Top FT Scope?

[luddite]

I have been PMd a few times asking for a reccomendation for FT scopes so I thought that I'd post my opinion on the subject.
The Leupold Competition range is the best range finder of them all, with the 45x being the best, the 40x next and the 35x needing more skill and care but a superb rangefinder nevertheless. They are sidewheel scopes and are very compact and light. The only downside is that they are fixed mag. If some way could be found to halve the magnification for standing or kneeling shots they would be the ideal FT scope.
The 20-50x50 Leupold is a great scope but requires a high level of skill to use effectively and is quite temperature sensitive. They are also a light and compact sidewheel scope.
The Leupold Mk 4 is a good side wheel range finder but has the same charachteristics as the 20-50 scope and is very sensitive to head/eye position.
The Nightforce NXS 12-42x56 sidewheel scope is a superb rangefinder second only to the 45x Leupold Competition but suffers from a blind spot from 15 yards to 24 yards where the target cannot be range found but can be viewed at 12x. It is a solid piece of kit and consistant in any temperature. I have been asked about my opinion of the lower mag NFs and having never used them can only conjecture, but I feel that the 32x will not rangefind well.
The Nightforce 35x FT scope is a superb front parallax scope but is quite bulky and heavy and requires 2 turns of the parralax ring.
The Schmidt and Bender PM II 5-25x50 is a superb scope being a side wheel scope with superb lenses. The range finding is superb up to 50 yards but between 50-55 is not as good as the Leupold Competition range. The target can be bracketed with the reticle which comes in mil dot or ladder(ie lines)
The Burris 8-32x44 is a superb scope with unbeatable lenses and it will see the target clearly under any light conditions and is a superb range finder. It's achilles heel however is it's front parralax which can be very stiff and notchy on some scopes. If this scope had a side wheel it would be the top FT scope.
The Bushnell 8-32x40 is similar to the Burris but is not quite as good but is a superb scope nevertheless.

[TARGETZERO]

you mention the lupe 20 50 50 bieng temp sensitive,does this happen with all ov these scopes?as the one i own ive never noticed this,i totally agree as to more skill bieng used, to get the best from this scope though

[RobF]

you mention the lupe 20 50 50 bieng temp sensitive,does this happen with all ov these scopes?as the one i own ive never noticed this,i totally agree as to more skill bieng used, to get the best from this scope though

ricardo123 on here has one thats been dipped silver and hasnt seen any temp shifts yet.

[ETH]

you mention the lupe 20 50 50 bieng temp sensitive,does this happen with all ov these scopes?as the one i own ive never noticed this,i totally agree as to more skill bieng used, to get the best from this scope though

December and January tend not to be that warm Perry

Wait till Summer mate you'll be cursing with me and all the other Leupold newbies.

I have found every Leupold senstive to head/eye pos. The Comp series are very good optically - as good as the bigger mag scopes imho. The rangefinding does appear to be tricky but I think most Leupolds need "owner imput"

[sniper-wolf]

My Comp series has never suffered in temperature. I have had it over 12 months now, so have used it most conditions. It's rangefinding capabilities are second to none, and I have owned or tried most FT scopes out there.
If you wanted to, you could rangefind upto 45 or even 50 yards in 1 yard increments.

I did struggle a little bit with the mag at first, but now I am used to it, I wouldn't swap it for the world.

I had a Leupold 20-50x50 and that was ok until the temperature dropped to around 5 degrees or less, then it would under range by about 3-5yds. But as Ken (Luddite) said, user input is needed with these scopes, and if you know it's going to happen, you can compensate for it.

I would recommend a Competition series Leupold to anyone, and now that the interest rate is so good, now is the time to buy. Neil.

[ETH]

and now that the interest rate is so good, now is the time to buy. Neil.

Can't argue with that -
hope mine doesn't change with temp.

[andy_scouser]

Why do people shout about Leups? Ive looked down quite a few and im not overly fussed. Temperature fluctuations means lack of faith, surely.

Buy a titanium tubed bushnell and spend the rest on lap dancers.

[xbow]

Very useful info Ludd.

The Leupold Mk 4 is a good side wheel range finder but has the same charachteristics as the 20-50 scope and is very sensitive to head/eye position.

Does this apply to the Competition Series at all as I've been thinking of getting one to replace my Big Nikko.

Thanks,

Vic.

[luddite]

Very useful info Ludd.



Does this apply to the Competition Series at all as I've been thinking of getting one to replace my Big Nikko.

Thanks,

Vic.

The Competition series is not very temperature sensitive and is the easiest scope to rangefind with, head/eye position is not critical.

[xbow]

The Competition series is not very temperature sensitive and is the easiest scope to rangefind with, head/eye position is not critical.

Thanks for that Ludd. Now all I need to know is do I get:

1) Leup Comp (40 mag)
2) Digital SLR
3) Small Vertical Mill

I can only afford one of them!

[Whizzer]

I have just bought a premier reticles leup comp 40x and it appears to be good, I still think the burris is the best but time will tell, i will keep assessing the leup and wont give up yet!

I have had all of the leups and think the burris is a better rangefinder than any of them!

[RobF]

it would be interesting one day to get a load of good scopes together and see what the actual performance is of the scopes...having looked through leups i've seen quite a variation in behaviour.

still the best thing i've looked through is the prototype s&b...but daz's burris was very good...pity i just couldnt get it on the gun

[luddite]

I have just bought a premier reticles leup comp 40x and it appears to be good, I still think the burris is the best but time will tell, i will keep assessing the leup and wont give up yet!

I have had all of the leups and think the burris is a better rangefinder than any of them!

If the Burris 8-32x44 R/A had a side wheel it would very likely be the ultimate FT scope. However as it does not the Loop Comp 45 IS the best range finder bar none. I can range find to the yard with ease between 50-55 yards.