Hunting scope what factors to consider?
- Thread starter Jdiep
- Start date
There are a lot of these in clone mode out there.
Be cautious when purchasing in the used market.
A Leupold 2.5-8x36 or 3.5-10x40 will nicely cover pretty much any hunting scenario you encounter in the field out to further than what most of us should actually be shooting. I'd recommend the VX3HD line of scope, it will last you a lifetime.
freddyfour
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County, Ontario
This just popped up, pretty hard to beat this combo.
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/2460669-Leupold-VX-3i-2-5-8x36-B-and-C-Reticle
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/2460669-Leupold-VX-3i-2-5-8x36-B-and-C-Reticle
I tried my friends rifle with his Burris Fullfield 2.5 x 10 with the illuminated crosshair dot and it’s fantastic. I’ve been a Leopold fan for years and they’re certainly great but this Burris was incredible so went out and bought 2 of them. One for my muzzleloader and another for my varmint rifle.
nowarningshot
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
There's a reason everyone makes 3-9, and pricing is so competitive.
I don't leupold, because I don't Korth. YMMV. However, I'm not really sure we're value meets quality anymore. We do live in a golden age of optics, justinflation aside, very good quality is found for reasonable money.
I would suggest you go look through a few makes and models at your local gun store. Perhaps come back and see if it's w9rth the price difference to take a chance on used from the EE.
I don't leupold, because I don't Korth. YMMV. However, I'm not really sure we're value meets quality anymore. We do live in a golden age of optics, justinflation aside, very good quality is found for reasonable money.
I would suggest you go look through a few makes and models at your local gun store. Perhaps come back and see if it's w9rth the price difference to take a chance on used from the EE.
While I have scopes from 1.5-5x20 to 3-15x44, most of my scopes are either 2-7x33, 2,5-8x36 or 3.5-10x40.
Most are Leupold, as I have had decades of reliable service from them, and only two have ever gone for service (due to falls - not manufacturer issues) and were mailed, fixed, and mailed back and back on my rifles in less than 2 weeks. Light, rugged, reliable optics that are clear and bright. I only paid for mail one way. Hard to beat that kind of product and warranty service! (As a comparison, 2 products shipped to Swarovski in the US tooks months to get repaired and shipped back to me, fortunately the only cost was mailing one way. One was some issue internally and the lense was replaced, the other was my 20 year old SLC's I sent in for reconditioning before warranty ran out, and the one ocular lense was having an issue screwing in and out for use with/without glasses - they practically rebuilt the entire set!)
I also have Kahles, Swarovski, S&B and Trijicons. Also great scopes with excellent glass! Just typically more $. But you get what you pay for in this arena.
I will say that as I hunt a lot of moose and bear in the dark timber, better quality glass for my aging eyes are making a big difference on dark targets in lower light conditions, and I am finding that illuminated reticles that you can adjust brightness settings are a very nice feature that I am willing to pay more dollars for. And I am finding that the VX5HD and VX-6HD glass I now have on a couple of newer rifles for this service, is night and day different (pun intended) in resolving darkets in the thick stuff at first and last light, from the older VX-III/VX-3 glass I have on many rifles...but there is a substantial difference in cost that many may not want, or can't afford, on their rifles. The Kahles and Swaros (Z-3) are very bright glass and and provide longer use at first/last light, when compared to the Leupold VX-III/VX-3 glas (sorry have not done this comparison with my one VX-3HD scope). The tritium in the Trijicons is very nice as it requires no batteries, and is also great for low light work on dark targets.
Determine your hunting environment and style, set your budget, and find the scope that meets your needs requirements and budget, and buy the one with the best optical performance and warranty that meets YOUR needs, and go forth with confidence!
Most are Leupold, as I have had decades of reliable service from them, and only two have ever gone for service (due to falls - not manufacturer issues) and were mailed, fixed, and mailed back and back on my rifles in less than 2 weeks. Light, rugged, reliable optics that are clear and bright. I only paid for mail one way. Hard to beat that kind of product and warranty service! (As a comparison, 2 products shipped to Swarovski in the US tooks months to get repaired and shipped back to me, fortunately the only cost was mailing one way. One was some issue internally and the lense was replaced, the other was my 20 year old SLC's I sent in for reconditioning before warranty ran out, and the one ocular lense was having an issue screwing in and out for use with/without glasses - they practically rebuilt the entire set!)
I also have Kahles, Swarovski, S&B and Trijicons. Also great scopes with excellent glass! Just typically more $. But you get what you pay for in this arena.
I will say that as I hunt a lot of moose and bear in the dark timber, better quality glass for my aging eyes are making a big difference on dark targets in lower light conditions, and I am finding that illuminated reticles that you can adjust brightness settings are a very nice feature that I am willing to pay more dollars for. And I am finding that the VX5HD and VX-6HD glass I now have on a couple of newer rifles for this service, is night and day different (pun intended) in resolving darkets in the thick stuff at first and last light, from the older VX-III/VX-3 glass I have on many rifles...but there is a substantial difference in cost that many may not want, or can't afford, on their rifles. The Kahles and Swaros (Z-3) are very bright glass and and provide longer use at first/last light, when compared to the Leupold VX-III/VX-3 glas (sorry have not done this comparison with my one VX-3HD scope). The tritium in the Trijicons is very nice as it requires no batteries, and is also great for low light work on dark targets.
Determine your hunting environment and style, set your budget, and find the scope that meets your needs requirements and budget, and buy the one with the best optical performance and warranty that meets YOUR needs, and go forth with confidence!
Late 80's, I did some horsetrading for 3 Leupolds out of Wholesale sports, a 2-7x33, a 3-9x40 and a 6.5-20x40. Still have 2 out of 3, the 2-7 and the 3-9. They both lived on my hunting rifles, a 7-08 and a 338WM. Was very happy with them til about 2010 or so, bought a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40, it blew me away. Scopes have improved since the late 80's. I've resigned myself to my big game hunting scopes being either Zeiss or Swaro now. Quite comfortable with the Swaro Z3 2.5-10x42 with the BRH reticle, have two of those, also the Zeiss 3-9x40RZ600 and a 4.5-14RZ800. Can't buy those versions of the Zeiss anymore, and they were Japanese made, by LOW. About 2018 or 19, I ordered a Swaro Z3 and a LeupoldVX3 2-10x42, 250.00 or so difference in price, the Swaro was worth the extra money to me to keep it, hands down, looking thru them side by side, sold the Leupold.
It sure is. A high quality scope at a decent price. The illuminated reticle version is the cats azz for sure. Even in daylight the red dot in the centre of the crosshairs stands out and target acquisition is instantaneous. Early morning or dusk is where it really shines as with the adjustable intensity, one can dial in the amount of illumination desired. Glad my friend showed me his.
htt ps://www.burrisoptics.com/riflescopes/fullfield-iv-25-10x42mm
Trimmer 905
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I have been a Bushnell Trophy II fan since forever. Last week,my neighbor put a Burris illuminated reticle on his new Sako. It's really nice for fast aiming and low light conditions.
I will second the Zeiss conquest - 3x9. They come up for sale every now and then, great scope, nothing comes close to clarity in that price range.
I can't post pics here, but last fall when sitting in my blind, i took photos thru the scopes of the two rifles i brought with me - one Zeiss Conquest, one Athlon Ares. At same power, from twilight thru sunlight, Zeiss won hands down, wasnt even a close comparison.
I can't post pics here, but last fall when sitting in my blind, i took photos thru the scopes of the two rifles i brought with me - one Zeiss Conquest, one Athlon Ares. At same power, from twilight thru sunlight, Zeiss won hands down, wasnt even a close comparison.
Leupold......
Less important on a hunting scope than most people think. Animals are a lot larger than target dots on a page and the whole animal is a point of reference. A 12x maximum will take you out to a long ways in the field. I hunted with 4x, 6x, and 3-9x scopes for years and took shots well over 300 yards in that time. When I got my first 4-16x, I don't think I ever turned it up past 12x. I have an inexpensive Athlon Argos 2-12 that is about perfect from that perspective.
1" scope tubes will give you the lowest weight, under a pound is pretty acheivable. 30mm tubes are as large as I go with hunting scopes and will run a bit heavier, 20-24oz weight range depending on other features is not uncommon.
In general, I would prefer a lighter rifle with a bit more weight into the optic if the trade-off makes sense. A lot of European hunters like big objectives on short carbines, it suits their hunting style and preferences
Lots of people are saying Leupold in this thread, but they have an objectively poor track record in harsh testing conditions (check out Rokslide field evaluations). "Never had one fail" is anecdotal. Trijicon and Nightforce are most reliable in repeated drop testing. Bring your wallet.
Would you rather turn a dial or shoot off of a reticle with defined hold over points (like a BDC reticle). Those hold over points on a second focal plane scope will only be correct at one magnification, whereas a first focal plane scope it doesn't matter as the reticle scales with the magnification - downside being it gets pretty small at low mag.
I am much quicker off of the reticle, but much more accurate with an exposed elevation turret. I also prefer not having to take my eye off the target/animal, I range it, if I can hold dead on I just get on target and shoot. Otherwise I turn the mag up, pick the right holdover, and shoot. Either way, I can go from rangefinder to reticle without much interruption.
I like it. I'd rather rhave it and not need it than need it but not have it. Out in a stand or blind in the middle of the day it's not really needed. Near dusk it's pretty easy to lose a reticle on a black bear in the brush - but a little goes a long way!
