Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Cabelas Instinct 3-9x40

Years after they were discontinued I still haven’t found a better value in a set and forget hunting scope. I currently have three in regular use. Who else is still using one?

Got a few on the shelf waiting for projects to be completed. Agree with you. Hell of a deal - especially when they were being closed out.

I have several. Nice scopes

How do they rate compared to the burris Fullfield II?

Meopta made?

Yes. I like them. As well as the meopros and ziess conquests.

The cabelas was a 3-9x42?

I think they had 2 models. First the 40mm, then the newer version was 42mm. I have a 42.

The 40 mm version is identical to Zeiss Conquest MC with the thicker # 20 Z-Plex reticle. The 42mm version has a larger ocular housing and the plex in it is thinner and more like a standard plex you see in Leupolds and Bushnells etc…

Heavier and longer than the Burris FFII, but much better eye relief and superior glass from my experience.

I have one I bought here in the classifieds. Put it on a .300 wm. It's performing fine and has nice glass for sure. I'd buy another if I needed it.

I have I think four of them.. pretty much the same as a Meopta and the Meopta made Zeiss conquest.

Don't have any 3-9 left but run a couple of 4.5-14 on rimfires. Both have a Meopta badge right next to the Cabela's badge on the ocular housing. They're not going anywhere.

I like the checkered metal adjustment ring and turret caps better than the rubber and plastic on the Meopro.

I have the 3-9x40 model with the BDC reticle. It has some of the best glass of anything I have including Nightforce. It there was any complaint, it's that the BDC reticle is thin and hard to see at dusk/dawn.

I have several including one of the identical versions with Zeiss badging on it. They are the same scope. I paid $550 for the Zeiss. When Cabelas closed them out at $250 I bought 2 of them and have run across 2 others used for around $200.

They are my go-to scope.

IMO the Burris FF-II is my 2nd choice. They aren't quite as good as the Meopta made Cabela's/Zeiss scope. But they are priced at around $160 and available. I'd rate the Burris as better than the Leupold VX-3 and under for 1/2 the money.

I have 4. All are 3-9X40. Meopta makes, or made a 3-9X42, but it was a different, more expensive scope and Cabelas may have offered it too. But I never saw one. The 3-9X40 was their budget scope. But calling it budget is relative. Still better than most anything else

Have several and love them. I buy every reasonable priced one I can find.

I had one several years back. It was the 3-9x40. Was a great scope until it wouldn't hold adjustments. Called Cabelas and they wouldn't replace it, only wanted to give store credit on another scope.

Seeing that is was a Meopta I reached out to Meopta and explained what was going on with the scope. They told me to send it to them. About 10 days later I had a brand new Meopta 3-9x40 scope in my possession. It has been riding on my 7-08 for 3-4 years now and doing just fine I may add.

What is the recticle like on the 4-12x 50 ? Is it similar to the zeiss conquest mc 3-9 ?

IIRC the reticle in the 4-12 is more like the 3-9x42 than the Conquest. Like a Leupold or Nikon duplex.

I have two of the 3-9x42s and would love to find a third one. Great scopes!