Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Scoping a Stainless rifle

Ok I've been looking for a scope for a stainless M70 7mm RM. Have about a $500 budget. A Leupold VX-II 4-12 in either 40 and 50mm obj. silver is within my budget. So is the Nikon Monarch 3 2.5-10x42 silver.

Is there a real world advantage to 50mm? The Nikon is slightly heavier (does that = studier?) and has a larger range of adjustment. Both have similar eye relief. I have several of both Leupold and Nikon scopes and really can't see a difference in optics quality. I'm leaning towards the Nikon. Is there anything I'm overlooking between these scopes?

It seems most online scope retailers don't have a good way to sort by finish. Is there another good option I've over looked in my price range?

I'm a big fan of matte black scopes on SS rifles, but everybody is different. Have owned loads of SS rifles but never an SS rifle scope.

I'd say there is not likely a lot of difference in brightness between 40/42mm and 50mm when talking 10x or below, but at 14x or more, I'd want the 50mm in a hunting scope. My hunting scopes are all 12x or less on the top end.

If you like the Nikon, check out the Digital Oasis website. They have some good pricing.

I like matte on stainless with a black synthetics stock. Never have had a stainless scope come close to matching the stainless finish on a rifle.

For a $500 budget I'd go matte VX3 3.5x10 ...you'll be miles ahead

+1

Thanks I'll check it out.

If you buy a "stainless"/silver scope, be aware they do not resell well. I put matte with stainless base/rings on mine w/ matte black optics.

I have a couple of stainless rifles with synthetic stocks that wear matte scopes. But this is walnut stocked and I (think I) want a silver scope and mounts.

A matte black scope in matte black rings/bases looks best on a stainless rifle. I don't like silver scopes or silver rings on a stainless rifle. The one exception if it's a wood stocked stainless rifle, in that case it does need a silver scope & rings.

Here's essentially the same rifle

('94 Stainless Classic - Leupold rings - Leupold 3.5-10x40)

The rings are slightly different color, but the Leupolds silver matches the Winchester finish pretty well.

Skip the 50mm and go for the 40mm, I'd get Dual Dove Tail low Bases/Rings for that set-up


Silver finishes don't sell well here, but bring a premium most of the time on feebay

+2 with the Leupold in black matte.

Don't forget the lifetime warranty.

donsm70

X2 on that. Get the Leupold 3.5-10X40 with low bases and rings. It wouldn't matter to me if it was stainless or matte.

The reason it's hard to match a silver scope to stainless is because it just wasn't meant to be. It's a crime against nature.

Stick with a matte/stainless combo, the early 90's are over.

I like the contrast of a Matte Black scope and rings on SS Rifle.

Now that's a beauty!

I've always been a fan of the matte-on-stainless contrast with Synthetic stocks, but wood-stocked rifles look good with silver scopes. It's all about personal preference.

Ohio, do what you think looks best to you.

I have both matte and silver on my stainless rifles.

Some good looking rifles there. Any way you slice it...

Do black receivers count in this photo fest?