Opinions on Nikon Rifle Scopes

lpcullen · November 30, 2019, 09:06

I ordered a black friday special Nikon 4x12x40 BDC scope for my .30-06 deer rifle. It was on sale for a hundred bucks. Now I see that Nikon is getting out of the rifle scope business. Maybe that's why these were on sale?

What are your opinions on Nikon optics? This will be my first one and I assume as far as these go it is bottom shelf. I've always been a cheap Simmons kind of guy so I'm pretty easy to please and did I mention cheap? Do you think this will be a noticeable improvement?

meltblown · November 30, 2019, 09:14

They work fine for what you are wanting to do.

Invictus77 · November 30, 2019, 09:25

Nikon is a much better piece of glass than Simmons. For a deer rifle you should be well served by the Nikon BDC.

lpcullen · November 30, 2019, 09:37

That's great. I'm pretty excited about it. Seemed like a bargain. It should be here on Tuesday. I should still have enough deer season left to try it out.

**VALMET** · November 30, 2019, 10:41

I’ve owned a few Nikons over the years on various hunting rifles and they’ve all been fine. Clear glass, held zero well, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another.

Bawana jim · November 30, 2019, 10:51

I read nikonis dropping their line of rifle scopes.

paulo · November 30, 2019, 18:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bawana jim

I read nikonis dropping their line of rifle scopes.

You read correctly. I really liked their Monarch line. Great scopes for the money.

Right Side Up · November 30, 2019, 18:52

In my experience.....they're junk. The only thing worse than the junk scope i bought was their attitude when I called. The scopes tube might as well been made from lead. Dead soft. They told it was my fault it crushed. The rings never got tight. They offered to sell me another.

It doesn't matter that they're getting out of the scope business. If you had a warranty claim they were going to deny it anyway. That's why they're getting out. Not selling enough because their scopes and their employees suck whale dung.

Randall · November 30, 2019, 19:20

I've replaced lower end Nikons on two rifles as well as a pair of Nikon binos with Leupold glass. YMMV, but I doubt it will vary by very much. Good luck on your choice.

**yovinny** · December 01, 2019, 08:40

I had 2 of their 3-9 scopes that wouldent hold zero, both were replaced under warranty.
Even at that,,,the hunting rifles they were on were both noticeably better shooters with the burris or leupold scopes I had on them while waiting for the warranty replacements.
So I eventuality parted with both on rifles I sent down the road.
I do have a single one left, a 4-12 on my ruger hb hornet that seems to be ok,,,sofar..

Trypcil · December 01, 2019, 08:53

Nikon was once a great lens, and camera maker - not anymore, it's just one of many contenders, and by reports not for much longer - makes one wonder as to their future warranty measures on discontinued products. Save your money and time - and buy American!

lpcullen · December 01, 2019, 13:57

So this looks like it could go either way. At least it was only a hundred bucks. Hopefully they will send me a good one! I assume the lifetime warranty will cease to exist when they drop their rifle scope line. The Simmons I bought last year works great for me from what little I've used it but some speck of something broke free inside and though it doesn't interfere with the crosshairs or the sight picture in general I can see it the edge of the objective and it irritates me.
Looks like a little bug with legs but I'm sure it is just debris of some sort. First time this has ever happened to me.

tac-40 · December 01, 2019, 16:54

Unfortunately, with optics you really do get what you pay for. I always tell people who ask me what optics the need to get and I tell them to spend as much as they spent on their rifle. If they do that, they won't be disappointed.

I hope you do have good luck with your scope.

lpcullen · December 03, 2019, 17:14

I got the scope today and must say I'm quite pleased with it. After black friday they went back up to $220. So a hundred bucks seems like a real bargain. I already have it zeroed and ready to go. Hopefully I will see a deer before the season ends! I appreciate everyone's responses to my inquiry.

hueyville · December 04, 2019, 03:03

Most Nikon's I purchased under $499 price died in the field or on the range under normal use and not abuse. Especially the wire reticle scopes as find after a shot hour reticle is sliding around the bottom of the scope. That said have had two Monarch's that held up and all of the Nikon Black Series have tried are good scopes but have to pay the price good scope companies charge. Nikon is closing their doors, have a bad rep and my guess is that's why. Spend $200 to $300 on a clearance scope from company leaving the market then when if breaks you get to throw it off through fje woods.

Here is some food scope for a bargain. Fake this puppy out for your hunt of a lifetime and see if after temperature changes if it's even six MOA inside of where if was set.

CTW · December 04, 2019, 04:11

I grabbed a Leupold VX-2 3-9x40 with the custom dial system for under $200. Hard to beat for that money. Leupold is all I buy.

November 30, 2019, 09:06	#1
lpcullen Registered FALaholic #: 63924 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 158	Opinions on Nikon Rifle Scopes I ordered a black friday special Nikon 4x12x40 BDC scope for my .30-06 deer rifle. It was on sale for a hundred bucks. Now I see that Nikon is getting out of the rifle scope business. Maybe that's why these were on sale? What are your opinions on Nikon optics? This will be my first one and I assume as far as these go it is bottom shelf. I've always been a cheap Simmons kind of guy so I'm pretty easy to please and did I mention cheap? Do you think this will be a noticeable improvement?

November 30, 2019, 09:14	#2
meltblown Registered Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 34604 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: SA Tx Posts: 16,230	They work fine for what you are wanting to do. __________________ If you're looking for someone loyal, get a dog. Otherwise you're not going to find it. Expect the worst, and you'll never be disappointed. Before trying to beat the odds, make sure you can survive the odds beating you.

November 30, 2019, 09:25	#3
Invictus77 The Colonel 1C16:13 Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 74205 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Western, KY Posts: 8,064	Nikon is a much better piece of glass than Simmons. For a deer rifle you should be well served by the Nikon BDC. __________________ A 9mm might expand A 45 will never shrink

November 30, 2019, 10:41	#5
VALMET Curio & Relic Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 1826 Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Richmond, Virginia Posts: 3,177	I’ve owned a few Nikons over the years on various hunting rifles and they’ve all been fine. Clear glass, held zero well, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another. __________________ "That rifle on the wall of the labourer's cottage or working class flat is a symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there." -George Orwell, 1940. "Dammit Smithers this is brain surgery, not rocket science. Now hand me that ice-cream scoop!” -C. Montgomery Burns

November 30, 2019, 19:20	#9
Randall Registered FALaholic #: 4979 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Elk Grove, CA Posts: 3,292	I've replaced lower end Nikons on two rifles as well as a pair of Nikon binos with Leupold glass. YMMV, but I doubt it will vary by very much. Good luck on your choice. __________________ Purveyor Of Stupid Questions

November 30, 2019, 09:37	#4
lpcullen Registered FALaholic #: 63924 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 158	That's great. I'm pretty excited about it. Seemed like a bargain. It should be here on Tuesday. I should still have enough deer season left to try it out.

November 30, 2019, 10:51	#6
Bawana jim Registered FALaholic #: 17482 Join Date: May 2005 Location: west coast Posts: 22,021	I read nikonis dropping their line of rifle scopes.

November 30, 2019, 18:52	#8
Right Side Up Registered FALaholic #: 43 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Texas Posts: 7,968	In my experience.....they're junk. The only thing worse than the junk scope i bought was their attitude when I called. The scopes tube might as well been made from lead. Dead soft. They told it was my fault it crushed. The rings never got tight. They offered to sell me another. It doesn't matter that they're getting out of the scope business. If you had a warranty claim they were going to deny it anyway. That's why they're getting out. Not selling enough because their scopes and their employees suck whale dung.

December 01, 2019, 08:40	#10
yovinny Uneducated NYC Boy Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 7679 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Wastelands of Western Kentucky Posts: 6,366	I had 2 of their 3-9 scopes that wouldent hold zero, both were replaced under warranty. Even at that,,,the hunting rifles they were on were both noticeably better shooters with the burris or leupold scopes I had on them while waiting for the warranty replacements. So I eventuality parted with both on rifles I sent down the road. I do have a single one left, a 4-12 on my ruger hb hornet that seems to be ok,,,sofar..

December 01, 2019, 08:53	#11
Trypcil Registered Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 63101 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: GA Posts: 5,924	Nikon was once a great lens, and camera maker - not anymore, it's just one of many contenders, and by reports not for much longer - makes one wonder as to their future warranty measures on discontinued products. Save your money and time - and buy American! __________________ "It's easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled!" -- Mark Twain "To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize." -- Voltaire "As nightfall does not come at once, neither does oppression... There is a twilight when everything remains seemingly unchanged. And it is in such a twilight that we must be most aware of change in the air -- however slight -- lest we become unwitting victims of the darkness." -- William O. Douglas, US Supreme Court Justice from 1939-1975 "It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." -- Krishnamurti

December 01, 2019, 13:57	#12
lpcullen Registered FALaholic #: 63924 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 158	So this looks like it could go either way. At least it was only a hundred bucks. Hopefully they will send me a good one! I assume the lifetime warranty will cease to exist when they drop their rifle scope line. The Simmons I bought last year works great for me from what little I've used it but some speck of something broke free inside and though it doesn't interfere with the crosshairs or the sight picture in general I can see it the edge of the objective and it irritates me. Looks like a little bug with legs but I'm sure it is just debris of some sort. First time this has ever happened to me.

December 01, 2019, 16:54	#13
tac-40 Moderator Armed Curmudgeon FALaholic #: 12090 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: SC-Low Country Posts: 8,528	Unfortunately, with optics you really do get what you pay for. I always tell people who ask me what optics the need to get and I tell them to spend as much as they spent on their rifle. If they do that, they won't be disappointed. I hope you do have good luck with your scope. __________________ Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you. Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom. Schools uses to start with the "three R's". Reading, writing, and arithmetic. Now they start with the "three D's". Dipshitery, Dumbassery, and Douchebaggery-Retired Bum If you do in fact have a problem, you have the rest of your life to solve it. How long your life lasts only depends on how well you solve it.

December 03, 2019, 17:14	#14
lpcullen Registered FALaholic #: 63924 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 158	I got the scope today and must say I'm quite pleased with it. After black friday they went back up to $220. So a hundred bucks seems like a real bargain. I already have it zeroed and ready to go. Hopefully I will see a deer before the season ends! I appreciate everyone's responses to my inquiry.

December 04, 2019, 03:03	#15
hueyville Registered Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 74557 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Foothills of the Blueridge Mountains Posts: 6,697	Most Nikon's I purchased under $499 price died in the field or on the range under normal use and not abuse. Especially the wire reticle scopes as find after a shot hour reticle is sliding around the bottom of the scope. That said have had two Monarch's that held up and all of the Nikon Black Series have tried are good scopes but have to pay the price good scope companies charge. Nikon is closing their doors, have a bad rep and my guess is that's why. Spend $200 to $300 on a clearance scope from company leaving the market then when if breaks you get to throw it off through fje woods. Here is some food scope for a bargain. Fake this puppy out for your hunt of a lifetime and see if after temperature changes if it's even six MOA inside of where if was set. __________________ A time will come when people will not listen to accurate teachings. Instead, they will follow their own desires and surround themselves with teachers who tell them what they want to hear. 2 Timothy 4:3 G.W.T. "If it is worth doing once...it's worth doing it a few more times to get it right." Stimpsonjcat

December 04, 2019, 04:11	#16
CTW Registered FALaholic #: 41894 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 2,364	I grabbed a Leupold VX-2 3-9x40 with the custom dial system for under $200. Hard to beat for that money. Leupold is all I buy. __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

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