Looking for suggestions for a lightweight (12 oz or less), basic hunting scope around 3-9x. Capped turrets, fairly simple reticle, etc.

I have a 2.5-8x36 VX3 that I may use but wondering if there's something else I should consider. Would actually like something 2-10 if there's a lightweight option out there.

https://www.amazon.com/Maven-RS-2-2...g/dp/B07GJSDY3M?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1

The Trijicon Accupoint 3-9x40 would work. The eye relief is a bit short on 9x but I've had no problems using one on a .30-06. And of course the Burris FF II 3-9x40 is a great value.

not exactly sure on the weight , but it kind of screams simple verse fulfilled II ballistic plex..

For the 3-9 portion of the question you just described a Leupold VX 2 or VX Freedom with duplex crosshairs for a reticle.

drover

Have a few 2.5-8x vari-x III, one on a .376 steyr that’s been beat around, flown 5 times through airport gorilla baggage handlers, rode on ATV’s etc and never lost zero or failed. For its intended use, I haven’t felt the need to trade it out for anything else. Definitely not a Burris FFII. Trijicon 3-9x is a good option depending on use, I have one on a .223AI that gets back door garden pest control duty.

You just described the Burris FF II 3-9x40
Read the things Mr. Barsness has to say about them in the latest Rifle Looney News. They are wonderful scopes.

Another vote for the Trijicon 3-9 x 40 Accupoint. Second focal plane. Weight 13.2 oz, some of the options have an illuminated center dot with a duplex type reticle. Dot does not need a battery. Adjustable brightness Fiber optic in daylight and a trijicon illumination in low light. My two scopes have the green dot which helps acquire an animal quickly. My 7 1/4 lb 338 RCM has one and is perfect for the type of elk hunting I do. It might be exactly what you are looking for. Europtic has them for $606 right now.

+1

The only failures I’ve had with the Leupold 2.5-8x has been with every VX3 and above, roughly 7 scopes total failed between those models for me... The vari-x III’s I own have been bulletproof.

Trijicon Accupoint’s replaced the faulty VX3’s on up for me.

This is intriguing. I haven't used maven products before but have heard good things.

Swarovski Z3 3-9x36

eBay = Swarovski Habicht A or AV 3-9x36

Consider this yet again another Vote for the Triji

Light
Tough
Simple
Fast

I have one that over 10 years old and you can still see the dot after shooting time is legally over.....I just don't understand why Trijicon is the only company I know of that uses radioactive material to light their optics....all those companies that use batteries are decades behind in the technology aspect....I tried many years ago one of those battery junk scopes was glad to get rid of it and recoup my money....

Unless your particular scope is somehow "busted", you've already got the best o' the breed. Most all of us look for upgrades but IMHO there isn't one, you're already there. (Find something else to fix. :))

Tom

I realize you're probably right, just figured it was worth exploring.

I'm looking to replace a 3-9x33 vari-x compact that I actually really like other than the fact that the power adjustment ring is very stiff. Nothing worse than fumbling with magnification when trying to get a shot off.

Don't know what the OP considers "affordable," but the Z3 3-9x36 goes for around $800. In my experience most Americans who ask about affordable scopes consider around $500 maximum, and less is better.

I would not recommend a used Habicht A or AV, as had some bad mechanical luck with them, plus the turrets aren't sealed against moisture.

In my experience the Burris FFII and Vortex are good to go. The only way they don't quite meet snowboardguy's criteria is they weigh around 13 ounces.

One more vote. Was just up in the woods, that green dot is awesome.

I love Fullfields for the bargain they are but you already have something that fits the bill.

I wouldn't remove my Vx-3 and replace with one of my Fullfields.

If you just want to try something else for newness' sake go for it. Heck we have all done it. Justifying just clouds things. I would just be surprised if you would think it worth it in the end.

What vortex?

Was about to ask the same question. Been leery of the cheaper vortex’s

THIS

Can you bolt on a throw lever?

If you don’t like the stiff power ring, you’ll probably have the same complaint with the FFII. Everyone I have/had has been pretty stiff.

What is the country of origin?

Japan

I would like to try a Maven but haven’t yet.


What I have used, and like in 3-9s, since going away from Leupold:

1) FF2 Burris, if you absolutely gotta keep costs down
2) Trijicon Huron, really a decent scope. Between a buddy and me we have 4, and the eye relief isn’t bad at all.
3) my #1 pick, Trijicon Accupoint. About the best set and forget I’ve dealt with.

I did buy 2 Credos and they seem fine too, but haven’t had them out much at all.

I know it's discontinued but what's the consensus on the 1.5-8 vortex razor HD lh?

That was a dumb typo. I meant the 3-9x40 Trijicon AccuPoint.

I live the one I have

I love the one on my Howa mini 223

Trijicon accupoint 3-9x40 green dot duplex or mildot are top of food chain pure hunters scopes going for me. I migrated from typical 1” tube leupolds to these awhile ago...but for the illuminated dot and unreal glass, not because the leupolds sh1t the bed because they didn’t

The perfect hunters scope would be that plus a cds-zl with 1/3 moa per click elevation and pass rokslide tracking and zero hold testing lol. I think we will be waiting awhile.

One thing scope guys haven’t looked at is holosun solar technology to capacitor as an illum. option. Bring that into the above formula...there’s no reason to have illuminated requiring batteries. I’m sure we will see it some day make it to scopes.

I replaced a 2.5-8x36 VX3 with a Swarovski Z3 3-9x36 and I'm very satisfied.

I have two of them, very nice scopes.

If you don’t like the stiff power ring, you’ll probably have the same complaint with the FFII. Everyone I have/had has been pretty stiff.[/quote]

That has not been my experience with FFIIs, and right now have them on around eight rifles. Everything's relative, but several are on my wife's rifles, and she would not tolerate an overly stiff magnification ring.

Leupolds can develop a VERY stiff mag-ring turn, but that can be fixed at the factory. Or at least they used to be able to do that....

That has not been my experience with FFIIs, and right now have them on around eight rifles. Everything's relative, but several are on my wife's rifles, and she would not tolerate an overly stiff magnification ring.

Leupolds can develop a VERY stiff mag-ring turn, but that can be fixed at the factory. Or at least they used to be able to do that....[/quote]

The 3 I have now and the 3/4 I’ve had are much stiffer than the Leupold, Swarovski, Nightforce, SWFA and Zeiss I’ve had.

Lucky I guess.

Interesting.

My experience with FFIIs goes back to when they were still made in the USA, which was before 2007, if I recall correctly. My experience with the other brands you mention is considerably longer.

Dunno, but maybe you did get unlucky. But did pick up another 3-9x40 FFII maybe a month ago, the box still wrapped in sealed plastic. Its magnification ring turned also turns as like the others--easily enough that I can do so with my right hand while shooting the rifle off the bench.

My experience has also been that if a variable's magnification adjustment turns really easily, the point of impact can also change easily--because the "easiness" is due to some slop in the system. But whatever.

Only have 1 FFII but my 7 year old can turn it with one hand….

As per usual, I will suggest the Burris FFII 3-9x40 with the ballistic plex reticle. Even though I don't know what distances you intend to shoot, the ballistic plex works very well (when used right) out to 500 yards with most standard cartridges. It's a very simple, yet very effective system. I have them on most of my "hunting" rifles, and trust them. Have been using them since around 1998. It does take a while to get used to the whole eyepiece turning when adjusting the power ring though. So beware of that. Also, because the whole eyepiece moves, that means you can't use a flip up scope cap, like a buttler creek on the ocular/eye piece end of the scope. That is not a huge deal, but also something that needs to be mentioned. As for the VX3, you can use it, but I don't trust them. I've had some fail (CDS models), and had to send them back to Beaverton for repair. However, if you are not twisting the turret much, it will probably be alright.




I'd be very leery of the cheaper Vortex rifle scopes. I've seen many that had to be sent back. Even a $1,500.00 Razor HD LHT that had to be sent back very recently by one of my buddies. Their tracking can be very sluggish, especially the horizontal/windage adjustments. You adjust it, and it doesn't move until you fire a couple shots. Thus affecting your zero and POI. My buddy in Oregon had to send a 2-10x40 HD back last year for the same problem. He said it mainly did it when it was "cold outside", but I saw it having issues when it was in the 70's as well. I believe that was a $6-700.00 scope, when my buddy bought it. According to what he told me. So not exactly a "cheaper" Vortex, but one I'd stay away from. He's also had issues with the first gen Viper PST as well.


I have quite a few of them and most recently put one on my girlgriends 243. She has small hands, and can turn the magnification ring/eyepiece with no issues. They are stiff, but not that difficult. If it was, she would have told me about it. Some guys complain about the short eye relief of the FFII as well, but I've used them on my 300WBY's, 338wm's and 9.3x62mm, with no issues.

They are an excellent scope, but some guys have issue with them because they can't believe such a low priced scope can work so well. The first one I bought, back in '98 cost me $175.00 and it was on a 300 win mag for years. That scope was used to test other rifles, and ended up being on 10 different rifles, before I retired it to my 1956 30-06 featherweight. That scope is still going strong and still a trusted and proven scope that I'd take and use anywhere.

You aren't wrong about cost.
Quality is one thing, cost another.
Not sure if it the fact that cost and quality are linked, or snob factor,
many folks like to spend money. If you watch people, it's hilarious.
Everyone bitches about crowds, things being expensive,
but huge amounts of folks actually love crowds and buy thing because they are
expensive(even if there are better and cheaper options)

Take a look at Sightron's S1 G2 line.

https://sightron.com/collections/s1-hunting-riflescopes

Japanese / Wyoming......... USA

Good military/veteran discount also

That Maven looks good in general, but a negative Amazon review got me to check the specs on the Maven site. Turns out the ER is pretty tight, which might not be a deal-breaker for all, but should be considered. The durability and mechanicals aren’t well established, so I’d consider one of these an “experiment”.

Count me with the Fullfield II (and E1) bunch, and definitely the Accupoint fans. Still, if I had a 2.5-8 Leupy that was working well, I probably would ride with it for now and spend the money on booze and dancing girls….

Burris 3-9X FF II for the win. I have two scope brands on my guns, Burris & Swarovski

Great point^^

Exactly the issue that I just discovered. 2.4" is a joke. No clue why they would build a scope like that

These guys are steering you in the right direction. If you want an excuse not to use the Leupold and buy a new toy, I was recently comparing a few 2-7's side by side at dusk to see which was the best in low light. I found that one of the big factors was the wire crosshair in the Leupold (Maven's wire, too, though I didn't test a Maven) not showing up nearly as well as the etched glass reticle in the Burris FF II. If I were you, I'd go with the Trijicon Accupoint 3-9 if you want to spend the money or the FF II if you'd rather get a wicked deal. I don't have a Trijicon but, based on the specs and the way the folks around here talk about them, I want one. And, they're illuminated which is a game changer for these non-young man eyes.

The original Zeiss Conquest 3-9X40 that was made by Meopta and sold under 2-3 different names is my all-time favorite scope. The Zeiss and Meopta branded scopes initially sold for around $500-$550. Cabela's carried them for a while as the Instinct scope, but when they discontinued them, they sold for around $250. I ended up with 4 of them. One with Zeiss badging, the other 3 with Cabela's. Those turn up occasionally and I'd highly recommend them.

The Burris FF-II is my 2nd favorite scope. A 3-9X40 is currently around $160 in most places. Normally I'd be skeptical of something that cheap, but IMO that is a better scope than any Leupold VX3 or lower and selling for $500. I have no experience with the high end Leupold's.

Both of those are around 13 or 15 oz. A little over your weight requirement, but worth the few ounces IMO.

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I have reached out to Leupold and plan on sending the 3-9x33 in after season is done to see if they can do something about the power ring.

Will probably re-asses after that.

Dang it! It seems like my RLN subscription has expired. Did JB mention anything about the FFII being discontinued or similarity to the Droptine?

Jason

FFII is discontinued for about a year now.

Droptine is said to be similar, separate zoom and focus rings, cheaper, but made in China.

It's been stated here previously that the Droptine is made in Philippines like the FullField II was.

I like the Burris FFII 3x9 BP, use them alot. I have had them on hard kickers, hard kickers with efficient muzzlebrakes also, and they have always held up. I sold my last one on a rifle to a local guy, I got the best price this way, it was right before elk season! I just bought another for a spare...going to put it on my little Wby ULWT 338-06, its also braked. Burris must have made a gazillion of them as I just bought mine new off Amazon (thanks for the link Pard!)

I just sent in my new Leupold 2.5x8 for an internal gasket or something thats sticking out into the FOV. My current 3.5x10 is a repair, solid as a rock now, dials right in, so maybe they are "better" after the repair? ha

Better buy them while you can. When they are out, the prices are going to go up.. Check out what the American made FFII's are selling for right now.

Thanks but Droptine is not made in China. Where did you get that?

I haven't tried an Accupoint yet just because I'm a tight azz... A buddy has one and really likes it.

My 'go-to' for the scope you're asking about is the Leupold VX-II (with or without dots). You can find them pretty regular for $200-$250. I think I have 3 or 4 of them on rifles now. Yes, the power ring on a couple are stiff, but I leave it at 4x so no big deal.

Another option to look at are the Bushnell Elite 3200 or 4200.

While discontinued, they are still available through Amazon. At the ridiculous price of $160. 4.5-14 at slightly more.

https://www.amazon.com/Burris-Fullfield-Hunting-Ballistic-Reticle/dp/B000MM2QSK?th=1

Here, I thought!

That is not correct. Droptines are made in the Philippines.

Hawke Vantage, or. Burris Droptine

https://us.hawkeoptics.com/vantage-3-9x40-3030.html

I stand corrected. And I am glad they are still made in the P.I.

Maven rs2

Seems there is a wide gap in what people define as affordable.
For myself:
Burris Fullfields\Droptines= affordable. Underpriced bargains.
Leupold Freedom = worth the price
VX-3 = more of an investment
Maven to Swarovski= an indulgence. Would have to justify to self.

Hawke Vantage is Chinese last I checked. Bought one for my 10/22 not knowing. Honestly, it has been better than it cost.
Droptine and FFII are Philippine.
FFIV are the Chinese models.

Been happy with every Burris I have owned - USA and Philippine.
Still loving my older VX3 and newer Freedom.
Was a bit disappointed in my old VX-1. Gifted to my Dad after swapping the reticle to the #1 post for his Marlin.

Affordable, reliable = Sightmark Core HX 3-9x40 Hunter - Balistic Reticle for $99.99 and 14.2 ounces

Included in Package
Neoprene scope cover
1in scope rings

Features
Rangefinding reticle designed for whitetail deer and coyote
BDC reticle works with various hunting calibers
Windage holdovers
Single-piece, 1" tube
Aircraft grade aluminum
Hard anodized finish
Ressetable, Capped turrets
Shockproof, fogproof, and waterproof
Multi-coated optics

Leupold vx2 ultralite 3-9 12 oz. They pop up from time to time and are great little units. I have one with a CDs turret...it's sweet