I'm sure some have already seen this (they've been on sale for about a week), but Cabelas is having a nice sale on their Euro Instinct 3-9x40 scopes - duplex or ext reticles for $250 each.

I've read good things about the Meopro (which is what I understand these to be) and decided to try one out.

Cabelas link

This is a screaming deal, I now own a few of them. These are indeed Meopro, and are essentially the original Zeiss Conquest as Meopta made those for Zeiss.

Great deal I love my Meopta fixed 6

How are you supposed to put a flip up lens cover over that ugly azz fast focus ring ?

Don't use ugly azz flip up lense covers. The scope comes with much better lense covers anyway.

I have an older Zeiss Conquest and bought one of these with the ext reticles when they were priced at $279 about a year ago. I also had a $99 off coupon at the time. I liked it enough to order a 2nd one at $250 yesterday. I don't even have a rifle that needs one, but this was a $650 scope when it had Zeiss labels on it a few years ago.

I didn't know that was a prerequisite for a hunting scope.

Just like any other scope. You must be a Leupold snob and prefer to focus the same way scopes were focused 50 years ago.

The scope comes with rubber flip off covers that are pretty nice, so you don't need the flip caps.

It sure the hell is with me. I won't hunt a rifle without them. It's either raining, sleeting or snowing most of the time here during deer season and I won't fugg around with any other type of lens covers when hunting. Unless you live in the fuggin desert or your hunting is in open country with lots of time to prepare for a shot or you hunt mostly out of blinds or you're just a fair weather hunter, they're pretty damned indespensible.

Those rubber flip off covers suck azz and no I don't have any use for fast focus eye pieces. All my scopes have the old fashioned ocular bell/lock ring focus and that's the way it's gonna stay.

Like this!

First pic in my Photobucket with one.... I can dig deeper if you want a closer pic. Butler Creek's work fine on them.

I don't live in the desert. And, I manage.

Two questions. Do they actually seal over that big grooved ring and have you ever tried to wiggle the fast fucus eyepiece while looking through the scope ? Most I've tried have some play in the ring and you can see the crosshairs move on target when they do.

It's easy to look good when you hunt in great places.

I see. You hunt uphill both ways and there isn't a sole that's better at it than you are.
It's a big world - you should experience it sometime.

They do seal up ok on the ocular, or at least as well as on anything. I've had BC's leak on me before on Leupold's. In FACT, my very first fight on the Campfire (sigh.... nostalgia.... grin) was because I said that, and someone thought that was STRICTLY VERBOTEN to say so!

I have not tried tried wiggling it. Dunno about that. My Conquests have as a rule been very solid mechanically though.

Hey, like what you like, no arguments from me. Just wanted to pitch in since I've used BC's on 4 different models of Conquest and I do hunt in the rain.

Thanks Jeff. Might need to give one a more serious look.

You don't need one Ken you don't need one ken you don't need one ken

If only they had the #4 reticle

right?

Yup have the #4 in my fixed 6x for a hunting scope it's my favorite reticle by a long shot!

How does this scope compare the the Leupold VX3/VX3i?

I think they are better, but it's a pretty subjective thing. Generally, they are at least on par or in the same class.

This weekend,I compared a new Leupold VX3i in 2.5-8x36 to a new Meopta 3-9x42. They were both good,small scopes. The Leupold is lighter and more compact,its on a Kimber Hunter and seems ideal for the little rifle. I think the Meopta maybe a touch better in dim light,but its larger.

The leupold and meopta both had standard duplex reticles. I think I prefered the leupold,it was a tad bolder and made the leupold about as good in low light as the meopta.

These scopes are close enough to pick based on personal preference.

The Cabelas 3-9x40 and the Meopta 3-9x42 are completely different scopes. The Meopta has a much larger rear bell, is shorter, heavier, has shorter eye relief, and I didn't like it as much as the Cabelas version. I was able to do a side-by-each in a store about a month ago. The Cabelas version is identical to a Zeiss Conquest (eurooptics version, no longer have an older Conquest in 3-9 to compare to, so not sure if they are the same or not) I have. For $250 this should be a no-brainer.

Is the plex in the cabelas the same thinnish plex on the meopta?

They are similar, but the I think the cabelas is thicker. The z-plex is thicker than the standard duplex, and to my eyes is superior in low light to the duplex.

I'll try to get a picture tomorrow in the daylight.

Yeah if u could snap a pic id appreciate it!

I can't get my phone to focus on the reticle, but I can say that unless Leopold has changed their duplex reticle this year, the z-plex is heavier than the standard duplex, and heavier than I remember the hvy duplex being. Also, the Cabela's scope is identical to the eurooptics Conquest I have.
**edit**
This is as good as I could get for the reticle - no longer own any Leupolds to take a pic of.

Side-by-each of Cabelas and Conquest

Ok, y'all talked me into it. Ordered one today. Figured $220 after my 12% active junky cash back, I couldn't go wrong.

Anybody use that EXT reticle?It seems kind of thin.

Oh wow. Im almost talked into one now. Guess they used the zeiss #20 reticle in it? Tempting!

I bought one two summers ago at the cabelas store in SLC. Same price. They are excellent scopes. Just ordered another. With free shipping and some cabelas bucks I had saved up it was $135 delivered. Pretty good deal.

bersh,
What are the scope adjustments like?
I have had several Meopta fixed 6x42 scopes
that were great to look thru.
But were a Royal PITA to adjust when
sighting in on a rifle with the
Funky Little rectangle strip you have to
grip to move the adjustments
Hard for me with my arthritis

That's a tough one to answer, as I'm not familiar with that scope, but I will say to me these scopes are as easy or easier than any other scope to adjust. There is a knurled ring that I think has a good gripping surface. The adjustments are positive feeling and sounding, and are accurate.

The turrets look like this (borrowed photo):

That is the exact same turret that is own the Meopro 3.5-10x44 that I just got from Cameraland.

If somebody has bought one recently....Is the Cabelas / Meopta Z plex same as Zeiss or is it thinner (in the center) which would be comparable to the EXT/BDC?

I like the older Conquest Z plex but heard the Meopta was thinner.

Nice little turrets for what they are. One nice feature is that they are resettable (via lifting) once you zero your rifle. Conquests generally adjust right up easily when zeroing.

Hmm I've had zero trouble out of the two I've owned. Adjusted like any other click turret and they are resettable like Jeff mentioned which I like.

I have taken to using the bottle cap opener on my Swiss Army knife to adjust the rectangle on my MeoPro 6x42's turrets as my older fingers fail. These scopes are worth the additional effort.

You can even put a sticker up top the turret (of the 3-9x40) calibrated in yards.... as long as your aspirations aren't TOO far off (500, 600 yards) in my experience the Conquest will put hits on vitals sized targets at those ranges reliably when dialed.

Looks like this:



.......... and this is just something I noticed in my Photobucket that cracks me up!

That's a cool idea.

Looks like he's plugged in.

I just ordered 2. They sold out oft he ballistic reticle which is what I really wanted but oh well.

From what I read here and and elsewhere this is a pretty decent scope.

So...

For the first time this ol'fardt is getting a scope that didn't come attached to the purchased rifle.

Now I will need to keep an eye out for something to attach this to...<grin>

Check again. Looks like both are available as of tonight.

Only the EXT reticle available this morning. I went ahead and ordered one.

Called in and the price on the phone orders had the duplex reticle for 249.xx as well. Ordered one at that price. Couldn't go wrong...

Any idea what size Butler Creeks are needed?

Good thread. Almost makes me want to buy a scope I don't need.

Tempting, but which reticle? I remember looking through the EXT reticle some time ago and thinking it was very thin. Any real world experience with that reticle?

I have the EXT reticle in a Instinct 3-9x40. It's a decent reticle for distance shooting but hunting in lowlight is challenging at dawn and dusk.

That has been my experience in general with those types of reticles. For punching paper and plinking at long range they are fun, but I don't like them hunting in the woods or in low light.

Same here. Far better than a duplex

If anyone needs one of these in an EXT reticle, I would trade for a duplex or sell outright. I screwed up and ordered the wrong one and the EXT is to fine for my tastes. I just unboxed it yesterday and don't want to send it back if someone else could use it.

Mike

I just bought one in a cabelas for $204. It was the last one they had so they marked it way down. May want to check if you're close to a store

I like ballistic reticles but I am glad I went duplex. Haven't had time to inbox mine yet....

Bought one with the EXT to thin returned it. Bought a Minox 3x9 X 40 with BDC much easier to see and use.