Scope for Hunting Rifle
- Thread starter kporebski
- Start date
Same here, there might be slight shift but not enough to make a difference and to be honest it might have more to do with me than the scope lol!
I will sometimes if needed re-zero for bison hunting when temps goes down below minus 20c
- Location
- Western Manitoba
There most definitely is something about the shooter!! For some years, I hunted deer with a Ruger No.1 rifle and the same hand loads - in Fall, I would take rifle to range - shot from sand bags - dutifully moved turret two clicks but did not change the indicator ring - next fall, two clicks back to where it was. Hunted each year thinking I was "sighted in". Leupold M8-6X scope. 150 Partition loads. RL-19 powder. Fed 210 primers. "new" Rem brass cases - not previously fired. Chambered in 7x57.
- Location
- WMU248 near Edmonton
Ok so I just looked in this forum... I spend too much time moderating other forums
but I read the OP and the list of scopes and said to my self... self from that list Leupold would be my first choice for hunting
lower magnification less options is what you want for hunting. I have about a dozen hunting rifles and the old (pre 2000) go to scope for hunting on a budget was the bushnell 3-9x40 3200, simple and good build and were at a good price point, the more recent builds are not as good.
I also run different scopes including Nikon and Leupold on various guns, and some of my range guns have really crappy cheap scopes that I would never trust for hunting.
so in summary, a good solid built scope with few extra functions that is easy to use is what you want hunting
but I read the OP and the list of scopes and said to my self... self from that list Leupold would be my first choice for hunting
lower magnification less options is what you want for hunting. I have about a dozen hunting rifles and the old (pre 2000) go to scope for hunting on a budget was the bushnell 3-9x40 3200, simple and good build and were at a good price point, the more recent builds are not as good.
I also run different scopes including Nikon and Leupold on various guns, and some of my range guns have really crappy cheap scopes that I would never trust for hunting.
so in summary, a good solid built scope with few extra functions that is easy to use is what you want hunting
Keep it simple for the father...
He's new to hunting, and hunting in Alberta, where his shooting environment can vary from thick bush to wide open prairie or mountain terrain, and everything in between. Only you and he can determine what and where you will, or may be, hunting.
He is shooting a 308 Win, which while capable of long range performance, is not likely to be pressed into such service by a new shooter/hunter. Perhaps later, but not initially.
A 3-9, 3-10, 3.5-10 powered scope is going to be a reasonable magnification range for him to use. Goes low enough for thick brush, dark timber for deer, moose, elk and bear, but goes up high enough for sheep and antelope on the prairie or mountain, and for practice at the shooting range, whether it be on paper, or metal gongs, for sighting in or for testing to determine which ammunition the rifle prefers. And have him practice from field positions, not just off the bench (standing, standing supported, such as with shooting sticks or against a side post, kneeling, sitting over sticks or pack, and from prone - where a bipod or pack is used as a rest).
This also keeps the overall weight of the scoped rifle down for longer stalks or hikes when hunting.
Stick to second focal plane (SFP) scopes; it is the simplest for the new shooter to use and learn at typical hunting distances, and he will still be able to see his entire reticle at low power. FFP scopes are for long distance shooting, and more dedicated simple purpose use.
So he doesn't have to guess holdover for longer shots he may encounter (300 or 400) then get a B&C or TDS/BRH reticle in the Leupold or Swarovski (or Kahles not mentioned in the OP's list).
An illuminated scope such as the FireDot in the Leupold or green tritium dot in the Trijicon will make it easier for holding the reticle on the aiming point of a black bear or dark moose in the thick brush or in low light in the thick brush or dark timber, for aging eyes. If he isn't ever going to shoot beyond 300 yards, then a BDC type reticle isn't necessarily required.
As for ruggedness, reliability and robustness, it is hard to beat the older Leupolds, the Swarovskis and the Trijicons. These are the Timex's of the scope world...they take aa licking annd keep on ticking!
When it comes to warranty, you cannot beat Leupold's lifetime warranty, for any owner of the product...the warranty centre is in Okotoks and their turn around time is very short. Whether a rifle is dropped, you fall and land on the scope in the rocks, the rifle falls over doesn't matter, it all happens despite best handling practices. I fell and landed on my scope on the rocks on a mtn goat hunt..and I mailed the scope in , and it was repaired and mailed back to me, and was back on the rifle in 11 days! 12 days on another scope that had an adjustment issue. 2 out of dozens of Leupold scopes over 40 years isn't too bad...
Swarovski requires shipping to Rhode Island in the US, and while the work was very good and I only paid shipping one way, it took a few months for items to come back ( a used scope that had black flecks inside it only visible on bright sunny days, and my SLCs sent in for reconditioning just prior to warranty expiring)
Sorry, I cannot comment on Trijicon, as I have not had an issue to date with either of my AccuPoints.
As for quality of glass, these 3 makers make very good glass, with the coatings making the difference in light transmission, and in a side by side comparison of a number of makers scopes (sorry, we did not have a Trijicon at the time for comparison during this testing session) during varying lighting conditions on an all day shooting session from dawn to dusk (in 2010), Kahles came out as the winner for resolving printing on targets at 100 and out to 400 throughout the entire day, (by two hunters/shooters with varying eyesight (I was the younger shooter, while my shooting partner was in his sixties; 21 years my senior, at the time) with almost 15 minutes difference between Kahles and Leupold for additional time to be able to resolve the printing. Swarovski was second with approx. 10 minutes of additional time, Zeiss just behind the Swaro, and Leupold and NightForce were very similar, with Leupold having a slight edge. And all of the scopes used were of comparable magnification ranges, and magnifications were adjusted at different power settings, where all were at the at the same power setting when of equal objective lense size, and/or the same exit pupil, to make for apples to apples comparisons, when objective lense sizes did vary amongst the scopes, to even the playing field for comparisons, when tabulating our results.
Yes, I too am a fan of Leupold, and have more of these than any other make. I also currently own Burris, Swarovski, Kahles, and Schmidt & bender...but it has taken years to move on up to better glass as I could afford it...and here you get what you pay for! In my earlier years, I have also owned and used Bushnell, Bausch & Lomb, Vortex, and Zeiss. Of these, I do also like the higher end Zeiss, but have gone with others as they are lighter in comparable models. I have also used NightForce, but haven't owned on as yet...
Today, I am very impressed with the Leupold VX-5 and 6HD scopes I have acquired...the glass is exceptional. But these are not models that you inquired about, and are higher than the budget mentioned.
And these scopes should all be available (even used) within your budget.
Don't just look through these for him; have him try them out in varying conditions with the ocular lense set for his eyes, at varying magnification settings. He then can let you know which he prefers. He may prefer a heavier reticle than a fine one, or vice-versa. He may prefer the simple duplex reticle over the Bullet Drop Compensating type one. Illuminated vs non, etc.
If possible, ask the person selling the scope if you can take it/them outside to try so it just isn't inside a store at close range objects. Try this on cloudy days, nit just sunny ones. Natural lighting and close to further objects will make a big difference in determining which glass he prefers!
This is just my opinion, but you would not go wrong with the following scopes, in no particular order:
-Leupold - whether in the new VX-3HD, or older Vari X -III, VX-III or VX-3 in 3.5-10x40- better coatings in the newer models help in light transmission, and the later models have finger click adjustments which are preferred - and I prefer the B&C reticle (their version of BDC)
- Swarovski Z3 2 or 3-10x42 (they made both over the years)
- Kahles 3-9x40
- Trijicon AccuPoint 3-9x40 with green tritium dot (they also make red and yellow - which won't matter if one is colour blind - but if not, the human eye loses yellow in low light first, then red. Green lasts longer for our eyes in low light and will aid in seeing that reticle aiming point against dark hide in low light conditions)
Hope this helps and best of luck in your quest for your father's new scope!
He's new to hunting, and hunting in Alberta, where his shooting environment can vary from thick bush to wide open prairie or mountain terrain, and everything in between. Only you and he can determine what and where you will, or may be, hunting.
He is shooting a 308 Win, which while capable of long range performance, is not likely to be pressed into such service by a new shooter/hunter. Perhaps later, but not initially.
A 3-9, 3-10, 3.5-10 powered scope is going to be a reasonable magnification range for him to use. Goes low enough for thick brush, dark timber for deer, moose, elk and bear, but goes up high enough for sheep and antelope on the prairie or mountain, and for practice at the shooting range, whether it be on paper, or metal gongs, for sighting in or for testing to determine which ammunition the rifle prefers. And have him practice from field positions, not just off the bench (standing, standing supported, such as with shooting sticks or against a side post, kneeling, sitting over sticks or pack, and from prone - where a bipod or pack is used as a rest).
This also keeps the overall weight of the scoped rifle down for longer stalks or hikes when hunting.
Stick to second focal plane (SFP) scopes; it is the simplest for the new shooter to use and learn at typical hunting distances, and he will still be able to see his entire reticle at low power. FFP scopes are for long distance shooting, and more dedicated simple purpose use.
So he doesn't have to guess holdover for longer shots he may encounter (300 or 400) then get a B&C or TDS/BRH reticle in the Leupold or Swarovski (or Kahles not mentioned in the OP's list).
An illuminated scope such as the FireDot in the Leupold or green tritium dot in the Trijicon will make it easier for holding the reticle on the aiming point of a black bear or dark moose in the thick brush or in low light in the thick brush or dark timber, for aging eyes. If he isn't ever going to shoot beyond 300 yards, then a BDC type reticle isn't necessarily required.
As for ruggedness, reliability and robustness, it is hard to beat the older Leupolds, the Swarovskis and the Trijicons. These are the Timex's of the scope world...they take aa licking annd keep on ticking!
When it comes to warranty, you cannot beat Leupold's lifetime warranty, for any owner of the product...the warranty centre is in Okotoks and their turn around time is very short. Whether a rifle is dropped, you fall and land on the scope in the rocks, the rifle falls over doesn't matter, it all happens despite best handling practices. I fell and landed on my scope on the rocks on a mtn goat hunt..and I mailed the scope in , and it was repaired and mailed back to me, and was back on the rifle in 11 days! 12 days on another scope that had an adjustment issue. 2 out of dozens of Leupold scopes over 40 years isn't too bad...
Swarovski requires shipping to Rhode Island in the US, and while the work was very good and I only paid shipping one way, it took a few months for items to come back ( a used scope that had black flecks inside it only visible on bright sunny days, and my SLCs sent in for reconditioning just prior to warranty expiring)
Sorry, I cannot comment on Trijicon, as I have not had an issue to date with either of my AccuPoints.
As for quality of glass, these 3 makers make very good glass, with the coatings making the difference in light transmission, and in a side by side comparison of a number of makers scopes (sorry, we did not have a Trijicon at the time for comparison during this testing session) during varying lighting conditions on an all day shooting session from dawn to dusk (in 2010), Kahles came out as the winner for resolving printing on targets at 100 and out to 400 throughout the entire day, (by two hunters/shooters with varying eyesight (I was the younger shooter, while my shooting partner was in his sixties; 21 years my senior, at the time) with almost 15 minutes difference between Kahles and Leupold for additional time to be able to resolve the printing. Swarovski was second with approx. 10 minutes of additional time, Zeiss just behind the Swaro, and Leupold and NightForce were very similar, with Leupold having a slight edge. And all of the scopes used were of comparable magnification ranges, and magnifications were adjusted at different power settings, where all were at the at the same power setting when of equal objective lense size, and/or the same exit pupil, to make for apples to apples comparisons, when objective lense sizes did vary amongst the scopes, to even the playing field for comparisons, when tabulating our results.
Yes, I too am a fan of Leupold, and have more of these than any other make. I also currently own Burris, Swarovski, Kahles, and Schmidt & bender...but it has taken years to move on up to better glass as I could afford it...and here you get what you pay for! In my earlier years, I have also owned and used Bushnell, Bausch & Lomb, Vortex, and Zeiss. Of these, I do also like the higher end Zeiss, but have gone with others as they are lighter in comparable models. I have also used NightForce, but haven't owned on as yet...
Today, I am very impressed with the Leupold VX-5 and 6HD scopes I have acquired...the glass is exceptional. But these are not models that you inquired about, and are higher than the budget mentioned.
And these scopes should all be available (even used) within your budget.
Don't just look through these for him; have him try them out in varying conditions with the ocular lense set for his eyes, at varying magnification settings. He then can let you know which he prefers. He may prefer a heavier reticle than a fine one, or vice-versa. He may prefer the simple duplex reticle over the Bullet Drop Compensating type one. Illuminated vs non, etc.
If possible, ask the person selling the scope if you can take it/them outside to try so it just isn't inside a store at close range objects. Try this on cloudy days, nit just sunny ones. Natural lighting and close to further objects will make a big difference in determining which glass he prefers!
This is just my opinion, but you would not go wrong with the following scopes, in no particular order:
-Leupold - whether in the new VX-3HD, or older Vari X -III, VX-III or VX-3 in 3.5-10x40- better coatings in the newer models help in light transmission, and the later models have finger click adjustments which are preferred - and I prefer the B&C reticle (their version of BDC)
- Swarovski Z3 2 or 3-10x42 (they made both over the years)
- Kahles 3-9x40
- Trijicon AccuPoint 3-9x40 with green tritium dot (they also make red and yellow - which won't matter if one is colour blind - but if not, the human eye loses yellow in low light first, then red. Green lasts longer for our eyes in low light and will aid in seeing that reticle aiming point against dark hide in low light conditions)
Hope this helps and best of luck in your quest for your father's new scope!
