Hunting Scope Recommendation

I have the opportunity to get a very good deal on a purchase from a sporting goods store here in Canada.  Anyway, it is time for me to get a new rifle.  I have not yet decided on the exact rifle I will be getting but it will be something along the lines of 270, 280, 30-06, 7-08, 308 NON-MAGNUM.

Rifle usage: Big-Game rifle to be used on the open plains of Saskatchewan as well as in the bush in small clearings.  The last deer I shot was at 34 yards so short shots will happen.  Lets say a range of 25-250 yards.

Within that budget, I would get the Conquest 3-9X42 with either the Z-Plex or #4 reticle.  Both reticles have outer bars that are thick enough to work well during dawn and dusk.

What Ted said or for less money and an excellent scope value, I'd consider the Bushnell Elite 3-9x40 with the FireFly reticle which, IMO, is an excellent hunting reticle.

The 2.5-8 Leupy VX-3 w/ duplex would be a fine choice for your uses as well.

Bitterroot Bulls wrote: The 2.5-8 Leupy VX-3 w/ duplex would be a fine choice for your uses as well.

I'd personally choose either the Elite or VX3.  I find their reticles easier to see to my 51 year old eyes.  The FX3 6x42 would work very well too.  

911alertme wrote: Bitterroot Bulls wrote: The 2.5-8 Leupy VX-3 w/ duplex would be a fine choice for your uses as well. Doesn't look like I can get the 2.5-8x36 but can get the 3.5-10x40.

If you are getting a long action rifle (270, 280, 06..) get the 3.5-10 Leupold if you are leaning towards the Leupold anyway. The 2.5-8 Leupold can present mounting issues (adjusting for eye relief) on long action rifles. I say this with the prejudice I have toward extension rings.

FWIW, the thick posts on the Zeiss #4 are heavier than the Leupy heavy duplex, and the reticle is also darker black and contrasts better, since all Conquest reticles are etched.

The VX3 2.5-8X36 and 3.5-10X40 are certainly good choices too, though.  Optically, there's not a huge difference between VX3 and Conquest. 

JGRaider wrote: I'd personally choose either the Elite or VX3.  I find their reticles easier to see to my 51 year old eyes.  The FX3 6x42 would work very well too.

Edited by Roy Finn - April/23/2012 at 16:46

I love that one RD, a whole lot.  Rifle, here's what I know......the thin wires in my Conquest are much harder for me to see at dark thirty than the thin wires in the regular plex Leupy, and the Zplex is likened to the leupold wide duplex setup.  Not even close.  

Looks like it is down to the following:

I like the Zeiss out of those.

i just picked up a tc venture preaditor in .308 c/w tc 4x12 scope. Great gun for the money. They warranty 1 in moa @ 100 yards. mine is doing more like 3/4 in or better (must be luck on my part not skill...lol) Seriously check one out and i am sure it will fill your needs....good hunting

JGRaider wrote: I love that one RD, a whole lot.  Rifle, here's what I know......the thin wires in my Conquest are much harder for me to see at dark thirty than the thin wires in the regular plex Leupy, and the Zplex is likened to the leupold wide duplex setup.  Not even close.

Have you compared it to the Conquest #4 reticle I was referring to?  The #4 is bolder than the ZPlex.  Even when I can't see the thin crosshairs, at the distances I'm usually shooting at dark thirty anyway, the bold outer posts are sufficient to guide my eye to the center.  If it's too dark for even that, it's too dark to be shooting anyway.  The Conquest #4 outer posts are quite a bit thicker than any plex Leupold offers. 

If you're comparing the Leupold plex to the Zplex, probably one of the reasons you're able to pick up the center of the reticle in the Leupy is there's a narrower gap in the center of the reticle between the thick posts on the Leupy reticle than on the Zplex.  In other words, the thick posts extend further toward the center.

A little over the $600 budget mentioned but well worth it ... Trijicon Accupoint 3-9 or 2.5-10

Sapper524 wrote: A little over the $600 budget mentioned but well worth it ... Trijicon Accupoint 3-9 or 2.5-10

+1 on the Trijicon 3-9 X 40

have to agree on the accupoint recommendation

Rifle, I missed the part about the Zeiss #4.  Sorry about that.  I was talking plex vs plex.

Surprised the Meopta Meopra 3-9 didn't get mentioned...

The other scopes are all good choices too.  Look through every one of them, and pick the one that works the best for you.

If you can stretch it a bit,take a long look at the Z3 Swaro's.The glass is better than all you are looking at!

stickbow46 wrote: If you can stretch it a bit,take a long look at the Z3 Swaro's.The glass is better than all you are looking at!

Another vote for a Conquest with a #4 reticle.  My Sako .270 wears one and I have no problems picking it up later than I can legally shoot.

The one I have is a Z3 3-9x36 with a 4a ret.SWFA selling at $749.I like it better than my Conquest & my Minox Z5's.I have it mounted on a .22lr so eye box magnification is not a priority!

I have done some more research.  I checked prices at two large Canadian sporting goods stores (Cabelas Canada and Wholesale Sports) against two American places (Cabelas and SWFA).  It would appear that on a $500 scope we pay only slightly more than Americans.  All below scopes are in the range of 3-9x40.

I would choose for the Meopta Meopro 3-9x42 with a #4 reticle @$399 (SWFA).Seriously close to Alpha glass at a fraction of the price, plus a killer #4 reticle.