Cabela's scope options

[Tauntohawk]

I'm planning to set up a new hunting rifle, what rifle I haven't decided yet but I'm think I will grab the scope first because I have one of those cabela promos for 75 off 500 in the next 2 weeks and a bunch of points that have been just sitting around. So I'm kind of locked in on buy from Cabela's.

My options

A) Leupold VX-3 HD 4.5-14x40 $600
B) Ziess V4 3-12x44 $700
C) Swarovski Z3 4-12x50 $900


Also would consider but see a lot less talk and reviews on

D) Burris Sig HD 5-15x44 $480

As I step up in price will I see a noticable difference in performance in regards to clarity and low light, probably won't be a lot done at max mag power. Burris and Ziess both a tad heavy. 80% of hunt with this set up will be sub 200yds eastern hunting so I don't need an overly busy reticle.


is the lack of no fault warranties a concern on swaro and Ziess for the money.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

 

[35WhelenAI]

What cartridge will the rifle be chambered for? If most of your hunting is sub 200 yds, VX3 HD 3-9 or 2.5-8, especially since you said most of it's going to be at low power.

Just a thought...

 

[BLJ]

I have the Zeiss you speak of and it is excellant. I also have experience with thd VX 3's and they have been flawless as well. No experience with the Swaro but I wou.d be certain you could expect the same.
That being said, I would a put 3-12x44 Zeiss on every hunting rifle I had if I had the money. I think they are the best option for features and value in that price range. For my eyes anyway.

 

[LightFoot]

I'm planning to set up a new hunting rifle, what rifle I haven't decided yet but I'm think I will grab the scope first because I have one of those cabela promos for 75 off 500 in the next 2 weeks and a bunch of points that have been just sitting around. So I'm kind of locked in on buy from Cabela's.

My options

A) Leupold VX-3 HD 4.5-14x40 $600
B) Ziess V4 3-12x44 $700
C) Swarovski Z3 4-12x50 $900


Also would consider but see a lot less talk and reviews on

D) Burris Sig HD 5-15x44 $480

As I step up in price will I see a noticable difference in performance in regards to clarity and low light, probably won't be a lot done at max mag power. Burris and Ziess both a tad heavy. 80% of hunt with this set up will be sub 200yds eastern hunting so I don't need an overly busy reticle.


is the lack of no fault warranties a concern on swaro and Ziess for the money.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

Zeiss has a 5 year no fault warranty on the V4.

I have the Leupold VX-3i 4.5-14x40 with Wind-Plex on a 6.5 PRC. It has been good for me and I have used it on game from 100 yards to 400 yards.

My mom uses the Zeiss V4 3-12x44 Plex on her Savage Hunter 308. It works well for her because all her shots are under 150 yards and it's very clear. She has it set on 6x or 7x and never moves it.

The Swarovski Z3 4-12x50 is a great, lightweight scope. Very clear and bright. Reliable. I had one on a 270 that I got rid of. Big mistake.

The leupold is a great value. I like the 3.5-10x40 better than the 14x, though. The additional magnification is almost never needed. I have the 3.5-10x40 on my 340 Wby and it is the perfect fit. I haven't taken anything with it beyond 100 yards, but with the CDS-ZL, I have it dialed in for shots to 500 yards, confirmed at the range.

You can't go wrong with any of those choices.

I've heard the Burris is good, but I have no experience.


Good luck.



Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

 

[Pickettpuncher]

Might look at a vx5 2-10 as well. When you compare all these in store just remember that their lighting is gonna gonna be great at the optics counter. I’d try to find a dark corner to look into for better comparison. I’ll agree they probably won’t let you take off with them but you should be able to find a dark area to look into.

 

[Tauntohawk]

Zeiss has a 5 year no fault warranty on the V4.

I have the Leupold VX-3i 4.5-14x40 with Wind-Plex on a 6.5 PRC. It has been good for me and I have used it on game from 100 yards to 400 yards.

My mom uses the Zeiss V4 3-12x44 Plex on her Savage Hunter 308. It works well for her because all her shots are under 150 yards and it's very clear. She has it set on 6x or 7x and never moves it.

The Swarovski Z3 4-12x50 is a great, lightweight scope. Very clear and bright. Reliable. I had one on a 270 that I got rid of. Big mistake.

The leupold is a great value. I like the 3.5-10x40 better than the 14x, though. The additional magnification is almost never needed. I have the 3.5-10x40 on my 340 Wby and it is the perfect fit. I haven't taken anything with it beyond 100 yards, but with the CDS-ZL, I have it dialed in for shots to 500 yards, confirmed at the range.

You can't go wrong with any of those choices.

I've heard the Burris is good, but I have no experience.


Good luck.



Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

I appreciate the first hand with all 3

I do have 3.5-10 VX3 without the CDS on bushmaster 450 and really like it. Seems like a bit more mag won't hurt and might be nice on say an antelope hunt vs my traditional eastern whitetail I'm tacking most shots at 5-7x.


I think the biggest nock on the V4 is that it's heavier than the Leupold and Swaro options. I do know someone with a V4 and can that and my Leupold side by side in the field to see if things like eye box and clarity are distinguishable one way or another. The swaro name caught me as possibly attainable but is a bit more coin than I planned to spend but if it's a superior option I won't remember the $200 in 10yrs

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

 

[Megastink]

Cabelas just emailed me and they are offering 0% APR for 12 months if you spend over $500 i think. If you have their card, i'd look into that. Maybe add an NX8 to that list...

 

[35WhelenAI]

For sure, if antelope are on the menu more magnification could be helpful, but what range do you expect to shoot them? Again, what cartridge is the rifle chambered for that the scope is going on? I've taken antelope out to 400 yards with a 3-9 and never wanted for more magnification. I would go with something for 80% of your hunting like you said and it'll work just fine for the other 20%. In my opinion 80% of my shots under 200 yards would not dictate 12x or more on the top end. The issue is scopes above 3-9X start to add weight to the rifle. Maybe that's my western hunting bias where the gun is carried a lot and sometimes at port arms for long periods hunting timber. As well, is the Swarovski you mentioned only in a 50MM objective? 14.5 oz is within an ounce or two of a Leupold, however the 50 MM objective means I can't mount it as low on the gun as I prefer. Just my $.02.

 

[Tauntohawk]

For sure, if antelope are on the menu more magnification could be helpful, but what range do you expect to shoot them? Again, what cartridge is the rifle chambered for that the scope is going on? I've taken antelope out to 400 yards with a 3-9 and never wanted for more magnification. I would go with something for 80% of your hunting like you said and it'll work just fine for the other 20%. In my opinion 80% of my shots under 200 yards would not dictate 12x or more on the top end. The issue is scopes above 3-9X start to add weight to the rifle. Maybe that's my western hunting bias where the gun is carried a lot and sometimes at port arms for long periods hunting timber. As well, is the Swarovski you mentioned only in a 50MM objective? 14.5 oz is within an ounce or two of a Leupold, however the 50 MM objective means I can't mount it as low on the gun as I prefer. Just my $.02.

The 50mm objective is a consideration, I certainly don't want a scope that forces too high a mount or an unnatural head position. As for choosing the mag on the VX I figured the difference between the 3.5-10 and the 4.5-14 is like 0.2oz so what's the harm in having the extra zoom. My current 3.5 usually is carried set at 5 so I lose almost nothing with that step up. It more do I get better glass from the Leupold to Ziess and and from the V4 to the swaro that warrent it. Already having a vx3 it was the natural instinct to just order another.

I guess I should just take my VX to my buddies who has a V4 and glass them across his pasture to see if the weight penalty is worth any perceivable visual difference.


Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

 

[Tauntohawk]

I got my current vx3 3.5-10 next to the V4 4-12 last night with 30min of light left and about 300yds of view.

I found the eye box and relief much more forgiving on the Leupold. I can't say I found any better clarity or brightness on the V4.

I also don't think I'm going to go with a 4.5-14 and will just purchase another 3.5-10 I think the lose of low range field of view will be more noticed than the use of a 11-14 power top end

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk