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Lightweight scope for mountain rifle |
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Prieto9000
Optics Apprentice Joined: March/12/2010 Location: Monterrey Status: Offline Points: 160 |
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Posted: April/02/2014 at 23:52 |
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I´m assembling my mountain rifle and I found a problem when I got to the scope selection.
I currently own a bunch of scopes an even though I love each and every one of them, none classifies as a lightweight scope going from a Razor HD 5-20X50 to a Z3 4-12X50. The rifle I need a scope for is a Winchester 70 Featherweight in .270 WSM and I don´t plan to shoot it beyond 400yds. I also want to keep the scope under the $600 mark if possible but it would be ok to be $100-$150 over the budget if it means a great difference. Even though I don´t particularly like Leupold scopes I was considering the 2.5-8X32 a very good option.
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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Your best bet is probably Swarovski Z3 3-9x36, although it is a bit more expensive than your $650 limit.
In the $400 range, Leupold VX-3 1.75-6x32 and 2.5-8x36 are good options as well. If you want something with a 40mm objective lens, there are quite a few options that are a couple of ounces heavier, but still pretty light. Trijicon Accupoint 3-9x40 should be on your list. Minox ZA5 HD 2-10x40 is also worth a look. ILya |
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stickbow46
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/07/2009 Location: Benton, Pa Status: Offline Points: 4678 |
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+1 with what Ilya said.
Might also want to look at the SWFA sample list,I've got a lot of great deals over the years & have never been disappointed!
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Pearls of Wisdom are Heard not Spoken
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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+1 on this
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"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
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bugsNbows
Optics God bowsNbugs Joined: March/10/2008 Location: North Georgia Status: Offline Points: 11201 |
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Another vote for the Swaro 3-9 x 36. It's a dandy. My wife has it on her Ruger Compact and loves it.
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If we're not suppose to eat animals...how come they're made of meat?
Anomymous |
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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You wouldn't make a bad choice by going with any of the scopes Koshkin mentions. He pretty much summed up the high quality go-to mountain rifle scopes list.
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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Prieto9000
Optics Apprentice Joined: March/12/2010 Location: Monterrey Status: Offline Points: 160 |
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Yesterday I made up this list. Some of the options Koshkin mentions happen to be there.
I see the Vortex Viper HS and the Minox are the heaviest scopes on the list so I think I´ll discard them unless there´s a very good reason to go that way. I overlooked the 1.75-6X32 VX-3 and maybe I should really take a good look at it. Seems like a nice scope.
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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not trying to sway you but I have a nice 2-7x32 for sale on here. For CHEAP. I can weigh and measure tonight. |
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"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
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JGRaider
Optics Master Joined: February/06/2008 Status: Offline Points: 1540 |
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I would personally ditch all of the Minox/Vortex/Sightron/Nikon choices and add a tried and true 3.5-10x40 VX3 (maybe with CDS?) @ 12.6"/12.6 oz choice to the pool. It's a proven commodity in the field.
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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Just to clarify: the Leupold VX-3 2.5-8x scope has a 36mm objective, not 32. Also, Zeiss Terra did not impress me. I would not be looking at that. The 2.5-10x44 Viper HS is not Vortex' best scope. It got better over the years, but not my favourite. I vastly prefer their 2.5-10x32 PST model. All that having been said, I would just go with the Swaro Z3 and be done with it. It is pretty difficult to get something significantly lighter. You will at most gain a couple of ounces, but you will end giving up a fair bit of performance. ILya
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coyote95
Optics Master Joined: January/24/2009 Location: michigan Status: Offline Points: 1196 |
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+1 on the z3. That's what I did and couldn't be happier for this type of application
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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It's really hard to beat the Swaro Z3 3-9X36 for any general purpose BG hunting rifle, lightweight or otherwise.
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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rustic
Optics Master Joined: September/30/2011 Status: Offline Points: 1461 |
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+1 on the z-3 it is a very nice scope I have one on one of my tikkas. As far as budget wise though I would recommend vx-3, there is not enough difference in the product to warrant the price difference IMHO. The z-3 and vx-3 are the only ones I would even consider as "lightweight" for a mountain rifle project, either would be a fine choice.
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hydra7
Optics Apprentice Joined: January/11/2013 Location: Michigan Status: Offline Points: 97 |
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I would love to see the z-3 in my collection someday, chances are I would settle for the VX-3 for price difference as Rustic pointed out
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Give me a shot, I won't disappoint!
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BobbyH
Optics Apprentice Joined: April/25/2012 Location: ARKANSAS Status: Offline Points: 137 |
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I believe the best all around scope for light weight gun is Swaro Z3 3-10X42. The group from this forum talked me into one last year and it is awesome. I have it on a WBY Mark V Lightweight 30-06.
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Marine24
Optics Journeyman Joined: June/07/2010 Location: Monument, CO Status: Offline Points: 687 |
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Interested in the Swarovski Z3 3-9x36 as a scope for an Anschutz 1517 in 17HMR. As I understand it, parallax is set for 100 meters for the plex or 4A reticle, which would work for punching paper at 100 yards.
Prefer to have something with side focus to adjust for closer shots on small game, but expect the other options listed above would have similar challenges. Good choice?
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3_tens
Optics Jedi Master Joined: January/08/2007 Location: Oklahoma Status: Offline Points: 7853 |
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This EFR Leupold with the custom Dial system would be a good fit for the Anschutz 1517 in 17HMR.
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Folks ain't got a sense of humor no more. They don't laugh they just get sore.
Need to follow the rules. Just hard to determine which set of rules to follow Now the rules have changed again. |
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Marine24
Optics Journeyman Joined: June/07/2010 Location: Monument, CO Status: Offline Points: 687 |
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Believe you are right. Stopped by a local optics shop and compared the Swarovski Z3 3.5-10x42 and the Leupold VIII CDS 3-10x40.
As you would expect, the Z3 was the clear winner in resolution, contrast and clarity but the Leupold performed well too. Conditions weren't ideal being inside looking at a wall about 85 yards away. While both are better than my Diamondback that is sitting on the rifle now, not sure if that difference is going to be significant shooting at known distance in the middle of the day. The Z3 glass is impressive though.
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Tip69
Optics Master Extraordinaire Tip Stick Joined: September/27/2005 Location: Nebraska Status: Offline Points: 4155 |
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this isn't on par with the Z3 glass... but I think it would be an excellent choice and I am considering for my Son's 17B-Mag
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take em!
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Marine24
Optics Journeyman Joined: June/07/2010 Location: Monument, CO Status: Offline Points: 687 |
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I'm a big fan of the old Monarch line and actually have this exact scope on my 257 Wby, 338-06 and 6.5 BRM.
Challenge of OpticsTalk is that you get educated on optics, get the opportunity to use and appreciate better optics and then you get cursed with not being able to go back. Thankfully with SWFA's generous Trade-in program and Samplelist, you have the chance of going after the good stuff without having to pay full freight.
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