AusVarmint

A problem I've got, I want to buy a top end scope (Nightforce, S&b, Zeiss) done my research I've read all the adds and reviews in the mags/net and yep I'm interested so I ring around the gunshops in Melbourne to see what they have and just get the same answer "we got to order it for you, we don't keep them in stock" there is no way I'm handing over $1500+ for something I haven't even seen or looked through..getting a bit pissed off if they advertise these scope why don't they have them on the shelf..any ideas guys,,..thanks

Mate, Mialls in Frankston stock all of those scopes. Check em out there and then hunt round for the best price.

Ruffy
Get the S&B, I have a nightforce and I wouldnt buy another one.

Trev

Why not ?

Hey Trev.....What don't you like about your NF mate???

Shot show is in Melbourne in a few months. Nightforce were in Sydney last year with their full range. I would guess they will be in Melbourne this year. Should be able to have a look through the entire range. Might even be able to get a good deal if your lucky.

Hi Ruffy , are you after a tactical scope or br ? I have a br nightforce and a leupold comp and they are both fantastic. I also have a IOR tactical and it is even better , br model will be out later this year.

ruffy wrote:A problem I've got, I want to buy a top end scope (Nightforce, S&b, Zeiss) done my research I've read all the adds and reviews in the mags/net and yep I'm interested so I ring around the gunshops in Melbourne to see what they have and just get the same answer "we got to order it for you, we don't keep them in stock" there is no way I'm handing over $1500+ for something I haven't even seen or looked through..getting a bit pissed off if they advertise these scope why don't they have them on the shelf..any ideas guys,,..thanks

One of the reasons is as per the second poster below who recommends looking at them in one shop
and then shopping around for the best price.

Why would you hold 10 x $1500 - 2500 scopes in stock to make 5% ?
- and then you might not have the model / reticle the customer wants.

Look at it from the point of view if you were in business - would you invest $20,000
to make 5% ? I very much doubt it.

Thanks for the input guys, 500nitro that's crap mate if all business's worked like that they wouldn't last 5min. I worked in the industry years ago so where did you get 5% from it would be closer to 20% +, Put it this way if I had a new car dealership and advertised all these new shiney cars but didn't have any in stock how long would I last...anyway I'm heading down to Mialls to have a gander just a shame I gotta drive that far...

500Nitro wrote:

ruffy wrote:A problem I've got, I want to buy a top end scope (Nightforce, S&b, Zeiss) done my research I've read all the adds and reviews in the mags/net and yep I'm interested so I ring around the gunshops in Melbourne to see what they have and just get the same answer "we got to order it for you, we don't keep them in stock" there is no way I'm handing over $1500+ for something I haven't even seen or looked through..getting a bit pissed off if they advertise these scope why don't they have them on the shelf..any ideas guys,,..thanks

One of the reasons is as per the second poster below who recommends looking at them in one shop
and then shopping around for the best price.

Why would you hold 10 x $1500 - 2500 scopes in stock to make 5% ?
- and then you might not have the model / reticle the customer wants.

Look at it from the point of view if you were in business - would you invest $20,000
to make 5% ? I very much doubt it.

5%!!!??????? Holy sh##t mate!! If they were only marking them up 5% The hunting world would be a much nicer place!!! Have another think about that. I reckon they work on about 30%. If you can't show someone an item, as Ruffy said, you ain't gonna sell it are you?? I recommended shopping around because you can save a lot of money mate, that is our right as a consumer. If some gunshops get too greedy, their sales will fall and they may reconsider making a 30% margin on everything. Example:
Gunshop #1: Quote on new rifle: 1,350.00 new scope 2,700.00= 4,050.00
Gunshop #2: Same rifle: 1,080.00 same scope 2,050.00=3,130.00

Thats a fair saving just by making one phonecall.

I think it comes down to how the operator wants to run their business. Some may be happy to sell at the upper end of RRP while others want to sell at the lower end hoping to attract a few more sales or possibly gain some LONG TERM business relationships. I know I would be trying to attract regular business because who buys just one rifle!

As someone else said, visit the gun shows coming up (if you are close enough) and have a good look and feel.

Nitro and Stalker

I have a couple of Leupold VXL's, I look through them and go, hmmm, thats a nice scope, cystal clear, smooth adjustments, well finished, overall, really nice scopes.

I then ordered a 12 - 42 x 56 Nxs, 2 months passed and still no scope, contact salesman and chase it up, reply was dont know when they will arrive. Four months later, still no scope, attack Nightforce guys at Wodonga Gun Show about where my scope is, they promised to ring me back. 1 week later still no phone call, I ring them angry as and they reply with, we cant tell you that sort of information, you have to contact your dealer. Contact my dealer and he say I shopuld take a benchrest model as they have one. I tell dealer and Nightforce to ^&%*&(^(_%&*$%.

Get onto American company, order scope and pay with Visa card, get mate from the states to pack it up and send it to me, two weeks later I get the scope.

So first problem is Nightforces terrible service to us Australians.

Open scope box, hmmm, nice scope, nice and clear, well made, smooth operation, overall a really nice scope.

Two weeks ago I bought a 4 - 16 Bushnell Elite 4200, open box, nice scope, smooth operation, crystal clear image, overall a really nice scope.

Problem is

Bushnell was $790
Leupolds was $1695
Nightforce was $2500

The Nightforce is a good scope, but no way on earth is it worth that money, in fact I would say its only marginally better than the Bushnell 4200.

My work rifles had SB's on them, from my fading memory, they where optically far superior to the Nightforce. They are also very expensive, are they woth that extra money, probably not as well, but they are priced on a par with the Nightforce, so I would take the SB. Also, one of the US military depts just went with SB, they where Nightforce users. The evaluation included Nightforce but they selected SB.

Trev

trev,

Bushnell was $790
Leupolds was $1695
Nightforce was $2500

Couple of things in this discussion intrest me. I would say that while you may think your Bushnell is a better buy and it may well be for "you" the fact is that the Bushnell is not as optically clear as the NF. If it is then send the NF back for repair because its faulty. I have seen the new Leupy's and no way am I paying that money for those scopes when a NF BR model is cheaper ($1550)

You are looking only at a few aspects of the scope ie have you completed tracking tests? Will the Bushnell handle recoil like the NF?

As far as the military contract that went to S&B over NF I think you are over simplfing the tender and trial process involved. Also note that NF still holds some US military contracts loosing one tender they are still the main supplier I think you will find across the US Armed forces of specialist scopes.

All that said I am not here to defend the NF you are entitled to your opinion and I assume that you will be selling that NF shortly at a price befitting your opinion of it in which case I call first option.

Patiently awaiting the for sale post

cheers
Rinso

PS if you like the Bushnell you should look at Vortex.

Mate it sounds like you are off the NF due to the appalling lack of service you recieved. I too own a VXL but at the time I could not get one in an illuminated reticle. I got my NSX for a very good price with a rail and rings. Optically, I can't realy tell much difference between the VXL 56mm and the NSX 56mm. Both bloody good scopes but the features on the NSX like return to zero turrets and illuminated reticle are very important to me. I like both scopes and agree that the NF are expensive. Just make sure you are comparing apples with apples when talking S&B versus NF and the $$$ factor. You can get a 5.5-22X56 NSX from $2050.00 depending where you shop. I don't even think S&B do one and if they did it would be a shitload more than that. A VX7L of similar magnification is $3,250.00. Either way, I would like to hear from someone who has one of the new Bushnell 6500 Elites? They sound like bang for your buck but alas, I don't think they do illuminated rets either?? Not sure though. It is bloody hard to find a scope that has everything you want for the money you want to spend. My ideal scope would be a VXL body and finish, NF turrets, Swarovski glass, Bushnell magnification and Leupold VX3 Illuminated duplex reticle. That bad boy would probably sell for the price of a small car but geez.......It would be the Schizzle!!!!!

Trev


Thanks.