Does Nikon make good rifle scopes?
I only have 400.00 bucks to spend and i like one of their models in 4x12-40. Any other model suggestions?
Yes…
I have one of their M-223 optics, a 1-4x24 on my AR. For the price I'm pretty happy with it. Hasn't lost zero, good optical clarity, seems tough enough (someone knocked my AR out of the rifle rack at the range and bent the shield on my front blade, but nothing else sees to have had a problem, including the scope. - Of course, the rifle was unloaded at the time.) and the controls are smooth operating and easy to grip.
I've run other optics in the same price range - Hawke, Bushnell and Nikon seems pretty competitive.
Yes, but unless you are going to do long-range target shooting or varmint shooting, a 4-12x is far too much scope. Stick to a 3-9x or even a 2-7x for deer hunting out to 300 yards.
Yes, great value for the money, from the Prostaff on up. Now is a good time to buy because they are on sale in many places AND Nikon has a $30 rebate on any scope with a BCD reticle.
I have a few Nikons, and have found them to be extremely clear, so far they have held up very well and have held their zero. For the price they are hard to beat.
The only other suggestion I have is contemplate whether you really need a 4-12x scope. If it's for a varmint rifle then it will be nice. If it's for a deer rifle, you really don't need it, and can save a few bucks by going with a 3-9x. For a while I had one on my deer rifle, and found I never turned it past 9x, now it sits on a varmint rifle and a Nikon 3-9 replaced it on the deer rifle. And where I deer hunt it mostly over open fields, still the scope never went past 9x, it narrowed up the field of view too much and I can still see anything I need to even at longer distances.
One of the brands thats good quality without breaking the bank. The prostaffs and the buckmasters are well built lines for under $300.
Nikon does pretty well, but you can do better.
You don't mention scope model, caliber of rifle, type of shooting, or any other details, so I'll make a generic recommendation.
Look at the Leupold VX-2 3-9x40, currently at SWFA for about $350:
http://swfa.com/...51802.aspx
Warranty is second to none. Very high quality construction and optics. 3-9 variable is very useful for a wide range of shooting without sacrificing eye relief at high end of magnification.
If your shooting is within 500 yards and you're not shooting for maximum precision, you can get away with this model. If you need to shoot further and/or max precision, you'll benefit from a parallax adjustment. You'd have to move up to the 4-12x40AO, which is about $450:
http://swfa.com/...51808.aspx
Consider also the ultralight EFR 3-9x33. You give up the 40mm objective, but keep the parallax adjustment, for right around $400:
http://swfa.com/...51839.aspx
Nikon makes some of the best scopes on the market.