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Lightweight scope recommendations |
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The Dude
Optics Apprentice Joined: July/21/2010 Status: Offline Points: 82 |
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Posted: March/08/2011 at 21:50 |
Well gents....I just picked up a new Tikka T3 Lite SS in 270win. I ordered a DNZ low mount with the intention of putting a Viper 2-7x32 I have laying around on top.
At 13 ounces...i'm wondering if I might want to try something a little lighter. I've considered a leupold ultralight but have no experience with them. Anyone have any suggestions for a decent lightweight option? Regards, Josh |
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14964 |
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Put the 2-7 Viper on it and stop over thinking this. If you are that worried about weight just take one bullet.
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"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do". Bobby Paul Doherty Texas Ranger |
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AstroVic
Optics Apprentice Joined: January/18/2010 Status: Offline Points: 161 |
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You already have a lightweight rifle. I can't imagine you're going to find a whole lot of weight savings past a 13 ounce scope. I agree with the above. Just put the 2-7x32 on it and forget about it. Like UR alluded to, extra bullets would weigh more than anything you're going to save on a lighter scope.
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300S&W
Optics God Joined: January/27/2008 Location: Burlington,WV Status: Offline Points: 10592 |
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Unless the scope because of it's weight alters the balance of your rifle to the point of being awkward your limiting your choice of scope options.
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"I ain't got time to bleed!"
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bberg7794
Optics Apprentice Joined: June/04/2010 Location: Canton, NY Status: Offline Points: 58 |
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Hi Josh,
The lighter a rifle is, the more you will notice a difference in how the weight of a scope changes the feel of a rifle. It is not just about overall carrying weight but balance too. Also, if you hunt primarily from a stand this will be less important than if you are on your feet carrying your rifle all day. I went from an 11.5 ounce scope to a 15 ounce scope on a 6 3/4 lb. rifle and I definitely noticed and am looking for a lighter option. As mentioned above, going lighter does limit your options. The sub-thirteen ounce market is getting smaller while larger and heavier scopes are an expanding part of the market. Also you have to say what magnification you are looking for, if you want a variable and what price point. The VX3 2.5-8 catalogs at 11.4 ounces. Not a whole lot lighter than the Viper, but a 1.5 ounce fishing weight in the hand is noticeable. It is a large price jump upward from the Viper for and ounce and a half. The VX3 1.5-5 is 9.3 ounces. Can you live with 4.5x as your top end on a .270 Win? Maybe you can but many would feel too limited. Similar price jump to the VX3 2.5-8. The Leupold VX-II 2-7 ultralight is 8.2 ounces and is 37% lighter. My bet is you would definitely like how your rifle feels with this scope mounted on it. This scope does not have the reputation for great low-light performance, but it may be good enough for your hunting. Hopefully someone who has one of these will join in. |
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bugsNbows
Optics God bowsNbugs Joined: March/10/2008 Location: North Georgia Status: Offline Points: 11200 |
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I've got a couple of the Leupy Ultralights. They are ok, but the optical quality isn't all that great. They do work tho.
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The Dude
Optics Apprentice Joined: July/21/2010 Status: Offline Points: 82 |
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I think you guys are right...I had a Tikka in Talley LW's with Burris FFII 3-9x40 on it for a couple years. The rig was similar in weight to what this rig will be if I mount the Viper. It balanced well and felt light enough....maybe im just gettin lazy in my old age Last year I hunted an area that was basically a mile straight up the side of a very large and steep mountain. It was hell getting up there but I got a nice Mulie about an hour and a half into the season.
This year I plan to hunt the same place...cant argue with success! But this time I decided to set up a lightweight rig instead of the Ruger Hawkeye I hauled up last year. I've already saved about a pound on the rifle and the scope on the Ruger is a Viper 3-9x40 so i've saved weight there too....hell when it comes down to it, I could lose 20 pounds and it wouldnt matter how heavy the rifle was, ide still be ahead.
Thanks for the replies...
Josh
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mike650
Optics God Joined: May/14/2006 Location: West of Rockies Status: Offline Points: 14569 |
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Swaro z3 3-9x40... you get great optics and can shave an ounce off.
http://swfa.com/Swarovski-3-9x36-Z3-Riflescope-P40812.aspx |
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“A hunt based only on trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.” – Fred Bear
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The Dude
Optics Apprentice Joined: July/21/2010 Status: Offline Points: 82 |
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Bberg,
I had considered the Leupold Ultralights. I've heard mixed reports tho. Some say the eye relief is marginal but I have yet to handle one. Another option I've considered is the VX-II 2-7x33. Its listed at 10.5 oz. I've used this scope in the past and really like it. Saving 2.5 ounces would likley be noticeable but not sure how much.
I live and hunt in North Central Washington state. We are in the foothills of the Cascade mountain range so terrain to the east is flat dessert (read long shots) and to the west is very dens thick brush. The lowest I would be comfortabel going, magnifaction wise, is 6x on the high end. I've considered the VX3 1.75-6x32 at under 10.9oz but who knows....still pondering....
Thanks,
Josh
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The Dude
Optics Apprentice Joined: July/21/2010 Status: Offline Points: 82 |
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Nice looking scope Mike. I've never looked through a Swaro. Probably better off if I never do! I personally cant see spending that much money on a hunting scope. I top out at the Conquest / VX3 level. One can only spend so much on a scope and still be below the wifes spending radar
Josh
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bberg7794
Optics Apprentice Joined: June/04/2010 Location: Canton, NY Status: Offline Points: 58 |
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Born and raised on the "coast." I didn't miss too many high hunts and also late whitetail hunts in Stevens County prior to moving east in 1996. My "mountain" rifle at that time was a pre-64 Model 70 in 30-06 with a 2 1/2x Lyman and it weighed in at over 9 lbs. If its what you have, you go hunting and I actually didn't mind carrying it too much. With mulie hunting the rifle spends a lot of time slung or resting while you glass, but with the whitetail hunting I do now in the Adirondacks the sling is in my fanny pack and rifle is in my hands from sunup to sundown. Rifle balance means a lot more to me now in this situation and most shots are offhand or kneeling.
If you decide to try a variable Leupold, see if you can look at one in the store and zoom it from high to low and back. The eye relief varies quiet a bit on some models-make sure this doesn't bother you. My VXIII 2.5-8 had 1" of variation in eye relief between low and high power. I couldn't use the scope at all above 6x and couldn't move it any closer to my eye to adjust for the top end. With the new VX3's some of the eye relief variation has been reduced. I'm going to look at the VX3 1.5-5, which now has .7" of variation and I think this may work for me. Leupold is one of the last to make a few lightweight scopes and maybe the VX2 will be what you want. Also, I experienced almost no low light difficulties hunting in Washington compared to hunting in the Adirondacks, where now low light performance is very important to me. |
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mike650
Optics God Joined: May/14/2006 Location: West of Rockies Status: Offline Points: 14569 |
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I totally understand. I didn't see a budget posted or I missed it... and SWFA is offering great deals on Swaro right now. Any of the scopes you've listed should serve you well. |
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“A hunt based only on trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.” – Fred Bear
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bberg7794
Optics Apprentice Joined: June/04/2010 Location: Canton, NY Status: Offline Points: 58 |
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Amen to the wife's spending radar. I too top out at VX3/Conquest! Wish money were no object.
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jason miller
Optics Apprentice Joined: February/05/2007 Location: W Laf, IN Status: Offline Points: 229 |
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Weaver makes some lightweight scopes...
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The Dude
Optics Apprentice Joined: July/21/2010 Status: Offline Points: 82 |
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OK gents. I just ordered a VX-II 2-7x33. I was almost set to go with the 6x36 but then I found a pretty good deal on the 2-7 on the samplelist which is only .5 ounces heavier at 10.5oz's. It was listed at $219 for a Leupold factory blem. No idea what is blemished about it, but will know soon enough
Thanks for the input everyone, as always, much appreciated. Josh |
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pyro6999
Optics Retard OT TITAN Joined: December/22/2006 Location: North Dakota Status: Offline Points: 22034 |
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you would have been better of with the viper imo. |
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The Dude
Optics Apprentice Joined: July/21/2010 Status: Offline Points: 82 |
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Still have it....and I run two others on other rifles as well. If im not happy with the vx-II, it wont be hard to get rid of.
Regards,
Josh
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