Scope Review: OL Ranks the Best Rifle Scopes of 2011
Bushnell and Burris took home top honors from our Optics Test.
Many of the optics in this year’s test bear familiar names, like Bushnell’s Elite, and Leupold’s Golden Ring. In order to qualify for our test, we require an optic to be substantially new—cosmetic alterations of existing products don’t make the cut—but original products are the exception this year. With that said, we still found some great new features added to the old stand-bys. Here's a breakdown of the scopes we tested ranked from strongest to weakest.
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Comments (6)
A better article to write - I believe is to wade through all the different model lines manufactures have. Have you ever been to Leupold or Nikon's sites? they have so many different lines it's confusing. I went with Zeiss they have a hunters' line - Conquest and competition line - victory it was straight forward. Seeing cut rate lines and trying to determine what one line is missing vs. another is to much effort.
Another good measurement would be which scopes can handle the recoil of a 30/06 or 7mm mag, which then can handle recoil of a 300 mag, and so on this would be helpful information.
My mistake. I'm a newbie. I thought the posts were for whatever you were viewing. My previous comment was regarding the "Bushnell Elite Tactical 3 - 12x44"
Commenting on previous posts: This scope has a low power setting of 3x which is adequate for close-in shooting for anything that isn't running and a 12x setting if you have the time to perform precision shooting. It is a 30mm main tube (not a 50mm) which does add weight but it also adds durability if dropped since the tube is thicker. I've got the 50mm objective version of this scope (this one a 44mm objective). The larger objectives help in lower light situations but most people couldn't tell the difference in a 44mm and a 50mm objective. Contrary to popular belief, the 30mm main tube does not contribute to low light visibility. It should function to increase elevation adjustments and durability. If you don't need increased elevation and you're not hard on equipment then the one inch tubes are the way to go. They are cheaper, lighter and you have more choices. I've got my scope mounted on a 20 inch Remington 700. I used low scope mounts but I used a picatinny rail on my rifle. This keeps the scope low and close to the bore.
Whats with all the 50mm scopes? Anybody who puts any kind of miles on during the season usually goes for a happy medium in weight and clarity. At least I do the 50mm are to heavy and need to be mounted on high or extra high rings for the bell to clear the barrel. Which raises the optic to high, but to each his own, I still like my leupold 3.5-10x40.
Agreed. You have to pay extra in cash, size, and weight for extra magnification that's not even useful in most hunting situations here in NY. I'll choose a nice, light 3-9 or even 2-7 any day.
Sadly I think Outdoor Life is missing something in ranking these scopes "the best" of 2011. Perhaps this review should be called "best varmint scopes of 2011." Since most deer are still taken under 100 yards, only one of the twelve scopes mentioned seems appropriate for actually hunting big game. I have spent years hunting mule deer with nothing over 6x and never found myself wanting more magnification.
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Sadly I think Outdoor Life is missing something in ranking these scopes "the best" of 2011. Perhaps this review should be called "best varmint scopes of 2011." Since most deer are still taken under 100 yards, only one of the twelve scopes mentioned seems appropriate for actually hunting big game. I have spent years hunting mule deer with nothing over 6x and never found myself wanting more magnification.
Agreed. You have to pay extra in cash, size, and weight for extra magnification that's not even useful in most hunting situations here in NY. I'll choose a nice, light 3-9 or even 2-7 any day.
Commenting on previous posts: This scope has a low power setting of 3x which is adequate for close-in shooting for anything that isn't running and a 12x setting if you have the time to perform precision shooting. It is a 30mm main tube (not a 50mm) which does add weight but it also adds durability if dropped since the tube is thicker. I've got the 50mm objective version of this scope (this one a 44mm objective). The larger objectives help in lower light situations but most people couldn't tell the difference in a 44mm and a 50mm objective. Contrary to popular belief, the 30mm main tube does not contribute to low light visibility. It should function to increase elevation adjustments and durability. If you don't need increased elevation and you're not hard on equipment then the one inch tubes are the way to go. They are cheaper, lighter and you have more choices. I've got my scope mounted on a 20 inch Remington 700. I used low scope mounts but I used a picatinny rail on my rifle. This keeps the scope low and close to the bore.
Whats with all the 50mm scopes? Anybody who puts any kind of miles on during the season usually goes for a happy medium in weight and clarity. At least I do the 50mm are to heavy and need to be mounted on high or extra high rings for the bell to clear the barrel. Which raises the optic to high, but to each his own, I still like my leupold 3.5-10x40.
My mistake. I'm a newbie. I thought the posts were for whatever you were viewing. My previous comment was regarding the "Bushnell Elite Tactical 3 - 12x44"
A better article to write - I believe is to wade through all the different model lines manufactures have. Have you ever been to Leupold or Nikon's sites? they have so many different lines it's confusing. I went with Zeiss they have a hunters' line - Conquest and competition line - victory it was straight forward. Seeing cut rate lines and trying to determine what one line is missing vs. another is to much effort.
Another good measurement would be which scopes can handle the recoil of a 30/06 or 7mm mag, which then can handle recoil of a 300 mag, and so on this would be helpful information.
Post a Comment (200 characters or less)