Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Nikon Getting out of Rifle Scopes?

I was in a gun shop yesterday and the owners were talking about Nikon getting out of the scope biz. Seems they were called by a couple of distributors who let them know. Anyone else heard this?

No big loss

They can quit making binos too, as far as I am concerned

Not hard to do better

Too bad in some ways. Nikon was an excellent optics company as witnessed by their 35mm camera lens and cameras. Like most of the others they have subcontracted their stuff out.

Maybe that and people don't buy cameras anymore. People just use their cell phones to take pics and videos with.

With their new warranty policy I think they will be getting out of the scope business whether they want to or not.

This^^^^^^. Don't let the door hit them

Only info I seen on this was a post made on April 1st this year.

I never understood their product positioning. I always thought the ProStaff scopes gave an awfully good value for the dollar, while the higher end Buckmaster and Monarch lines were quite disappointing given their cost. One would think a company would want the “WOW!” factor to be in their top-endmodels, rather than the entry level ones.

FC

And now the buckmaster, called the II, now is their cheapest

15 years ago, we sold the stew out of the old buckmasters, awesome scope for the money, I thought and still think having owned monarchs that the buckmaster was just as good if not better. Then the prostaffs came along and turned out to be great value and everything seemed good in the nikon world, had 3 options. And for some reason they started the prostaff 3/5/7, monarch 3/5/7, and a cheap buckmaster ii series mess and no one could really tell where all the scopes fell in line. I think that really hurt them.

i wasn't aware they changed up their warranty policy, I've sent one monarch and a camera lense back, and had both fixed or replaced in just a few weeks. Buddy sent an old nikon from the 80s back and they sent him a brand new monarch.

Can someone elaborate?

Nikon makes very good price point scopes and binos. In the under $500 range the Monarch 7's are as good as any and better than most. I only own two scopes, both Prostaff EFR 3-9x40. Excellent AO rimfire/air rifle scopes for under $200.

It is my understanding that as of January 1st 2020 Nikon will be out of the riflescope business completely. The sports optics division will still be offering binoculars, spotting scopes and rangefinders.
What they will do about handling riflescope repairs and or warranties I have no idea.

Their people probably read this forum and r ed listed leupold has the optic works sewed up 😗😗

I couldn't possibly have a better understanding of the situation as gr8tful, but had read a few months back that scopes were going to be separated from the rest of their wares & into another venue, division, etc.

Considering the warranty changes that Doug posted in Sep. & Nikon seeming to want to separate or dissociate the rest of the business from anything that would have to do with the word gun, rifle, or pistol, the best thing for all, customers especially, would be for them to just go away.

Suck it Nikon.

You could definitely see the writing on the walls going back 2 years. Pulling out of the NRA show just months before it started and then this year pulling out of SHOT Show. Add the huge warranty changes after this just bumped up the warranty on electronics 2 years ago said it all. I'm definitely not buying any electronic for hunting that only has a 1 year warranty. Makes you think there has to be a reason?
Let the other companies step up and earn your business.

Bet there will be some fire sale level discounts on the Buckmaster and Prostaff scopes in the next few months.

I only have one. A 4x rimfire on a 1972 model 25 marlin. I dont think I could put a better scope on for the money I paid. I like it.

I have four excellent Nikon Scopes. One of the best is the cheapest one, an older Prostaff I paid $160 for 12 years ago. Then I have 3 of the old Buck Masters that were competitive with the Leupold VX-2, before they cheapened them. They are all very clear and hold immaculate ZERO. I can't speak for other's experience but for mine they have served me well. Nikon and Leupold are my go to scopes.

Maybe I have real good or real bad eyes, but I can see as good at dark thirty with my old Prostaff than I can with the almighty Knight Force. I think all that talk about better optices letting you see better at 30 minutes after sunset is a crock of Bull CaCa. At 30 minutes after sunset I really can't see crap with anything and I go home. Also, I've seen more shooter bucks at sunset than I ever have 30 minutes after.