Tips for Best Riflescope Buy

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Who is Ron Spomer
For 44 years I’ve had the good fortune to photograph and write about my passion – the outdoor life. Wild creatures and wild places have always stirred me – from the first flushing pheasant that frightened me out of my socks in grandpa’s cornfield to the last whitetail that dismissed me with a wag of its tail. In my attempts to connect with this natural wonder, to become an integral part of our ecosystem and capture a bit of its mystery, I’ve photographed, hiked, hunted, birded, and fished across much of this planet. I've seen the beauty that everyone should see, survived adventures that everyone should experience. I may not have climbed the highest mountains, canoed the wildest rivers, caught the largest fish or shot the biggest bucks, but I’ve tried. Perhaps you have, too. And that’s the essential thing. Being out there, an active participant in our outdoor world.

All loading, handloading, gunsmithing, shooting and associated activities and demonstrations depicted in our videos are conducted by trained, certified, professional gun handlers, instructors, and shooters for instructional and entertainment purposes only with emphasis on safety and responsible gun handling. Always check at least 3 industry handloading manuals for handloading data, 2 or 3 online ballistic calculators for ballistic data. Do not attempt to duplicate, mimic, or replicate anything you see in our videos. Firearms, ammunition, and constituent parts can be extremely dangerous if not used safely.

Produced by: @red11media

Disclaimer
All loading, handloading, gunsmithing, shooting and associated activities and demonstrations depicted in our videos are conducted by trained, certified, professional gun handlers, instructors, and shooters for instructional and entertainment purposes only with emphasis on safety and responsible gun handling. Always check at least 3 industry handloading manuals for handloading data, 2 or 3 online ballistic calculators for ballistic data. Do not modify any cartridge or firearm beyond what the manufacturer recommends. Do not attempt to duplicate, mimic, or replicate anything you see in our videos. Firearms, ammunition, and constituent parts can be extremely dangerous if not used safely.

[_WM]

One trick I use when I’m shopping for scopes is to send my wife off somewhere in the store and then make sure she notices me checking her out through the scope. She’ll feel special enough for a bit and will ignore that I went $500 over budget.

[mic]

Ron is always entertaining to watch and I always learn something from him. He's a YouTube gem fora lot of us.

[MercFlathead]

In 1967 I bought my first big game rifle for my 21st birthday from Clark Brothers in Warrenton, Virginia. I was going to graduate from the University of Virginia and the world was my oyster, so I wanted a rifle to hunt everything and everywhere. They sold me a Remington 700 BDL in .30-06 with a 2x-7x Leupold Vari-X II using a Redfield Jr. mount. What fantastic advice for a novice big game hunter with only years of Jack O'Connor articles for experience. I still have that scope today on a 1978 Ruger in .30-06 and I have taken 30 elk and I don't recall how many deer with it. I thought I wanted a Redfield scope at the time, but they convinced that that Leupold was as good and cost $5 less, which was actually serious cash for a college student in those days. There are lots of good scopes out today, but I have stayed with Leupold for the past 54 years on my big game rifles and have never been sorry.

[beaverriverbushcraft]

I've had a Bushnell Banner on a .30-06 since 1998. I shoot, at least, 3 animals a year and sometimes as many as 6 and I shoot about 100 rounds a year through that rifle to get ready for hunting season. I have had zero issues with that scope moving around.
A long time ago (1981), I went to school for TV, Stereo, and VCR repair and I was told by my instructor that when it came to quality of equipment, price didn't matter, "you didn't have to buy the most expensive Hi-Fi if your ear couldn't tell the difference between that and a JVC Hi-Fi set unless you just want to show off". Same with TVs today. If you can't see the difference between HD and 4K, why spend the extra money? Same with firearms and scopes IMHO. If I can shoot sub-MOA with a Mossberg 100ATR and a Bushnell "Dawn to Dusk" scope, what is a $6, 000.00 rifle and a $4, 000.00 scope gonna do better? Will it drag the animal out of the woods and load the it on the truck? Because that's what it'd have to do for me to spend that much on it.

[guardianminifarm]

Who doesn't have a high regard and great appreciation for honest, common sense person with a pleasant approach? Yet is as hardy and tough as they come. Add years of hands on working experience and you have Ron Spomer. Got to love this guy. We need more like him.

[GARDENER]

I have several Leupold VX-III scopes, a VX2 rimfire, an FXII, a couple of Zeiss & a Schmidt & Bender PMII.
All have been 100% reliable, capable of "shooting the box" & have good to superb optical properties.
I'd far rather "buy once, cry once" than maybe save a few hundred £ & have a scope let me down at a critical moment.

[stephaniethomasson]

I have a Leupold VX-freedom 3-9x40 on a 6.5 creedmoor, that the turret springs were bad from the get-go…. But I didn’t know it, because I didn’t know you could do tests like the one Ron had mentioned. I’d put about 200 rounds through the rifle and groups were a mess. Sent it back to Leupold for $12 insured by USPS via their instruction. Said if they couldn’t fix it or I wasn’t happy they’d send a brand new one of equal value. They rebuilt the whole inside, and the thing works like a champ. Customer service was great. Bought a Leupold 4-14x44 with CDS this year for a 30-06 and have had no problems.

[retirednavy]

Hard to go wrong with a Leupold. In more than 40 years of shooting and hunting I have never seen one fail and they have done everything I have asked them to. Nikon was also good but they no longer make scopes. I keep a Nikon 4x on hand to test rifles and loads. Unless you get over 200 yards 4x is all you need for hunting. Even on my variables I rarely take them off 4x.

Optics like scopes are things many make more difficult than they need to be.

[rayzar]

Hi from Australia Ron. I subscribed to your channel 4 months ago. Sir you give such practical no nonsense information without all the BS, ie straight to the point. Thanks for speaking my language and a credit to you for sharing your wealth of information.

[wymple]

My backyard is a cornfield. Every day a few minutes before sunset when the light starts to go, deer will cross the field for about a 10 minute slow crossing, usually 7-10 of them. The best look I've ever gotten at them was thru a Leupold.

[johncox]

Wow! I’ve never heard half that much about scopes! Thanks Ron!

[Sabre]

I inherited my late fathers Remington Model 721 (30/06) made in 1949 with a swift scope (4x32) he had on in 1979-80. I cdecided to use it for an elk hunt in an arera he always wanted to go elk hunting in. I had never fired the rifle I worked up a load for a 180 grain Nosler Partition that shot a .509 group off the bench at 100 yds and a group of less than 2 inches (if I remember correctly) at 300 yards. I did not get an elk But it was a great trip anyway.

[blackpowder]

I've been using a Redfield 2x7x32 scope on my 30-06 for 50 years. It's never failed me. It was top of the line in its day. Now I see scopes selling for more than the rifles they're mounted on.

[HikeHuntHaul]

After spending a good amount of 💰 on scopes; as well as trading back and forth. “Eye Relief” is a big feature many scopes don’t offer; unless you pay for it. Consumers get caught up on glass quality; when the feature that comes with already great glass quality is the need for “long eye relief”. I have to say I bought a Leupold last year over a similar Vortex model (since I already had a similar vortex model to the leupold model) for another 300 win mag rifle. The “eye relief” was HUGE. I found out what I was paying for in the Leupold. I’m sold on Leupold; a life long purchase and actual featured qualities. (Plus it’s much lighter that my Vortex brands). Great video! Keep em coming!

[repetemyname]

Scopes are one of those tools that once you find your flavor, its hard to change. Been using Burris for over 30 years now and couldnt be happier.

[mysweetshadow]

The Bushnell Banner that came with my .22-250 is clear and really great for is price tag honestly. I get 1/2" groups @100 yds out of that rifle with one of the cheapest optics, nothing wrong with that!

[eskimo]

I have a leupold, vortex, and nikon. Never had any problem with them 👍

[barbarariener]

Mounted a fourteen dollar Bushnell scope on my Remington 700 in 222 cal. back in early 1980s.That scope is still on that rifle today and never has been touch. Always been careful and respectfully especially with my firearms. H.Riener

[jerryjohnsonii]

I absolutely love all of my Vortex scopes Also my Bushnell scopes too.

[johnnash]

You should’ve used “thingies” and “doohickies.” I love you man.😄

A couple years ago my local Sportsman’s was selling the discontinued Leupold 2-10x42mm Long Range with HD lenses for $399 regularly $799. These thingies were small, light and exceptionally clear, so I picked up 2 and I’m still happy for my fortune.