I've had nearly all the big name scopes up to the $800 price point. The scope above is as good as any of the others if low light performance is your main goal. The glass is as good as the Trijicon and Zeiss Conquest although it isn't quite as crisp at the edges but that has no affect on my hunting. It is heavier but for my purposes it is the best I've ever had for the money. My brother in law owned a Meopta Meostar R1 3x12x56 and he sold it in favor of the Weaver. Not because it wasn't as good but because the Weaver was as good in low light hunting as the Meostar and the illuminated dot made a difference to him too.

What's the deal with "Offers not available in TN. Georgia,or AL."?

I believe they sell to shops & wholesalers and such.

I know of a shop south of Birmingham that has been selling Leopold vxII 3-9-40 for I believe $159. If your interested PM and I'll get you there contact info.

Under $200 - Nikon Prostaff or Leupold VX-1. Can get both in 3-9x40 std duplex for $160-$180 on the net. I have a cpl Nikons and now using the Leupold Vx-1s.

They are a wholesaler and won't sell to retail costumers in states that they have wholesale customers. I just get my orders shipped to my sister in Florida.

Barska Colorado. I'm telling ya

Even if they were great,I couldn't stand to spend $39 on a hunting scope. My mounts cost more than that. I spend twice that on a range trip and at least that much at the fast food joint on my way back from the range trip. I just don't think I could live with myself.

I really hope you are just trolling. BARSKA is scraping the bottom of the barrel

All im sayin is that barska colorado is better that the nikon bushmaster. By far. And the nikon is over a hundred bucks. And is a big bulky piece of junk compared to the colorado. He said he wanted a cheap scope. A hundred bucks is a cheap scope to me. And the nikon bushmaster is a joke. It should be 37 bucks and i wouldnt want it for free.

Nikon pro staff is worse too. Yeah i said it. Get the colorado and pro staff and compare. I bet you guys never even seen one. Wise guys i tell ya

Nikon pro staff is worse too. Yeah i said it. Get the colorado and pro staff and compare. I bet you guys never even seen one. Wise guys i tell ya

And any scope under 200 is the bottom of the barrel. I know some women that are at the bottom of the barrel. But some of them are fine as all get out. Just cause they aint high class dont mean they aint quality appearance and function.

Dude you're talking to yourself, there are Doctors that can assist. Seek help.

First off, thanks to all who provided advice and pointers!

Just to update you all, I ended up getting what I think was a good deal on a used Bushnell Elite 3200 3x9x50 in really nice shape. I think this scope will serve me very well on this first rifle and I have been playing with it around the house in the evenings, it does quite well in low light.


Now its time to get some rings and get the scope mounted up and sighted in, and I hoped to turn to you all again with a few questions.

Anyone have a suggestion on good quality rings? I have seen a lot of folks suggesting DNZ mounts and the ones I handled this weekend at Bass Pro sure seemed solidly made.

Also, in you guy's opinion, would I be better off buying a laser bore sight and mounting/sighting the scope myself? Alternatively I am sure I could find somewhere to take it and have it done, I just have never done this myself and want to make sure it is right!

Final question for you all, what is a good high quality bullet for a .270 and whitetails or pigs? I picked up a box of Federal 130 grain Nosler partitions, but wasn't sure if there is something else that is better. The previous owner of the gun suggested he has had the best accuracy with 130 grain loads so I am inclined to stick with that. I am going to go ahead and order a few boxes online so I am open to suggestions.

Thanks again!

Good job on scope choice. With a light weight Kimber I would use Talley lightweight rings. I like to put a very thin coat of rubber cement in them. It adds holding strength and prevents ring marks. Don't over tighten mounts.

No need for a bore sighter. I've never seen one that works well anyway. When you sight in start at 25 yards. Make a black dot on paper the size of a half dollar or something similar like a medicine bottle cap or whatever you have handy to trace with. Use that dot target at 25 yards. Set up on sandbags. You can make some out of old pants with gallon freezer bags inside.

Remove your bolt with the gun rested on sandbags and sight down the barrel to center your dot in the barrel.Without touching the gun,look through the scope and see where your cross hairs are. Adjust until the dot is centered in the barrel and in the cross hairs. You may have to look and adjust several times. You adjust backwards to center the dot VS point of bullet impact.

Shoot at 25 first and fine tune. Then move to 50 or 100 depending on how well you are shooting. If you can't yet shoot a tight group stay at 50.

With factory ammo,don't buy but a box until you see how well it groups. Different brands and bullet weights may shoot better in your particular rifle. Partitions are great and I like any bonded bullet like Accubond or Fusion. A Barnes TTSX would also be a good choice.

Thanks for the response R_H. I like that idea of sighting in using the barrel.

This is going on a Ruger American, I only wish I could afford a Kimber! Lightweight is not as much a concern for me as is durability.

When you say not to buy a box of ammo, do you mean a case? I was planning on grabbing a few different boxes based on suggestions received and seeing what performs best when I hit the range.

Sorry,I had you mixed up with someone else. The American is a good rifle though. What I said is don't buy but a box,which is country bumpkin for, only buy one box at a time, of any one brand or bullet weight, until you see what your gun likes.

Yep you sure did say buy but a box. It has been a long day and I apparently can't read good.


I will look into the Barnes TTSX. I think I saw some Hornady superformance with a bonded bullet so I will look at those also.

Would you still suggest the Talley rings on the American?