I've been all over the map for the years but this is where I landed on optics. This is just my opinion, what is yours?

Best Value in binoculars= Meopta Meopro

Best Value in a Rangefinder= Sig KILO

Best glass in a hunting scope for the money= Meopta Meopro

Best value in a tactical/target scope= Anything SWFA

Best value in a "all around hunting scope"= Trijicon 3-9 Accupower with Mil Square reticle

I can't disagree with any of that, because I just don't know any different. I'd have to take your word for it, when it comes to the binocs, and hunting scope.

Agree on the Sig Kilo. Impressive how far, and how accurate that little laser range finder will range.

Yes, SS makes great scopes. I have two of them. Burris XTR II is also a great value, especially used. Compare a 3-15X SS against a 3-15X XTR II and the Burris has better glass. Burris offers more magnification ranges 2-10X, 3-15X, 4-20X, 5-25X. All have zero stop.

Reticles, glass, and turrets of equivalent scopes, SS 5-20X and Burris 4-20X and it's a flip of a coin. I lean on my SS a tad more, simply because I have had it so long, fired and spotted so many shots with it, accidentally banged it against things, and it has never failed.

Thanks Fireman. Appreciate your input.

Lack of a Zero stop bit me in the arse on my last hunt and I had to use the guide's gun.

My recommendation for those type scopes it two fold.

1. Find how much down travel you have below zero. It may not be a full rev. If it does not have a full rev, you are fine. If it does have a full rev, see number 2.

2. Somehow label the scope body, with a line of ink, paint, tape, whatever you like to tell you, you are on the correct rev for your zero. Meaning the turret is set on a 100 yard zero, and you've got a line on the actual scope, immediately below the turret. Roll down too far, and the line gets covered up by the scope. Roll up too far, and the line is exposed more.

Same here on an elk hunt in Wyoming. I happened to glance at my turret and noticed it was at “9”. I had no clue if it went forward or backward. Stopped hunting long enough to zero the rifle, and then taped that sucker down with a couple pieces of electrical tape I had in my pack. I’d be hard pressed to purchase another exposed turret scope without a zero stop. Any time that particular rifle goes in the field now, it’s taped up.

Value is impossible to objectively define without specifying minimum performance parameters and usage cases. Something that has lots of value to you because it's cheap may have no value to someone else because it's missing an essential feature or just doesn't perform to the level they need it to.

For instance, an SWFA has almost no value to a PRS shooter because they all want zero stop. It has tons of value to me because I'm not a competitive shooter and it's absolutely the best combination of features, build quality, and glass quality for the price range.

On the flip side, there is no value to me in $500+ binocs because I don't use them enough to justify that price point. I have never used Meopta, but I think the Vortex Diamondback binocs that I have are a decent vlaue. I think they were $129 new, and I haven't seen anything near that price range that outperforms them. Haven't ever even considered replacing them.

All that being said, value is subjective and calculated on an individual case, I guess is my point.

Completely agree, Patriot. This is was really started just to get peoples opinions on what they really like based on their experiences. I haven't tried everything but my list is purely bases on what I've tried.

Looks like a solid list. I think the new Bushnell Forge may work it’s way into a similar list as it has time to prove itself. It’s at the same price point as the Burris XTR, but with some more features that are quite nice. If it’s as good as the rest of Bushnell’s top tier stuff, it’ll prove itself. I’d like to get one for my next rifle.

For the $ on binoc's: Vortex Diamond Back, 10x 42. Best $200.00 pair of binocs I ever looked through, and now with four years of hard use in all weather I can vouch for durability and image quality.

That's one of the things I love about my Gen 2 Razor. It has a zero stop and a very useful rev indicator of course, but it also has locking turrets. I can push the turret cap down and it won't budge. It's impossible to get knocked off zero.

When i first used Jason's Bushnell ERS it has the locking turret and I've never used one. Thought i had locked up his turret. Didn't want to sound like a tard or that i had broken Jason's scope by touching it.
So figured it out myself lol. Now i have an ERS really like that scope.

I've REALLY enjoyed mine

I just posted this in another thread:
I dropped my 9 year old, $250 pair of Vortex Diamondbacks binoculars from my deer stand and they landed on a rock. Would never get even close to focusing after that. I boxed them up and sent them back to Vortex telling them what happened. That was last Wednesday and this Wednesday a brand new pair arrived at my door. This company will have all my business from now on.

To follow the OP, my opinions and what I've learned:

I'll never have another hunting scope without an illuminated reticle or dot.

I've bought tons of scopes from $100-400 and it has, mostly, been a waste of money and left me wanting something better. I think it takes a minimum of $600-700 to get a good quality scope.

Swarovski is overrated.

Glass and weight are my most important criteria.

I prefer a minimum of 15x power for deer hunting.

Thermal is worth every penny.

The crowd you poll will skew the recommendations you get. My approach is a simple one. 10-12 power is ample for the target area at the ranges I will shoot a deer. A simple uncluttered bold duplex is what I like in very dim light. What I save on features I won't use hunting, I invest in glass and lens coatings. Swarovski is my top choice on a deer rifle.

Edited to add:
One of my buddies I hunt with has a 2-10x Meopta with the illuminated reticle on his Alamo precision 7-08. It is a sweet scope that I would be happy with.

Best binoculars = Swarovski EL
Best scope = Schmidt and Bender with illuminated reticle
Best value in a scope = Leupold

Don't know about rangefinders as I only have one = Leica

That's my opinion.

Best value in a hunting scope is probably the LHRS 3-12
Very good glass, zero stop, capped windage, good reticle, useable past legal hunting time reticle.

I also really like the Steiner Tactical 3-15x50 a lot.
I have used both of these scopes quite a bit over the last few years and they have worked quite well and have held up to mild abuse.

I have a number of other scopes that are great, 1-5-8x42 S&B I use on my 6.8 AR that gets a lot of use, a NF Actar 5-25 on my 6.5 for long range, it gets hunted with some but it is a lot of gun and overkill for most of where I hunt but gets put into action some.

Binos/Range finder: Leica, amazing glass, outstanding LRF, Having both great binos and an LRF in one device is infinitely better to me than dealing with seperate units. I love the huge depth of field.. you aren't constantly on the focus knob while glassing at varying yardages. The LRF is very fast and easy and I can pick up individual deer in a field way past what I would shoot and I have ranged calfs at 1800 yards freehand with no support.

Scopes come and go with what I do but the Leicas are a lifetime tool.

I will have one of the new Bushnell Forge 2.5-15x50 FFPs coming in soon to review.