Leupold ruined it for us. My compromise

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Mendopellet

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Sep 9, 2018
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Well, any older shooters will remember the later part of the 90s and into the 2000s, as a time when Leupold offered scopes like this. I owned several of these on hunting purposed guns, and for THAT purpose, they are still among the best. And I had hell trying to find a similar modern replacement. Of course, a limited budget did not help. 



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All of us has our own criteria when choosing scopes, and this scope was chosen as a hunting purposed scope for field carry. My criteria for a field carry hunting scope are these:



Light weight ( I'm carrying it all day sometimes. So under 19oz is preferred )

Less than 14" ( long scopes suck in thick brush, and are heavier )

Low power down to at least 4 or 5x ( much easier to scan the tree tops or brush for that hidden animal )

High power at least 12x ( need the ability to zoom in for long shots, and identifying prey in the distance )

AO that will work for airgun distances ( at least down to 25 yards for hunting purposes ) 

Great light gathering for morning and evening hunting ( over 40mm obj lens preferred )

Real clarity at all power mag



The above Leupold only needed side focus, and click turrets to be PERFECT imo. It is only 11.7" long, and weighs 12.9 oz. This is amazing. It's 4.5,x to 14xwere great, and the glass is amazing. Only the turrets were bad. Set and forget turrets. So this is what I was trying to find, when I went looking for a modern replacement. Yeah right! Good luck.

I may have missed some, but the closest I could find that is similar is the Athlon Argos 4 to 20x 50mm side focus. Weighing 19.5 oz, and only 13.1" long, it is not too bad. It has side focus, and good turrets for clicking. I only feel I compromised on the glass quality, when comparing the Leupold. And the weight.? It was about as close as I could find anymore to a lightweight full sized scope. Hopefully I will like the scope when it arrives. 



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Just get the EFR 6.5-20 or 3-9. 
Click to expand...



If the Leupold I listed had target turrets, and didn't sell for $450 used on average, I would just buy a used one of those! But neither EFR scopes meet my criteria.

The six.5 minimum mag is a bit high for a hunting scope for my tastes. I consider it a target scope. Also it is too long.

The 3x9 doesn't meet my need for more magnification up top. I have owned 3 of the 3x9 EFRs over the years. Two were OK at best, the other was just not bright. I think it's the small 32mm obj. I just never thought the 3x9 was in the same league as other Leupold scopes.
 
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I should also say, with my budget of $300, I did not expect to get Vari XIII optics. But you should try and find a scope under 14", under 19 oz, AO, target turrets, and really good optics under $300 ! I searched my butt off to find the above Athlon scope, which comes really close in every way. Optical quality I have not seen yet. But reviews are glowing.



I have another gun which I only shoot from a bench. So the weight of that scope does not matter, which opens up a TON of options, as long as this scope will also handle magnum springer recoil. This will be a much easier scope to choose, as I will have plenty of options.
 
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It's like airguns (or anything really) find the one that has most of the features you like because perfect doesn't exist lol.



Have you looked at the Clearidge scopes. From what I have heard they make decent ultralight scopes with good glass. Right in your price range too. I've never used one though so I can't say how great they are...



http://www.clearidgeoptics.com/product-p/3520.htm
 
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Have you looked at the Clearidge scopes. From what I have heard they make decent ultralight scopes with good glass. Right in your price range too. I've never used one though so I can't say how great they are...

http://www.clearidgeoptics.com/product-p/3520.htm

Click to expand...



They are good looking scopes for sure. But the one you linked is the same weight as the one I linked above. But the scope I found has a larger OBJ, and side focus. It is also shorter.



Their most expensive 30mm tube scopes, cost the same kind of money as an Aztec Emerald. Which would kill those for me most likely. I would have to compare the two to make that kind of choice.

Thanks for the link though! I wasn't aware of these scopes.
 
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Hey Tweeter … You can rest assured of one thing. I will NOT be buying a Leupold EFR 3x9 again, after looking at the Clearidge Just way less money, and way more options. I appreciate the heads up. I also have trouble buying the EFR, with the Swift 4 to 12x 40mm AO about the same size and weight. Lastly, the very best compact scope I have ever used was a Burris Timberline 4.5 to 14 x 32mm AO. at only 11.3" long, and only 15 oz. Clearer and brighter than any other sub $300 compact IMO. At $252 shipped, it is my go to compact.
 
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This thread got me thinking. Leupold brought back the red field line of scopes as their budget line. I personally have only looked through one and that was a few years back and can't remember anything about it. Has anyone had any experience with them? Who knows there might be a good budget option in that line of scopes and if leupold is running it then I imagine the customer service and warranty should all be good. 
 
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 I use to think Leupold was the only scope. But about 10 years ago or so, it seemed they were not so hot. Of course that is a little later than my eyes started going into the old folks home. To me the Midas line of Athlon scopes are more clear to my eyes than any Leupold I ever owned. Several years back I bought a scope directly from Leupold. It was one of their high dollar scopes , that had side focus. I wanted them to make it a air rifle scope. That was before we had all the great choices we have today. They tried to set up the SF to work for air rifles, but after a couple of returns I just sold the scope. So I don't miss Leupold any, unless they make a scope that is clear as they was to my eyes 30 years ago. My favorite scopes now are Athlon, March, Meopta in that order. Oh the little EDgun scope is as optically sharp as my March & better than any Leupold I looked through in the last few years. My 6500 Bushnell was one good scope, not sure why I sold that. One thing I really appreciate about Leupold is their warranty, used that at least once & got a new pair of binoculars, as my grandkids demolished the other ones, I told leupold but they still gave me a new pair. Sorry did not mean to hijack your thread. It is cold here and the Crown is kickin in. 
 
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They do make a good scope for the money, no doubt about that.

If you read any of my posts you know I am a cheap bastage, and very big on getting what I pay for....and many things I think you pay a bit for the name.

Leupold is on the edge on this for me, they do make a good scope, but the cheaper guys are getting very close.

I am a die hard swarovski guy more so then zeiss, Yup I will hang a scope that costs 10x what the rifle costs and be very happy. I understand most don't want to spend a good used car price on a scope....but what I don't understand is why people buy these "premium" airguns then hang an average $400-$700 glass on them. Perhaps this is why I have not moved up to expensive air guns....or firearms for that matter, quality glass makes a big difference, and IMHO Leupold is a minimum scope.



Now all that said I will not toss anything out, and I will buy a cheap scope...depending on its use, but if I am trying to see just what the gun will do...it will get good glass stuck on it just to make the test as good as it can be.
 
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Wow Cherokee. I think perspective may be the answer for some. I'm going to be crucified for writing this, but here goes. 



The law of diminishing returns is everything in optics, IMO. You called $400 to $700 average glass !!! WTF ? That is premium glass price. The $2000 scopes do NOT have that much better glass. I know, I have OWNED them when I had money in the past. And I can say not even one of them gave me any special low light advantage, SO great over the lesser scopes, that I was able to bag that huge elk or moose, which made my $$10,000 hunting trip all worthwhile, and saved the day. because I could see from the expensive scope, but not from a lesser one. 



Simmons used to advertise the "30 minute advantage" Claiming you could see up to 30 minutes later than with other scopes. IF this were true and accurate. and I was an avid hunter of game, where this mattered tremendously, THEN I could see paying used car prices for a scope. 



BUT …..…… My old Simmons Aetec with Japanese glass was as good as my Vari X III. And the B&L Elite scopes were also as good. And my Weaver Classic V series was very close. So budget and perception has to play into account, My placement of scopes in the money scale is way off from yours, Cherokee. I think sub $300 scopes are GOOD budget scopes, IF you stay in the right brands. Anything from $300 to $800 is premium glass IMO. And anything more expensive than that is just justified spending due to circumstance ( I make several hundred grand yearly, so why not? ). But keep in mind perspective. Because a $400 scope took Extreme Benchrest this year. My Daystate MK4 may be older now, but it was a premium priced air rifle. $2400, if I remember correctly. My Athlon scope of $349, purchased new for $189, will not only work well, but will also look very classy on this rifle, as the scope is even "pretty" compared to many of them. Why would I spend more, when two reviews online compare the Argos glass favorably with $900 glass side by side?



Interesting subject, with lots of interesting opinions I'm sure.



These are ONLY my opinions. But if I ever have to spend over $400 to get good optics, I will change hobbies.
 
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