Very good scope for the money - Alpen Kodiak 3-9x40mm Accuplex Reticle Rifle Scope

I start saying I own several products from Alpen after buying my Shasta Ridge Binos back in 2003 for an Elk hunt. Those Binos have been on 20 hunts since and they have taken a beating (MANY times) and stood-up to the test of time.

I bought this scope after buying and LOVING my Kodiak 6-24mm scopes (that sadly are discontinued). At close to a lb. this isn't the lightest 3-9 I have owned, but it's close to most other offers out there and I knew that going in. The glass is of course the best thing about ALL Alpen's products- they pull ahead of the market here and shooting 20 minutes after sundown yesterday at 100 yards- I was able to get a very decent view of my target and shoot a group without thinking about light. It was after pulling my eye up over the scope that I realized how DARK it really was!

Two things you need to know about this scope:

1) The reticle is thicker at the cross-hairs than some scopes. I do prefer a thinner reticle, but I again knew this and for general hunting (and low light views) some would prefer this over a thinner reticle. I can easily shoot MOA at 100 yards (on 9 power) and any deer or pig out to 200 yards is going to hang with a clean shot. But I would not want to shoot target or hunt at longer ranges- not what this scope is made for.

2) Eye relief is limited. Of all my scopes from Alpen, this scope has the shortest eye relief of them all. Although it has a nice, large ocular lens, you'll need to pay particular attention to your stock's length of pull (LOP) and scope placement. You don't want to be stretching you neck into the scope to get a good field of view. Thus, there are certain firearms you'd want to check twice insuring your ocular is placed correctly with respect for where your eye naturally positions.

In summary: This scope is great for a hunting rig for medium to larger game-- where fast target acquisition and a good, bright view (for early morning and late evening shots) is the goal. The adjustments ran perfectly on the range yesterday when I sighted this scope in and it's now zeroed-in at 175 yards, where everything is within 2" from 50-200 yards out. I have shot through Bushnells, Weavers, Leopold, Redfields, Nikons, and a few others over 40 years-- and you literally have to pay (at least) twice as much for this quality (on a deal), or more... to get this performance from the "other guys".