Want to upgrade..

Savage Axis came with a Bushnell 3-9x40mm but looking at getting something with a little more magnification and that will perform better in lower light situations. Don't have the money to spend much on one but open to suggestions.

Saw Academy has the Nikon Buckmaster II 4-12x40mm for $120 instead of $150 right now. Any thoughts on that scope or others that would be a decent upgrade for a good price?

The Nikon will be an upgrade but I don't think you will be all that much happier. I'd save some more and wait for a deal.

How much are you talking? Don't have a whole lot to spend.

Save your money and don't buy crap

You'll need new rings also

Any suggestions on what crap is and what it isn't? Also rings brother in-law?

How much money do you want to spend will help everybody guide you? Have much magnification do you like ?

Sometimes settling isn't the best answer and saving a little longer may benefit you. An old used one might be better than new. First we need a $ to work with.

A Leupold VX1 4-12x40 can be had for about $250. VX2 4-12x40 for about $350.

Just FYI.

No more than $250. I'm not looking for anything fancy. Just a little more than what I've got. Up to 14 or 15 mag. would be good since my eyes aren't great. Just trying to get an idea.

If I sacrifice some magnification for quality of low light visibility, I'll take it.

Good or better glass will trump those extra numbers on mag from a cheap scope.

Now that a $ is given you should get some better answers. Next week is a holiday weekend, watch for sales
If you don't have the coin yet wait a couple more months.. you still have some time for deer season

DryFire, save your money for a while and get something that will be worth it.

The next time that you get a chance, why don't you drift in to your closest Cabelas and see what they've got hidden away in the bargain cave? You can look through them all and then make the price / quality decision. They'll let you look through the scopes outside in natural light if you ask. The bargain cave can be hit or miss, but I've done well there over the past few years.

You can buy an old stock Weaver Grand Slam 3-10x40 for $149 on Amazon. I got an email from Natchez yesterday. They have Bushnell 3500 3-9x40demos for $128 and 4500 2.5-10x40 demos for $210. I'd buy the Weaver and never look back. It's not the latest and greatest but it's a nice proven/reliable scope. All are light years ahead of what came on the gun and better than what you were looking at.

I have a Leupold VX3 4.5-14x40 CDS (still has the turret card) that I'd make you a pretty good deal on. It's been mounted but never fired.

It's this exact scope:
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/911594...x-reticle-matte

Minox ZV 3 4.5-14x44 for $129.99 at Camera Land. No tax, free shipping. What distance are you shooting? A quality 3-9 scope will get you further than a less expensive scope with more magnification.

Lots of good options coming to life

Booradlry or anyone else have experience with Minox? Don't know much about them. Good in low light? Durable?

Yes, to me optical quality is VX-2ish in normal light, in low light they are better than a VX-2 to my eyes. To me, as general rule scopes of European origin tend to be really good in low light. Maybe because it is legal to hunt big game at night in most of Europe. I sways buy from Camera Land if they carry what I am looking for, even if the price is somewhat higher than what I can get it for somewhere else. Their prices are usually in line with the lowest I find elsewhere on the net. The reason for my loyalty is the phenomenal service I've always received. It is spectacular. Call and talk to Doug the owner about the Minox or his assistant Neil. They will shoot straight with you.

I have a Minox ZV3 3-9x50 with BDC 400 reticle that I won from Cameraland and have used it to 400 with no problems. Havnt hunted with it

I think that would be a damn good choice for a scope in that price range...and boo's steerin you right on optical quality, too. I'll take a 1.5-6x with high-quality glass over a 4-12x with second rate glass any day of the week.

Went ahead and bought the Minox 3-9 × 50 BDC last night for $150. Seems to be solid quality but will post again when I get my hands on it. Thanks for the help THF.