Reliability and robustness first

Frag

Frag

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Montreal, Quebec
Hi guys,

there are TONS of article around about scope magnification, illuminated reticle, different gadgets and so on.

I am looking for something different here: Max robustness / reliability

What scope would you recommend for someone who goes hunting deep in the wood for days? I am looking for (in order of importance)

1. Reliability / robustness in all weather. Rain, snow, extreme cold ... looking for a tank here since I will be FAR away from any outdoor shop. I need something that will not let me down. Also that thing will go on a 300 Win Mag (black bear and moose), so it needs to hold zero quite well due to the high recoil.

2. Image clarity / FOV

Since I will be mostly hunting in the forest, I am looking for a 2-7x or 3-9x ... I do not really need something that magnify more than 10x. I don't expect to shoot further than 300 yards, so no need for a monster scope here. I want something slick and strong.

What are the tank scope around here. I was in the market like 30 years ago and Bushnell/Leupold were the reference at the time, but I do know that time changed LOL

Thanks!
 
It honestly really depends on your budget. The high end offerings from Bushnell (Elite series) and Leupold (Mk5 and up) are still super reliable tanks with the Leupold's being generally lighter than the Bushnell's.
 
In my opinion you can't go wrong with a Leupold 2-7 or 3-9 power scope for your hunting needs. That gives you the low magnification for walking through the bush and as well the higher magnification if you happen to need it out in the open. I use mostly the older VX-3 series scopes and they have been rock solid for my hunting and have I never had an issue in the field and they get used hard and carried far. I used my 35 Whelen single-shot with a Leupold VX-3 2.5-8 last fall to get my mule deer and it did its job just fine.
You can't go too wrong with a Bushnell either although I think they are a bit bigger and heavier then the Leupolds.

Make sure you have good bases and rings as well.
 
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kc34 said:
In my opinion you can't go wrong with a Leupold 2-7 or 3-9 power scope for your hunting needs. That gives you the low magnification for walking through the bush and as well the higher magnification if you happen to need it out in the open. I use mostly the older VX-3 series scopes and they have been rock solid for my hunting and have I never had an issue in the field and they get used hard and carried far. I used my 35 Whelen single-shot with a Leupold VX-3 2.5-8 last fall to get my mule deer and it did its job just fine.
You can't go too wrong with a Bushnell either although I think they are a bit bigger and heavier then the Leupolds.

Make sure you have good bases and rings as well.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info guys. I am heading for a Weatherby Vanguard 2, so I think that they are Remigton 700 bases.

Feel free to recommend strong rings!
 
Frag, this past Thursday I went for a 96K showmobile trip in -20C temp with my Ruger 338 Win Mag. It was carried in a soft case in the skimmer behind the skidoo.

RwtZxJIl.jpg


Being an outdoorsman, you know what I am talking about, when I say the trails get packed down in deep waves and bumps. It was a brutal, bouncy, eight hour ride for the rifle and scope.

I had sighted the rifle in shortly before leaving, and checked it yesterday at the range, same bench, same load, and the same target. The shot was about half and inch lower than the last shot on the target a few days before.

Those old straight 4X Leupolds are indeed tough tanks. You could do worse than getting one of those. :)

Ted
 
Why not? said:
Frag, this past Thursday I went for a 96K showmobile trip in -20C temp with my Ruger 338 Win Mag. It was carried in a soft case in the skimmer behind the skidoo.

RwtZxJIl.jpg


Being an outdoorsman, you know what I am talking about, when I say the trails get packed down in deep waves and bumps. It was a brutal, bouncy, eight hour ride for the rifle and scope.

I had sighted the rifle in shortly before leaving, and checked it yesterday at the range, same bench, same load, and the same target. The shot was about half and inch lower than the last shot on the target a few days before.

Those old straight 4X Leupolds are indeed tough tanks. You could do worse than getting one of those. :)

Ted
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I just saw your location (Yukon) and a 338 ... I started to drool on my keyboard. But indeed, ATV or snowmobile rides on rough trails are the ultimate test!
 
Frag said:
What do you guys think of Nikon? The ones I saw were crazy clear ... but wonder if they are strong.
Click to expand...

All my hunting rifles have Nikon’s on them, the have been 100%. Hiking, bouncing down logging roads and trails in a rack on the front of the quad. Spring, summer and winter months. Have a 2.5-10x40 on a .308 Howa, so pretty much the same as a vanguard. Even with Nikon getting out of the scope business I would buy another without a thought, great glass for the money and tough from my personal use.
 
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