Monarch3 vs. Prostaff5

[hornet22savage]

I recently purchase a Knight DISC Elite in 45, the purchase was made mostly to be used as a woodchuck gun. However not wanting to limit my self the search for optics has begun and so far I have two in mind. One is a Nikon Monarch3 in 4x16-42 the other is a Nikon Prostaff5 in 4.5x18-40. Both scopes are the same price at SWFA. I know the Monarch line is better that the Prostaff line however I like the extra magnification of the Prostaff for woodchucks. Any thoughts?

[edwardamason]

The clarity you are going to gain with the Monarch is going to negate the extra 2x you would gain with the Prostaff.

Quite Frankly if you can't hit it with 16x you can't hit it with 18x.

[vabeachman]

I got both. To my eyes the Prostaffs are every bit as clear as the Monarchs. Both have the same warranty. Save some money and get the Prostaff

[vabeachman]

Sorry, I didn't realize that Prostaffs were so expensive now.

[hornet22savage]

I don't quite understand what Nikon is trying to do with their new lines. I'm used to the old ones where the Prostaff was the bottom the Buckmaster was the middle and the Monarch was the top. I'm pretty sure that I have decided to go with a Nikon Buckmaster 6-18x40, I'll put that on my Savage .243 and move the Redfield 4-12x40 to the Elite.

[1afox]

My understanding is the new Prostaff 5 series was in line with the Monarch.

[tarheelpwr]

Mar 18, 2014 21:23:04 GMT -5 1afox said:

My understanding is the new Prostaff 5 series was in line with the Monarch.

Here is a direct reply from Nikon on the same question I asked them:

My Question:
Ref #131205-001225

Customer Chris Lake via Web 12/05/2013 03:12 PM

Hi,



I'm looking into a new Monarch 3 3-12 or Prostaff 5 3.5-14. Can you please tell me the differences in the two scopes? Is the glass the same quality?


their answer 




Hello Mr. Lake,



Thank you for contacting Nikon. The Monarch 3 is the better built of these two models. The Monarch 3 riflescope is milled from a solid piece of aircraft aluminum and has metal turret caps as where the Prostaff 5 has a two piece body and plastic turret caps. The Monarch 3 comes with flip up lens caps as where the Prostaff 5 comes with tandem lens caps attached by two elastic cords.



Besides basic build quality the Monarch 3 has superior glass and optical coatings. Both of these sub-brands provide up to 95% light transmission through their 10 lens systems and offer a constant 4 inches of eye relief throughout the entire magnification range. Besides these similarities the Monarch 3 provides better clarity and resolution as well as a greater optical "sweet spot"- it is optically superior.



If you have any further questions please feel free to reply to this message through your Nikon account.



Sincerely,

Rick M.

Nikon SRO