I'm looking for suggestions about which scope to purchase.

Gun = Browning .308 lever action.
Current scope = Leopold 3X9X40mm VariX II. Probably 20 yrs old.
Typical shot 100 yrds...long shot for this gun 200 yrds.
Age = 60, I'm looking for better optics not magnification. A slight bump of 12 to 14 power would be nice.
Price = $250 to $550...I'm retired.

I've looked at Vortex diamond back 4X14X40mm, and Viper (it seems the Viper has a 30mm tube but also 18 to 20 power). I've considered Leopold VariX3 4X14X40.

So would the Vortex diamond back be a noticeable difference or should I consider something else.

Any help would be appreciated.

Red

In my opinion the diamondback would offer zero gain on glass quality.

VX3i 4.5-14 is your answer, in my opinion. Or trot down to a really good store and look at all their 3/4 - 12/14/16 variables.

I have this one on my .243 BLR. It is a very good scope for the money.

https://www.natchezss.com/weaver-40...x40mm-ballistic-x-33-9-11-3-3-matte.html

Thanks men. I'll keep y'all posted on my progress.

Meopta has excellent glass for the money. CameraLand has their 3.5-10 on sale for $379. You can't get anything better optically for that price.

Another scope with fantastic glass in your price range is the Trijicon Accupower 3-9 for $462. It even has your choice of a red or green illuminated reticle.

https://www.eurooptic.com/trijicon-accupower-3-9x40-apw-duplex-crosshair-green-1900013.aspx

https://texashuntingforum.com/forum...0/leupold-vx-r-patrol-3-9x40#Post7362610

This scope is better than either of the ones Scott just listed.

And less money

And ive been eyeballing it because it’s such a great price. Love the VX-R, I just don’t have a place for it right now.

https://texashuntingforum.com/forum...onew/1/leupold-vx-5hd-2-10x42-450#UNREAD

This one as well. Typically out of your given budget range but well within here.

Far better glass than anything listed so far. It’s a different class of scope.

The Trijicon is much better than the Patrol. I have both.

I put a Leupold straight 4 on my 308 BLR and love it. I shoot same distance you described. The light scope lends itself for quick followup on piggies. Its not a target gun so I don't need the extra magnification while hunting since I will be in or close to the woods. Just my .02 since I shoot same gun.

ROTFLMAO!!! Ok.

I'm really not sure what is funny. I gave my opinion since I have both. You probably have neither but carry on.

The VX-R patrol or otherwise does not have “great” glass. The firedot is why I love them. I don’t know how that glass compares to the Trijicon but I do prefer the firedot to anything Trijicon offers. That’s just a personal preference. The VX-R above is just a good purchase at that price but it does have the damned mil reticle with moa turrets. When will Leupold get over that. Just make em match, I don’t care which one they chose. Now that the firedot is available in VX-5 and 6 I will never purchase a VX-R again at retail.

If it's a Patrol, it has Mil adjustments. I like the Patrol and the Firedot. Leupold rates the glass between VX2 and VX3. That's how it looks to my eyes as well. The only thing I don't like about the Patrol is the lack of the zero stop. I had the elevation turret spin 180 degrees on a hunt and couldn't tell which way it spun. The CDS design is low profile with no way to tell how many revolutions is zero.

I didn't comment on your post with the VX5 because I've never looked though one or a VX6. It could have better glass than the Trijicon along with it's greater magnification range.

+1

Scott of course you’re right. The fools just list total travel in MOA. it is a MIL turret.

I have a VX-R 2-7x33 and two of the Meopta’s I bought from Camera Land a few years ago. While I’m very satisfied with my VX-R I’ll take the Meopta any day for glass quality. Look through both in low light and the MeoPro really distances itself. I had an AccuPoint but prefer the MeoPro.

Never used a Meopta.

2nd on the Meopta. Unreal in low light.

Update.

I had a friend who owns 2 Luepold VX 3's, one a 4.5X14X40 and a 4.5X14X50. Looking through them along with my Vari X -II 3X9 we couldn't see enough difference to justify $600. I had chosen a VX3 4.5X14X50 (30mm) tube. I will say it was mid day, bright sun and the 30mm tube would bring more light at dusk and dawn. We also set his scopes to 9 power for comparison, but the clarity was close, he brought it up first...I was thinking it though. Remembering this is a 100 yard gun and I'm retired slowed me down on the purchase, plus anybody seen the stock market lately, LOL.

We did however move the scope back an inch which helped a lot. I still may upgrade but in the mean time the shooting practice isn't hurting a thing.

Thanks for the all the help.

Red