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scope ignorance

shilowarshilowar Member Posts: 38,811 ✭✭✭
edited March 2013 in Ask the Experts
Is a Redfield 2x-7x a good quality scope? How about compared to a Nikon Prostaff 3x9x40? Mounted on a 30-06 bolt gun M77 or 700 BDL


I would use it for 300-400 yards or in...I guess my point was that any shooting of it would be less than...I should have said 100-200 yds.

Comments

  • lpaalplpaalp Member Posts: 951 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have 2 of the Redfield 2X7s. One mounted on a LW .308, the other on a 22 mag. Bought them when they first came out.

    I think they are good scopes - certainly an excellent value for the money - but have no basis to compare them with the Nikon (other than the power difference). Believe they make the Redfield in a 3X9 also (?).

    If I need another 2X7, I would look first at the Redfields.
  • tsr1965tsr1965 Member Posts: 8,682 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Not sure what you are going to be targeting at the ranges you specified, but a deer at 400 yaards looks pretty small on 12 power, let alone 9 power.

    If it had to be of the two you suggested, it would be the 3-9x Pro-Staff, just for the extra magnification. If it were mine, I would be going to a Burris 4.5-14 Full Field II.

    I rifle will only shoot as good as you can see.

    Best
  • MobuckMobuck Member Posts: 14,124 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Redfield was top of the line in the 70's. As far as actual quality, I'd rate them above the slap together current production BUT if there is a problem, you're on your own. There are shops that work on the older scopes but I doubt you'll get factory service.
    In reference to power needed to make accurate long range shots, I'll just add that quite a few indigenous SE Asians discovered that 9X was good enough at long range.
  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Define good. Todays Redfield is third or fourth tier at best. Any more, expect for rimfire, Burris or Leupold are as low as I will go. I consider Nikon third tier as well, for the lack of quality of customer service/repair if not for the actual quality of glass.

    If you can live without a scope till the fall hunting season save another hundred or two and buy the best glass you can almost afford. It will pay for itself over the years in durability and extending the shooting day. (Burris and Leupold are at best second tier, but only JustC can afford Nightforce.[}:)])
  • beantownshootahbeantownshootah Member Posts: 12,776 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Redfield is certainly adequate, but I'd say Nikon is better. The current Nikons just have superior glass quality, plus as mentioned they are also under active warranty should you ever develop a problem.

    Maybe I'm a "wuss", but I'm of the opinion that hitting ANYTHING at 400 yards is tough, and making a good hit at 300 isn't trivial either.

    If we're talking about ordinary hunting, the vast majority of hunting shots occur at distances under 200 yards (often way under) and either a 2-7x or a 3-9x is plenty good for that kind of shooting.

    Remember, for centuries people have hunted deer/hogs/bear/etc successfully with iron sights and (gasp!) there are even those who STILL do it. Others are hunting with handguns with fixed 2 or 3x glass, and still others are using bows and arrows with zero magnification. So to my mind, a variable power scope that gets up to 7x ought to be plenty except under fairly unusual circumstances.

    I'd even go so far as to say that for typical deer hunting in wooded areas, the LOWEST magnification is more important than the highest one, because 70 yard shots are more probable than 200+ yard ones.

    So long as you're careful to start low and then increase your magnification as necessary, it can't hurt to have 9x (or more), but that kind of magnification is probably more applicable to varmint hunting or open-plains style hunting where longer range shots are more common, or long range target shooting.
  • Gene248Gene248 Member Posts: 358
    edited November -1
    Back in the early 80's I had a 3x9 Redfield widefield on my Winchester 25/06. I used mostly handloads but killed more than one deer at 400+ yds. The old "made in Denver" Redfields were very fine scopes. You can find them on the auction side,but you have no warranty. I recently bought two of the 3x9s. I live in So.Tx where we hunt long roads so there are lots of opportunity for those long shots.
  • shilowarshilowar Member Posts: 38,811 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Gene248
    Back in the early 80's I had a 3x9 Redfield widefield on my Winchester 25/06. I used mostly handloads but killed more than one deer at 400+ yds. The old "made in Denver" Redfields were very fine scopes. You can find them on the auction side,but you have no warranty. I recently bought two of the 3x9s. I live in So.Tx where we hunt long roads so there are lots of opportunity for those long shots.


    Its an older Redfield on an older Ruger M77 that I was looking at.
  • Okie743Okie743 Member Posts: 2,705 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Speaking from experience and IMHO.

    I own few of the old model redfields on old model guns but would not purposely own a old model redfield scope. If it's on a gun I would only allow about $50 for such because if it fogs the after market repair cost is too much to put into a old redfield USUALLY.
    Although some of the old low pro and rangefinding types are collectables and resell at good price if not scrathed and beat up.

    I seen one few years ago that would not hold zero on a 30:06, sent it too redfield and it came back from factory right when they were going out of business with same issue.

    The Leupold VXII line of scopes is a real good scope (also unlimited lifetime warrenty even on a used one) and the glass clarity seems to be as good as the old model XIII's.
    The Leupold Rifleman series of scopes sucks big air.
    The old model XIII's are good scopes with lifetime warrenty but I've heard rumors that the factory does not repairs the old model 3.5x10's and has a trade in offer to upgrade to a VX series at fair prices. Leupold has top of the line customer service and customer relations and is AMERICAN MADE.

    In the Nikon series of scopes starting at the low end is Prostaff, then Buckmasters, then Monarch.
    The buckmaster's seem to have good clarity and most monarchs, even the old models are ususally ok, but NIKON customer Service/Customer Relations SUCK BIG AIR. If you are not the original owner, etc, you are usually SOL unless you are a good liar when communication with them.

    In a used scope a very good top of the line scope that is REALLY REALLY GOOD is the old model Bausch and Lomb. (but no warrenty because Bushnell bought B&L scope line few years ago)
    I'm not a fan of Bushnell, mainly because of the hassell of communicating with them and if you ever have to send them anything for warrenty repairs, insure it and get a delivery confirm. They lose stuff quite often.

    I own couple of Bushnell elite series of scopes which copy the B&L line of scopes with the good glass, etc that was on used guns I bought, but I normally stay away from Bushnell and don't buy bushnell due to poor customer service.

    I don't own any Burris scopes mainly bacause they have left a bad taste in my mouth couple times, not answering technical questions on-line or not returning phone calls at ALL, therefore I don't buy or recommend their products.

    If a company has poor customer service/customer realtions depts I don't do any business with them and they go on my list permanently and i pass the word.

    My suggestion: Look towards Leupold VXII line of scopes.

    A real good scope that can be found used at a reasonable price with careful shopping is the old line of Leupold XIII 2.5x8 scopes. (unlimited lifetime warrenty also)
    People just seem to look past this scope on GB and ebay.
  • AmbroseAmbrose Member Posts: 3,221 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I love the old scopes including Redfields. I buy them if they're in good shape whenever I can. I was at a gun show a year or so ago and an old geezer (almost as old as me!) had a 4-12 with the range finder set-up in it--called "accu-range", I think. I said, "What do you want for the old Redfield?" He said "55". I said, "I guess I got 50 bucks." He said, "55!" For some reason, I got a chuckle out of that. Of course, I gave him the 55, too.
  • JIM STARKJIM STARK Member Posts: 1,152 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I wouldn't touch a VX Leupold...Vari-X are excellent.... Burris Is my pick...Excellent Glass and customer service...
    JMHO....
    JIM..........................
  • Joes Custom GunsJoes Custom Guns Member Posts: 1,671 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have an Redfield 2x7 wide angle that I could list.
  • shilowarshilowar Member Posts: 38,811 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks but I was looking at rifles that had scopes and was curious them. I found a nice deal locally for a lightly used 700 BDL with a Nikon 3-9x40 that I may purchase.
  • sandwarriorsandwarrior Member Posts: 5,453 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    shilowar,

    Either the Redfield or Nikon are useable scopes. Not the greatest range or flexibility, but certainly useable.
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