Reliable Riflescopes

[Selway]

After reading the VX5-hd thread, I'm motivated to put this up here.

I put together a rifle every other year or so, and have usually used Leupolds when I do. I have had a cheap Leupold fail, although not a VX5 or higher. I am a believer in where there's smoke there's fire, so I am looking into other makes for my future builds. I put an incredible amount of work into my hunting, and I will not leave my success up to a piece of equipment I can not trust.

I have used Nightforce SHV, and do trust them for my heavier rifles, where I want to dial elevation. What I am unsure of, is what scope is most reliable for a lightweight rifle, that I will not be spinning a turret on. Zeiss? Swarovski? What about the new lightweight Maven? Something to replace the VX3.

 

[ChrisAU]

The SWFA SS HD 3-9x42 is the one I landed on when wanting a reliable and rugged scope at a light weight. 19 oz. I wish I had some more x's, but I wanted lightweight + dialing, so here I am. 9x on the top end hasn't hurt me on a 400+ yard elk and a couple of 200+ yard whitetail.

 

[Selway]

The SWFA SS HD 3-9x42 is the one I landed on when wanting a reliable and rugged scope at a light weight. 19 oz. I wish I had some more x's, but I wanted lightweight + dialing, so here I am. 9x on the top end hasn't hurt me on a 400+ yard elk and a couple of 200+ yard whitetail.

Thanks...

For this thought exercise I'm thinking of scopes specifically without turrets, as I feel scopes with dials have been discussed at length already.

Although I did just notice the 2.5-10x32 SWFA because of your post.

 

[ChrisAU]

Thanks...

For this thought exercise I'm thinking of scopes specifically without turrets, as I feel scopes with dials have been discussed at length already.

Although I did just notice the 2.5-10x32 SWFA because of your post.

@luke moffat likes the 2x5-10x32 IIRC. Not sure how good the glass is but I haven't seen any reliability concerns. May be a bit short on eye relief for a big kicker in a light package but some have reported it is a non-issue.

 

[RazAlGhoul]

NightForce is the way to go, I have 5 NF scopes with no regrets.

 

[Newtosavage]

Honest to God, if someone asked me what the most reliable, trouble-free scope is that I've used over the past 10 years, I'd have to point to my three $40 Simmons 4x32's. They are stupid reliable. I have had one on my RWS springer air rifle for 3 years and it has not changed zero in literally hundreds and hundreds of rounds. I have two others that I've put on any number of rifles from a 7.62x39 bolt action to a .50-cal muzzleloader shooting up to 120-grain BH 209 charges behind 300 grain full bore conicals. That combo generates enough recoil that I don't even want to shoot it more than 4-5 times from the bench.

Am I saying go run out and top all your rifles with $40 Simmons scopes? Of course not. But if the question is what is the most reliable scope you've used, that's my answer if I'm being totally honest.

 

[Selway]

Nightforce and Simmons, check.

 

[mcseal2]

I've been happy with my Huskemaw scopes. I've been adding more as I get other brands sold. I now have a 1-6x, 3-12x, two 4-16x, two 5-20x, and a 5-30x. Some are still pretty new, others have had a lot of use. All have tracked reliably for me so far. The 3-12x is on a light 300 win mag that has seen the most use and a lot of dialing. I can shoot steel in a pasture a mile from home and spend quite a bit of time up there shooting different ranges and dialing my scopes.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Following.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I've been happy with my Huskemaw scopes. I've been adding more as I get other brands sold. I now have a 1-6x, 3-12x, two 4-16x, two 5-20x, and a 5-30x. Some are still pretty new, others have had a lot of use. All have tracked reliably for me so far. The 3-12x is on a light 300 win mag that has seen the most use and a lot of dialing. I can shoot steel in a pasture a mile from home and spend quite a bit of time up there shooting different ranges and dialing my scopes.

I’ve seen their scopes over the years and have heard good things. The 4-14x is tempting at 21.5 ounces. It seems Huskemaw really pushes “yardage” turrets and having custom turrets cut for each rifle. I’d prefer to just calculate and dial for MOA over having a turret set for just one elevation and temperature. Is this a workable option with the huskemaw?

 

[mcseal2]

The newest 4-16 shipped with both their "click count" turret for building a custom turret and a separate MOA turret. It's definitely an option. I've been putting the stickers from this place on my Huskemaw's lately. I get them printed with MOA markings on the bottom and yardage markings above that for average conditions hunting around home. Best of both worlds to me, I have the MOA for when I have time to use the ballistics app and the yardage markers if I need to take a quick shot at 350 yards for example. If I choose to have Huskemaw build a turret later I'm building it based off the data I've already confirmed over time using the label turret. I'm not shooting extreme range, but I'm shooting to 800 yards.

Custom Ballistics Turret Labels | Custom Turret Systems

 

[Selway]

Good stuff gents, but again I'm hoping for the most reliable option, non-turret category.

 

[mcseal2]

Sorry, got off track. I still use VX-3 scopes mostly for non dialing. The Swaro Z3 I had was great until it was stolen. It was on a 223 that spent a lot of hours bouncing in a tractor, truck, or utv. That would probably be my pic for something other than Leupold.

 

[Monty3006]

I’ve been considering a Trijicon Accupoint 3-9. Anyone have experience with the ability of these to retain zero?

 

[menhaden_man]

A fun exercise would be to see what the Better Business Bureau says about all these manufacturers.

I've loved all my Leupold and Nikon scopes and have killed plenty of deer... not until I joined this forum that I realized that I should dump all of them and buy SWFAs !!! I have picked a few of those up and pretty impressed... but will know more after getting some time with them.

 

[Corvus Corax]

If you’re convinced that you want to change your scope. The SHV 3-10 has capped turrets and weighs 20.6 oz. Both are 30mm tube, and the mounting surface of the 3-10 SHV is pretty short at 5.1” vs VX5 at 5.6”. Price point for both are close. I’m assuming that you were originally interested in the 2-10 VX5?

 

[mcseal2]

I’ve been considering a Trijicon Accupoint 3-9. Anyone have experience with the ability of these to retain zero?

I have a couple in 1-4x on rifles. One is on a short barrel, collapsible stock AR that gets abused a lot. It rides behind the tractor seat baling hay or feeding cows quite a few days a year. I also use it predator hunting when I'm going to be in fairly close range spots but what more reach than a shotgun. I set the zero and never touch it unless I switch ammo, it's been great to me.

 

[Mr Drysdale]

I do not dial my scopes. I set them at 200 zero and leave them there. I probably don’t shoot nearly as much as a lot of folks reading this forum. I have Leupolds on most of my rifles and have some that are pushing 25 years old. I too have read of a few failures in the Leupold line but I have NEVER had any kind of failure nor had a need to use their warranty. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! My next scope purchase will be a VX5HD.

 

[Silvereagle50]

To replace a vx3, look towards the Swaro z3 or z5.

 

[mcseal2]

I do not dial my scopes. I set them at 200 zero and leave them there. I probably don’t shoot nearly as much as a lot of folks reading this forum. I have Leupolds on most of my rifles and have some that are pushing 25 years old. I too have read of a few failures in the Leupold line but I have NEVER had any kind of failure nor had a need to use their warranty. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! My next scope purchase will be a VX5HD.

I also like them when I am not dialing. I have a 4.5-14x that I bought 24 years ago on a truck gun that lives in the overhead rack on my old 93 Chevy. It's been a great scope and not treated well at all. I don't trust their erector system for use with the CDS, but for the use you describe they have been good to me.