Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Simple Scope, sub $400

Many scopes now are all knobs/turrets/cluttered reticles. I don't need that. I don't like that.

If you're buying a sub $400 scope that is a simple duplex reticle, no big knobs hanging off the side, streamlined look, what would you buy in a 2-7 or 3-9 power or so?

In the past I've always bought Leupold VX-2 or VX-3 (or whatever the iteration was named at the time of production). I know some say they wouldn't shoot junkyard rats with current Leupolds, while others say they have no issues with them. I'm open to any suggestions right now.

Leupolds website is crap in my opinion. They can't just give a simple chart showing their models with available power/objective lens. Has to have a screen's worth of picture to show every single scope they offer without much filtering ability. How are their Freedom line of scopes compared to their previous VX-2 and VX-3? Whats the verdict on the VX-3i?

Meopta.

I have a couple of the Freedom series, duplex crosshair, 3-9x40 and to my eyes they seem to be as good as the glass in my VX-2 3-9x40's. The feel of the adjustments on the Freedom is like the VX-2 a bit mushy but they track okay and the two that I have hold zero just fine.

I am not fond of the angular turret housing but that is more a matter of taste than anything else.

If you don't like the Freedom then just keep an eye on the classifieds, I see VX-2 3-9's come up for sale quite often.


drover

Burris Full Field II's and E1's are a good value in the power ranges you're looking at. They are reliable and can be had for under $200.

+1

Burris E1 on the low end, Meopta (or old Conquest) on the $400 end. Those are what I'd personally trust to hold together.

And I share the same tastes in scopes as you.

FC

+2

I have a meopro 3-9x40 with a basic duplex reticle that sits on a 30-06. That rifle is sort of an all around loaner, bad weather boat rifle and I haven’t had to re zero it since I sighted it in.

There’s a meopro in the rokslide classifieds now for a good price, I’d jump on that if I were in the market for that sort of scope.

meopta meopro's are well worth their asking price and call doug at cameraland and he'll probably hook you up.
Big Ed

The only answer for me in the sub $400 range for a hunting scope.

Heck, used in the $3-$325 range. They pop up on the classifieds often. Either meopros or conquests or instincts

Meopro

Leupold VX 3i (current line) 3.5-10x40. The standard by which other scopes are judged. Some better, some worse, still a high quality scope from a trusted name. And if you ever decide to sell it, Leupold will hold it's value better than many others.

VX3i in 2.5x8 or 3.5x10 for this purpose suits my needs just fine.

VX2i or VX3i
I have both. Great scopes.
Jim

Meopro is the way to go.

Meopta...Leupold vx3is have been problematic for me

surprised no one has mentioned Meopta

Leupold's website is a catastrophe.

Meopta is a great scope. Here's a 3-9x42mm on a Cooper.
Bob

RGK, I was just thinking of you when I almost posted "Zeiss 4x".