If you factored in inflation, this scope is significantly less expensive than its great-grandfather, the Vari-X of the 1960s, and much improved optically speaking. One of my older Leupolds is a 3-9x40, #88911, that has traveled back to Oregon once, when some of the internal lens coating began to flake off, but is still a pretty serviceable rifle sight at least 43 years after it was originally sold.
Will throw in for consideration a Burris Fullfield II.
When a country is well governed, poverty and a mean condition are something to be ashamed of. When a country is ill governed, riches and honors are something to be ashamed of . Confucius
watch on here for people selling the bushnell elites. i have bought both the 3200 and 4200 for less than $200. natchez had the 3200 on closeout a few years ago for $139 for the 2-7x32 and $149 for the 3-9x40 so i bought a couple of each for guns i was upgrading. the 4200 is especially nice.
Save another $50 and get the Leupold VX-2 3-9x40 with or without the CDS, if you pay attention they are popping up occasionally for that in the gun forum classifieds. I was in one of the big box stores recently and they had them for that price also. The VX-2 is a much better scope than the VX-1.
drover
223 Rem, my favorite cartridge - you can't argue with truckloads of dead PD's and gophers.
24hourcampfire.com - The site where there is a problem for every solution.
Save up another $100 and get an original Zeiss Conquest 3-9X on closeout from Euro Optics. Or a 3.5-10 Meopta for $299.00 (free shipping) from CameraLand. Mucho better. Bob
Save another $50 and get the Leupold VX-2 3-9x40 with or without the CDS, if you pay attention they are popping up occasionally for that in the gun forum classifieds. I was in one of the big box stores recently and they had them for that price also. The VX-2 is a much better scope than the VX-1.
drover
I bought five VX 2 3-9x40 matte/duplex scopes for $1,090 a couple of weeks ago and felt that they were a good buy at $218 per unit.
I was working my way (and Karen's) through college in the mid-1960s. I went to college in the morning and worked in a large gun shop from noon until ten at night (and restocked after).
The pay was $1.00 and hour and I was danged glad to have it. My neighbor was freshly graduated from college and he was making $175 a month.
At the gun shop, we discounted the Leupolds. The 3X9 was @62.99 and the 2X7 was $54.99.
DuPont powder was $2.88 a pound and I had a keg of "4350 Data Powder" (original H-4831) behind the counter that I sold for .49 cents a pound in a brown paper bag.
By any measure, today's Leupold 3X9 is one heck of a value.
Blessings,
Steve
"God Loves Each Of Us As If There Were Only One Of Us" Saint Augustine of Hippo - AD 397
VX1 at $199 is it now. The Weavers were very good at the price when they were around. Why anybody would stop making a 3-9 in the U.S. market is beyond me.
VX1 at $199 is it now. The Weavers were very good at the price when they were around. Why anybody would stop making a 3-9 in the U.S. market is beyond me.
Exactly! 3-9x40s are the most popular scope in the U.S., which is why Leupold sells their's for less than comparable scopes. Because of the volume, they can make them for less, sell them for less, and still meet their profit margin goals. While I generally prefer Leupold 2-7x33s, I'll suck it up and go with a 3-9x40 if the difference in price is significant. $218 seemed like a good price and if I don't find a use, I can always get my $$ out of them.
Me, I'd find a Elite 3-9 for around $200. Much greater chance you won't have to start a thread here telling how great your "customer service" experience was.
I have 3 scopes in front of me I bought used off of the Fire. Burris FF II w/ dots, Leupie VX 2 3-9, and a Leupie VX3 3.5-10. The VX 2 3-9 will not focus to my 62 yr old eyes. The other two are bright and clear. I may have gotten a Leupie VX 2 that needs to be serviced. The Burris is damn good for the money but the eye box is lacking compared to Leupie. I know the Conquest smokes all of these, gave 2 to my buddy for his rifles as a gift. The Burris was about $135 used.
