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Deer Hunting Scope |
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Sakoshooter
Optics Apprentice Joined: May/07/2018 Location: Alberta, Canada Status: Offline Points: 87 |
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This is the way to go imo, you can probably save serious money, and will likely have more options available even considering you're limited to what retailers have left in stock. Both of my ERi's have the #4a reticle anyways, but there are ballistic reticles available in the ERi line. The Visus has 2.5-10×42 and 3-12x50 both with the #4a as their only reticle option. As far as 50mm objective, I had a 50mm scope on my Ruger before the Leica it has now, same rings, and it cleared the barrel by 1.5 to 2mm. It was plenty low though, and suspect you would run out of room for the bolt handle to clear the ocular bell before you could get the scope low enough for the objective bell to be a problem. I'd take the scope and rifle to a gun shop and try different rings after you buy a scope. |
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cbm
Optics Journeyman Joined: January/11/2008 Location: SC Status: Offline Points: 580 |
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I have wasted a lot of money on scopes the last 10-15 years. I tried one from almost every high end maker. Some had good glass but I would lose the reticle. In my opinion, the best hunting scopes are Schmidt and Benders. I have 3 now and will probably replace my others down the road and only have them. Not only are they exceptionally bright but they mostly have first focal plane etched reticles, that are easy to see in real low light. Plus their illuminated reticles are fantastic and adjust really low. Right now I have 2 german 3-12X42 Klassiks(one L7 and one A7 reticle) and one Hungarian made 3-12x50 Klassik(L3 reticle). The 50mm is a little better in low light but they are pretty close. I have shot hogs this year at 9-11pm in pitch black dark with no artificial lights or moonlight. The quality on the hungarian seems to be just as good as the germans. The hungarian made ones are in your budget range. And the fixed power hungarians would be less. Of course the german variables with illumination are expensive. I will buy another hungarian 3-12x50 L3 reticle more than likely for my next scope. L7 is my favorite reticle but they do not come on the hungarian models.
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JGRaider
Optics Master Joined: February/06/2008 Status: Offline Points: 1540 |
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There are a couple of excellent fixed 6x's that come to mind, and given you're from the midwest I'd assume shots aren't necessarily going to be long ones. The Leupold FX3 6x42, and the Meopta Meostar 6x42 are outstanding, bright, and optically will get you well beyond legal shooting light.
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scoper
Optics GrassHopper Joined: June/03/2018 Status: Offline Points: 20 |
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feel like i'm somewhat narrowing things down:
variable: Leica ERi 2.5-10x42 ($1600) Leica Visus 2.5-10x42 ($1550)... not sure why i would (at least in 4a) consider the ERi over this Leica Visus 3-12x50 ($2000) fixed: Leupold FX-II 4x33 ($300) Leupold FX-3 6x42 ($400) Schmidt & Bender Klassik 6x42 ($1240) i may be missing something on the price, but in my search the 4a ERi was more expensive than the Visus
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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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It sounds like you need an illuminated reticle above everything else. That another scope does not have an illuminated reticle does not mean it is a lesser scope, just not illuminated. For hunters, I am partial to Swaro, I've had very good luck with mine. Riflescopes, like most things, come down to personal preference - especially when you get into these price ranges. I always recommend you figure out the difference between a "need" and a "want" and go from there. To scoper: are you planning to dope the turret or the reticle? At what ranges are you comfortable shooting on game in low light? I doubt Nightforce will be your best bet, and I don't buy Leupold products, but there are several great options in your range. And when it comes to optics, I'd put some weight on Koshkin's recommendations, he has never steered me wrong and has many times sent me in just the right direction. |
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Freedom is something you take.
Respect is something you earn. Equality is something you whine about not being given. |
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Sakoshooter
Optics Apprentice Joined: May/07/2018 Location: Alberta, Canada Status: Offline Points: 87 |
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It's possible you're looking at an ERi with the exposed elevation turret (BDC) which would add around $150 to the price I think. As others have said, it depends on how you're going to use your rifle, if you want to dial elevations or use capped turrets and a ballistic reticle, or if you hunt at ranges of 300yds or less, in which case I would say a basic plex or #4 with capped turrets is perfect. As to fixed scopes, just my opinion, but I wouldn't use a variable with a low end greater than 2.5x, 3 x max, for hunting deer if you're doing any kind of stalking or moving through cover. Hunting from a blind over open fields, or sheep hunting or the like is a different story, but I've often had shots where low magnification was critical to success. Now if 2.5 is max for a variable, I don't see why a fixed 6x scope changes anything? I never hunt on foot with a variable turned to 6x, and would consider it a handicap. Again, this is just for me and the style of hunting and terrain I typically frequent. |
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scoper
Optics GrassHopper Joined: June/03/2018 Status: Offline Points: 20 |
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Where I will be hunting, I can't imagine taking an ethical shot over 300 yds.
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scoper
Optics GrassHopper Joined: June/03/2018 Status: Offline Points: 20 |
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koshkin, would you consider the 1-8x32 for my situation, or is there a specific reason why you left that off of your list? thanks
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Sakoshooter
Optics Apprentice Joined: May/07/2018 Location: Alberta, Canada Status: Offline Points: 87 |
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Within 300 yds any kind of ballistic range compensation is basically an affectation.
Zero for maximum rise over line of sight of 3" and adjust your hold by just a few inches depending on the range. I have used this method out to 340 yards with a plex reticle and never had any doubt when pulling the trigger, but you do need to be sure of the range as you get further out as bullet drop accelerates quickly. If I'm being honest, I've started dialling for range more for the challenge as I shoot at a range with 800 metre targets, and I hope to be able to take advantage of my increased capabilty in the field if a situation presents itself. Before a Leupold vx or fx-3 I would consider a Swarovski Z3, as they are a very similar scope in configuration, 1" tube, sub 12 ounces, compact ocular for low mounting with a 90° bolt throw, capped turrets (though the Leupold does have a CDS turret for their VX3 line). I've been close to buying a Z3 a few times, but the eye relief is quite short, no matter what the numbers say, it's significantly shorter than many competitors, and I find the eyebox a bit too touchy. I believe the Z3 3-10 is actually 3.3x magnification on the bottom end, the same as the Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10. I actually sold a VX-3i 3.5-10 recently, just based on the variable eye relief at different magnifications (an issue that the Swarovski Z-3 doesn't share) and the resulting finnicky eyebox. Just my experience, all of these are very good scopes, though I would lean towards the Vortex Razor HD LH 2-10×42 for a 1" tube, capped turret hunting scope if you can find it for the same price as the Leupold or Swarovski (which I can right now in my neighbourhood). Shopping is honestly half of the fun, too many choices. |
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scoper
Optics GrassHopper Joined: June/03/2018 Status: Offline Points: 20 |
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i would rather there be 2-3 realistic options with everyone unanimously voting for the same one
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Peddler
Optics God Joined: July/04/2012 Location: Oswego,NY Status: Offline Points: 13526 |
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Scoper, pull the trigger its your scope not ours😂!
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When you are dead, you don't know you are dead.It is difficult only for others.
It is the same when you are stupid. |
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scoper
Optics GrassHopper Joined: June/03/2018 Status: Offline Points: 20 |
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i agree. i'm pretty much there. for my shorter range deer hunting purposes, i'm heavily leaning towards the leupold fx-ii 4x33. worst case in a couple of years it just isn't getting the job done and i'll look for something else, but this mistake won't have cost me too much.
though if there's an even better 4x fixed that i haven't considered...
i appreciate everyone's thoughts. i learned a lot through the process. |
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Sakoshooter
Optics Apprentice Joined: May/07/2018 Location: Alberta, Canada Status: Offline Points: 87 |
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There are a lot pf 1-4 or 1-5 variables out there, a fixed four, while a popular traditional choice, has too high a low end for close range shooting.
I used to use 2-7 variables, and had good luck with a couple of Bushnell elites in 2-7×32 http://www.bushnell.com/hunting/rifle-scopes/elite-3500/2%E2%80%937x-32mm These are not bad scopes, better than a Leupold fixed 4x in many ways, and very cost effective. I think that I would have a hard time going back to the Bushnell because the eye relief is so much poorer than any of the scopes I now own, but I dealt with it when it's what I had, without out too much cursing. In the real world I feel that the Bushnell Elites have similar eye relief to the Swarpvski Z3 scopes, with slightly, but noticeably inferior optics. |
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probably
Optics Apprentice Joined: June/01/2016 Location: Old America Status: Offline Points: 70 |
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I have the meopta meopro 6x42, and the leupold fx3 6x42. The meopta is a brighter, clearer scope. Both are under your pricepoint the R1 and R2 Meopta meostars are excellent scopes in your price range. If you want a fixed power, the R2 8x56 might be a good option.
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probably
Optics Apprentice Joined: June/01/2016 Location: Old America Status: Offline Points: 70 |
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what caliber? most standard rifle calibers will shoot flat enough that you will not need any special turrets or reticles for 300 yards, but for guys in the midwest who are limited to those special short range cartridge restrictions, that is a whole other bag of cats. edit: oops - i just re-read your 6.5 comment. you would not need any special long-range features on a scope for that cartridge at only 300 yards.
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Scrumbag
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: October/22/2013 Location: London, UK Status: Offline Points: 4205 |
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8x56 is a very handy scope if the light is a bit low
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Was sure I had a point when I started this post...
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cbm
Optics Journeyman Joined: January/11/2008 Location: SC Status: Offline Points: 580 |
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It is always pretty interesting to read these threads and I always come away with a "wow" we all have different types of hunting. For our hunting here, I could not get by with a 4x or 6x scope. Our deer come in so late at times that the only way I can see them is cranking it up to 8x-10x or maybe 12x and the deer are only 85 -90 yrds away. On 4x, you can't even see them at all. I hunt with Leica binoculars also. And I had a Leica ER 2.5-10x42 and had deer in at 50 yrds that I could see good with my bino's but not at all with that scope. All of my S&B I have been able to see about the same as I can with my bino's. There was some good deals on the sample list a little while back, but I haven't looked on there recently. You may want to look at it across the board, I have gotten some good deals on some practically new condition scopes there.
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scoper
Optics GrassHopper Joined: June/03/2018 Status: Offline Points: 20 |
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thx cbm. i hadn't looked at that website yet. definitely helpful for me to be able to filter and sort that easily.
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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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If I am understanding cbm correctly, he is saying his scopes get brighter as magnification increases. Of the hundreds of scopes I have used over the years, every single one gets less bright as magnification increases - so low light hunting is done at the bottom of the mag range rather than the top. Maybe I'm doing it wrong, it wouldn't be the first time. If this is to be a hunting rifle and max shot in low light is 300, you don't need a complicated reticle. If you will be using for longer ranges in the day, it might be nice, but isn't mandatory. Be aware that good illumination is good, and bad illumination is useless; and different companies enjoy different levels of success at this. If you need illumination, ask about that specifically. You mentioned Nightforce before: their old illumination was an on/off and to adjust intensity, you had to remove the cap and use a tiny screwdriver to adjust. It was a pain and could not be done well in field conditions. That illumination sucked. Just as an example. Carry on.
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Freedom is something you take.
Respect is something you earn. Equality is something you whine about not being given. |
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cbm
Optics Journeyman Joined: January/11/2008 Location: SC Status: Offline Points: 580 |
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I didn't say it got brighter on higher powers. And I understand how the exit pupil works. And sometimes when I am hunting in fields, it helps to back the power down some. But hunting in the woods late, if you had a 4x or 6x fixed power scope, you would have to get down and leave while the deer are coming in sometimes, because you would not be able to see them. But with most of the alpha range scopes I have used, you can go to 8-10-12x and zoom in on them. Since I started using these Schmidt and Benders, I can even count points on a bucks rack (whereas, if I back it down 4x or something, like I said, you could even tell a deer is out there). Maybe it's just South Carolina pine thickets!! Lol
Edited by cbm - June/05/2018 at 09:27 |
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