My brother is going to get a new scope. He wants a variable power scope. He is mounting this on a Winchester Model 100 in .308 caliber.

He is comparing the Nikon Monarch and the Zeiss Conquest both at 3x9x40mm and the Leupold VX-III 2.5x8x36mm. He claims that they are all priced in his area at about $400.

He was wondering which is best if there is such a thing. Also he was wondering if it is worth another $70 to upgrade the Lepold to a 3.5x10x40mm lens?

He also liked that the leupold and Nikon were substaintially shorter than the Zeiss.

Opinions I can pass on to my brother will be appreciated.

There all good scopes. The brightest scope I've ever looked thru is the leapold 2.5 to 8 VX III. Leapold has a really great warrentee.

Second on the Leupold.

YA , go with the Leupold

- Leupold.

Leupold.

The step up in power and objective lens size will pay off only if light gathering is a concern. If you are not hunting in deep woods, or not relying on that buck to step out right in the last 30 seconds of legal time, then the smaller lens will do fine. I have one of those 2-8x36mm III's on my 375 H&H. Great scope, love it!

My brother is going to get a new scope. He wants a variable power scope. He is mounting this on a Winchester Model 100 in .308 caliber.

He is comparing the Nikon Monarch and the Zeiss Conquest both at 3x9x40mm and the Leupold VX-III 2.5x8x36mm. He claims that they are all priced in his area at about $400.

He was wondering which is best if there is such a thing. Also he was wondering if it is worth another $70 to upgrade the Lepold to a 3.5x10x40mm lens?

He also liked that the leupold and Nikon were substaintially shorter than the Zeiss.

Opinions I can pass on to my brother will be appreciated.
I've always been a big Leupold fan, but since their pricing has taken such a big jump, I started buying the Zeiss Conquest series. The 3.5 to 10x is a great scope, so is their 4.5to14x.
I think both the Leupold and Zeiss have it over the Nikon, but since you are looking at the 3-9 power range, I think its a toss up!
Good Luck

I also vote for the Leupold.

I'll change the bell curve.

I've been hunting with Nikon optics for about 7 years now, without a trouble. The quality is excellent, the optics clear and bright.
I just ordered my third Nikon scope, and would not hesitate to purchase another.
Currently the owner of:
3-9x50mm Buckmaster
4x rimfire
and a Monarch 30mm on the way.

Me persoanally, would rank Leupy's and Nikons equal, and believe the Zeiss inches them both out.

Good luck to you.

Thanks guys!

Leupold all the way!

I've always been a Leupold fan but I'd have to agree with m141a that the Zeiss edges out the VX-III. Regardless I don't think you can make a wrong choice between them. I couldn't say on the Nikon though one note is I've heard of some having issues with the warranty on their stuff. Something to keep in mind when spending a few hundred on a scope.