Lookin to buy 4x scope for possible use ontop of Marlin Guide Gun. LLooking at Leupold FXII 4x and Nikon Monarch 4x UCC. The nikon is a 40mm while the Leupy is 33mm. The Nikon is a bit cheaper but not by much, just 30 dollars. Looking for anyone with personal experience with the nikon. How would you spend the money? Which do you think will serve me better. Gun will be used for <200 yard woods hunting where low light performance is a must.

Even the 33mm objective will give you more light that your eye can use.

Pick whichever one you want.... I doubt you'll see any practical difference in the field. I'd rather have the smaller scope on the rifle, if all else was equal.

If possible, go by the gunshop about closing time, if it's getting dark out, that will be more useful than a broad daylight comparison.

I have no usable experience with Nikon Hunting optics. However - I have [8]eight Leupold fixed-power scopes on rifles in my Southwest rifle-battery, and [3]three Leupold fixed-power scopes on firearms in my Iowa battery.

The [2] Scoutscopes are 2.5X extended-eye-relief...and have provided outstanding, and unflawed service in the hundreds of rounds fired in numerous Gunsite rifle, and hunter-prep courses with my .308-Scout and the scope on my 375[6]Steyr-Scout has held up through two rifle courses and two hunts. The rest of my Leupolds are either the M8/4X's with standard duplex reticles or the new FXII's with the new wide-duplex reticle. They are mounted on rifles in .243/.308/.270 and .30-06, and .22rmf and or .12GA shotgun. I have not experienced one failure in either mfr-quality or ability to maintain projectile "zero" in any of my Leupold scopes.

The Leupold guarentee and customer service are both impeccable, and worth the price of admission alone.

I'm a Leupold man...hands down ;) - merc.

I have been very pleased with Leupold M8 4X scopes on my rifles. You can't go wrong with them.

I have a leapold 4 power on my 308 Remington M-7 and am happy with it. One of the things you might consider for a rifle designed for ranges under 150 yards is field of view.

I've found that having as wide a field of view as possible for a gun that often sees shooting at close range, such as jumping a deer at just a few yards is more important than power. It's much easier to get on quick with one of the guide scopes where your shooting with both eyes open or a 1.5 to 2 power scope with a 60 to 80 foot field of view than a four power with a 35 foot field of view.

As far as which is better, I've only used Leapold, but now have started using Simmons 2.8-10 ATEC's with a 44 foot field of view at 100 yards. All of my scopes except that 4 power Leapold are variables. Got to say most of them stay on low power unless I need to turn one up for a long shot off a rest.

A Nikon Monarch is a top quality scope, as is the Leupold.
IMO, choosing between those 2, there's no wrong answer.

I have been in Northern Arizona the last couple of days sorting out my next rifle-project. Had about an-hour-and-a-half conversation with one of the most knowledgable persons in the business...Looks as if the Leupold Custom Shop is really turning out some interesting products based on some of the requests they get from hunters and shooters from all over the maps.

I just ordered an FXII/4X with a HEAVY-Duplex reticle for my next rifle project.

- Take a look at their 2005 Catalog...The Custom Shop will put any reticle you want and paint the scope to one of your many choices...merc.

I think both scopes are top notch, I'd probably go with the Leupold, I had a 4x Nikon monarch a long time back, and I'm pretty sure that the leupold has more eye relief.....

Lookin to buy 4x scope for possible use ontop of Marlin Guide Gun. LLooking at Leupold FXII 4x and Nikon Monarch 4x UCC. The nikon is a 40mm while the Leupy is 33mm. The Nikon is a bit cheaper but not by much, just 30 dollars. Looking for anyone with personal experience with the nikon. How would you spend the money? Which do you think will serve me better. Gun will be used for <200 yard woods hunting where low light performance is a must.
Mattpair,
A few years ago I was looking for a scope for my Winchester'94 Carbine. I made a lot of posts on several websites and I was pleased with the responces that I got.
I decided on the Leupeold vari X 2;1x-4x 20 mm.
The scope is overpriced,but it does look good on that little,gun,and performs well enough to keep.
Frank