I just purchased a Remington 700 in 300 win mag. This is my first hunting rifle and am wondering what kind of magnification range is most useful. I'm partial to leupold scopes but open to suggestions. My budget is +-$1500. Thanks
300 WM hunting scope?
- Thread starter Cletus1
- Start date
Good luck finding a VXIII 3-9,Leupold never sold such a scope.I personally favor the Swarovski 3-10x42,since it is lighter and more compact than a VX3 3.5-10x40,with better lenses and coatings.If you can find one,a Kahles Helia CT 3-9x42 is a little cheaper,with equivalent optics.I use the Kahles on both of my big game rifles.
put a Leupold mark 4 lr/t 4.5-14x50 on it and you will have a multipurpose rig that will serve you well for many many years... crystal clear and excellent in low light conditions. In fact I have one I might consider letting go as I sold the savage it was resting on.
Leupold VX3 3.5-10X40 B&C reticle
Leupold VX3 4.5-14X40 B&C reticle
Long range interests?
Nightforce 2.5-10X32 in medium velocity ballistic reticle.
http://nightforceoptics.com/nightforcescopes/RETICLES_OVERVIEW/RETICLES_DETAIL/VReticleLarge.pdf
Leupold VX3 4.5-14X40 B&C reticle
Long range interests?
Nightforce 2.5-10X32 in medium velocity ballistic reticle.
http://nightforceoptics.com/nightforcescopes/RETICLES_OVERVIEW/RETICLES_DETAIL/VReticleLarge.pdf
Farlsincharge
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I see your 6-20x and raise you 8-32x. Sometimes coyotes don't like to come when they are called. And yeah, it's flat here. I find I am always looking for more magnification not less, but I guess it depends on where you live and what/how you hunt.
I prefer a lower magnification of 3x or less for those close shots in the timber.As for the Leupold scopes,they may have a label that says 4.5x,but the actual magnification is 4.9x.
Leupold does not sell a VX2,or a VXII in 6-20,in fact the closest that they come is a vx3 6.5-20.I did own a VXIII 6.5-20,and I sold it because the eye relief changes dramatically as you adjust the magnification.As well 6.5x is too much for close range shots in tight cover.
sir_springer
Regular
- Location
- East Kootenays
For hunting...
Couple of things to consider, from a personal point of view...
Because the 300 WM (I own one) can be a very capable long range (meaning 300 to 400 yds) shooter, given the right ammo, I favor something in the 4x12 category.
Mine has a Leupold VX-III 4.5x14x40 mounted.
Higher power seems neat at first, but ultimately is a tad bit of a waste of time and money. And getting carried away with top end power can turn a hunting rifle into a veritable boat anchor in most real world hunting situations. In poor light, dawn/dusk, higher powers just simply ain't happening, and, IMHO, all the great big bucks spent isn't going to change this by enough worth the price paid. High power scopes, such as 6x18 for example, have their place, which is usually target shooting at the range, or popping varmints at 200 yards plus on a farmer's field with a .22-250 or whatever. But they're hardly practical for deer, elk or moose in their usual habitat.
That said, for greater than 12x, be absolutely certain it comes with adjustable objective. Mine doesn't, and at 14x clarity ain't that marvelous...particularly in poor light. Indeed, even for a 4x12, this extra feature is useful at the range.
I'm not enamored with 50mm objectives. The difference in light gathering between these and 40mm or 42mm just isn't worth, again IMHO, the added considerable bulk sitting on top of a hunting rifle that's going to be packed up mountains, through timber, and down into ravines, and hellish places you probably can't even imagine yet. Personal preference thing. Have a look at few, and make sure you appreciate the difference before laying out the dough.
$1500 will get you a helluva good scope, and for that kind of money, I'd be looking toward European makes such as Zeiss, Swarovski, or Meopta.
However, $500 to $800 will also get you some exceptional quality glass, such as Zeiss Conquest, Leupold VX2, and Bushnell Elite 4200 or 6500 series. I can appreciate that officiandos of the sport, who travel the world and/or shoot a couple thousand rounds at the range each year, often competitively, can justify huge bucks for a scope, but I'd suggest the really big ticket stuff is perhaps a tad bit of overkill for the average weekend hunter.
Lastly, again IMHO, keep it simple in the reticle department. Duplex works just fine for 98% of hunting needs. All those ranging reticles certainly can be useful IF one actually learns how to use them. However, in the moment of truth when that hog buck or bull elk steps out of the trees at 200 yds, too damn much happening when you try to pick 'em up in the scope and then zero in on 'em can cost you an opportunity, too!
The KISS principle applies, and often in spades! Just sayin'...
It's kinda like golf, eh? Many automatically assume that the more money spent on the clubs, the better they assuredly will play. And when that doesn't prove out...as it rarely ever does...then they spend even more money on even better clubs, which usually still doesn't improve the score.
Big bucks will never compensate for good form and practice! And big, hard hitting bullets will never compensate for lousy shot placement.
FWIW.
Couple of things to consider, from a personal point of view...
Because the 300 WM (I own one) can be a very capable long range (meaning 300 to 400 yds) shooter, given the right ammo, I favor something in the 4x12 category.
Mine has a Leupold VX-III 4.5x14x40 mounted.
Higher power seems neat at first, but ultimately is a tad bit of a waste of time and money. And getting carried away with top end power can turn a hunting rifle into a veritable boat anchor in most real world hunting situations. In poor light, dawn/dusk, higher powers just simply ain't happening, and, IMHO, all the great big bucks spent isn't going to change this by enough worth the price paid. High power scopes, such as 6x18 for example, have their place, which is usually target shooting at the range, or popping varmints at 200 yards plus on a farmer's field with a .22-250 or whatever. But they're hardly practical for deer, elk or moose in their usual habitat.
That said, for greater than 12x, be absolutely certain it comes with adjustable objective. Mine doesn't, and at 14x clarity ain't that marvelous...particularly in poor light. Indeed, even for a 4x12, this extra feature is useful at the range.
I'm not enamored with 50mm objectives. The difference in light gathering between these and 40mm or 42mm just isn't worth, again IMHO, the added considerable bulk sitting on top of a hunting rifle that's going to be packed up mountains, through timber, and down into ravines, and hellish places you probably can't even imagine yet. Personal preference thing. Have a look at few, and make sure you appreciate the difference before laying out the dough.
$1500 will get you a helluva good scope, and for that kind of money, I'd be looking toward European makes such as Zeiss, Swarovski, or Meopta.
However, $500 to $800 will also get you some exceptional quality glass, such as Zeiss Conquest, Leupold VX2, and Bushnell Elite 4200 or 6500 series. I can appreciate that officiandos of the sport, who travel the world and/or shoot a couple thousand rounds at the range each year, often competitively, can justify huge bucks for a scope, but I'd suggest the really big ticket stuff is perhaps a tad bit of overkill for the average weekend hunter.
Lastly, again IMHO, keep it simple in the reticle department. Duplex works just fine for 98% of hunting needs. All those ranging reticles certainly can be useful IF one actually learns how to use them. However, in the moment of truth when that hog buck or bull elk steps out of the trees at 200 yds, too damn much happening when you try to pick 'em up in the scope and then zero in on 'em can cost you an opportunity, too!
The KISS principle applies, and often in spades! Just sayin'...
It's kinda like golf, eh? Many automatically assume that the more money spent on the clubs, the better they assuredly will play. And when that doesn't prove out...as it rarely ever does...then they spend even more money on even better clubs, which usually still doesn't improve the score.
Big bucks will never compensate for good form and practice! And big, hard hitting bullets will never compensate for lousy shot placement.
FWIW.
I use a bushnell 3200 on leupold low rings and two piece windage bases
its a 4-12x x32mm with AO
most of the time its on 4x going through the timber
im in vancouver so i dont usually get the oppertunuty to make 400 yard shots
usually no greater than 150yards
its a 4-12x x32mm with AO
most of the time its on 4x going through the timber
im in vancouver so i dont usually get the oppertunuty to make 400 yard shots
usually no greater than 150yards
My .300s are packing:
VX111 3.5-10 x40 Standard Duplex
VX3 3.5-10 x 40 B&C
VX3 L 3.5-10 x 50 B&C Illuminated
Mark 4 6.5-20 x 50 with Mildot.
Day in, day out I just love my 3.5-10 by 40 Loopies. I wasn't much of a fan of 50mm objectives, but that cut-out on the "L" series has me rethinking that stance. I'd initially picked it up for legal night hunting, but haven't found any disadvantages to it. Nice glass that surprises me every time I look through it.
The Mark 4 is obviously a speciallty application. I'd get it in TMR
if doing it again.
Dizzy,
I'm always interested in smoking deals on Mark 4s
VX111 3.5-10 x40 Standard Duplex
VX3 3.5-10 x 40 B&C
VX3 L 3.5-10 x 50 B&C Illuminated
Mark 4 6.5-20 x 50 with Mildot.
Day in, day out I just love my 3.5-10 by 40 Loopies. I wasn't much of a fan of 50mm objectives, but that cut-out on the "L" series has me rethinking that stance. I'd initially picked it up for legal night hunting, but haven't found any disadvantages to it. Nice glass that surprises me every time I look through it.
The Mark 4 is obviously a speciallty application. I'd get it in TMR
if doing it again.
Dizzy,
I'm always interested in smoking deals on Mark 4s
My .300s are packing:
VX111 3.5-10 x40 Standard Duplex
VX3 3.5-10 x 40 B&C
VX3 L 3.5-10 x 50 B&C Illuminated
Mark 4 6.5-20 x 50 with Mildot.
Day in, day out I just love my 3.5-10 by 40 Loopies. I wasn't much of a fan of 50mm objectives, but that cut-out on the "L" series has me rethinking that stance. I'd initially picked it up for legal night hunting, but haven't found any disadvantages to it. Nice glass that surprises me every time I look through it.
The Mark 4 is obviously a speciallty application. I'd get it in TMR
if doing it again.
Dizzy,
I'm always interested in smoking deals on Mark 4s
What 300 do you have your VX-3 L on? Do you have any pics? I think that would be a very nice scope to compliment my 700.
I put it on a Weatherby Mark V Ultralightweight that I rebarrelled in .300 Win with a #2 Gaillard barrel. I'd initially fitted a VX3 3.5-10 x 40 with B&C to it, then a deal on the VXL-3 with illuminated B&C reticle came up. I largely got it to keep leopard dreams simmering.
Since I had a hunt in Argentina, which allows night hunting planned, I swapped the VXL-3 onto it with QRW rings. As fate would have it, I never did any night hunting but did use that combo to take a pig at 100, sheep at about the same, goat at 220, blackbuck at 330 and a descarte red stag at a gratifying 568 yards.No misses so far.
I can't find any pressing reason to change it back. It will be a week or so before I can get you a picture, I'm not home right now.
You need base your scope needs on the type of hunting you expect to be doing with this rifle, not on the cartridge it's chambered in.
If you're hunting in close bush, a 4x12 is going to be a more than you need, where a 1.5x5 will offer a better FOV at close range. That said, a 3x9 or 2x7 is a very good compromise both ways.
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