Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Nikon African 1-4x20 Vs. VX-3 1.5-5x20

I've narrowed down my choices for scoping my Ruger #1 in 7x57.
The rifle has a 22" barrel and a shorter scope fits a feals a bit better.
The Nikon Monarch is $200 cheaper with the #4 reticle also has good eye relief.

Is the Leupold $200 better ?

Is Leupold's reputation, their new Diamond Coat 2 Coatings and their other features like lots of eye box worth it to you on that rifle ? E

Another question on the same general topic. how well do straight 1" tube scopes gather light compared to a 30mm straight-tube scope, or to a 32mm bell of similar magnification?

Tube diameter generally doesn't anything to do with it. Just compare the areas of the objective lenses in question.

I've played with the 30mm's. There extra bulk and weight aren't worth the return in performance in my own hunting situations.

I'm needing light and compact....

I know the Leupold is the better scope. But the Nikon appears to be an affordable alternative.

Heck for the extra money left over I could buy a 10/22.

I use and older 1x4x20 Monarch UCC and am very happy with it. It is right there with my Leupold VX-II 1x4x20. I can't see where I'd ever need anymore quality than these, it would be money wasted for me.

I also shoot a 4200 Elite 1.25x4 ILL. Dot 30mm and it is way to heavy and would be my last choice for a big game scope. It is a one job scope for calling cats out here on the Olympic Penn., rainy, dark with heavy overstory.

erich

erich

a straight 30 mm tube scope should have a 24mm objective vs 20mm on a 1" but some 30 mm tubes have 1" lenses in them and not always the cheapest scopes ie. Luepold European 30 mm scopes

I have a Leupold 2-7x33 with a heavy duplex on my Ruger #1 RSI in 7x57. It seems like a perfect match of size, quality, magnification, and lens coatings for my purposes, just as it does on the short action 77 RSIs.

Jeff

.....Chrome! In case you`re interested, I do have two 1.5-5x20 VX111s (not the older Vari X) German #4s in matte (not the new VX3) and selling one which were both purchased new at the same time for $429 ea about 18 months ago. Great scope, lite rings marks and in excellent condition.

$365 OBO including shipping to the lower 48!

There happens to a short article on the Nikon African 1x4 series in the most recent NRA American Hunter magazine. According to the article, Nikon contacted several PH's and asked for input. Interestingly, one of the most common requests was a scope that was long enough to bridge the ejection port on long magnums. A quick check of this and the Nikon African 1x4 is roughly an inch longer than a similar Leupold. Also surprising was a desire to have an illuminated reticle.

Those who spec'd the ill ret likely guide for leopard.

I bought a 4200 Elite 1.25 > 4 for my 350 Remington Magnum, What a beautiful scope, unfortunately after about 20 rounds it developed enough parallax to make it useless. Recoil can do funny (read bad) things to a scope. I am a bit bitter, not a cheap scope and now it's junk.

Send it back to Bushnell. That's why they have warrenties. A Leupold 1x4x20 took a dump on my 35 Whelen 5 shots and the insides just rattled Leupold fixed it. Bushnell should do the same.

I have an older Vari-x lll 1.5-5 and two Nixon African 1-4s. I've shot them side by side in good light a fair amount and can't tell any difference optically. I haven't compared them in poor light. As has been said, the Nikon has a longer tube - that and the Euro eyepiece make it a noticeably larger scope. The Nikon has 1/2" clicks rather than 1/4", if that matters. I do like the straight tube scopes on No. 1s - it makes scope positioning easier as some have difficulty getting the scope back far enough w/out using offset rings.

I'd expect the new 1.5-5s to be better optically but I'd probably buy another Nikon for the price difference - I really like that scope.