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Help me make the right choice.

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Pyro1 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Pyro1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Help me make the right choice.
    Posted: December/11/2011 at 18:56
Thanks in advance for your help!
 
Here is the deal, I hunt in MS, I hunt mostly in the hardwoods with a canopy. This causes the light to come late and leave early for me. I hunt a lot in land that is MS DWF land, so I can't use my WinMag, but use my TC Encore ProHunter in 35 Whelen, they consider this a primitive weapon..... I know, but thats the rules. I currently have a 3x9x40 TC scope that came on the gun, it's nothing special and is poor at best in low light. So you see where I am, I don't want to spend a fortune, but want a good scope. I have been looking at the Leupold VX-III & VX-R & Zeiss Conquest just to name a few. I want to stay South of 1000.00 & want to turn this into my main rifle so it also needs to be good out to 300 yards.
 
Please let me know what you scopes you think will be a great fit for this,  thanks again! 
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biggreen747 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote biggreen747 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/11/2011 at 19:40
Zeiss 3-9 Conquest, Sightron 3-9 SII Big Sky, Bushnell 3-9 Elite series, or Leupold 2-8 VX3. I own or have used all but the Bushnell and I like the Sightron the best. There are many here that like the Zeiss better but to me the glass in the Sightron is fully as good as the Zeiss. I just find the Sightron the most comfortable scope I have ever brought to my eye. All are available with some sort of holdover reticle if you want to go that way. The Zeiss probably has the darker reticle for low light but on a recent hunt my 3-9 Sightron Big Sky was more than adequate durring legal hunting hours in wooded creek bottoms with cloudy skies. Sightron and Bushnell both have water repellent coatings on the lenses if you feel that may be important where you hunt.
We measure it with a micrometer, mark it with a crayon, and cut it with a chainsaw.
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Hamm I Am View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Hamm I Am Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/11/2011 at 22:24
The only scope I have used much is a Burris Fullfield II 4.5x14 with the ballistiplex reticle.  This would be an excellent choice in my book.  I have it on a 30-06 and pick off clay pigions at 200 yrds no problem.  The glass is super clear I can shoot well past sunset.  They are only around $275 bucks these days but for 300 yards and beyond its a good set up.  
If you really want to spend a grand I would do some research and find a great illuminated reticle.  I saw a sweet Trijicon one one youtube with a tiny bright dot in the cross hair that looked sweet. 
 
Good luck.  You can research for days.  I know Burris is excellent value though. 
 
 
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31 bertram View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 31 bertram Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/12/2011 at 01:20
1-3x9x40 Conquest
2-3x9x40 4200 Bushnell
3-3x9x40 Burris FF II
31 bertram
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Pyro1 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Pyro1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/12/2011 at 05:20
What about the Conquest 3-12x56, anyone have any experience with this scope? It has the #8 reticle.
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magshooter1 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote magshooter1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/12/2011 at 07:34

I too hunt in MS.  Chickasaw and Pontotoc counties.  Get a Zeiss Conquest 3x9x40 with the #4 reticle and save the extra $ for ammo to practice out to 300 yards.  The .35 Whelen is quite capable at that range.  Yes, I have one of those too.  Only mine isn't legal for the "Primitive Weapons" hunt it's a Model 700.  If you really want to push the legal light shooting hours get a Conquest 3.5x10x50 with the #4 reticle.  For hunting in the woods the 3x12x56 is overkill.  Also, it's made ona 30mm tube and is one honking big scope.  I would only put a scope like that on a dedicated bean-field gun.

Some people are educated BEYOND their intelligence.
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biggreen747 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote biggreen747 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/12/2011 at 08:12
Not to take away from the FFII but it is not in the same class as the other scopes I mentioned. I have owned and used at least a half dozen different variations and the 4.5-14 is by far the best of them. The Ballistic plex reticle, while great in broad daylight is pretty much worthless during the first and last 10-15 min. of legal shooting light. The Trijicon is also a good choice as it's reticle is illuminated via tritium and not a battery. I almost bought one last year but I didnt feel the glass was any better than a Sightron Big Sky of Zeiss Conquest after using it for a couple days and since I have not had a problem picking up the reticle in any of my scopes during low light I just couldn't justify swaping scopes. Now for night hog or coyote hunting the Trijicon with the big 56mm Obj. would be perfect but that is a different thing altogether. With a budget of $1000.00 I would be looking at the Swaro Z3 with a #4 reticle as well.
We measure it with a micrometer, mark it with a crayon, and cut it with a chainsaw.
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Pyro1 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Pyro1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/12/2011 at 17:44
Well, I found a deal on the conquest 3-12x56mm, couldn't pass it up as it was 200.00 below what I found it everywhere else. If it does not work out on the Encore, I'll move it to my Ruger 300 Win Mag and just move the Bausch & Lomb  to my 25-06 & the old Simmons A-Tec to the Encore.
 
Thanks for all the info, I'll let you know how it works out. This will be my first experience with a Zeiss.
 
Jeff
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Urimaginaryfrnd View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/12/2011 at 18:33
remember to dial down the power to 8x or lower in low light.

"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do".
Bobby Paul Doherty
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