How realistic is it to have one scope for all or most purposes?

alfie318

alfie318

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I don't currently own a scope, and am looking to buy one primarily for hunting, but I'd also like to be able to serve other roles on other rifles in the future.

Also, is it annoying to switch scopes from one rifle to another to the point that it would be worth the expenditure to buy additional scopes for that purpose, or maybe split the budget between multiple?

I see people talk a lot about field of view and it being useful for hunting, particularly for moving targets, and that new purchasers tend to jump towards an excess of magnification in error. That being said, I don't want to spend too little on something that I'll likely replace in the long run or something that will have too much overlap in function with something else that I'd need to purchase in the future.

Leupold is currently a very attractive brand to me. IF it is the case that I would be losing out "too much" by going one size fits all or it is prohibitively annoying having to change scopes, I'd be looking at a VX-3HD in 2.5-8. Otherwise, I'm really favourable to the Mark 5HD in 3.6-18. As things currently stand, even if I got a cheaper and smaller scope to begin with, I'd probably buy something like this in the future anyways, but I don't really "want" to buy both.

I am not necessarily set on this brand or these scopes. The first rifle it would be on would be a factory 20" .30-06, potentially re-barreled to something in .270 with a longer barrel in the future. I do intend to own one or two rifles for target shooting at some point, although I don't intend to compete with any great amount of seriousness, if at all. I also like owning cool things if I can afford them.

I currently own a set of 1" rings that came with my rifle.

Any input is appreciated; the sense for where I should and want to spend money is still developing. There are times where cost-effectiveness alone makes something cool to me.
 
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Switching a scope from one rifle to another will get old fast. Saying that, I just removed my very nice illuminated Burris scope from my muzzleloader and put it on my new to me 223 varmint rifle. The muzzleloader only gets used 1 week every fall so it’s not too bad of a deal to reinstall it but it’s not something I’d normally do.

Most hunting scopes for average distances are the 3-9x40 varieties but more zoom is recommended for longer distances. Again, the 40 is a good average but if more light is needed as in earlier mornings or later evenings a 50 would be better.

I just picked up a Burris Fullfield IV 2.5-10x42 illuminated reticle and am very pleased with it and actually prefer it over my 3 other Leopolds but I have no complaints with any of my Leopolds.

These are just a few things to get you thinking, there’s lots more in the optics discussions concerning scopes.
 
Every manufacturer makes a 3-9x40. Competition for market share in that exact optic is intense, the best value. Sure a LPVO would be great if we could use AR's, and work fine on lever guns. A 6-24 or larger would be better for a varmit/target rig. But 3-9x40 will do those things, 2.5-10 effectively the same thing.

Many years ago, I bought a 3-9x40 gloss weaver,.new, that's how long ago. It's been on over a dozen rifles, my test scope. If the rifle.wont shoot with it mounted, the rifle leaves. It shows the scars, both of briar patches and rings. Irrelevant, never going to be sold.
 
First take a look at what you want the scope to accomplish? You will generally have a scope for every rifle, as the rifles accomplish different tasks and the scopes match the task.

What is your hunting scenario like? Mostly bush hunting, short shots, quick acquisition, or longer range 200-300 or combination, or? Then its easier to determine the amount of magnification you want it to have. Short range hunting you want the LPVO range scopes, usually starting at 1x to 6 or 8x magnification. 3x9 or 4-12, or 4-18 is a good combination for most hunting situations. 4-25, 4-30 is more for your distance shooting.

Usually the larger bell housings "objective" "the end further from you" will get you more light, and be better in lower light situations. 50mm is about max for most hunting situations on the longer range shooting. The larger the objective side, the larger the scopes will usually get, and the larger the scope it means the heavier it gets. Its a fine line between balancing all those things, before you even start looking at all the others features of scopes.
 
Is much made about variable power today - must be what customers want - even though more lenses, more complex guts inside - to the extent is hard to find new made fixed power scopes. "Back in the day" a fixed four power was pretty standard on our deer rifles. Six power was viewed as "too much" for all occasions that might arise.

Shocking to some, but you can learn to shoot with both eyes open - last elk that I took was with a fixed M8-6X on a 338 Win Mag - I saw the rib cage cave in on the bullet strike - that had to be with my "off eye", because rifle was likely in full recoil about then.

I am sure that target shooting disciplines have different requirements. But the bigger rifles here tend to have smaller powered fixed scopes - a 2.5 in the 458 Win Mag and a 3X on a 9.3x62. The 308 Win has a fixed 4 power and the 308 Norma Mag, the 338 Win Mag and 300 H&H have fixed six power scopes. There is an elderly pre-64 Win Model 70 in 30-06 with a Weaver 3-9 power, though, and I used to have a Leupold 2-7 power on my 308 Win and then on that 338 Win Mag.

The rimfires are all over the map - but mostly fixed 4 power and 6 power - I think one 22 Mag has got a 3-9 on it - probably set at 4 power or so.

I have heard of people sighting in a scope and rings, then removing that and installing a second scope and rings on that rifle - to be able to carry a sighted in "back-up" scope when they went hunting. Would be hard, but not impossible, to fit two rifles with identical bases, to swap one scope / rings back and forth - but I suspect that would require some "sighting in", or at least turret adjustment to do that??
 
bush1 said:
Switching a scope from one rifle to another will get old fast.
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I agree. The real pain in the ass is having to sight the thing in every time. If you've got a back 40 then whatever, but for those of us who have to make a trip to the range to do it having to sight in a rifle right before or during hunting season because you have to change rifles for whatever reason is a PITA.

Also there are typically big weight differences between most hunting scopes vs target scopes. I don't like a heavy rifle when hunting as I carry it a lot so I use a pretty basic 3-9x40 scope. Meanwhile my 22lr meant specifically for range use has a much heavier scope on it because I don't care about the weight of that rifle. My hunting scope weighs like 14oz, lots of more feature-rich target style scopes can push twice that weight.


Potashminer said:
Shocking to some, but you can learn to shoot with both eyes open ...
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As long as you are shooting with the correct eye this shouldn't be a particularly difficult thing for most people. When I was still shooting right handed (with a dominant left eye) it wasn't easy but now that I'm shooting left and using my dominant eye my right eye it is much easier to keep both eyes open, be it iron sights, a scope, or red dot.
 
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If you put identical Quick-release ring-sets on several rifles, you could switch One scope around. But as pointed out, you would have to 're-zero' that scope for each rifle OR at least keep record of the scope settings for each rifle and distance. An alt option would be to have a Fixed scope for hunting (lower cost) and "Better" scopes if you're into target shooting. 'pends on your budget and time expenditure constraints. I hVE A 3-9X 'package scope' ($50) on a hunting rifle and an Athlon 8-34x56 on one target rifle and a Vortex Viper 6.5-20x on 'an in-between' rifle.
 
What type of hunting will you be doing and at what ranges will you be hunting? If you will be shooting at animals at closer ranges 40-50m out to 100-150m a 2-7 or 2.5-10 magnification will be pretty perfect, both will shoot well out to 2-300 as well. But longer ranges it’s nice to have more mag on the high end, 4-12 or 4-16 is nice for longer shots or target shooting at the range.

When I started I thought I was going to need more magnification than I actually did, I bought a 4-12x42 that worked well enough, I wanted a lower power after hunting for a few years. Now I’m firmly in the 2-7x32 or 2.5-10x40, 3-9x40 is a nice do it all power range, I still hunt with my 4-12x42 as well. You’ll end up with multiple guns and scopes I’m guessing, starting with LPVO options is a good call though. They’re versatile and compact, don’t bother with swapping one scope around multiple guns unless you like constantly sighting in.
 
Okay yeah, I'm sold on not switching scopes around on different rifles. I assume all of you actually like shooting too, so that speaks volumes.

I'm not really sure what distance I intend to hunt at specifically, but I've heard a lot of talk about how people "ought" to be stalking prey for sportsmanship reasons and not taking super long shots where the projectile has questionable wounding capabilities. I've heard 150yds and in a lot. I'll check with the guys in the Hunting section since search results don't seem to show much for typical shot distances in Canada or Ontario.

I'll probably look into something on the lower end of magnification then, and I'll probably save some money by making use of the rings that came with my rifle too.
 
Let’s just say I don’t feel under scoped with my 2-7x32 out to 200m, I would have zero issues stretching it out to 250-300m if I had to. My range max is 200m and the farthest I’ve ever had to shoot a deer was 150-160m, where I hunt I’ve shot deer from 15-20m to 160m. Any of the scope mag ranges I own work well for those distances and more, it more about being comfortable shooting out further than what magnification I have available. Range time and confidence in your skill and gear will make this happen.
 
alfie318 said:
Okay yeah, I'm sold on not switching scopes around on different rifles. I assume all of you actually like shooting too, so that speaks volumes.

I'm not really sure what distance I intend to hunt at specifically, but I've heard a lot of talk about how people "ought" to be stalking prey for sportsmanship reasons and not taking super long shots where the projectile has questionable wounding capabilities. I've heard 150yds and in a lot. I'll check with the guys in the Hunting section since search results don't seem to show much for typical shot distances in Canada or Ontario.

I'll probably look into something on the lower end of magnification then, and I'll probably save some money by making use of the rings that came with my rifle too.
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Sounds like you need a very experienced mentor
 
Do yourself a favour and make sure the rings that came with your rifle are quality. Nothing worse than buying a good scope and ruining it with junk mounting hardware. Get a torque wrench as well.
 
alfie318 said:
Okay yeah, I'm sold on not switching scopes around on different rifles. I assume all of you actually like shooting too, so that speaks volumes.

I'm not really sure what distance I intend to hunt at specifically, but I've heard a lot of talk about how people "ought" to be stalking prey for sportsmanship reasons and not taking super long shots where the projectile has questionable wounding capabilities. I've heard 150yds and in a lot. I'll check with the guys in the Hunting section since search results don't seem to show much for typical shot distances in Canada or Ontario.

I'll probably look into something on the lower end of magnification then, and I'll probably save some money by making use of the rings that came with my rifle too.
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Typical shot distances vary greatly. When I'm pushing bush you can't see beyond 50yds, but come up to a clear cut and 300+ is very likely. Guys hunting the open plains of Alberta and Saskatchewan are going to have much longer shots than guys hunting thick timber in western Ontario. I'm sure you get the idea.

Really it comes down to how and where you hunt, along with personal skill. Without more information on those details it's hard to say, but only you can decide what is or isnt too far. Lots of people kill stuff at 300-400yds, I don't trust my skills to go beyond 300 though, and I won't take a shot that far without some sort of rest.
 
I don't see where in your post where you say what size targets you want to shoot at what distance?

3/8 dots at 50y need about 6x. A deer at 100y can be 2x. A 3/8 dot at 100y I'd start around 12.
 
My Normal hunting distances are from 10 to 400 yards.
I have had no issues killing anything within those distances with fixed 6,4, 3-9, 6-18x and 1.5-4x scopes - all Leupolds BTW.
My guns are normally zeroed at 200 meters, and only one 6-18x has turrets on it these days in case I have to go past 400. That is a very specific area that I don't hunt it much and even then the last deer I shot there was at 11 yards with the big scope down on 6x.
Cat
 
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FatCatsDad said:
Sounds like you need a very experienced mentor
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This. You don't really get to pick what distance you "intend to hunt at". Your experience and confidence help you decide to take a shot. Just because you see something at x yards, doesn't mean you automatically choose to shoot it.
Practice and shooting experience are your most valuable resource.
 
Dmay said:
This. You don't really get to pick what distance you "intend to hunt at". Your experience and confidence help you decide to take a shot. Just because you see something at x yards, doesn't mean you automatically choose to shoot it.
Practice and shooting experience are your most valuable resource.
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Totally agree. I have passed on shots over the years for several reasons, not always because they were too far. Terrain, obstacles such as brush or other animals in the way, or stuff like parked vehicles or people on the backside of the animal, as well as distance .
Cat
 
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