Rifle Scopes new to all of this and bought a Nikon Monarch

[TTAmoneypit]

recently bought 2 rifles 1 remington 700 SPS .308 and 1 remington 700 varmint .22-250--both have heavy barrels and synthetic stocks


I'm not gonna waste time mounting the scopes that came with them


anyway i bought a Nikon Monarch because a coworker talks about his and I read on the internet in a few places that they are good scopes

I got a 6-24X50 with fine cross hairs

it arrived today and damn they are really fine crosshairs--almost invisible so I'm not sure i like it--maybe I should turn around and sell this scope

this 1 is for the .22-250


I also need 1 for the .308 don't want to spend a whole lot actually thinking about an Osprey---talk me out of it


both guns will only be used for casual target shooting and maybe some groundhogs nothing real long distance--maybe if i get good enough maybe I'd like to be able to hit targets out to around 300-400 yds

I will be reloading for both these rifles--I have a Dillon 550 press and have been reloading for pistol calibers for a long time

thanks for any advice

 

[snipedogg]

Re: new to all of this and bought a Nikon Monarch

I use a Nikon and I like it. The fine crosshair will be best if your just target shooting at short distances. Mount it up and go shooting!

 

[eleaf]

Re: new to all of this and bought a Nikon Monarch

Don't get an Osprey. They are junk. I had a 3-9x and it was a POS. You'll read the mantra enough around here: Buy Once, Cry Once.

A Bushnell Elite 4200 3-12x44 ffp would be a good scope for that 22.250 methinks, or a Super Sniper 3-9x. Neither are outrageously priced and you'll have a very hard time finding something better at their respective price points.

Look up the video review by Lowlight on the Bushy. In his book it's a winner. That's all I needed to know before pulling the trigger on mine.

 

[TTAmoneypit]

Re: new to all of this and bought a Nikon Monarch

is this any good?

http://swfa.com/Falcon-Menace-5-25x56-Tactical-30mm-Riflescope-P47409.aspx

good price ??

 

[Shortdraw]

Re: new to all of this and bought a Nikon Monarch

A lot of people here are using the falcon menace. They are reasonable for the money spent. Keep your eyes on the for sale section here, lots of quality scopes at great prices. Get something with a good warranty.

 

[Goin'Hot]

Re: new to all of this and bought a Nikon Monarch

You'll also want a single stage press and weigh each powder charge individuallly.

I also use a 550 and a LnL for my pistol stuff. There is nothing fast about loading for rifles.

 

[JFComfort]

Re: new to all of this and bought a Nikon Monarch

How about a fixed 10x?

 

[k2peaker]

Re: new to all of this and bought a Nikon Monarch

"There is nothing fast about loading for rifles."

Truer words have not been written.
That said, I know many folks that use progressives for LR rifle reloading. I use a 650 as essentially a 3-stage press for rifle (Type S neck sizer #1, body die #3, bullet seating #5) with handpriming and ChargeMaster. It does speed up what can be sped up.

Other advice: lurk and read what's already been written especially all the Sticky threads. A wealth of info awaits. There are sound reasons why FFP/matching turrets are pretty standard reco's here.

 

[KillShot]

Re: new to all of this and bought a Nikon Monarch

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: eleaf</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Don't get an Osprey. They are junk. I had a 3-9x and it was a POS. You'll read the mantra enough around here: Buy Once, Cry Once.

A Bushnell Elite 4200 3-12x44 ffp would be a good scope for that 22.250 methinks, or a Super Sniper 3-9x. Neither are outrageously priced and you'll have a very hard time finding something better at their respective price points.

Look up the video review by Lowlight on the Bushy. In his book it's a winner. That's all I needed to know before pulling the trigger on mine.</div></div>

What eleaf has said here is very true...<span style="font-weight: bold">buy once, cry once</span>. Thus, the reason I dropped the coin recently for a NF NXS 5.5-22x50 NP-R2 rather than spend about half that and get a Leupy or something else. I understand not everyone can afford to drop that kinda of cash so if you can hold off for a bit and save some money, a NightForce NXS will serve you well! Not only that but they have <span style="font-style: italic">great</span> resell value if you decide to move on to something bigger/better for your needs.

 

[matt33]

Re: new to all of this and bought a Nikon Monarch

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KillShot</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: eleaf</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Don't get an Osprey. They are junk. I had a 3-9x and it was a POS. You'll read the mantra enough around here: Buy Once, Cry Once.

A Bushnell Elite 4200 3-12x44 ffp would be a good scope for that 22.250 methinks, or a Super Sniper 3-9x. Neither are outrageously priced and you'll have a very hard time finding something better at their respective price points.

Look up the video review by Lowlight on the Bushy. In his book it's a winner. That's all I needed to know before pulling the trigger on mine.</div></div>

What eleaf has said here is very true...<span style="font-weight: bold">buy once, cry once</span>. Thus, the reason I dropped the coin recently for a NF NXS 5.5-22x50 NP-R2 rather than spend about half that and get a Leupy or something else. I understand not everyone can afford to drop that kinda of cash so if you can hold off for a bit and save some money, a NightForce NXS will serve you well! Not only that but they have <span style="font-style: italic">great</span> resell value if you decide to move on to something bigger/better for your needs. </div></div>
This is true. The premium scopes cost a lot more to buy, but they tend to depreciate very little. On the other hand, a cheap scope when new is worth nearly nothing used.

I like the Nikon Monarch as a hunting scope (I have one on my Whitetail rifle), but for longer range turret twisting there are better scopes. The 1" tube of most Monarch's limits the adjustment range. Other scopes that are good and semi-affordable include Bushnell 4200 series, Weaver Grand Slam is a decent cheaper scope for a hunting rifle, and Zeiss Conquest is really nice (but again, limited adjustment range).

Reticle choice is personal, but I don't like fine crosshairs for any type of shooting I do.

 

[Snipers]

Re: new to all of this and bought a Nikon Monarch

For your purposes, I would get a low-end hunting Leupy. Once you have decided your true long-term interest in rifles, I would base my decisions from there.

You have entered a long-range, tactical enthusiasts’ website --- so be prepared for the high-end sell. The cheap scopes bandied about here are generally $400.00 and up. Most will suggest $1,500+ with the “cry once mentality”. You appear to be more of a “handgun type” getting into rifles. The rifles that you acquired would be considered “starter rifles” for half the people that visit this board.

I like Falcon scopes. However, I would advise against them in your case due to their limited warranty. You may not use the rifle enough to find out if the scope is a “dud” or not, and by the time you do, could be out of warranty. That said -after having acquired a NF, I am even more impressed with the Falcon. A NF it is not, but it’s 85% of the NF at 25% of the price – just don’t recommend them for occasional rifleman.

 

[snipedogg]

Re: new to all of this and bought a Nikon Monarch

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TCW</div><div class="ubbcode-body">-after having acquired a NF, I am even more impressed with the Falcon. A NF it is not, but it’s 85% of the NF at 25% of the price – just don’t recommend them for occasional rifleman.
</div></div>

How exactly do you come to this conclusion?

 

[Snipers]

Re: new to all of this and bought a Nikon Monarch

In response to snipedogg: Solely my subjective opinion.

I have a recently manufactured 25X Falcon and it is definitely better than when they first came out. Falcon has made improvements to the scope. Again – the scope isn’t in the same league as the NF, but it is a hell of a lot of scope for the money. Besides all the features, I find the Falcon glass to be very good. Very little distortion and the resolution is quite good (might be unique to the one I have). I have no problem seeing objects at 1000 yards with it. The biggest issues are the initial quality control and the warranty. If you can make it through the first 750 rounds, it might last a while. I have an 18X SF plane Falcon with well over 1000 rounds of 7.62 under it (I’ve had it about 1.5 years). My first 25X Falcon (early import) crapped out at 200 rounds. If money is no object and perfection required – NF all the way.

 

[KillShot]

Re: new to all of this and bought a Nikon Monarch

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TCW</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold">If you can make it through the first 750 rounds, it might last a while.</span> I have an 18X SF plane Falcon with well over 1000 rounds of 7.62 under it (I’ve had it about 1.5 years). <span style="font-weight: bold">My first 25X Falcon (early import) crapped out at 200 rounds.</span> If money is no object and perfection required – NF all the way.</div></div>

Although I've not peered through the glass of the Falcon Menace, I have a hard time believing it's anywhere near comparable to the NightForce.

This is a quote directly from <span style="font-weight: bold">NightForce Optics Website</span> :

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">“I purchased a Nightforce 5.5-22 x 56 in 2001. I used it to put 12,500 shots through two .50 BMGs.

I fired another 4000 shots with it on an AR10. Then, I mounted it on a 14.5/114mm Russian (570 gr. of powder propelling a 1000 gr. bullet at 3300 fps) and fired 970 rounds. Most scopes break within one to ten shots on the Russian…not the Nightforce.

Then I used it for another 47 rounds through a 25mm Hotchkiss, 3000 through a Barrett M90, and 6000 rounds from a Savage M250.

“After six years and all this punishment, the zero settings on the 5.5-22 have never changed and it still works perfectly.

“Nightforce is the best I have ever used.”

—Kent A. Lomont
Manufacturer and dealer of
machine guns and
destructive devices</div></div>

I doubt there are many scopes that can take such a beating and still perform as well as they did right out of the box, Falcon Menace included.

As I and a couple of others stated previously, you get what you pay for. <span style="font-weight: bold">Buy once, cry once</span>.

 

[eleaf]

Re: new to all of this and bought a Nikon Monarch

I too have a couple of high dollar, high end scopes. A NF F1 and an IOR 3.5-18x50 ffp. Both absolutely rule (I especially like the MP8 reticle on the IOR - most outstanding reticle I have seen).

I listed a couple of scopes that are not high end, but are still of very good quality. I get the impression that the Bushy 3-12x ffp may well be the best scope for the under $1000 price tag. The SS gives it a run for its money, but the extra wee bit of magnification (especially if you're PDogging at any real distance) and lit reticle push the Bushy over the edge. Both have outstanding glass (easily the best in that price range - ~$600 - though the Bushy, before being discontinued, generally ran $800 or more). I do wish, however, that they could give us better than a standard mildot reticle. I'd very much like something closer to the MLR or some other hash-based reticle.

I currently run 2 Falcon Menace 4-14x ffp scopes, one on a 17 Remington and another on a DPMS Sweet 16. Both are also very good at their respective price points (~$400). I don't think it compares to either the SS or Bushy (and certainly not to high end glass), but it is a lot of scope for the money, and should beat anything else out in that price range. You can get this in either a standard mildot or ML16 (which is a hash-based mil scale reticle); the ML16 is superior in every way I can think of (I have both).

I shoot a 20 Tac which is ballistically very similar to that 22-250 of yours, and on it I currently have the Super Sniper 3-9x ffp. When I do what I have called "The Great Scope Swap" it will have the Bushnell 3-12x44 ffp.

Do your research and buy a scope that you feel you'll be happy with for the long run. If you can avoid it, don't go the "this is good for now" route as you'll very likely be unhappy, and the resale value for lower end scopes is not great.