Im having a Mark V Wby Re barrelled and rechambered to 270 Wby Mag, and am looking for a good ($reasonable$) scope for it. I had intended on purchasing a Bushnell Elite 4200 with rainguard, but I have heard that their customer service has gone to crap, and their quality isnt what it used to be.

Im now looking at a Vortex Diamondback 3-9X40, for around $200.00. SWFA OpticsTalk did a test on this scope and rated it better than the Burris, Bushnell, Redfield,Nikon scopes in the $200.00 and under class. Plus ithas a lifetime no questions asked transferrable warranty, with no sales slip required.

I really like the rainguard feature of the Bushnells but,not enough to deal with customer service problems.

Does anyone have any experience with the Vortex line of scopes? any info would be appreciated.

Varmint;

I bought a Vortex 8X monocular to replace the Zeiss that went free to the wild.  It's not really comparable to the Zeiss, and it's not fair to try since it cost about one fifth as much. 

But, it's a very good performing optic for the money.

900F

Thank you all for the replies, I just found out that Redfield scopes are bieng made by Leupold, and are in my price range so Im going to check them out also, Ill let you know what happens.

thanks again..Mike

Went to a Sportsmans Warehouse near me and took a look at the Redfield 3-9X50 scope, compared it to the Bushnell 4200, (they didnt have a  Vortex). I liked what I saw and the only one they had was a demo. The guy behind the counter said I could have it for $150.00 so I took it. It doesnt have a mark on it and it has the Accurange reticle. I cant wait till I get my Mark V back from Weatherby.

varmintcaller wrote: Thank you all for the replies, I just found out that Redfield scopes are bieng made by Leupold, and are in my price range so Im going to check them out also, Ill let you know what happens.thanks again..Mike

We have 5 Redfield now and 7 Leupold's There are others but were talking this type.

 As we compare the Redfield's, seam to be very equal in performance and like you say WAY cheaper. Personally I feel there a VERY good scope. The one I have on my 45/70 gives me plenty of eye relief, we have them on two 375' too. The 4X12 in the 22/250 is clear WAY out on 12. There Well worth the investment.

 On a side note ,we had an OLD ( over 50 years)Leupold that was on a gun we got used that was bad . We sent it in and they repaired it, sent us the history on the scope, FOR FREE!!!!

Happy to hear that you have had such good luck with the Redfield scopes, I like ehat I see so far.

I also have an oldie Leupold sscope, I bought it in 1966 from the Herters catalog, Its as good mechanically as the the day I bought it, been on a Wby 300 mag all this time and i am passing the gun and scope to my son this summer.

I sent a Luepold  Rifleman scope back to them to see if they could loosen up the power ring knob, not only did the  fix the knob, but they completely rebuilt the scope and didnt charge me a cent. Thats one o f the reasons I got the Redfield, hassle free service.

     vI have a 3x9 redfield on my new 7 mag and i like it fine !   however i think i will put it on my 270 and put the vx3 3.5x10 on my 7 mag.

       No question the vx 3 is better, but I could get 3 ofvthe redfields for the price of the VX3...tj3006

glad you gat the Redfield scope.  I think they are just the same as the Rifleman line of leupold scopes and made in the USA.

Getting back to Vortex.

At the moment there are four distinct riflescope product lines marketed by Vortex:

• least expensive are Chinese-made http://www.riflescopes.webyshops.com/Brands/Vortex-Crossfire-Rifle-Scopes - Crossfire scopes
• next (significant) step up are Phillipine-made http://www.riflescopes.webyshops.com/Brands/Vortex-Diamondback-Rifle-Scopes - Diamondback riflescopes
• http://www.riflescopes.webyshops.com/Brands/Vortex-Viper-Rifle-Scopes - Viper scopes are another step-up in quality (also Phillipine-made)
• at the top of the line-up are the (absolutely world-class) http://www.riflescopes.webyshops.com/Brands/Vortex-Razor-HD-Rifle-Scopes - Razor HD riflescopes that are manufactured in Japan.

Funny thing is today everyone talks about brightness and clarity  in scopes.  I have found the cheapest $45 scopes to be bright and clear...but after a few rounds they are mechanically broken and don't hold zero (example Tasco). 

So I Never rate brightness...mechanical considerations are what counts today.  Most anyone can make a clear bright scope today with all the great quality and fast grinding lenses machines available now. 

When I bought my firsst scope in 1960, that wasn't the case...it was a Weaver (rated best available) and by today's standard was junk; optically and mechanically.

I only buy scopes made in japan or the USA.

Mt let us know how it holds up.  We are always looking for decent reasonable scopes.  Glass has gotten so expensive.

I did find a bargain on a Leupold VX-2 3-9x 40mm in Silver, $229.  If it had been in Blue, I'd have boought 5 of them.

Good Glass and mounts are getting to be more expensive than rifles!!

MtElkHunter;

I'd like to see that scope on your .338.  Mine's got a Zeiss Conquest 3-10 44mm mil-dot on it & it's been an excellent scope.  It's been a few years, but seem to recall paying something in the mid 500's for it.

First mounts I had on the gun were Burris, with a Leupold scope in them.  The mounts wouldn't hold up, the scope is fine, but on another gun.  The current mounts are Talley lightweights, but they deliver heavyweight performance in comparison to the B brand.

900F

Sounds like a good rifle to me.

If you don't like the fiber paddle, you could add a nice laminate wood stock in say, coffee brown.  My 338 has one looks good to me and it is indestructible.

MtElkHunter;

Nope, don't need a picture of the gun, but am sorta interested in the scope.  I've got one of those boat oar stocks on my early 77/22, and I kinda like it.  Never tried one of the centerfire guns with one though.  The guy I bought my present house from tried to sell me his Ruger 77 boat oar in .338 Winchester magnum though.  Said every time he shot it, it was like getting hit in the shoulder with a dull axe!

Yours sure sounds like a keeper to me.

900F