I just looked. The scope that's on it .....would cost me $500 to buy, new. I think it's 2yrs old and barely used (the owner is a good friend). I may go the route Matt suggested. Probelm is, once I hunt with a ML, I'll probably never take the rifle out again.
IMO I'd go with the Leupold that's on it. I've got a Knight .50 cal with a Tasco (Pops bought it for me as a college grad. present), and it's off every year when I get it out to hunt. I store the Encore side by side year round and it never gets off, it's got a Nikon on it.
Well, I bought the ML, today. Just told him to leave the scope mounted, and hold onto the rig (in case I decide I want the scope, too). It's a VXII 3-9X/40MM. If I'm not mistaken, I can buy a new one for less than $300. It'll cost me the $300 to get the set up rig ($300 more). What would you do? Is there something I'm not thinking about? I'd like to buy the set up rig, because....well...it's set up. But, it just doesn't seem like that good a "deal". Thanks for your input(s).
VX-II is also great glass. Same quality mechanicals, and warranty, slightly lower quality coatings on the glass compared to the VX-3 or VX-III. It just depends on how convenient it is for you, personally probably buy it if the lenses were clean. Typically Leupolds REALLY hold their value. A couple year old VX-II 3-9x40 could still easily fetch over $200 on the used market, people snap them up quick because it doesn't matter if it was bought in a garage sale, and you drove over it with your truck the next day, Leupold will still fix it for free. I have a Leupold Mark AR 3-9x40 on my AR, it's the same glass as the scope you are looking at and the same body, with a target turret specific for my cartridge. It's a great scope, not quite as bright as my VX-3 or VX-III, but still plenty that it's the one I use on my AR when night hunting for predators.
Cool rig, Matt. @100yds, can I see well enough with my 8X42 Nikon Monarchs to sight in my scope (if I go with the VX II)? I'm guessing I'd shoot......clean w/ patch.....shoot....rinse/repeat? At what point would you do a thorough cleaning? I'm blind guessing every 5 or so shots? Thanks, again.
I have limited experience with ML's, I have one and shot it probably a dozen times, killed a doe with it about 12 years ago.......it's sat in the closet since then. How often you clean fully between shots is probably going to depend on what type of slug you are shooting. I tried TC's sabot's in mine and the barrel had to be really clean to load them correctly to the right seating depth. I switched to Power Belts and it loaded MUCH easier when clean/dirty, etc. Typically they will shoot to different points of impact, and have different levels of accuracy depending on how clean the barrel is. I would always start with a completely clean barrel, and shoot a fouling shot. Then I'd do a double swab on the barrel. Then my next shot I'd start to try and sight in. I'd double swab again. Then keep doing this till the gun is sighted in. I would then NOT do anything other than a double swab when I was done and before I would hunt, if you completely clean the barrel it will likely not hit the right spot at the moment of truth. Figure out how deep your ramrod needs to be in the barrel when seating correctly, I put a piece of electric tape on mine so I always knew it was seated correctly. THis can greatly affect accuracy as well....... Hope this helps!
Well....2 things: 1. He was more proud of the scope than I was anxious about buying it. 2. I realized I didn't NEED that much scope on a ML OR my rifle. I'm gonna order a scope just for the ML and be done with it. I'll sight it in next week. Again, thanks for all of your collective thoughts. I'll go back through the thread for scope recommendations.
Justin got me a Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn for my ML at a really good price. I've had it a couple years now and I'm very happy with it.
