What is one of the best 2x7's on the market for $400 or less (street price)? Would like to have fast focus and do not need any fancy reticle. Muzzle loader or shotgun scopes are OK as 99% of our shooting is under 50 yards.

Is the Leupold 2.5-8x36 close enough to a 2-7? It'll be tough to beat under $400

Yep. My favorite all around hunting scope too !

Don't know if it's the best but my later mfg (AD suffix) Leupold VX2 2-7x33 that I bought used for $175 from someone that wanted higher magnification is a good one.

Best?

Natchez has 2x7 Weaver Japanese Classics on sale.
Don't remember the price, but I bought2 for the Ar's,
and 1 in Rimfire for a 22.
Total was around $330 shipped.


Not the best, but 3 decent scopes for under $400.

The jury's still out on the durability factor, but for waayyy under $400, more like $110, there are still Hawke Endurance LERs to be found. 4.5" of ER and illumination. 160 moa on tap. I've got two, one on a .50 ML, and just put one that came off a .22 on my new Howa Alpine .243. List price was $229, I think.

None of my four Hawkes have a high round count yet, but none have crapped yet either, not even the electronics. Most I have in any of them is $200, an 8x56 with LR Dot.

I have been very well pleased with the Leupold offering but have shifted lately towards the 2.5-8x which has more coatings. There are more offerings in this range than before and one I would like to check out is this: https://www.scopelist.org/Minox-ZL3...f2YTt4gIVEJSzCh2bawhnEAQYCiABEgJxl_D_BwE

Other Minox scopes have been very good for the price. There are also Weaver, Bushnell, and Sig offerings in this price range.

For the ranges your are considering there are many 2 to 4x fixed power scopes that would serve well. An old 3x Leupold is hard to beat for a woods rifle scope.

The Weaver Classic V is 2.5-7x32. Another to consider is the Redfield 2-7x33.

Weaver 2-8x36 Grand Slam from Natchez @$236...

Closeout Tract Tekoa 2.5-10x42 -$354 with a wonderful etched T-Plex reticle

More on the top end and hands down better glass than anything else than anything in the 2-anything category under $400. I’ve owned Conquests, Fullfields, Leupold VX1/2/3, Meoptas, Nikon Monarchs, Vortex Vipers, you name it. These are better than all mentioned and far better than most. The Meoptas and Conquests come the closest in glass. They have very solid adjustments as well. These are manufactured at LOW in Japan.

I have a 3-12 Tekoa and all you say is true, however they are kind of heavy and bulky for a woods rifle, which has led me to move it off a couple of rifles, finally (I think) landing on a heavy .270 Mauser, where it won't be noticed. Really nice glass.

I have Burris FF2 not close to 400 but I like it.

Think for the ranges you are talking about..... Why not try one of these mounted nice and low on your rig. Leupold FX-II Ultralight Rifle Scope 2.5x 20

Does the Weaver 2x8x36 have a fast focus eye piece? Can’t tell from the photos. I been really happy with the current Weaver line.
Thanks for the tips

Have owned plenty of Leupold 2.5x8, but they lack fast focus. Some days I hunt wearing glasses and some days I don’t so the fast focus feature has spoiled me

My favorite is the Vortex Viper 2-7x 35mm but unfortunately they were discontinued. I wish I would have bought two.

I'm interested in the Weaver 2-7x 32mm that Natchez has on sale for 119.99 right now as a scope for my son's Marlin 336 where I can get my better scope off of it.

You'd be better served with a 1-4X20. I used to use a lot of 2-7X and 2.5-8X scopes, but found that a 3-9X scope in the same price range is a much better quality scope. I could find no meaningful difference between 2X and 3X on the low end either.

When you go to 1X on the low end close fast shots are much easier, much faster than irons or dot sights and 4X is enough magnification on big game out to at least 400 yards. A 1-4X20 lets in EXACTLY the same amount of light on 4X as a 3-9X40 does at 8X. MORE light than a 2-7X32 set on 7X. I took a buck last year just 5 minutes into legal shooting time with a 1-4X20 scope and could have seen well enough 10-15 minutes before legal shooting time.

Some ideas. I have a couple of the Nikons and this 1-6X Vortex


https://www.swfa.com/vortex-1-6x24-strike-eagle-30mm-rifle-scope-109418.html?___SID=U



https://www.samplelist.com/nikon-1-4x24-black-force-1000-riflescope-demo-a.html?___SID=U

https://www.samplelist.com/leupold-1-5-4x20-mark-ar-mod-1-riflescope-demo-a-3.html?___SID=U

https://www.samplelist.com/vortex-1-4x24-viper-pst-30mm-rifle-scope-demo-b-178577.html?___SID=U

Every now and then Amazon drops the 1.5-8x32 Razor HD LH to $350. That’d be my vote.

Used 2.5x8 Loopie...

7x is a lot for a 336. You might consider the Weaver V 1-3 with 4.13" eye relief and less obtrusive handling characteristics.

[quote=Snowwolfe]Does the Weaver 2x8x36 have a fast focus eye piece? Can’t tell from the photos. I been really happy with the current Weaver line.
Thanks for the tips

Yes,fast-focus ocular...

Appreciate the info. Pretty sure I will pick up one or two of the Weaver 2x8’s and might look for a good buy on the Vortex 1x6 or 2x8 and try one as well.
Thanks

SW has had them at $299 all week for their Father’s Day sale.

SW?

Sportsmans Warehouse. I'm positive they sold at least one.

I have used the Viper for eight years and many deer on a 336 and it is perfect for me.

For what you describe, hands down I'd go with the Redield 2-7x33 with Accu-Range reticle.

Took advantage of Natchez 10% off sale and ordered a Weaver 2x8. Company is a PITA to deal with as they will not ship to Tennessee or Georgia so had to have my brother who lives in PA order it for me. I like the scope has a "plain" duplex reticle. Have no need for those weird crosshair lookin things.

What I do, and others have indicated that they follow suit, is use the top end for accuracy testing and the occasional long shot or shot I have to take through holes in the cover. At other times, my variables stay on the low setting for quick opportunities in close, where most of my chances occur.

Picked up one of those Weavers for just under$120 shipped, using a 20% off code; hedging my Hawke bet a little. Be interesting to see if the one I get is made in Japan or some other Asian place, not that I'm afraid of well-made products that originate elsewhere, particularly women.

Opinions are like [bleep], everybody has one. And here's mine. I say get a 3-9x40. It's got a larger objective, hence more light and 3x is a good setting to keep it on. Wide field of view and MORE light. And a VX-2 or equivalent is decent glass and won't break the bank. Yeah, maybe a tad heavier but unless you're trapsing about in the mountains the little bit of extra weight is probably imperceptible.

[quote=EIB0879]My favorite is the Vortex Viper 2-7x 35mm but unfortunately, they were discontinued. I wish I would have bought two.

Vortex Viper have 3 holds zero and work better than any 2 X 7 or 2.5 X 8 Leupold, also the newer Redfield 2 X 7 works great with no issues.

snowwolfe - you are going to like the Weaver. Congrats.