Not a fan of plastic guns but I plan to purchase one for rainy day hunts and to let my daughter use. Looking to top it with a good hunting scope and not looking for something to punch paper out to 1,000 yards. Like something that has great glass, low light performance and a 45-50 mm objective lens. I have always been a Leupold guy but wanted to see what else might equal or exceed those in the same price range ($500 - $1,000). I know asking this question is like pulling the pin on a grenade, but let's hear it.

Leupold

Vortex Viper HS series. The other models are tactical so don’t have the lowlight performance of the HS. You’ll be thrilled

Trijicon Accupoint, Leupold

Trijicon Accupoint by a mile. I don't own one at the moment but there isn't another manufacturer that can touch them at that price point and I've owned them all.

End of story

This. I currently have 2 accupoints. So in your price range i would go that route or meopta meostar. Personally i like to have illuminated dot reticle

There is a meopta meostar R1 in the classifieds that would be the best money for the glass for what he’s selling it for.

PM sent

Schmidt-Bender. Every other scope is competing for second place.

BCLC - PM returned

In the 80s early 90s not any more

I'm talking hunting optics, not target.

Hey what would you consider best now? I thought Schmidt and bender also.
Just curious.khales or Swarovski? March? zero compromise?
Just wondering

The best is subjective and any of the brands You have listed, You can’t go wrong in choosing. I have owned and do own several of what is considered top tier optics brands in riflescopes and binoculars and to be honest it is hard to tell a big difference unless You have a very keen eye and a lot of experience using top tier optics.

I understand but want to hear from someone in competition game.they have different insight .I probably have same scopes you do
Different ball game with f-class guys . different intell and logic ...
Not knocking you but I'm friends with bamashooter and was looking to his response? Just curious
You get surprised sometimes
I agree all my scopes are pretty close to being same but tracking and competition are my end goal
He knocked off Schmidt and Bender so got me thinking about what is best or better? Maybe he knows something

This right here is what I would buy in a heart beat. I’d stay far away from vortex. I know that’s not a popular opinion on this forum but I e had bad luck with them and honestly didn’t care for the glass at all.

I am not qualified to advise on long range target scopes. Would suggest that you check out snipershide.com

Lots of good info there. But for the record, if Schmidt-Bender scopes are so bad in that area, there are sure a bunch of non-sponsored people paying lots of money for them.

For hunting scopes, and the sheer volume I have used/tested/mounted, the finest I ever used was a Schmidt-Bender Zenith, and that's likely because I haven't tried their Polar model yet. And there is nothing less that $1500 that will touch a S-B Klassik for hunting. The 2.5-10 x 56mm is regularly available in the $1200 range

Yes, I own a Leupold VX6, and either own or have owned a number of Swarovski, Vortex, Zeiss, Leupold, Kahles, Dokter, Meopta, Burris, Redfield, ad nauseum, and none come close to the Schmidts, at least to my eye.

Leupold VX-5HD in 44 mm with firedot Duplex.

Meopta Meostar R1 or R2 series.

Nothing else I would consider.

Me too. Back in the day euro glass was the best now days japanese glass and some US is just as good or better S&B are still great optics but everybody else isn't competing for second place anymore. Looked through any high end leupolds lately? Euro optics are great glass most all of them I'm just saying other companies are making just as good of glass.