| Author |
Message |
    
Horness Spencer (Horness)
| | Posted on Sunday, July 07, 2002 - 03:30 pm: | 
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Hi All
Are Leupold scopes as expensive in the US as they are in the UK?
I'm after a 3-9x50 scope, and would love to get a Leupold (as I hear they are pretty good scopes), however I can expect to pay in excess of £300 for one!
Any opinions / advice appreciated, either on the board, or email me - email@horness.com
Thanks
Horness |
Eric N (Grnrvr)
| | Posted on Sunday, July 07, 2002 - 08:26 pm: |
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Depends on what the exact kind/model you are looking for is. Check out the hunting / optics section at www.cabelas.com as they have a pretty good selection of them. |
kyle
| | Posted on Sunday, July 07, 2002 - 08:28 pm: |
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A 3-9 shouldnt be that high here.... You might have to shop around a little..
Kyle |
Kristian
| | Posted on Sunday, July 07, 2002 - 10:32 pm: |
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Horness- The Leupold's have excellent optics, so expect to pay a bit more than for a bushnell or something. The only thing I don't like about my 3-9x50, is the elevation and windage adjustments don't have the knobs for turning by hand. Kinda a pain in the ass, sometimes. |
Leslie N. Bright (Leslie)
| | Posted on Sunday, July 07, 2002 - 10:45 pm: |
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I have a 3.5-10x40mm VariX-III Loopy, I really like it, I just wished I had spluged for the mil-dots, though I can have them added.... wouldn't bother, though, really, I'll just swap it for a LR version with the mils....
The big thing that controls Loopy's price is both the family of scope, and the adjustments. A Vari-X II isn't too bad on the wallet, but a Vari-X III is going to cost more. A plain Vari-X III still isn't too dear, but if you get one with target knobs, like my Tactical model, then the price will go up even more. Step up to the Vari-X III LR scopes, and the price goes way up. Then, add mil-dots to any of the scopes, and you're spending a good chunk more.
FWIW, I would suggest sticking with a 40mm scope instead of going with a 50mm scope. Your eye's pupil size fits the 50mm well, you're not going to take advantage of any more light-gathering ability. The 50mm might have a bit more adjustment range, if you're going from taking close-range shots to really long distance shots, but probably not enough to merit the additional cost, IMHO.
If you could tell me what rifle and caliber this is for, what your use will be, I might be able to suggest some things to think about when picking a scope.... FWIW....
Oh, a pretty decent idea on what you can get from a reputable dealer here in the states, look at http://www.premierreticles.com/
Mi dos centavos....
-L |
Horness Spencer (Horness)
| | Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 03:55 am: |
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Thanks for the help.
The scope (although I may order two) is for use on a .17 rimfire (and maybe a .243), being used for vermin control, mainly at dusk/night (hence the 50mm preference).
I know the ranges etc. are not up to those shot by some of you guys & gals (shooting flea's off a rock at 300 yards), however the ranges will be varying from 50 yards, up to 250 yards, sometimes in the same night.
The rifles are already chosen, it's just the scope I need to find now.
Thanks
Horness |
Kingfish (Kingfish)
| | Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 08:44 am: |
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Why pay more for the Leupold? Get a Redfield. If you will be using it on pests, look into the Shepard scopes. More pricey, but already graduated for your caliber. |
Horness Spencer (Horness)
| | Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 10:54 am: |
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Just looking for suggestions and experiences. Leupold were recommended, however they seemed really expensive. Just wondered what other people were using.
I'll have a look at the Redfield and Shepard makes.
Horness |
John
| | Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 01:43 pm: |
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Leopold does have a lifetime warrenty that they do honor as I have used it several times, no cost to you. I use several of the VariX-III 4-20 power with the variable objective 50 m/m lenses mounted on several guns that I shoot out to 600 yards for ground hogs with consistancy. Its a scope you can count on if you want accuracy and repetitive groupings. Quality is always expensive but worth it to the serious shooter. If you are using a store bought gun with factory loads then you may be ok with lessor quality scopes as the accuracy is no better than the grouping your gun shoots. |
Bill Bettridge (Billb)
| | Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 03:40 pm: |
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This won't help if you're dead set on variable - but there are still a bunch of Leupold M series fixed powers sitting around in shops unsold. Generally they can be had for relatively little - M8 and M12 are commonly found. I've picked up the M12's for as little as US$175 new. For durability, it can't be beat.
If you can swing it - do stick the Leupold or one of the better brands (Swarovski, Schmidt, Zeiss) - a cheap scope is about useless - might as well stick with iron sights. IMO - the Leupolds are right up there with the aformentioned names for generally much less.
Bill |
John Lee
| | Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 08:14 pm: |
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Leupold are not expensive. Generally speaking, Leupolds are sort of the "most bang for the buck" type of telescopes. The conspicuous exception to this is the Mark IV line of Leupold law enforcement and military telescopes like the M3 and the M1. These are top quality optics, every bit the equal of the finer German makes.
If you want a high-quality riflescope, my favorite is Schmidt und Bender GmbH. If you're shooting a .17 and .243 at dusk, you will need two features that most Leupolds lack. You will need a telescope with high luminosity, and the SuB's have the highest luminosity and twilight factors around. You will also need adjustable parallax for shooting such small targets are close range. Some Leupolds have adjustable parallax but most do not. If you're feeling spendy, Schmidt und Bender also offers illuminated reticles. |
Leslie N. Bright (Leslie)
| | Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 10:16 pm: |
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Given your use, mil dots would be a waste, and the extra cost for target knobs would probably be a bit over the top at the shorter ranges. I agree with Bill, you might want to look at the non-variable scopes, you'll save money, and still get a good scope. I also agree with Bill and John's alternate brands....
Also, I side with John on the price, too... Go look at US Optics scopes, and you'll think that Loopys are cheap.  http://www.usoptics.com/
Good luck,
-L |
Bill Bettridge (Billb)
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 09, 2002 - 11:10 am: |
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Following up on John Lee's statement here - the M12 fixed power Leupold does have adjustable parallax and is a 40mm objective so low light is pretty good (not saying there isn't better, but in my experience is very good for a high power scope).
The M8 on the other hand does not have the same objective size or adjustable parallex.
Bill |
John Lee
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 09, 2002 - 11:32 am: |
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I don't know what the Leupold M12 is, but most of the fixed power target telescopes like the Unertl or Leupold M1 are 10x42 or thereabouts and thus have only a 4.2mm exit pupil diameter. The human pupil can open to a full 7mm in total darkness and a telescope that does not have a 7mm exit pupil (calculated by dividing the objective lens size by the magnification) generally does not have a high luminosity. The 7mm exit pupil is why one commonly sees such telescopes as 6x42 or 8x56.
The general size of the lenses also affects luminosity. Schmidt & Bender offers a 34mm main tube for high-luminosity applications. Most Leupolds are 1" tube.
There is certainly more to fine optics than luminosity but if you want a telescope for dedicated shooting at dusk, you want a very large objective lens, like 56mm and no greater power than 8x (or a variable magnification that can be set to 8x or less by the user) for that magic 7mm exit pupil. You can add even greater luminosity by using a top quality telescope with top quality lenses. An 8x56 Leupold and 8x56 Carl Zeiss do not have the same luminosity, though they share the same sized lenses.
http://www.expeditionexchange.com/shooting/SuB.jpg
Schmidt & Bender. Accept no substitutes. |
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