I'm in the market for a new scope. I have read reviews on every scope I come across on the internet for the past few months. I'll tell you what I'm looking for in a scope and what I'm really leaning towards and you guys tell me if I'm looking at the wrong scope or if theres a better option. It will be mounted on a Savage Model 111FCNS 270.

1. Lowlight performance is the #1 thing I'm looking at.
2. Really would like to have target turrets on it.
3. I would prefer an illuminated reticle.
4. I don't want to spend over 500 but could keep saving for the right one. I will not spend over 1000 on one.

The one that is the front runner right now is a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x50 or 4-12x50, but I don't know if they come with an illuminated reticle. I did see where you could have target turrets added to em.
A friend of mine is trying to talk me into a Swarovski Z3 4-12x50 but I don't know about spending that much money.

I would really appreciate your opinions on this as I've never spent more than 200 on a scope and that is the one I have now and I'm not real happy with the lowlight performance. Its a Nikon Prostaff.

Look for a used Meopta Meostar. YOU can't do better for the money. I'd also look for a Burris Black or Euro Diamond but they are hard to find. The Burris will have a retail of around a $1000 BUT I've seen several demo models go for less than $600.

Why do you feel you need illuminated reticle?
How far do you plan to shoot and, if you are going to be proficient with turrets; how often?

Leupold VXR if you want an illuminated reticle.

In my opinion, $500 puts you at the very bottom of the quality optics spectrum.

With low light performance being the #1 criteria, I would look at a scope that doesn't have all the other bells and whistles you listed. The more options you put on a scope, the higher the price will be, regardless of brand. With optics you pretty, much get what you pay for; however that is not to say that you don't wind up paying for a name either. Low light performance equals quality glass and coatings, and the higher the magnification the more light will be needed. The more options a scope has the higher the price will be, to stay at a low price point quality has to be cut somewhere.

From what I have read the Conquest has good glass; however the turrets tend to not track very true. So if you are wanting target turrets, and to dial in adjustments, you may want to look at another scope.

Zeiss, and they have illuminated reticle

If you want more light, the bigger objective lens will pull more light in. At least 50mm, better with 54 to 56 mm. With a 30 mm tube.

I just found a used Pentax Light seeker. It is a Burris Black Diamond basically.

I bought a vortex 44mm for my sons 243 last year.
I was impressed with it. I am big on clarity of the glass.
We sat a couple evenings probably a little later than we should.
I could look thru it and see the tree branches on the edge of the plot plan as day
Not just a blob. For $200 I think it was a good buy. Has any
Else have any input on vortex higher end scopes

I've seen new conquest 3x12x56 30mm scopes for $750 in several different stores. Marks usually has a decent selection of nice used scopes. Last time I was there they had used ziess, kahles, Schmidt & Bender, meostars in the $600-$800 range.

The larger objectives are only slightly brighter at higher magnification. If you don't typically use over 6X there is zero reason to mount a larger objective scope that must be mounted higher. The only reason for 30mm tubes is for a great adjustment range.

Study exit pupil and the ability of the human eye to utilize larger exit pupils.

Many of the high end European scopes are brighter because of glass, coatings and construction. They have huge objectives because Europeans can hunt at night.

If you hunt big green fields where higher magnification is used a larger objective has some benefit.

I have never shot over 100 yards in low light so I much prefer better handling smaller scopes such as a Leupold VX3 2.5-8X36.

This post got me to do a little research on the Pentax and if it really is the same as the black diamond then it is a fantastic scope that is great in low light and rugged enough for any application. How much did you have to give if you don't mind saying?

I've been impressed with Sightron glass, for dollars spent. Don't know if they have what you're looking for.

I went and looked at the Meopro today. I really like it. I may save up the extra funds and get one of them.

You'll really like it!

You shouldn't need extra funds for a Meopro. THE Meostar is the high end Meopta. Don't let them charge you a premium for the meopro. I have a meopro and it is a fine scope but it is definitely a level below the meostar. The meopro is about the same quality as the zeiss conquest.

Bill,

I paid 120 bucks for a 3x9x44. I called Pentax and they told me the scope was 13-15 years old and basically a black diamond.

I have seen other sights claim the newer ones are a burris signature, which is still a tremendous scope.

The shop I bought it from had it listed for 160 on their web, but made a mistake and had it for 120 on armslist. The owner sold it to me for 120.

If It is the same glass as the black diamond then you are gonna be extremely happy with it. It will be very close to meostar quality.

I have several Leupold 3 x 9 x 50's on my rifles and I have never had any trouble seeing in low light. For the money, this scope cannot be beaten. I also have the Zeiss scopes and they are also fine scopes. I simply prefer the Leupold and have never had any issues with any of them. BTW-If it is too dark for the Leupold scope, it is too dark to hunt. Every time I have ever climbed down I could see to shoot, and I stay too late.

Exactly!! So go buy a good 40mm scope so you can get a consistent check weld. There is no sense in lugging around a 56mm scope while hunting deer in AL, i don't care how far you are shooting them. If you can't kill it with a 10x scope then more magnification isn't going to help you. It doesn't take long to appreciate the difference in carrying a rifle with a 40mm scope vs a 50 or 56mm either. I wish someone would have told me all this years ago before I spent thousands of dollars playing the "Quest for the perfect scope" game.

Regarding a lighted reticle, it's been my experience (at least with a bushnell fire fly reticle) that once it's so dark that you actually need the lighted reticle, the brightness of the reticle makes it nearly impossible to focus on the object you are trying to shoot. This may not be an issue with adjustable brightness reticle.