Kimber Mountain Ascent which scope

mikeboehm said:
I have a Kimber mountain ascent Chambered in 280 ackley. Currently shoots well under half inch with 140 grn Barnes TTSX.

I currently have a new VX3HD 3.5-10x40 cdszl But I'm thinking about putting a swarovski z3 3-10x42 4a. It is a little bit lighter Then the Leopold and I don't think I want along but I want a long range dial for my lightweight rifle. Just curious what you guys would do? Would you leave it the same or would you put the Z3 on
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Personally I'd opt for somewhat higher magnification on that rifle and more dial than the 14.5 MOA on the CDS-ZL, 3HD.

Even with a VX5HD 3-15x44 ZL2 CDS completely set up on your back ready to hunt it will still be under 7lbs.

Just curious, whats your 140 TTSX load and speed?
 
hawk-i said:
Personally I'd opt for somewhat higher magnification on that rifle and more dial than the 14.5 MOA on the CDS-ZL, 3HD.

Even with a VX5HD 3-15x44 ZL2 CDS completely set up on your back ready to hunt it will still be under 7lbs.

Just curious, whats your 140 TTSX load and speed?
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Love the VX5HD had it on there briefly. But I didn't buy an ultra light rifle to put a heavy scope on it. The Leopold VX5H d's are almost 20 oz. My 140 grain barns TTS X are over RL26 @3200fps
 
mikeboehm said:
Love the VX5HD had it on there briefly. But I didn't buy an ultra light rifle to put a heavy scope on it. The Leopold VX5H d's are almost 20 oz. My 140 grain barns TTS X are over RL26 @3200fps
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Yeah, I hear you on the weight...my lightest is an Ascent 7-08 with VX3i 3.5-10x40 CDS, my all around hunting Kimber is a Montana 280AI with 3-15x44 LHT on it.

Is that load with the RL26 near max?
 
hawk-i said:
Yeah, I hear you on the weight...my lightest is an Ascent 7-08 with VX3i 3.5-10x40 CDS, my all around hunting Kimber is a Montana 280AI with 3-15x44 LHT on it.

Is that load with the RL26 near max?
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I had my LHT 3-15 on my main rig for a season, found it a bit big and bulky. I was really hoping to love that scope but ended up swapping for a VX3I 2.5-8. How do you find yours on a nice light handy rifle?
 
freddyfour said:
I had my LHT 3-15 on my main rig for a season, found it a bit big and bulky. I was really hoping to love that scope but ended up swapping for a VX3I 2.5-8. How do you find yours on a nice light handy rifle?
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I really like it, the glass on my LHT exceeds the clarity(IMHO by a fair bit) of my VX5HD CDS ZL2 3-15x44 that I have mounted on another Kimber (Montana 6.5 CM).

The LHT is mounted on a Montana 280AI and comes in a just over 7LBS on my back ready to hunt...MY 7-08 Ascent comes in at just over 6LBS on my back ready to hunt.

The truth from my view is I really don't notice the 1 lb difference when hunting between the 7 LB Montana and 6 Lbs Ascent and the best part is the 280AI Montana with the LHT is very capable out to 800 yds.

Not saying I'd shoot at an animal at 800 yds but I can smoke rocks cold bore at that distance. :)
 
Both are fine scopes IMO. Won't go wrong.

For my primary backpacking rifle I went with a Z5i 2.4-12x50. Lightweight, perfect mag range for timber and long range and the 50mm for extra light gathering at dawn and dusk.

6lb range can't recall exactly on the total weight.

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vancouverbc said:
Both are fine scopes IMO. Won't go wrong.

For my primary backpacking rifle I went with a Z5i 2.4-12x50. Lightweight, perfect mag range for timber and long range and the 50mm for extra light gathering at dawn and dusk.

6lb range can't recall exactly on the total weight.

View attachment 541927
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Those are nice scopes until you pull the gun off your pack and that stack of plastic rings on the top turret is gone .
Just check out what holds them on .Had two guy i know have it happen.
 
Big bore dinosaur said:
I dont find them junky either... O.p. must have had a DUUD.
Cold bore out to 8Y .. nice. I'm amazed also
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If you're referring to vortex I had 3 of their items and they all had to go back to warranty a couple times. Out of pocket expense to ship them to them. Even when I got it back and it wasn't fixed I still had to pay to send it back to them and they did not refund me any of that money I will not buy their junk ever again that's why I call it junk. In 30 years of hunting I have never had To send a Leupold in for warranty
 
I have used several of the Leupold VX3i and the Swarovski Z3 lines of 1” inch tube scopes, the Swarovski has better glass for sure if you compare 3.5-10x40 to the 3-10x42, for hunting these are excellent scopes but at the range I struggle with not enough magnification more so with the Leupold, minimum I prefer for my 56 year old eyes is 4.5-14x40, it wasn’t an issue when I was under 50….!

Pros and cons for both depending on how old your eyes are and how it applies to you,
Weight wise you’re dealing with a cpl of ounces either way so pick your poison.

The new Leupold VX3 HD ZL-CDS is a much better turret system than the Swarovski,

If you go Swarovski and want a reticle like the BRX/BRH and no turret get the BRH(H=Heavy) the BRX is to light of crosshairs and you lose them in 1st and last light, I know as I’ve owned both.

If you just want a lightweight 1” scope and no turret, the Swarovski is a better option, if you want an MOA dial up scope go Leupold
The next step up in power in the 1” tube scopes Leupold 4.5-14x40 compared to the Swarovski 4-12x50, same thing again Swarovski better glass Leupold better turret but now your into a 50mm objective on the Swarovski which I find to big for a lightweight hunting rifle application,

For me the new Leupold VX3 HD 4.5-14x40 ZL-CDS 30mm tube scope is the best compromise for a lightweight (15.5oz) Hunting/Long Range shooting scope made, if I step up in weight class after that I prefer the Zeiss V4 4-16x44.
 
I advocated for the Z3 with a BRX reticle earlier in the thread but I came across info that there is an aftermarket turret available for any of the Z3 scopes. As much as I love the BRX and BRH in the lightweight package of a Z3, I prefer a 4A reticle.

The links below indicates the turret is available for most models but this has not been confirmed by me attempting to order one yet. This new turret will be a great addition to a Z3 3-9X36 compact with a 4A reticle.

https://outdoorsmans.com/products/outdoorsmans-custom-turret

https://www.shootingwarehouse.com/p...-personalized-ballistic-cam-custom-turret-cap
 
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i seen a guy at the range one day with the Kimber mnt accent in the 280 Ackley . his scope was a fixed 12 power Leupold .with an elevation turret only. had Leupold put a standard turret for the windage. what a nice rifle.
 
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