I'm kind of on Swampy's side with this one. I've never entered the $1000 zone on a scope, but I've had Elite 3200, 4200, Redfield, Leupold Vari-X I, II, and Compacts. Couple of Burris and Pentax too. Weaver Classic and Grand Slam. Tons of cheap scopes. You get the idea. I've had enough to know what I want and what I like. I traded scopes more than I traded guns, LOL.
I like fixed power scopes too, so I'm that much more "weird".
The ONE scope I've kept out of all of them is a Bushnell 3200 2-7x32. Been on my 30-06 for 10 years now. Never lost zero. Riding in trucks, on quads, getting dropped, etc. Used all the time for targets, coyotes, crows, deer. I haven't been shooting much in the last year, but that rifle still gets at least 100 rounds through it every year. I'll never let that scope go. It stays on 5x unless I'm walking, then it's on 2x. Never had a shot in any weather or lighting that I could make with that scope.
The scope that I keep kicking myself in the arse for getting rid of is the Weaver Grand Slam 4.75x40 fixed power. It is THE perfect scope for a big game rifle.
The ONLY scopes that I've had problems with are Leupold's. Both Vari-X II 2-7x33's. One de-gassed and one broke the x-hair. The compact 3-9x33 resolution was so bad I couldn't tell that a deer was a spike at 100yds. I had to use my binocs to tell.
Years ago, Outdoor Life had an article by Zumbo on optics. If he only had $500 to spend on a scope, binocs, and a spotting scope, what would he buy? He picked a Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40, Pentax compact 10x, and Kowa spotting scope. He said he'd take a good spotter, good binocs, and a 'average' scope any day of the week. The scope is going to be used once on a hunt (hopefully) while the binocs and spotter will be used the rest of the time.
Gary Sitton of Guns-N-Ammo fame had several high dollar custom rifles...Dakota's, Ultra Light Arms, Jarret, etc. You know what he had on them? Elite 3000 and Elite 3200's. That's enough of a testimony for me. He had more "hunts of a lifetime" than any of us will ever see.
I've got a buddy that's got Swarovski and high dollar Leupolds on all of his guns. Yes, I can tell the optics are better. So what?
A scope is a sighting device. Not a precision veiwing instrument. As long as you can see the x-hairs and put them against your target, you're going to make the shot if you youself are capable of it.
I wonder how people killed animals back when there wasn't multi-coated glass, 25x zoom, AO, and ballistic x-hairs?
There's a HUGE difference between what you NEED and what you WANT. Once you go over $400 on a scope, IMO, it's about what you want. You don't need the "difference" between a $250 Bushnell and a $1200 Swarovski. If it makes you feel confident and you have the $$ to burn, go for it.
I would take my Elite 3200 2-7x32 on the hunt of a lifetime without any hesitation what-so-ever.
For what it's worth, I relatives that live in South Africa and have a huge parcel of land. They aren't "professional hunters" but they hunt more in a year that any of us will in a lifetime. My cousin uses a Winchester Model 70 Classic (walnut and blue) with a Burris fixed 4x in .270 for EVERYTHING. Eland, Kudu, etc. Yeah, he's killed buffalo and lions with it too. He thinks that American hunting and shooting is ridiculous with .300 Wonderboommer magnums and 25X scopes for deer hunting. His exact words were "Jeezuzz christ, you're hunting an animal that weighs 200lbs and usually within 100 yds. I'd use a .223 or a even .22LR if I could get away with it." He couldn't believe that I used a 30-06 to do it.
