Rifle Scopes Sub $400-450 Low Light Hunting Scope

[celtics10]

Hey all,

My brother and dad hunt in the upper peninsula of Michigan and my dad has trouble seeing antlers on smaller deer in the brush in low light (antlered deer must have three points on one side to be legal). Most deer are seen in the first and last 30 minutes of shooting hours, and shots are never over 175 yards. He has a 3-9x40 leupold vx-1 with a duplex reticle and is looking to improve for less than 400 dollars, 450 hard max. I was thinking something 3.5-10 or 4-12 power and 40-50mm for the objective on a 1 inch tube. I know the extra power is unnecessary for hitting deer vitals inside 200 yards, but it is very helpful for counting antlers against brush. Glass is all that matters here, the reticle will be a standard duplex or duplex equivalent. Can you guys give me any pointers on scopes like this that have worked for you? For glass reference, I own or have owned a Gen i Razor HD, an Athlon cronus, a Leupold vx3, an SWFA fixed 12x, and a few others.

 

[Pointman308]

Look at either leupold or Nikon.

 

[jpspeeddemon]

If your primary goal is to see well in lowlight conditions, select a 50mm objective, it lets more light in. A 2.5-10x50mm or 56mm would be perfect for your situation. +1 for Nikon

 

[Langford]

I'd look at either a Bushnell Elite 4500 2.5-10x50 or a Zeiss Terra 4-12x50


**edit**

I'd jump on this, 15% off with their promo code.

https://www.eurooptic.com/meopro-3-...MIoNr638yc2AIVlIizCh1kiAsJEAQYASABEgI2A_D_BwE

 

[gr8fuldoug]

For light gathering you should stick with a 50mm or 56mm objective. For quality optics in your price range I would suggest either a Hawke or an Athlon.

Please give us a call to discuss what would be best for you and your special SH member pricing.

Merry Christmas

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Doug
Camera Land
720 Old Bethpage Rd
Old Bethpage NY 11804
516-217-1000
Please visit our website @ www.cameralandny.com

 

[celtics10]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I took my vx3 4.5-14x40 out in the 15 minutes of legal shooting and compared it to his 3-9x40 vx1 last night, both on 9x. As you’d guess, the vx3 has better resolution but is barely brighter at all. I like the looks of that Meopta, and I’ll shop around for a few other options too - I haven’t looked through a Nikon since I owned a monarch about three years ago.

 

[koshkin]

If you can find of the Meopta MeoPro scopes in your price range, that's your best bet. 3-9x50 would likely be a good choice, but 3-9x40 is not too shabby either.
ILya

 

[celtics10]

ILya, I was looking at the Zeiss Terra 4-12x50 and I read your review on the 3-9x42, did you ever find out if that scope was a lemon? I can get the Zeiss for 330 just for reference.

 

[CharlieNC]

For years I hunted with a factory refurbished Nikon Buckmaster 4x12x50 that had very good optics for $250. Shot a hog at night at 100yd using a small flashlight, no problem making a head shot.

 

[Langford]

That Meopta I linked above will be untouchable at that price, which will be $398.

I have a couple of the Zeiss Terra scopes on 10/22's, and they are very decent for the price...but that Meopta is on a different level.

I've heard a lot of praise on Nikon scopes, but the few I have experience with were very sub par IMO, one was a Monarch 3 6-24 that came on a rifle I bought...it was sold after 1 range trip. Another p223 3x that I picked up for a 10/22 build, and it was garbage. My dad picked up a set of Nikon binoculars a few years ago, they were around $450...both my Leupold binoculars and vortex ones which were around the same price blow the nikons out of the water. Those few experiences have made me a Nikon hater

 

[koshkin]

ILya, I was looking at the Zeiss Terra 4-12x50 and I read your review on the 3-9x42, did you ever find out if that scope was a lemon? I can get the Zeiss for 330 just for reference.

I have looked at a couple other Terra scopes since and the one I tested was not a lemon. I heard a rumor that they tweaked something in the Terra scopes more recently, but I have not had a chance to verify that. As far as I am concerned, until I get a chance dig into it a little more, Terra riflescope is a turd.

ILya
www.opticsthoughts.com

 

[koshkin]

That Meopta I linked above will be untouchable at that price, which will be $398.

I have a couple of the Zeiss Terra scopes on 10/22's, and they are very decent for the price...but that Meopta is on a different level.

I've heard a lot of praise on Nikon scopes, but the few I have experience with were very sub par IMO, one was a Monarch 3 6-24 that came on a rifle I bought...it was sold after 1 range trip. Another p223 3x that I picked up for a 10/22 build, and it was garbage. My dad picked up a set of Nikon binoculars a few years ago, they were around $450...both my Leupold binoculars and vortex ones which were around the same price blow the nikons out of the water. Those few experiences have made me a Nikon hater

With Monarch, the 2.5-10x42 is a surprisingly respectable scope and the 2-8x32 is quite nice. Other models get progressively iffier as you go up in magnification and, IMO, do not hold up well above 15x.

ILya

 

[stello1001]

If you will consider Nikon, Natchez has a Monarch 5 which is the line their line that has the ED glass. It is a 3-15×50 for line $375. And one exactly the same with a 42mm objective for like $50 less. Since it'll be used for hunting and your main goal here is light gathering and holding zero, I would recommend you get any of those, particularly the one with 50mm objective lens.

 

[celtics10]

That’s shame on the zeiss, but I’m glad I asked. At this point, I think I’ll have to get him either the Meopta or the 2.5-10x50 Nikon. I’m leaning Meopta, you guys seem to be raving about it. I appreciate all the input, thanks everyone.

 

[SSW7]

I have a Meopta MeoPro 4-12x50 BDC and it's an outstanding scope for the price. I can't say I have done much low light hunting with it but spot lighting with it, it looks really good under the light.

 

[Chris@InterstateGuns]

As others have said there are some deals out there on Meopta Meopros. The performace on those instruments are worth every penny. The color, clarity, resolution, and low light performance are outstanding. I got the chance to go to Czech to spend some time at their plant and it was really impressive. Same for the New York facility that has since moved to florida.

I know we're running $350 on the 3-9x40 z plex. Drop me a message if there is another magnification you want to take a look at.
http://www.sportoptics.com/meopta-meopro-rifle-scopes.aspx

Another option that has worked really well for us is the Sig Whiskey 3 line up. Andy York and his team are churning out some great products. Drop me a PM on pricing for that stuff too if interested.
http://www.sportoptics.com/sig-sauer-whiskey-3-rifle-scopes.aspx

 

[BCP]

At that price it's going to be either a Zeiss Conquest/Meopta Meopro or find a deal on a used Zeiss/Kahles/Swarovski. Even a Zeiss T* that is 20-30 years old can still be a phenomenal hunting scope. I would lean towards a new scope though so you have a warranty and return policy in case the old man fucks it up, doesn't like it and wants his money back or whatever.

 

[celtics10]

I’m gonna was for sure, and at this point it’s just deciding which reticle, and if the 40 or 50 is the way to go for the Meopta.

 

[Langford]

The 50 mil objective will give you a larger exit pupil diameter...basically allow you to run a higher magnification level before starting to dim out.