Agreed!! At the end of the day, can’t ever go wrong w/ a Weaver C4, K4, K6, and K12 along with Viper/ Vortex and Leupold being the best modern scope for getting your bang for buck!

Kris lots of variable power optics in that price range

Putting healthy meat on the table and avoiding possible hunting accidents is worth the money.

Its a matter of priorities Your doing the right thing providing for your family, Native populations to this day still rely on their own physical skills to get close with archery, spear, or bare handed for free... This stuff is for us lazy extremists....

@@danielravenstar4442 agreed that's why the native Americans in my neck of the woods made sure the whale was dead with a rifle before dragging it ashore.

$500 will get you into a lot of great optics these days. I’m a big fan of vortex’s diamondback stuff and that completes directly with a vx-3 or freedom from Leupold. If you shoot anything with a recoil energy lower than a .270 you can get away with a very inexpensive scope. But if you are shooting a magnum or large bore then you’re probably gonna have to save up and shell out a grand or better to get a scope that will last for you. I will say, I’ve owned a lot of 2-400 scopes that did very very good, but if you can save up and get into that $800-1000 range, it’s life changing.

He's hunting blue Jays

Hahaa, handy for scoping heavenly bodies while hunting.

Rusty Shackleford I buy what I need but don't like to over-pay for stuff. $900.00 rifle $300.00 scope $600.00 spotting scope . I'm good with that. I have other things in my life that I need. What I find ridiculous is the price of the clothes fot hunting. $275.00 jacket $400.00 coat. $300.00 pants. I'd feel like a fool spending that much money on clothes! (Boots are different matter).

Rex Russell You are so right.Most people just don't understand that Is all you need!Great Comment!

I'd rather buy a cheap gun than a cheap scope. Doing a lot of night hunting, I know that these cheap scopes really show once dawn kicks in. Let alone their clarity. The picture of a Swarovski is clearer every day all day.

Everyone who looks through my Z6 wants one.

Interesting you mention the K4. I have been shooting a pre64 model 70 30-06 made in 1953 and it's had the same K4 on it the entire time. The bluing is just about all gone off the rifle now but what the heck, people pay lots of money to have that look burned onto their rifles lol. One of the most akrit rifles I've ever owned. I shoot it really well. Poo Poo free floated barrels. overrated.

Absolutely correct I have hunted with leupolds for over 60 years they have never let me down. Excellent scope for the price point.

Oh no you need a 30-378 or a 338-378 12 lb gun, 28-inch barrel with muzzle brake with a 40 Power Scope with all the gadgets sticking out the side. How else are you going to kill a doe deer that 1500 yd!

2nd focal plane on this one, Sman.

Napa Paul - agreed

Smart move. When I first started hunting I put a brand new Simmons on a muzzleloader. When I was sighting it in the reticle started bouncing around inside the tube. I would never put a Simmons on anything other than a 22.

Zach: Yes. From the Freeman, Tripp area. You related to any Wipf's from Freeman? Dad was friends with some. I've been writing since 1976, hunting since 1960. You can read more of my gun stuff on ronspomeroutdoors.com!

Not related to any from Freeman closely anyways ha you know we all came off the colony though and probably are at some extent. I know Freeman has a Wipf street which I have always admired. I am however currently deployed with the parkston unit currently and we are spread all over the middle east right now and there are a few Freeman natives with us. I will read more of your work and visit your site. I especially enjoyed the little bits of humor in the book and your grand story telling skills like when you described a particular calling session you did as a masterful work of art loved it because that's what it feels like when you put so much of yourself in something good stuff.

I used that BDX system in New Zealand to take tahr and stag, TX for aoudad and javelina. It works as advertised.

I have one on a Xbolt it cost about twice what the rifle did, most of my scopes cost much more than the rifles they are on

Not Ron but as a fella who has used one, buck master is not bad, for a budget scope look at the Fullfield Burris line. Fullfield E1 Fullfield II and even the droptine have been better for me hunting rifles, muzzleloaders and rimfires

The Leupold 2-7 is even nicer for most hunting situations, due to the lighter weight and higher FOV

You are welcome, Jonathan

Sorry gooner, I was talking to the irregular folks on this one. You weren't supposed to hear it! Seriously, gooner, I can't predict what income bracket my viewers fall into, so I try to cover products that work and let viewers decide if they are affordable. Thanks for watching.

Mr Spomer, I have been reading your articles, own several books and have been watching your youtube channel my whole hunting/outdoor life. I'm yet to have you reply to one of my comments this efficiently. I meant this more tongue in cheek than a scathing one and probably as a reaction to your endorsements over the last decade or so being totally of high priced very expensive gear. I don't need to be told that a $2,000 scope is good .... it's a given. It might be overkill but its quality is a given. Occasionally a $500 gem of a find would be nice but I guess my earlier comment really did little to convey appreciative criticism. Plus how dare a regular guy say so to the great Ron Spomer !!!! I must say I never expected you to reply and if you did not to consider someone who couldn't afford a Swarovski scope a "regular person" and your insinuation that I am one and thus weren't talking to me is both a bit offensive and a bit of a low aimed blow (that landed very effectively .... kudos!!!). I'm sure you can ascertain for yourself (or hope so) from my lexicon and phrasing that I am indeed educated and a professional thus one that CAN afford the niceties of life but regardless, I am regretting I ever said something flippant and jovial as I did, only to get a worse response from you. I guess I held you to higher standards that I do most ..... that's always disastrous, without association, conventional wisdom says .... and your endorsement of that is clear. I guess what they say is right .... it's best not to meet your hero's !! (in person or in correspondence). I'm sure your fan base (which I'm still a part of) will waste no time in telling me how wrong I am and convince the populous of my overreaction (I will agree up to a small degree)..... it's sure not going to help the crushing feeling that I take away with me now. Good luck and Godspeed !!

Gooner, I'm not sure why you're feeling crushed. Perhaps you didn't catch my attempt at humor. Regular folks, irregular folks. Followed by the word "seriously," meaning this was a joke. And, seriously, I'm not poking fun at you in the least. I'm merely pointing out what I wrote: I try to, and pretty much do, cover everything that works from the least expensive Weavers and Bushnells and Mossbergs and Rugers to the most expensive Zeiss and Swarovskis and Leicas and Rigbys. I don't make value judgments on my readers, friends or casual acquaintances based on their known or perceived monetary wealth. Everyone is free to judge whether the products I review are right for them or not. This is a bit funny: I get laughed at fairly often on another video in which I'm hunting with a Weaver scope instead of a Swarovski. Damned if I do, damned if I don't. But that's okay, too. Comes with the territory. My job is to provide information, sometimes a bit of hard-earned advice, and a slice of entertainment. Cheers.

Thank you for your comprehension, Father Dougal. I may be visiting your fine island in the near future.

One can only imagine the diatribe taking place between gooner and his wife after intimacy when he asks "was it good for you" and she responds, "just your regular sex". I've been reading comments on youtube for many many years and I don't recall ever reading comments from someone so full of himself as gooner. Once again, Ron, you took the high road. Good stuff by the way.

Fair enough!

I like the ones on the end much better, I do have this scope and it is great

That fixed 6X is an excellent choice for big game hunting out to all "sensible" distances, James. Rugged, simple, and more than enough magnification. Good luck out there.

This is why all my precision rifles have bipods and I carry a sandbag in my pack.

with a 9 power scope how far would you shoot on alleys say a deer

@@jumpy5064 I prefer to shoot within 200yds, so I'd say that distance and certainly not further than 300yds. I take hunting as a challenge to see how close I can stalk to the deer or how stealthy I can be and have the deer walk to me. Guys who use deer as target practice at ridiculous distances and wound more deer than they find are guys I don't hang out with, be ethical or don't pull the trigger.

Agree. I have two Minox ZA5 2-10x40 scopes on a 308 and .30-06. Best bang for the buck I have ever seen. Clearer than my Leupold VX3's and better eye relief. I fully endorse Minox. I have a hunting partner who has a pr of their binos. Amazing clarity.

A 308 win is a good caliber,it,s not difficult to drop a moose with a 308 win,take a good bullets and that,s all.

Exactly. Army and Marine Corp snipers have used 10 power scopes for 600 yard shots with .308's successfully for decades....

Not wrong, just incomplete. If you turret dial for distance shooting, you need adequate adjustment range within the scope. That range is determined by your zero range plus bullet B.C. plus muzzle velocity. With a ballistic reticle, there is no dialing and you don't need lots of vertical adjustment range.

Forget that cheap ass Simmons. Look into a Meopta or at least Leopold and no Vortex. There made in Communist China , unless you go top end . If you go top end check out Meopta .

Bushnell are made in China and is Bushnell still in business.

Not sure on the need for anything over 9x on a .17hmr how far are you trying to shoot it.

I have the SWFA 3-15x42 and its a well built scope with nice millquad but its no match for my Buchnell Elite 6-24x in terms of clarity. I think the Athlon Argos is probably a better deal at 360.00 and its a FFP scope. I think the Fixed SWFAs are a great deal but not so much on the variables. They are tough as nails though.

The SWFA 3-9x42 is a great hunting scope. The glass is HD too. The turrets track perfectly and the scope is tough as nails.

Man have there been a lot of changes and advancements in affordable precision rifle scopes since I first posted the above comment!

The last thing a hunter wants is a ffp scope,

@@robertboyd3863 yep, lol...or "target knobs" haha

This

Build a rifle in 6.8SPC with Trijicon VCOG

Yep. For most North American hunting, 2-7 is all you need and all that extra FOV makes it even more effective for hunting.

I like small hunting scopes, too. 2-7x33, 2.5-8x36, etc.

***** thank you

Terry Smith Swarovski Z5 pay attention. You can get them for around $1,200-$1,500

IMO the best bang for the buck is the Vortex Viper.

When leapould was making the varible 3×9 scopes they were good but this new VX stuff quality has really suffered. Make mine a Vortex better quality all the way around.

Only an idiot tells someone else what he needs

With a steady rest, 18X is quite reasonable. Best for careful, precision shots at stationary targets, of course, but then the increased magnification makes long shots look much more doable, the reticle clearly superimposed over the aiming point.

Depends on what you're hunting, how far you want to shoot, etc. Could be anything from a 2-8X36mm to a 5x25X50mm.

Vortex Viper PST 4-14

Ron Spomer Outdoors A 5x25!? That’s way over the top for any rifle scope! You are quite a salesman lmao🇨🇦🤠

Me too,i have a night force,i dont want and other.

I have never had a problem with 3.5 in brush

LOL

My Steiner ain't for hunting. I have a 300AAC pistol topped with a 1-6x LPVO for that.

Mike, I don't believe I said the 3-9 or 2-7 do not get the job done for most hunters, did I? I merely introduced what I consider one of the most versatile scopes on the market. Versatile to me means it will work well for a wide variety of shooting chores from jump shooting jackrabbits and whitetails at 20 yards to picking off crop-eating rodents at 500 yards to targeting steel plates and other inanimate targets even farther. Just because you and I don't wish to engage long range targets does not mean no one does. And just because you and I think (know --because I've used 2-7x33mm scopes to engage wild sheep at 400 yards) lighter and smaller scopes are sufficient and more fun, that doesn't mean everyone else must agree. Different strokes for... I believe in allowing people freedom to make the choices they think work for them. So continue to enjoy your 3-9s and 2-7s. I know I will mine.

0-300 meters is a standard engagement distance for an intermediate cartridge, 300-600 can be handled with an intermediate cartridge but a full powered cartridge would be better suited, 600-1,000 is where you want longer, more slender projectiles with a rebated boat tail and open tip paired with a higher BC and sectional density, 1,000- beyond is where you want something that will stay supersonic at extreme ranges........ with that said, you can't/shouldn't shoot what you can't identify. Higher magnification assists target identification. For example, I run a Ruger Precision Rifle in 338LM and it's topped off with a Steiner 5-25x50mm scope I can consistently hit a 12oz coke can at 1,000 meters. (I'm taking her to a mile when I get the chance) A precise rifle can extend that ethical range. (free floating your barrel, bedding the stock, getting a good ammo, and getting a quality optic can all add to a sub minute rifle. )

You don’t shoot at game farther than 300 period. A 4x scope is more than enough at 300 and still not too much at 30 yds. No fiddling around. Take the lense caps off and put them in your pocket. How many big game animals get crippled and gutshot because of your vids? Someone is paying you.🇨🇦🤠

It was an add. Hopefully any people newer to the hunting/shooting sports understand that what Mr Spomer just promoted is by no means necessary for 95% of the hunting community. Mr Spomer is a well established and respected name in the hunting/shooting arena, and as such, probably gets more high end gear thrown his way for testing and review in six months than most of us could hope to afford in our life times. For us regular folks, a $300-$500 scope will be plenty for our hunting needs over the years. While I enjoy his videos and respect his opinion, I am also realistic about my hunting requirements.

Taz, I hear you on the price points, but you'd be surprised how many high dollar, top-end optics I see afield. Lots of hunters subscribe to the theory that you should buy the absolute best optics you can afford. Most of us start off inexpensive, but eventually realize we need better and, hopefully, have earned enough in life to afford better. That's when we upgrade. But even if we don't, it's nice to learn about and understand what features are found in the best tools. Helps us seek and find similar features in the units we can afford. Over a 50-year hunting/shooting career, I've discovered that I can find $350 rifles accurate enough to take game well past sane shooting distances -- but not if the scope isn't up to the task. I'd rather put a $1,000 scope on a $300 rifle than vice versa. Regardless what optics you can afford, I wish you all the best shooting luck and success!

I agree with you about optics and im not knocking you 1 bit. I just no probably 98% of the hunters i have met use scopes in the 200 to 500 range i do agree get the best optic that you can aford no doubt same goes with the gun and the rest of your gear. I've just noticed that alot of the gear ive seen you use most peep will never be able to aford. Its just nice to see peep show stuff a bit more in the range of the avarage hunters pocket book is all lol.

I'm trying, Taz. Note I have videos on Bushnell binocular, Mossberg Patriot, Ruger American, Sabatti double rifle (one of the lowest priced on the market, yet I still get complaints that it's too pricey.) I know I can't please everyone, but I'll keep trying.

Yes you have i"ll give ya credit their. I've seen most of your videos and like them quite abit. You have done more with the low end gear than most other you tube peep that i've seen who use the high dollar stuff. Like i said i'm not knocking you by any means i like your video's you do show some neat stuff that id love to have that ill never be able to aford like the 416 Rigby lol. I'm in my 50's and have been hunting most my life have always been a Winchester model 70 fan myself but have used the lower end to mid range optics just because their more in my preice range. I'll never aford a 1000 dollar scope but can in the 500 range. I'd like to ask a ? that maybe you can answer since i haven't been able to find the answer any where about Leupold Scopes. I bought a VX2 3x9x40 about a month ago that i returned for a differnt brand. The reason i returned it was when i put the scope on my model 70 i noticed a dark circle around the edge of the objective lens when looking thru the scope. It was very distracting and did limit some of the field of view. I didnt notice this when i looked thru the display model at the store. I went with the Leupold because they have a great rep and i no they make great scopes my ? is is this common in Leupold. I have never seen a scope that had this i was thinking of buying VX3 or similar in their line up but am very leary now because of this. I though maybe the scope was a return since the rubber cover that came with the optic were scratched up on 1 end and i dont see Leupold sending something like that out new from the factory.

I think it's worthwhile to at least have one or two higher end scopes. That scope isn't absurdly expensive like Elcans or the illuminated ones. These run $1300-1500 which isn't that bad if you have a bit of patience to penny pinch and wait for a deal

I own quite a few Swaros (Z3's & Z5's). Your statement is absolute NONSENSE !!

"Actual hunting" Hahaha OK boomer