re: Let's Talk Optics!!

Why does it seem that everyone in this thread wants to hang Hubble telescopes on their rifles?

Here are a couple points to consider. First, the human eye can only dilate to about 7 mm when the eye is young, perfectly healthy, and pitch black. As a practical manner, aging eyes, and less than pitch black conditions means that dilation is usually more like about 5 mm and in daylight it will be about 4 mm. A 4x32 scope has an exit pupil of 8 mm and therefore, provides all the exit pupil anyone can use.

Secondly, scopes do not "gather" light. That is impossible. They transmit light and right now, the technological limit we seem to have reached with all the modern coatings is that about 92 percent of visible light is transmitting through the scope. That number is amazingly consistent through most all scopes that are fully multicoated from a $200 Burris up to a $2,000 Schmidt and Bender.

Where scopes can differentiate themselves is in the quality of glass used and some of the coatings. But it doesn't really provide a brighter image, just a clearer one that may allow you take advantage of the light transmitted a little better.

Finally, the high manification does not aid in shooting at reasonable distances out to 400 yards or so. One thing that high manification does is allow you to see a little better at low light. It is easier to see something that is close at low light than something that is far off and the higher manification helps and the big objectives keep a reasonable exit pupil at those high manifications. The thing is though, in the United States, night hunting, unless it is for hogs, is illegal so it really doesn't matter. The big 50 mm objectives and more were designed for Europe where they hunt at night.

The moral of it all is that in the U.S. the average hunter is better served by nothing bigger than a 3x9x40 that keeps the rifle light and well balanced while providing all power and lowlight shooting capability needed. You don't need an 18x scope to shoot a deer at 200 yards and the difference in available shooting time between something like a $200 Burris and a $2000 Schmidt and Bender set on the same power is going to be about a minute.

Another thing to consider is that big heavy scopes are not as tough as smaller and lighter ones. It is simple physics. The bigger scopes have more mass and generate more momentum during recoil and are FAR more prone to breaking than smaller lighter scopes in most cases.

There are exceptions. Some of the tactical scopes like Nightforce are so heavy because they are built so strongly and completely over engineered to make sure they don't break.

On the other hand a Leupold or a Zeiss made with a 50 mm objective and made just like the 4x32 model is going to be much much more prone to breakage than the smaller lighter scope. And fixed power scopes are always tougher than variables.

The toughest hunting scope made is probably the little 2.5x20 Leupold. D'Arcy Echols uses one to test all of his really heavy big game rifles that he build for Africa and declares that it is practically unbreakable. He has seen nearly every scope made when customers send them in to be placed on their rifles he makes and he has said that many many scopes costing thousands of dollars have broken in just a few shots from one of his rifles.

NHass I wish I could. It was on a website which had the scope mispriced plus 25% off for black Friday. I contemplated selling it to pay for a whole new rifle and scope setup but after using it, no way in hell.

I would have posted the deal in the OB but last time I ran across a deal on a Nikon it got zero attention.

I have always used a 50mm objective. My dad has always used a 50mm objective. I don't know why but we do. I know there is evidence that it is pointless, but I believe it provides better eye relief, field of view, and early morning/ dusk lighting. There is evidence proving the bible wrong but I am still a Christian.

The price is a bit more but hardly any added weight.

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I would have posted the deal in the OB but last time I ran across a deal on a Nikon it got zero attention

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We are some cheap bastards on this board. If you post a good deal on optics on here we will be on that like stink on poop! See previous long-arse posts on cheap cree flashlights and cammo bibs/jackets for proof.

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yea, but having a bad arse Swarovoski that you can brag to your hunting friends about is the shite!!!!

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Cabelas has a 4-12x50 Swarovoski Z3 for $939 with 12% points back (which makes it really about $830)

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Cabelas has a 4-12x50 Swarovoski Z3 for $939 with 12% points back (which makes it really about $830)

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Where did you see that you get 12% points on this scope? I saw the ad for 0% no payments for 12 months, but not this deal.

Is there a code to enter for online orders. If so, please share!

Actually 15% back exp 12/22

Code 5x55b

I like my Conquest, but honestly I dont think you will notice a 200 dollar difference in the Leupold

I have the Leupold VXL and a buddy of mine has a Meopta. We put both scopes on 8 power on a night with a half moon. There was no comparison, the Meopta was twice as clear. I have woods about 330 yards away from my house and with the Leupold I could have told you were a person standing there. With the Meopta I could have seen your face and told who you were. The Meopta sells for a little less money, that was the point I was making. If I purchase another scope which I plan to do, it will not be a Leupold. It will be a Meopta. For the money it is the best deal buy far in my opinion.