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“the big, expensive dogs in show and dismiss the other brands out-of-hand”
There is a reason for that.
When it comes to optics, you really DO get what you pay for.
I’ve never even seen one ....
I’m a cheapskete when it comes to optics too; but my long range scope is a Bushnell Elite, while my shootin’ buddies all buy stuff that costs twice as much as my Bushnell did.
But I did happen to see a review on one of the Monstrums just a few days ago, and if I remember correctly they thought it decent in general, and good value.
Review here:
https://www.full30.com/video/741808d16180cedd3d8734bac406d092
If you buy a cheap optic:
don’t expect a repeated zero, or able to even keep zero - even if you baby the thing.
Don’t expect waterproof/fogproof glass.
Don’t expect precise repeatable clicks with your elevation and horizontal knobs.
There are deals to be had with guns and optics, but for the most part, you get what you pay for.
Buy once, cry once and keep it. A good scope can last a lifetime and find a home on many rifles over the years.
After all that, it doesn’t mean you won’t be able to find an inexpensive scope that works!
This Ping List is for all things pertaining to the 2nd Amendment.
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More 2nd Amendment related articles on FR's Bang List.
What you pay for good glass will equal what you pay for the rifle, if not more. You do get what you pay for. That said, I’ve found that Nikon gives you the best bang for the buck, although I prefer Leupold.
I don’t know anything about Monstrum, but you may want to look around here. Haven’t heard anything bad about them; in fact they seem well recommended.
What kind of long range are we talking about?
A lot of what you’re paying for in a more expensive scope is the warranty and the optical coatings that help you see the target better in low light conditions. If you’re not shooting in low light conditions and can baby your equipment maybe you can get by okay with the less expensive stuff.
The more expensive scope makers manufacture their own glass, so quality control is definitely better. The only optics I own are from Burris & Nikon and I’ve been happy with both. Vortex Optics seem to be one of the better bang for the buck optics, from what I’ve read but have no personal experience. Depending on the rifle you’re using it with and amount of recoil, the cheaper scopes may not hold up too well over time.
http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/this-is-the-best-scope-for-the-money.3918265/
My rule of thumb has always been that one should spend as much on the optics as he spent on the rifle. That is, $1200 rifle gets a$1200 scope. If you can’t afford that, you can’t afford long range shooting, and we haven’t even started talking about ammo or real training. You’ll be much more successful if you follow this.
I qualified expert at times (e.g., when it wasn’t raining hard) but was no expert. ;-)
Don’t know about that brand. But here’s a way to find good optics for lower prices. Learn about the technologies that go into the optics, then look for the optics with the specifications that you want. Look at everything technical about optics, right down to lens coatings and reticle types (etched?).
After some study, if an optic looks promising, then check reviews on discussion boards that focus on long range accuracy. The optic and mount must be tough enough hold zero after firing. There are some good cheap optics that will hold a zero, but they tend to weigh more than expensive optics.
If you plan on using a bolt action rifle, try a discussion board that includes Savage rifle enthusiasts for good optics for less. A few of the older Savage owners like to get more technical and advise younger participants to have their custom work done little by little over time. They also tend to need tough optics because of bolt recoil.
Save goes for the AR-15 or AR-10, but you might encounter more semi-auto rifle users who focus more on brand names than specs. Most of them are newer like spending more than study.
I’ve never used Monstrum brand optics. IMO, a good “entry level” line of scopes are offered by SWFA in their house-brand “SS” models (formerly the Tasco “Super Sniper” design, modified and improved). The standard SS glass isn’t as bright as Zeiss or Nightforce, but they do offer “upmarket” HD models as well - with something less than the usual logarithmic cost-to-quality price tag. Give their reviews a quick read-through.
I shoot ultra long range and choose nightforce as my go to optics. I could have purchased similar optics for a lot less money but the reason I chose nightforce is because that’s with our military uses and they beat the crap out of their stuff! When I call nightforce for any questions/issues immediately answer the phone and take care of me as well. There’s a lot to be said for that alone…
Vortex makes a 6-18 x 40 mm Crossfire Scope for about $200 to $300
What caliber of rifle do you intend to use?
Don't know anything about Monstrum but you might investigate which scope manufacturer's factory in China the Monstrum factory sits across the street from.
Sources that are solid , tested and have been vetted by myself over the years are.....
Cal Zant in Lubbock Texas .
http://precisionrifleblog.com/author/precisionrifle/
From start to finish from chassis to optics to muzzle brakes and or suppressors .
100% am impressed by this young mans own testing procedures.
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Todd Hodnett in Canadian Texas
http://www.recoilweb.com/todd-hodnett-the-long-range-cowboy-108460.html
https://www.accuracy1st.com/company.cfm
Attended his classes about 80 miles from where I live. Solid information, hits at 1579 meters get very easy in the panhandle of Texas with this mans knowledge of bucking the wind at extreme ranges,
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David Tubb in Canadian Texas
I use his T7T 2 stage triggers in my Rem 700 actions and his Leupold Mark 8 optics with his Dynamic Targeting Reticle (DRT) he designed himself .....
http://www.davidtubb.com/t7t-trigger-rem700-remington%20trigger
http://www.davidtubb.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=153
David’s a long range shooting icon here in Texas and he has forgotten more that I will ever absorb. Again 80 miles from me ..... use his shop and products a lot.
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Snipers Hide
Frank Galli is the Chief Cook and Bottle washer of this data and experience driven world of knowledge and first hand use of all things long range precision . Amazing base of knowledge. Believe he is based in Colorado where the winds are as much a demon as my Texas Panhandle. Never been to his classes but will attend soon.
https://www.snipershide.com/about/
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My best resources to search and use as a reference for all things Precision Long Range rifle shooting at silly sick ranges........
Stay Safe
If you have old eyes spend the money on good glass. I have never been happy with any Chinese optics. My sonIL is a award winning LDS. He uses Leupold as do I. Vortex is a good second tier option but we only use them on medium range shooters.
Keyword “banglist” added to reach the FR shooting community.
Go really cheap and stay with iron sights - if you are serous about wanting to shoot long range, then you need to be serious about what gets your muzzle pointing in the right direction. I have some scopes for rifles that I ‘went the economy route” with and every time I take them out I spend 5-15 rounds getting them back on target - and even then they seem to ‘drift” during the process. Other, scopes that weren’t “economy” are dead on whenever I take the weapon out of the case.
