Moose hunt scope options

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TedNugent

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Hi guys,
Going on my 1st moose hunt in a couple of weeks. Have 2 different scopes to mount on my Ruger Mkii .270. One is a Nikon 3-9 PR-31 model I picked up a few years ago.
The other option I have is a Bushnell 6.5-18 LRTSI with the G3 reticle. The Nikon has the BDC reticle, wondering if I'm not better off using the Bushnell with the built in range finder, vs the Nikon. Anyone have experience with either?
 
As much as I love my Bushnell elites, 6.5x magnification is a bit too high for my liking for moose. Every moose we've taken has been taken at 120y or less, and usually in thick bush. For moose my preference is 2 to 4x mag on the low end, for the wider field of view.

Edit: do you mean 4.5-18?
FOV at 4.5 won't be too narrow at close distances. There's probably a fairly big difference in weight between the two, which may or may not be important.
 
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I’d go with the 3-9, with a 270 you will most likely keep your shot inside 250m or less even! Depending on where you are hunting, but a lot of time it is easy to close in on moose! My longest shot on them was 180m and this year moose was just over 100m! I use a 1.5-5x20 on both my moose rifles!
 
DGY said:
I’d go with the 3-9, with a 270 you will most likely keep your shot inside 250m or less even! Depending on where you are hunting, but a lot of time it is easy to close in on moose! My longest shot on them was 180m and this year moose was just over 100m! I use a 1.5-5x20 on both my moose rifles!
Click to expand...

glad to hear you had good time hunting and succeed.
 
Use the 3-9, and verify where your 270 puts the bullets in comparison to the BDC marks in the reticle (e.g., does the 300 yard mark put your bullets on target at 300 yards, when zeroed for 200 yards?). While moose are not overly tough to kill cleanly with one shot in the vitals, I would recommend the 140 or 150 gr over the 130 gr ammo, to ensure better penetration. (Have used the federal Premium ammo with 140 TBBC in 270 Win for moose with good success)
Your other scope is too high of magnification for most moose hunting (e.g., average distance on harvested game in 37 years is 137 yards, and my longest shot on moose to date is 220 yards).
 
3-9x is your best option. 6.5-18x is too much magnification. And if you could use that much, chances are your too far away...
 
Most moose I have taken or been right there with the shooter for the kill shot..... were taken in the early or later hours of legal shooting light.
So my advice will be this.....
which one of your scopes gathers the most light and offers the best sight picture at 100 yards in the first and last hour of legal shooting light. This is the optic you should take.
I have a nikon M3 4-16 x42.... great scope for the money ...... but..... I find myself scope shopping for something higher end that truly offers the best light gathering and sight picture I am seeking for those early and late legal shooting hours where visibility is an issue.
 
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Agree with 45ACPKING - magnification is not near so important as being able to see. I have shot many 3 and 5 shot groups, an inch or better at 100 yards with a very accurate 243 Win - with a Weaver K3 scope. More magnification does not really make you into a better hunting rifle shot, I don't think. At least not out to 250/300 yards or less.

Can read Finn Aargaard writings - his first Win 70 in 375 H&H for Cape Buffalo - had a more or less "home made" rear aperture sight in preference to the barrel rear sight. On his second Win 70 in 375 H&H, he got it used, with a Weaver K2.5 installed. He wrote he was able to take the shot, many times, with that little scope, that he would never have been able to see the sights on his first one - shadows, dark, etc.
 
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