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Lightweight scope for mountain rifle

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Category: Scopes
Forum Name: Rifle Scopes
Forum Description: Centerfire long gun scopes
URL: http://www.opticstalk.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=39717
Printed Date: March/29/2024 at 08:17
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Topic: Lightweight scope for mountain rifle
Posted By: Prieto9000
Subject: Lightweight scope for mountain rifle
Date Posted: April/02/2014 at 23:52
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.



Replies:
Posted By: koshkin
Date Posted: April/03/2014 at 00:46
Your best bet is probably Swarovski Z3 3-9x36, although it is a bit more expensive than your $650 limit.
http://swfa.com/Swarovski-3-9x36-Z3-Riflescope-P40812.aspx - http://swfa.com/Swarovski-3-9x36-Z3-Riflescope-P40812.aspx

In the $400 range, Leupold VX-3 1.75-6x32 and 2.5-8x36 are good options as well.
http://swfa.com/Leupold-175-6x32-VX-3-Riflescope-P12640.aspx - http://swfa.com/Leupold-175-6x32-VX-3-Riflescope-P12640.aspx
http://swfa.com/Leupold-25-8x36-VX-3-Riflescope-P12643.aspx - http://swfa.com/Leupold-25-8x36-VX-3-Riflescope-P12643.aspx

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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http://www.darklordofoptics.com - www.darklordofoptics.com
https://rumble.com/c/DLO - Rumble Video Channel


Posted By: stickbow46
Date Posted: April/03/2014 at 07:27
+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


Posted By: SVT_Tactical
Date Posted: April/03/2014 at 07:41
Originally posted by koshkin koshkin wrote:

Your best bet is probably Swarovski Z3 3-9x36, although it is a bit more expensive than your $650 limit.
http://swfa.com/Swarovski-3-9x36-Z3-Riflescope-P40812.aspx - http://swfa.com/Swarovski-3-9x36-Z3-Riflescope-P40812.aspx
 
 
+1 on this


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"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln


Posted By: bugsNbows
Date Posted: April/03/2014 at 08:39
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


Posted By: RifleDude
Date Posted: April/03/2014 at 10:08
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.


Posted By: Prieto9000
Date Posted: April/03/2014 at 10:34
Yesterday I made up this list. Some of the options Koshkin mentions happen to be there.
Swarovski Z3 3.5-10X42 12.7 oz 12.64 in  $730.00
Swarovski Z3 3-9X36 12 oz 12.13 in  $650.00
Minox ZA 5 2-10X40 18 oz 12.74 in  $570.00
Leupold VX-3 2.5-8X32 11.4 oz 11.4 in  $400.00
Sightron SII BS 3-9X42 13.4 oz 12.64 in  $400.00
Vortex Viper HS 2.5-10X44 18.4 oz 12 in  $350.00
Zeiss Terra 2-7X32 13.4 oz 11.5 in  $350.00
Nikon Monarch 3 2-8X32 13.4 oz 11.5 in   $300.00
Vortex Viper 3-9X40 14.2 oz 12.4 in  $300.00

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.  


Posted By: SVT_Tactical
Date Posted: April/03/2014 at 10:52

not trying to sway you but I have a nice 2-7x32 for sale on here.  For CHEAP.  I can weigh and measure tonight. Wink



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"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln


Posted By: JGRaider
Date Posted: April/03/2014 at 10:56
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. 


Posted By: koshkin
Date Posted: April/03/2014 at 11:21
Originally posted by Prieto9000 Prieto9000 wrote:

Yesterday I made up this list. Some of the options Koshkin mentions happen to be there.
Swarovski Z3 3.5-10X42 12.7 oz 12.64 in  $730.00
Swarovski Z3 3-9X36 12 oz 12.13 in  $650.00
Minox ZA 5 2-10X40 18 oz 12.74 in  $570.00
Leupold VX-3 2.5-8X32 11.4 oz 11.4 in  $400.00
Sightron SII BS 3-9X42 13.4 oz 12.64 in  $400.00
Vortex Viper HS 2.5-10X44 18.4 oz 12 in  $350.00
Zeiss Terra 2-7X32 13.4 oz 11.5 in  $350.00
Nikon Monarch 3 2-8X32 13.4 oz 11.5 in   $300.00
Vortex Viper 3-9X40 14.2 oz 12.4 in  $300.00

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.  

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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http://www.darklordofoptics.com - www.darklordofoptics.com
https://rumble.com/c/DLO - Rumble Video Channel


Posted By: coyote95
Date Posted: April/03/2014 at 12:17
+1 on the z3. That's what I did and couldn't be happier for this type of application

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"Life is like riding a bicycle . To keep balance you must keep moving" Albert Einstein


Posted By: RifleDude
Date Posted: April/03/2014 at 14:56
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.


Posted By: rustic
Date Posted: April/03/2014 at 18:38
+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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Light is alright.<br /><br />The end is just... the beginning   -soul surfer


Posted By: hydra7
Date Posted: April/04/2014 at 08:58
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!


Posted By: BobbyH
Date Posted: April/11/2014 at 13:29
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. 


Posted By: Marine24
Date Posted: April/21/2014 at 12:54
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?




Posted By: 3_tens
Date Posted: April/21/2014 at 14:12
This EFR Leupold with the custom Dial system would be a good fit for the Anschutz 1517 in 17HMR.
http://swfa.com/Leupold-3-9x33-VX-2-Rimfire-EFR-Riflescope-P51833.aspx">Leupold 3-9x33 VX-2 Rimfire E.F.R. Riflescope http://swfa.com/images/leupold_fineduplex_popup.jpg"> http://swfa.com/Leupold-3-9x33-VX-2-Rimfire-EFR-Riflescope-P51833.aspx - Leupold 3-9x33 VX-2 Rimfire E.F.R. Riflescope
Stock # - LEU114416
  • Matte
  • Fine Duplex
  • 1"
  • Custom Dial System
  • Extended Focal Range
  • Indexed Matched, Diamond Coat & Edge Blackened Lens System



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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.


Posted By: Marine24
Date Posted: April/21/2014 at 14:46
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.


Posted By: Tip69
Date Posted: April/21/2014 at 14:56
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
 
http://swfa.com/Nikon-4-16x42-Monarch-Riflescope-P70102.aspx">Nikon 4-16x42 Monarch Riflescope http://swfa.com/images/nik8422-rt_popup.jpg"> http://swfa.com/Nikon-4-16x42-Monarch-Riflescope-P70102.aspx - Nikon 4-16x42 Monarch Riflescope
Stock # - NIK8422
  • Matte
  • BDC
  • 1"
  • Side Focus
  • Discontinued Closeout
$299.95 < id=ctl00_wpm_CategoryGrid_ctl04_ProductList_ctl01_Price_VS value=tWxEt5cgZJHZM657CO7HOo8l8UUHcydzZHpowCM49k1QBCZS1ncgCAKmNnMRHXF2 = name=ctl00$wpm$CategoryGrid$ctl04$ProductList$ctl01$Price$VS>


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take em!


Posted By: Marine24
Date Posted: April/21/2014 at 15:01
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.


Posted By: Tip69
Date Posted: April/21/2014 at 15:22
touche`     I know that all too well!!
 
good luck and hope a Z3 pops up on The Samplelist soon!    a bit of advice.... if one does, don't mess around and miss your chance...  been down that road too Loco


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take em!


Posted By: eas
Date Posted: April/28/2014 at 22:12
My two favorite scopes on a lightweight Mtn rifle are the Swarovski Z3 and Sightron Big Sky. Both are light and have great glass for the money. The Z3 is slightly better optically, better eye box and has better reticles. The Sightron Big Sky has better eye relief and hydrophobic coatings (which is a big plus). It's all about price really. The Z3 is absolutely hard to beat for an all around scope. The Sightron Big Sky in my eyes is still one Of the most underated scopes that fly under the radar. The ZACT 7 coatings are superb and for the money are an absolute bargain.

I'm not a fan of Leupold (everyone's eyes are different) but it's a solid choice. If you have the money you can't go wrong with the compact Swarovski Z3. Other than the reticles the Sightron Big Sky (NOT the regular SII) is my favorite scope below $500. I like the Zeiss Conquest as well but the weight is a tad heavy compared to the others. I have compared my Big Sky's to all of my German scopes and they are right there with them for the most part. Anything North of $1000 is a different story. However, it seems that is not what you are looking for so I would highly recommend the Z3 and Big Sky! Great scopes for a light rifle....best of luck on your choice!!!


Posted By: Tip69
Date Posted: April/29/2014 at 08:49
Prieto................  any update??

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take em!


Posted By: Crockett
Date Posted: December/27/2014 at 17:34
If you're building lightweight then lightweight should be the prime consideration for your scope. I have a 2.5x8 Leupold and it’s an excellent scope in every way. Keep in mind that a 4 oz difference in the weight of a scope is a ¼ pound difference! That may not sound like much but at the end of the day and when you’ve still got a mountain to climb to get back to camp, that ¼ pound will make a BIG difference! You WILL be able to feel the difference between a 6 ¼ pound rifle and a 6 ½ pound rifle!!!


Posted By: Prieto9000
Date Posted: December/27/2014 at 17:48
Went with pair of finnlights one in 308 win and the other one is a 270wsm. I topped the 308 with a Z3 4-12X50 which is a charm to carry. The 270 is wearing a Z6 2-12X50 which is not the lightest scope, but for those long hikes i just carry my 308 and problem solved. Really love both rifles they both shoot great and for those low light hunts the Z6 really stands out.



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