look at it like that the extra dollars may well be worth considering. $750 over 20 years is only $35 a year.
I guess the main point I am getting across is that don't let dollars dictate whether you go hunting or not, often the cheaper(but well proven) end of the market will do 99% of what you need to do.
It is always nice to have nice gear but never lose sight of the fact that going hunting or target shooting is the ultimate goal not simply having nice things.