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Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40..."the standard" |
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westside bengal
Optics GrassHopper Joined: March/05/2014 Status: Offline Points: 6 |
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Posted: March/23/2014 at 14:56 |
I have decided that a 3-9x40 scope is all I need as a beginner. It will be on a 223 bolt action to shoot paper at 100-200 yards. Its my first rifle since I had a 22lr as a kid and I have to learn a lot.
There are lots of brands and models and I want to keep the price in the $300-400 range. In many reviews on 3-9x40 scopes (or similar) of the last few years, the recently discontinued Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 seems to be the "standard" most scopes aspire to be but often fall short, especially in that price range. Some scopes have more bells and whistles but the most important attribute; glass quality, is not quite there. I am doing some traveling the next couple of weeks and plan to visit some of the gun shops as I pass thru with some free time. If I were to find a new Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 on the shelf in that $350 or so range is that the scope I should buy? Or is there truly a scope in that range that knocks the Conquest off of the pedestal. |
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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Welcome to Optics Talk. Check The Sample List. There is a 3-9x Connie for about $350. http://www.samplelist.com/Zeiss-3-9x40-Conquest-Rifle-Scope-DEMO-B-P67505.aspx I love the Conquest, up to the 3.5-10x. After that, I'd go with another scope.
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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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Sparky
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: July/15/2007 Location: SD Status: Offline Points: 4569 |
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There is one on the sample list for $350.
http://www.samplelist.com/Zeiss-3-9x40-Conquest-Rifle-Scope-DEMO-B-P67505.aspx But if it is only for paper punching I would also look at the SS fixed line of scopes. |
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Tip69
Optics Master Extraordinaire Tip Stick Joined: September/27/2005 Location: Nebraska Status: Offline Points: 4155 |
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yeah... don't buy that 3-9 on the samplelist... trying to talk my buddy into it!
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take em!
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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I think another really good 3-9x these days is the Leupold 3-9x VX-R with the Firedot reticle's. Mine is very functional, a little pricey, but worth it.
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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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westside bengal
Optics GrassHopper Joined: March/05/2014 Status: Offline Points: 6 |
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I have thought about the SS fixed scopes. And i am pretty sure I would only be paper punching 90+% of the time. But there might be a time I wished I had that variable scope.
I guess what I am really asking... is the Zeiss Conquest still the one on top in that price range? If so I will try to find one. If not then I will order something else. |
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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Depends on who you ask. I say yes. We already put up a link showing you the 3-9x Conquest for $350 from our Gracious Host. Get it and don't look back.
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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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Tip69
Optics Master Extraordinaire Tip Stick Joined: September/27/2005 Location: Nebraska Status: Offline Points: 4155 |
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seriously.... don't... I just about have my buddy over the fence.... need to knock some sense into him if he doesn't hurry up and buy that one. what that bit about, "you can lead a horse to water...."
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take em!
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biggreen747
Optics Journeyman Joined: October/16/2009 Location: Colorado Status: Offline Points: 470 |
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Tip69.. It says 5 available..so the OP can get one but you better throw a bucket of water on your buddy and see if you can get him off the fence.
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We measure it with a micrometer, mark it with a crayon, and cut it with a chainsaw.
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JGRaider
Optics Master Joined: February/06/2008 Status: Offline Points: 1540 |
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Well, as far as being the "standard" most scopes aspire to be in that price range, I'm not too sure about that. Great glass? Yes, but there are several more attributes of a great hunting scope that are just as important as pure optics. Just to give you a little clue....Meopta made the Zeiss Conquest scopes, and Meopta makes a 1" hunting scope in their Meopro lineup that is every bit as good as a Conquest ever thought of being. |
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Tip69
Optics Master Extraordinaire Tip Stick Joined: September/27/2005 Location: Nebraska Status: Offline Points: 4155 |
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so.... if its the same..... doesn't the same apply? also... is the eye relief the same? how about that reticle?
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take em!
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Tip69
Optics Master Extraordinaire Tip Stick Joined: September/27/2005 Location: Nebraska Status: Offline Points: 4155 |
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well.. for starters... the Meopta is $100.00 more... priced at $499.95... and eye relief just a skosh less.
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take em!
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Tip69
Optics Master Extraordinaire Tip Stick Joined: September/27/2005 Location: Nebraska Status: Offline Points: 4155 |
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nice catch! if I didn't already have an extra... i'd be getting me another. But I think I'm gonna get one of those last Monarch's to put on a 17 B-mag.
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take em!
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JGRaider
Optics Master Joined: February/06/2008 Status: Offline Points: 1540 |
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Who said it was the same? Which reticle. I can tell you that various Meopta reticles are every bit as usable as the conquest. |
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JGRaider
Optics Master Joined: February/06/2008 Status: Offline Points: 1540 |
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Depends on where you shop. Reading the specs is a far cry from actually using one, if you know what I mean. Don't get me wrong, I really like the Conquests, but they aren't God's gift to scopes necessarily. |
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rookie7
Optics GrassHopper Joined: March/05/2012 Location: Georgia Status: Offline Points: 5 |
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Get the conquest. You will never be disappointed in the quality. You're only paper punching, and not competing in any matches or anything similar.
The conquest is a scope you can keep forever and move from rifle to rifle. There isn't a better 3-9x40 scope for $500 or less than the conquest. Period. There may be some that come close, but none surpass. I have one right now in my safe on a Winchester Model 70 lightweight. I also have: Leupold VX-R 1.25-4 firedot #4 Leupold VX-3 1.5-5 w/ german #4 Bushnell 4200 elite 3-9x40 Sightron SII Big Sky 4.5-14x42 Leupold Vari-X II 2-7x33 SWFA 12x mil quad Zeiss Conquest 6.5-20x50 When getting back into shooting or learning to shoot you don't need all the "features" that scopes are promoting these days. Great glass and reliability is all you need.
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stickbow46
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/07/2009 Location: Benton, Pa Status: Offline Points: 4678 |
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Welome to the OT rookie7!
I'd go with the Meopta as everything is made in house,unlike the conquest that is farmed out...........
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Pearls of Wisdom are Heard not Spoken
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DCAMM94
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: April/19/2008 Location: Fort Worth Status: Offline Points: 3491 |
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You have gotten a lot of good advice on scopes from some guys on this forum that know their stuff. I don't count myself in their company when it comes to optics, but I will say that I have a bunch of scopes, some more expensive, some less expensive than the Conquest. For daylight target shooting and hunting in 99% of conditions, you can't go wrong with the Conquest. Welcome to the OT, and good luck with the .223, and the next rifle you get when you want to start feeling some recoil and reaching out a bit further.
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Although personally I am quite content with existing explosives, I feel we must not stand in the path of improvement. -Winston Churchill
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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I think you've always given solid advice during your tenure here, Deck.
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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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biggreen747
Optics Journeyman Joined: October/16/2009 Location: Colorado Status: Offline Points: 470 |
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Lots of good advice. I guess all I will ad is that you will be hard pressed to find a better scope for $350.00 than one of the conquest on the sample list. It would be a great scope to get you started. Should you decide down the road you want to get a hunting rifle in a larger caliber that conquest would be perfect to swap over to that and you can then decide based on the experience you've had with your 223 which direction you would like to go with optics for it.
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We measure it with a micrometer, mark it with a crayon, and cut it with a chainsaw.
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