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lsumeyers 
LSU Fan
Leesville
Member since Jun 2005
1331 posts
| Good starter scope? (Posted on 12/5/12 at 9:11 am)
I just got a rifle for my son and want to put a decent starter scope on it for him. I was thinking a Leopold VX-1 or a Redfield Revolution in a 3 x 9 x 50. Any opinions on these or another?
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Chad504boy 
New Orleans Saints Fan
Five Oh Four
Member since Feb 2005
65043 posts
| re: Good starter scope? (Posted on 12/5/12 at 9:16 am to lsumeyers)
Nikon Buckmaster
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DownshiftAndFloorIt
LSU Fan
The devil dreams on an idle horse
Member since Jan 2011
30614 posts
| re: Good starter scope? (Posted on 12/5/12 at 9:18 am to lsumeyers)
Leupold rifleman is another good choice. About the same as a vx-1. All those will be great scopes.
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lsumeyers
LSU Fan
Leesville
Member since Jun 2005
1331 posts
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I thought about Nikon or the Rifleman also, I don't think there's really a bad choice here.
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Yellerhammer5 
Alabama Fan
Member since Oct 2012
763 posts
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quote:
Leupold rifleman is another good choice. About the same as a vx-1. All those will be great scopes.
+1
I've had a rifleman on my .270 for about six years and it works great.
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DNaquin
LSU Fan
Right here
Member since Nov 2011
3859 posts
| re: Good starter scope? (Posted on 12/5/12 at 9:21 am to Chad504boy)
quote:
Nikon Buckmaster
Great scope. Its what I used until last week until I upgraded to the Monarch. I just needed something that made it easier to shoot at a longer range in low light. For a youngster it is more than adequate. You can find the 3-9x40 for around $170ish
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OTIS2
LSU Fan
NoLA
Member since Jul 2008
18528 posts
 Online
| re: Good starter scope? (Posted on 12/5/12 at 9:22 am to DNaquin)
quote:
Nikon Buckmaster
Very good, reasonably priced first scope. My 17 year old still uses one.
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lsumeyers
LSU Fan
Leesville
Member since Jun 2005
1331 posts
| re: Good starter scope? (Posted on 12/5/12 at 9:25 am to OTIS2)
Redfield has a 30.00 rebate right now.
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DownshiftAndFloorIt
LSU Fan
The devil dreams on an idle horse
Member since Jan 2011
30614 posts
| re: Good starter scope? (Posted on 12/5/12 at 9:26 am to lsumeyers)
Nah they're all good. I don't like Nikon scopes for a few reasons, but they all have good glass.
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lsumeyers
LSU Fan
Leesville
Member since Jun 2005
1331 posts
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I don't think an 11 yr old will be able to tell any subtle differences in performance, but I want something nice.
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DownshiftAndFloorIt
LSU Fan
The devil dreams on an idle horse
Member since Jan 2011
30614 posts
| re: Good starter scope? (Posted on 12/5/12 at 9:31 am to lsumeyers)
I personally think the leupold vx-1 is the best value in rifle scopes there is, but it's all in what you like. All of the ones everyone listed would be a good choice.
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mylsuhat 
USA Fan
Gheens, LA
Member since Mar 2008
34957 posts
| re: Good starter scope? (Posted on 12/5/12 at 9:36 am to lsumeyers)
Redfield is a very nice scope
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lsumeyers
LSU Fan
Leesville
Member since Jun 2005
1331 posts
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You're right, the VX-1 is hard to beat for the money. I've had good luck with Leupold and Redfield throughout the years.
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LouisianaChessie
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since May 2010
798 posts
| re: Good starter scope? (Posted on 12/5/12 at 9:50 am to Chad504boy)
quote:
Nikon Buckmasters
+1
The pro staff isn't bad either. Both are clear solid scopes.
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DownshiftAndFloorIt
LSU Fan
The devil dreams on an idle horse
Member since Jan 2011
30614 posts
| re: Good starter scope? (Posted on 12/5/12 at 9:51 am to lsumeyers)
Get one of those two in that case. Leupold owns red field now.
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faxis
LSU Fan
La.
Member since Oct 2007
6593 posts
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I'd get him the Leupold since there's just not a lot of difference in those scopes and he can then say, yep, I've got a Leupold. It's not the same thing as a higher end one by any stretch of the imagination but still. Strut that shite.
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fisherbm1112
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2010
4094 posts
| re: Good starter scope? (Posted on 12/5/12 at 10:18 am to lsumeyers)
Don't know how much the Cabela's Euro model are but they are made by the same company as Meopta. If not then I would go with the VX-1 Leupold.
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lsumeyers
LSU Fan
Leesville
Member since Jun 2005
1331 posts
| re: Good starter scope? (Posted on 12/5/12 at 10:47 am to fisherbm1112)
I think I may have found another option. Academy has the Nikon Buckmaster 3 x 9 x 50 that's 309.99 marked down to 199.99. That may be the one.
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TigerOnThe Hill
Springhill
Member since Sep 2008
1826 posts
| re: Good starter scope? (Posted on 12/5/12 at 12:29 pm to lsumeyers)
When my son was 11 y/o I bought him a Savage bolt action 308 Win; the package came w/ a Simmons 3-9X40 scope. He used that scope until I replaced it w/ a Leopold Rifleman 3-9X scope. The scopes already mentioned are all nice scopes, but you may want to considr starting w/ a lower end scope, then upgrading later as he matures. In general, kids are usually harder on equipment than are adults. We kept his shots to 100 yards at first, then lengthened them as he became more experienced. There's a bunch of ways of doing this, but how we did it worked out for us. Good luck. And most importantly, be sure you BOTH have a enjoyable hunts. That usually means that the adult will end up making some sacrifices!  
ETA: Personally, I don't see the need for a 50mm objective on most deer hunting rifles; it adds weight w/o significanlty impacting the optics. I would NOT go above 9X on the upper end for an adjustable scope. Be sure he keeps the magnification on the lower end, for the most part, during the hunt.
This post was edited on 12/5 at 12:33 pm
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lsumeyers
LSU Fan
Leesville
Member since Jun 2005
1331 posts
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Well, Leupold won out. Bass Pro had the VX1 3x9x40 QDMA model for 199.00 and free shipping. I jumped on it.
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