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Mtns/Plains hunting scope recommendations wanted |
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SS72
Optics GrassHopper Joined: July/16/2015 Status: Offline Points: 3 |
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Posted: July/16/2015 at 12:45 |
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Hi all,
I just recently bought a Kimber Montana .280 Ackley Improved and was looking to the experts here on some hunting scope advice and I'm having a hard time selecting the optimal one for my needs. This will be my one main hunting rifle for a long-time, so I want to set it up right for my wide-range of needs. I'm a new resident of Colorado and will be using this rifle for mountain hunting elk and for plains hunting mule deer out east and for whitetails in Kansas, so I would like to find a scope that works with in each of these hunting scenarios. My budget on the high-end is $600 and it'll be shot nearly exclusively during hunting. I have been initially thinking I will need something in the 3-12 or 4-16 range at 42 or 50 magnification and was currently looking at Leupold, Zeiss, and Vortex models, though I'm not bound by them. I assume a BDC reticle would be most preferred? Which is the most preferred BDC for this sort of use? Also which is the preferred objective size? Thanks for any advice! Scott
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Kickboxer
MODERATOR Moderator Joined: February/13/2008 Status: Offline Points: 23679 |
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Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.
There are some who do not fear death... for they are more afraid of not really living |
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billyburl2
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/08/2009 Location: Cottonwood, AZ Status: Offline Points: 4015 |
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I can not honestly recommend any bdc type reticles, especially in the wild variety of altitudes you are describing.
The good news is you have chosen a very flat shooting cartridge. I would suggest a200-300 yard zero with a simple plex reticle. If you are planning on shooting further than that, I would suggest a scope with target turrets. And lots of practice. And studying of ballistics. And training. |
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If it is tourist season, why can't we shoot them?
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muleymaddness
Optics Apprentice Joined: May/04/2008 Status: Offline Points: 119 |
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With $600 as the budget, I'd look at a demo unit Zeiss HD 3-15x42 with the Z600 reticle in it. It'll be a touch over budget - what's not over budget these days anyway? |
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SS72
Optics GrassHopper Joined: July/16/2015 Status: Offline Points: 3 |
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Good point, thank you for the comment. Since the shots will occasionally go out further than 300 yards in the plains, do you have any recommendations for scopes with target turrets?
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billyburl2
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/08/2009 Location: Cottonwood, AZ Status: Offline Points: 4015 |
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The SS 3-15x42 is a great little scope, and not far above your price range. When it comes to tactical type scopes, I use First Focal Plane only. They cost more, but I don't have to worry about where the mag ring is set either. If it reads a mil on the reticle, it's a mil down range... The Vortex Viper pst is also a good scope and can be had in MOA, but is a bit more expensive, and to my eye, not as good optically.
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If it is tourist season, why can't we shoot them?
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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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I would not get too hung up on BDC reticles unless you plan to spend a lot of time calibrating them at different magnifications. I have a 280Rem and I ended up using a Kahles KXi 3.5-10x50 on it. While it is not a particularly high magnification scope, it is optically excellent, so I have not missed higher magnification with it yet. It does have a BDC-type reticle, but the way Kahles does it is pretty simple: the holdover marks are spaced at 1 mrad from each other at 10x. That gives me a mil-based holdover scheme at 10x and I do not use the holdover hashes at other magnifications.
Now, Kahles is outside your budget, but this overall configuration is a pretty good way to go. In the $500-$700 range, I would be looking at Meopta scopes. If you can stretch it out to $800, Meopro 3.5-10x44 is excellent and the illuminated reticle can be a good thing in low light. Otherwise, for $600 you can get Meopta MeoPro 3-9x50 with a #4 reticle. It is quite good in low light and the top of the post at 9x gives you a 400yard hold with a 200 yard zero. ILya |
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Kickboxer
MODERATOR Moderator Joined: February/13/2008 Status: Offline Points: 23679 |
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Leatherwood has just released its new M1200 6-24x50 ART. It is very close to your price and it has some real advantages for plains and hill country hunting. I do not have one in hand, yet, but have been following the development. There are a number of advertised improvements over the old M1200's (which work quite well). When I can get around to it, I'll be testing one.
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Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.
There are some who do not fear death... for they are more afraid of not really living |
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Son of Ed
Chuck Norris Joined: June/18/2011 Location: TEXAS Status: Online Points: 122200 |
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A 3X9 ought to do it.
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Visit the Ed Show
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