I wrote a novel. Sorry. Got it off my chest though...
I have never set my scope to more magnification than 6x when hunting. Shots here just are not that long. My eyesight may have a lot to do with magnification, clarity, and "light gathering" (an ego stroking sales concept I think). I have always been 20-10 vision, "ace" the optometrists' eye chart test, and wear lenses for astigmatism that correct toward that end.
I don't have to tolerate the Insurance Industry's "Standard" of correctable eyewear that "magically" or insistently stops at 20-20. If the Optometrist's technicians I am paying for services cannot or will not spend a few extra minutes to work with me, when I tell them that I hunt and need to see, then I am going to solicit someone else. My "30-something" eye Doc said last week that my eyesight is better than 97% of the people "my age" and cataract surgery, facing ALL of us, would not be needed or recommended for my strong right eye as there is nothing correctable there to achieve. The left, meh, give or take another 5-10 years.
Sighting in is another matter. A retirement "parting gift" (no Gold watch) was a Bushnell 15-45x by 60mm spotting scope and tripod. I inherited a Leupold 15-60x by 80mm spotting scope and tripod. I favor the Bushnell because I earned it. I set the Leupold up for my spouse. I used to sight in through a real crappy 10X by 25mm scope "tube" ("Halleyscope" from the comet's last visit). What a pita that was for too many years, but I got it done.
Due to funding limitations (can't "see" paying as much or more than the rifle), I have always found "economy priced" scopes to suit my need out to 275 yards, which is the longest shot I might take. If Leupold scopes are repairable "for free", you have paid for that in advance, so use it or lose it.
I have never abused a scope, used one for a hammer, tried to shoot a bullet through one like a sniper in a Hollyweird movie, or looked through one directly into the sun (on purpose anyway - sometimes looking to the West at sunset is problematic). I have inherited multiple Leupold scopes in 2x7 and 3x9. I personally don't see any greater "light gathering", image clarity, or "you could almost see individual animal hairs" from 200+ yards through a Leupold than through my Bausch & Lomb, Bushnell, Nikon, Redfield, and Weaver. I think stroking egos is part of the advertising blitz and the cost of Leupold.
A 3x9 Bausch & Lomb suited me in hunting and sighting in for nearly 30-years. It came as a $350.00 Win., model 70, Featherweight, rifle/scope combination. That set the bar of scope price rather low. Now a reconditioned 3x9 Redfield is my Go To. Redfield was American made, now owned by Leupold, and perhaps still is.
While not "guaranteed", many scopes can be reconditioned (my inherited Redfield was) by the folks at Iron Sight, Inc., 4814 S. Elwood Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74107. A sentimental scope that was given to me as "dead" now sits reconditioned on my favored hunting rifle. Oh well. Optics are personal like caliber, rifle, truck, spouse, you name it.
