Looking to get a new scope for my bolt action .270. It currently has a basic Bushnell 3-9x40 but I want to go lower on both low end and high end magnification as the 3-9 is too much for a lot of the area I hunt in as 3-4x is the absolute max that I would need but could use less than 3x in many areas, or no scope at all.. I'm looking for something in the 1-6 range and so far the only one that I've handled that I like is the Vortex Strike Eagle, however it is designed for AR platforms (.223/7.62) and I don't know how well it will work out on a traditional bolt gun, and the adjustment graduation are 1/2 MOA.....What else is there that I should be looking at that is 1-6, must have illuminated reticle, similar price range (I can get the Vortex for $409 new), easy to adjust turrets (I don't want to be ####ing around with dimes trying to sight it in).
1-6 for hunting rifle
- Thread starter Joe549
- Start date
The two lower powered scopes I have are the Bushnell Elite 6500 1.25-8x32 and the Leupold Vari-X III 1.5-5x20.
Both are great scopes, wish Bushnell didn't change it's lineup & drop that scope!
I think the Bushnell looks better on bolts/semis, and the Leupold looks better on levers, but that's just me.
Years ago, I had an Elite 3200 2-7x32 on a 7mm Rem Mag Browning Abolt, worked great and made my longest shot on a deer with it and didn't feel it was not enough magnification.
I don't own a Vortex scope...
Cheers
Jay
Bushnell
Leupold
Both are great scopes, wish Bushnell didn't change it's lineup & drop that scope!
I think the Bushnell looks better on bolts/semis, and the Leupold looks better on levers, but that's just me.
Years ago, I had an Elite 3200 2-7x32 on a 7mm Rem Mag Browning Abolt, worked great and made my longest shot on a deer with it and didn't feel it was not enough magnification.
I don't own a Vortex scope...
Cheers
Jay
Bushnell
Leupold
I lucked out at a gunshow a few months back; I picked up an old Tasco (Japanese made) 1.75 - 5 X 20 in like new condition for $30.00 (someone had it on an old CO2 Pellet rifle). These old scopes were strong, super clear, and super accurate. I have it on my AR on a one piece quick detach mount that cost a lot more than the scope, and I take it off and on all the time, and it holds zero perfectly. If you can find one, they are amazing value.
This is not my scope, but they look like this:
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Say no to the Strike Eagle. Worst glass quality of any scope i have ever owned. BAD BAD Fish-Eye, Distortions abound. Chromatic resolution issues. Sold it as soon as I could.
SIGHTRON had a great 1-7x which they discontinued
If you can find one, you will not be disappointed. I rather like the 1x-7 scope. Strikes a nice balance between 3-9 and 2-7.
I lucked out at a gunshow a few months back; I picked up an old Tasco (Japanese made) 1.75 - 5 X 20 in like new condition for $30.00 (someone had it on an old CO2 Pellet rifle). These old scopes were strong, super clear, and super accurate. I have it on my AR on a one piece quick detach mount that cost a lot more than the scope, and I take it off and on all the time, and it holds zero perfectly. If you can find one, they are amazing value.
This is not my scope, but they look like this:
Had one for my .22LR when I first started 35 years ago. Gave it to my dad 15+ years ago for his .22LR. He gave it back 5 years ago as he could no longer use it and hadn't shot it in many years.
It's not in great shape any more so I gave it to my son for his paintball rifle. Works for him and freaks a few people out when he uses that rifle on the paintball field.
unstableryan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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- Beautiful Okanagan Valley
I have a bausch and lomb elite 3000 2-7x32 on my .375 and it's a great scope. Hunted whitetail at <100 yard with it on my 6.5 for years.
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
I picked up a 2-7x32 and it’s got plenty of magnification, great field of view at low mag. Sits low on the rifle, can’t remember if I used low or med rings. Likely med rings.
For Vortex, the sweet spot is the PST II 1-6x 24mm priced at $1000 even. This scope offers the performance and features of the Razor HD II 1-6x 24mm, but at exactly half the price. An excellent optic for the money!
Say no to the Strike Eagle. Worst glass quality of any scope i have ever owned. BAD BAD Fish-Eye, Distortions abound. Chromatic resolution issues. Sold it as soon as I could.
SIGHTRON had a great 1-7x which they discontinued
When I was looking at the Strike Eagle I noticed the fish eye when the magnification was dialed all the way down, but turn it up just slightly and it was gone. Other than that I didn't notice any other distortions or issues throughout the rest of the magnification range, mind you I was looking through it inside the store and outside use may show something different. In all the 1-X scopes I have looked through I have noticed some distortion when dialed all the way back, so I just assumed it was something inherent in that mag range on all of them, this includes higher end Leupolds. I will look at the Strike Eagle again and more closely before I strike it off the list..
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I wanted it to be good. I really did. But the eyestrain was more than I could bear. My 199.00 Bushnell rimfire has better glass. Seriously. there are some much better choices on EE with some 1-8's and 1-6's that I would give a second look to.
The Strike Eagle has flaws that I would accept in a 250.00 scope. But for it's cost, inexcuseable.
Chromatic aberrations abound. Go to a window, find a WHITE object at say, 100m. Then at min and max mag look at the sign. See the 'Rainbow' effect on the edges of the white sign? That is chromatic distortion, and is found mainly in the cheapest glass you can put in a scope. This aberrations happens in all colours, but is predominately more apparent on light coloured objects.
As a bonus? The BRIGHTER it is outside, the larger and more prominent these aberrations become. You get 'scope eye' from this scope, feels like vertigo. The better your vision is, the worse the effect is on you and I am 20/15 both eyes.
Unless they have improved their QC, I would take a used TCMQ Vortex 1-4 way before I looked at a Strike Eagle (and it is a bit of a heavy piece of crap at that)
If you can't tell, I do not like this scope at all. I have looked through 5, and they have been either terrible, or GD Awful.
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I was lucky enough to get one off of Equipment Exchange. (I own 2) Give Mystic Precision or Hirsch a call and see what deal they can get you
Money talks and it is non current after all...
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Examples of Chromatic aberrations. As you can see, it is present in all colours, but worst in white/light objects. At best, your image looks grainy, at worst, it simply will not resolve.
As I said in my OP, I don't really need anything above 4 where I hunt, 95% of shots are going to be inside 75 yards, as in you can't even see beyond 75 yards due to the terrain and growth. There are maybe 3 areas where you have a 100 yard view. In many areas 3x is too much magnification. 1-4 would cover pretty much everywhere I would be using it, but 1-6 would give me a little more for the rare time I might need it.
Anything you hunt with a 270 that you cant hit with 6x, you're doing it wrong. - dan
Agreed, have shot my longest buck at 275 yards with a cheap Bushnell 1.5-4.5x but it was over 20 years ago when my eyes has less mileage lol.
Being said it is the quality of the glass more important magnification.
The image resolve much much better with quality glass you will be surprise what you see behind your scope at distance with a high end low power scope.
Took a Hi-lux 1-4 with me moose hunting this year. The illuminated reticle is nice at dusk and dawn. Quite a few guys were using 45-70 lever rifles with either irons or a red dot. But the 4x was nice for those rare long shots.
Keep in mind, if you plan on leaving a 1-6 on 4x most of the time; If you have a reticle that has bullet drop or windage hash marks, they are only effective at max magnification in a second focal plane scope. Might be better off looking at a 1-4 in your case.
Keep in mind, if you plan on leaving a 1-6 on 4x most of the time; If you have a reticle that has bullet drop or windage hash marks, they are only effective at max magnification in a second focal plane scope. Might be better off looking at a 1-4 in your case.
