This year its time to upgrade my optics from my swfa 10x to a big boy scope. I plan on shopping in the USO/Steiner/S*B, etc price ranges, but I am hoping to keep the cost under 2500ish, so I am thinking of going used. I want to grab either a 3-15 or 4-16, and would prefer illumination.
I am wondering two things:
1- Are there any companies that may have a lower resale value, and therefore might be better deals than another brand? I see that S*B tend to retain their most of their whole value, but other great companies like USO tend to linger in the FS threads for a few price drops. My hopes is to wait around and buy a nicer glass at a greater value if I can. While I love the lines of S*B, I am in no way set on paying for a name.
2- Given that I am looking used, are their any companies that still take care of their products after the original owner, or any to avoid? I have read a few threads on USO taking care of their scopes through multiple owners, but what about the other companies?
I can follow the FS threads and get some answers to these questions myself, but what I don't know is if the treads on this board are common, or if this community has preferences for certain brands and thus they just resell higher here. I would hate to want a S*B and not buy one because they go high here, and only realize that at X community they go cheaper. =P
I don't have a reticle preference, so long as it is not straight mil-dot. I got the chance to look through a steiner with MSR over the weekend and that scope is pretty much the reason why I am wanting to upgrade this year. Clarity was amazing, the eyebox was all-or-nothing, unlike my swfa which seems prone to edge shadowing , and it was a lot brighter when using dark shooting glasses. Plus, the gf's rifle will need glass and can get my swfa.
I am wondering two things:
1- Are there any companies that may have a lower resale value, and therefore might be better deals than another brand? I see that S*B tend to retain their most of their whole value, but other great companies like USO tend to linger in the FS threads for a few price drops. My hopes is to wait around and buy a nicer glass at a greater value if I can. While I love the lines of S*B, I am in no way set on paying for a name.
2- Given that I am looking used, are their any companies that still take care of their products after the original owner, or any to avoid? I have read a few threads on USO taking care of their scopes through multiple owners, but what about the other companies?
I can follow the FS threads and get some answers to these questions myself, but what I don't know is if the treads on this board are common, or if this community has preferences for certain brands and thus they just resell higher here. I would hate to want a S*B and not buy one because they go high here, and only realize that at X community they go cheaper. =P
I don't have a reticle preference, so long as it is not straight mil-dot. I got the chance to look through a steiner with MSR over the weekend and that scope is pretty much the reason why I am wanting to upgrade this year. Clarity was amazing, the eyebox was all-or-nothing, unlike my swfa which seems prone to edge shadowing , and it was a lot brighter when using dark shooting glasses. Plus, the gf's rifle will need glass and can get my swfa.
