I'm looking at a adding optics to a couple different rifles, a Tikka T3X Lite and Ruger No. 1 (both in 7mm Rem Mag). These are 100% hunting rifles, for shots under 300 yards. I'm curious how the Campfire would rank the following scopes.
-Leupold VX-3HD 4.5-14x40 CDS-ZL
-Bushnell Elite 4200 3-9x40
-Sightron SII Big Sky 3-12x
-Cabelas Instinct/Meopta 1" 4-12x50

Durability shouldn't be too much of an issue with any of the above scopes, so 95% of my concerns are clarity/brightness in field conditions. These will be "set and forget" scopes, so no dialing for distances and I am not worried about tracking.

I know the 9x max on the 4200 gives up a little magnification to the other scopes, but other than that how close optically do you think all the scopes compare with one another?

Leupold VX-3HD 4.5-14x40 CDS-ZL

Bushnell

Leupold/Cabelas

sightron

1. Bushnell Elite 4200
2. Meopta
3. Sightron
4. Leupold VX3

YUP

Take a good look at the Sightron Big Sky II. Excellent glass.

Sightron stopped making the S II Big Sky scope line because they were "too good.". They had the same premium lens quality of their premium scope line, the Sightron S III series, but on a 1" tube. The Sightron S II Big Sky put too much sales competition on the Sightron S III, so they stopped production, and replaced it with the lower grade S-Tac line.

I have two Sightron S II Big Sky scopes: a fixed 6x, and a 3.5-10x. Fantastic scopes. Bright, excellent resolution, edge-to-edge distortion free image, clear, have lifetime transferable warranties, plus 4" of eye relief. I also love the finger adjustable windage/elevation knobs on the turrents, and the crisp clicks. Their lens have 7 layers of coating to maximize low light brightness.

I have never handled the other scopes on the list. They may better or worse. All.should be good enough for your needs. I can not rank them, just give feedback on what I have used.

I have written this before on other threads when Sightron S II Big Sky scopes are mentioned: Sightron Big Sky II scopes are overlooked jewels.

Let me answer your question with another one-

Which of those scopes best meets your requirements for eye-relief, mounting space, reticle type, and available adjustment range? That stuff matters too, again depending on what you plan to use it for.

I only have one scope from those product families, a 4500 1-4, and so far it’s good. For the $125 I paid, it’s very good.

I think clarity/brightness would be a near wash,determined only by your eyes.Reticle choice for the application would be my factor…

On that list, my favorite is the Sightron Big Sky…

Unfortunately, they have become a “needle in the haystack”

I wish I had my 3-12 with the HHR reticle back.

If its a set and forget, the Big Sky would be tops for me...

1: Leupold/Cabelas Meopta
2 Sightron
3 Bushnell (only ranked this low because of the short and critical eye relief).

I owned both a bigskky II and 4200, both in 3-9.

When $$ was tight for a bit I had to sell some stuff, make some choices.

I still have my 4200 scope. I rank it a full "step" above the sightron bsII. I have a sightron binocualr, think very highly of it. I like sightron. The bushenell is more scope imo.

Another vote for Sightron as no. 1

For clarity/view:

Meopta
Bushnell
Leupold/Sightron

All pretty decent scopes for view though, and I'd say that they are in a similar tier.

Based on owning all of them through the years, this is how I'd rank them for ruggedness:

Sightron/Bushnell
Meopta
Leupold

That being said, I've gotten thousands of rounds out of each of them, and I wouldn't have a huge problem using any. Main reason I put that Leupold on the bottom is because I had trouble with both 4.5-14 I owned shifting zero. It was with the older VX series, not the HD, so perhaps they're better now. It was also after a lot of use and knocking around. I've had Sightrons and Japan Bushies that really took a beating and never skipped a beat.

Meopta. All Day.. Do Have a Few Of The VX5 And a 6. Their The Only Leupolds I Have Left...Clarity And Brightness Are Good On The VX5-6'S ..But I Think The Meopta Meopro Will Hang With Them..Haven't Run a Bushnell In 30 Years...

Meopta
Leupold
Bushnell

I only have one Sightron and that is an early “shotgun” scope I put on a muzzleloader and it has been great but just cannot comment on new ones.

I've always been a big fan of Sightron scopes, and actually have a few in "standard" models, SII's, SII Big Skys, and older SIII's. My primary hunting rifle is a 700 Mountain Rifle .280 with an SII Big Sky 3-9x standard duplex in Talley rings. I'll likely end up mounting the Meopta on the Tikka T3X, and the Sightron on the Ruger No. 1.

I guess my only comment is why a 7 Mag for shooting under 300 yards?

4-12 models may require AO, just another thing to forget or to go wrong.

For shots under 300, you do not need it.

Not really an answer to your question, just kind of interjecting my opinion (in the finest Campfire tradition.) The last thing I want on a “hunting rifle for shots under 300 yards” is a 4.5-14 scope. I only have one such scope (the Leupold you mention) and it’s on a varmint rifle. I have several hunting rifles (including a 7mmRM) with 2.5-8’s and think that’s about ideal from the standpoint of usefulness and proportionality. Your Tikka is a lightweight rifle, why stick the Hubble Telescope on top? Both my Ruger No. 1’s are nice handling and perfectly adequate for up to 300 yards with 1.5 -5’s.

I don’t know how you plan to use the rifles. If you’re just going to sit in a box over beanfields, rock on. If you’re going to be actually hunting on the ground, maybe have opportunities that come close and sudden, you may want to reconsider your options.

Just my thoughts…

If the Cabela's instinct is an identical twin to the Meopro, it's top dog. Lenses and coatings, clarity, brightness can't be touched by the others. It's easily on par (and above imo) with the Zeiss conquest scopes. Meopta made the lenses for those scopes at one time. The 4-12 was never a favorite tho because of the super thin reticle. The 3.5-10x44 was probably the best all around scope Meopta made. I have read good things about the older Bushy elites. And the Sightrons. Never owned either. And can't recommend a Leupold for anything other than a paperweight or fishing sinker. At least none of the newer stuff

I don’t think any of these would disappoint for deer under 500 yards with an accurate 7mm RM - the best caliber I’ve seen for instant deer death.

Glass & reticle
Meopta
Leupold
Sightron

Not a Bushnell fan based on performance is scope rangefinder & haven’t looked through a 4200. I had a vx3 1” 4.5-14x50 on my old Ruger 77 & it looked great & shot well swapped it to an 25-06 to replace an crummy scope and put a Zeiss V4 on it instead. Doesn’t look as sharp but extends the rage & accuracy.