a reliable alternative

a lot of times it is hard to justify the expense of a leupold scope. and, when you start analyzing things, all the quality entry level scopes (nikon, sightron) run about the same price - which is why i always went back to leupold. it is a known quantity.

anyway, a while ago i picked up a pair of cabela's alaskan guide scopes to run thru their paces (a fixed-6 compact, and a 6.5-20 ao and turrets). i've had a chance to run both of 'em pretty hard now, and think these are worthy scopes.

optically, they are not even close to a vx-3, but they do compare well to a vari-x2. i've shot the hell out of the big scope as it is the scope i use for developing loads, and accuracy testing rifles. this scope has never been hunted, but it has seen tons of range time. the only real negative is the eye relief sucks, but other than that, it has been real dependable. the tracking is positive and repeatable, and the scope takes a lickin'... it has seen approximately 75 rounds of full-tilt 338 win mag (plus a couple dozen development shots), around 100 rounds of full power 300 wsm loads, about 200 w/ the 7 mags, around 50 w/ the 25-06, and maybe another 3 or 400 w/ lesser cartridges (22-250, 223's, 308, 243...)

the compact 6 is on par w/ my leupold compact - might even be better because the adjustments are easier to make and very positive. i have hunted this scope a few times, and it has handled everything in fine fashion.

so, there ya go... a couple of scopes that won't break the bank, but will be serviceable for awhile. no, they are not leupolds, and i would advocate buying the leupold if ya could, but if ya can't, ya just can't.

Never boughten any of the Cabela's offerings.  Which reticle to ya have in your variable?  Good to see they have a mil dot.  Keeps me interested in the possibility that sometime down the line Cabela's might be purchased, with your endorsement.

We had one of those rangefinding 4.5-14x here for a while.  Those different sized circles all over the view picture just seemed to darn clustered.  Maybe it wouldn't be on game.  That's just the first impression I came to looking through it.  >>  klallen  

He Dak:

There’s no way that I’d trade these two Alaskan Guide scopes for any other. The top one is a 1X fixed power meant for a shotgun. It’ll eventually go on a 375 Whelen Improved(a very acceptably accurate rifle tested with a Tasco 3-9 World Class scope) once I get the stock done. The bottom one is a 3.5-10X44 on a Ruger M77 VT 308 Win – also very acceptably accurate. These rifles do not a require a costly Leupold(I have a Leu VariXIII 1.5-5 and a 2.5-8 VariXIII mounted on other rifles) to satisfy my standards. Both are made in Japan and under Cabella’s stringent specs. These are classy looking scopes also. I don’t get 1 inch groups on ANY of my rifles with any  scope at 500 yards.

Gene Dip

EDip wrote:     I don’t get 1 inch groups on ANY of my rifles with any  scope at 500 yards.

lol... now, don't go gettin' the rumor started that i can do that routinely on purpose!

yeah, i really did shoot that group i posted (though i don't know its size... i haven't measured it yet, and my calipers are in the truck... and i'm too lazy to go get 'em right now), and yeah, it was an honest 500 yards (lasered). yep, it is my best ever, and no, i do not think i can do it again, and no, i wouldn't claim to be able to 'do it all day long'.  

the kicker is, the scope that did it is a p.o.s. that i really don't like!

Stay away from Cabela's Blue Ridge series unless you're looking for something very low budget. I admit I have 3 Tasco W.C.'s - a 2-7 and two 3-9's. They serve their purposes very well for me.

Gene Dip