Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics best 3-9/3-10 hunting scope for $500 or less?

I had one for a short while. I thought it sucked compared to my 2-7X36 Kahles scopes and even the newer 2.5-8X36 Leupold. Maybe I had a bad one, but it was much darker with less resolution than either and with a very finicky eye box..

You have to like these comparisons. "Sucked" is hardly close to Zeiss German Diavari scopes of any generation. This isn't a Conquest, and given the option of either the Sucky Zeiss or the Kahles, I would still take the Zeiss.

You can have it. I've owned Zeiss of all generations and price points. The 3X9X36 German Diavari was the worst of the lot. When it is darker with less contrast and harder to get behind I don't consider it superior just because it says Zeiss and is German made.

I bought it used and like I said ,it may have had some kind of issue but it quickly went down the road.

You might try lining it up with the bore on the rifle when you mount it.

"Sucked" still doesn't apply.

Whatever.

The 3-9x36 Zeiss doesn't tickle my fancy either, but it does have a cult of followers.

Aside from a couple small gripes, I really like my Meopta Meopro 3.5-10x44 w/Zplex from Cameraland. Really the only thing that I don't like about the scope is the distance between the heavy posts on the plex reticle. I measured mine as 9" at 100 yards. Since it's on a 0-400 yard hunting rifle, that pretty much means I can't use the junction where the heavy post and fine cross hair meet as a hold over point. It's not a big deal, since I can just dial up the turret if need be but a nuisance. Beyond that, I love the scope. It tracks true and the reticle is plenty thick enough for my purposes (30 min before/after sunrise/sunset). I haven't had it long enough to know anything about it's durability but I don't baby my gear and so far it's holding zero perfectly.

The only other thing I don't like is how the Butler Creek flip-up scope covers I have on it fit over the fast focus on the ocular. The focus ring ends up getting accidentally adjusted. But that's not the scope's fault, it's the flip-ups catching on things.

I like my West German Zeiss 3-9 but today I buy Leupold VX3i.

Leupold VX II
Buris FFII
Redfield Revolution

Your choice in 3x9

Meopta 3.5x10X44 from Doug. 350 bucks.

The best to me has to be the Bushnell 4500 2 1/2-10X40. It's as good as any and better than some, but it goes one step further: Rain Guard. It weighs about 16 ounces.

Rain Guard ... For the heavy breathers.

Just the right conditions. I took a Weaver V24, a Nikon Monarch 3, and a Bushnell 4200 to the shooting range. When I laid them out on the bench to compare them the Weaver and the Nikon were fogged. The Bushnell was not.

But then, they do clear off quickly for heavy breathers

Ringman, Parker's Perfect.....google it. Works like a champ.

Ringman, Dork...google it. You might find a DNA match.

Good glass, great reticle, great adjustments. I'd choose one over my Conquest any day for utility and versatility.

You will have to find one used or wait for a sale to get under $500 though.

Yep and it no secret when the sale is. I bought 3 for 450 each.

I've not blown them much though so don't know how they compare to rain guard.

I'm a SFWA 3-9 HD guy too.

Nikon Monarchs are hard to beat.

There's no way I want to spray something on my optics. I don't even like to clean my glasses for fear the lenses with get scratched.