Scope question

sean.cgv95

sean.cgv95

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I recently purchased what will become my deer and coyote rifle, a Sako 85 stainless in .243 Win and I'm kinda lost as to what scope to fit onto it. I was looking at some bushnell scopes as they have a rebate on but I'm also been looking at Leupold and Vortex. What would you guys suggest as a good option that will fit both game in terms of zoom, AO size, parallax adjustment etc.

I would like to stay under 800 as I'm sure at some point ill tap it on a tree or something.

Any insight would be much appreciated.
 
I would look for a scope in the 3-9x range (2x-7x is better) and smaller is better than big. Large objectives force you to mount the scope higher, and legal shooting is never done in the dark, so you won't need the supposed "light gathering" of large scopes. Parallax adjustment is OK, I guess, but I've never adjusted the one on the only scope I own that has it. Lower powers are more important for a hunting rifle of any type than is high power magnification. You can shoot any coyote or deer at any reasonable distance with 7x or 9x. Repeatable and predictable adjustments are much more important than power. Bushnell makes some good scopes, but no one makes good, cheap scopes. I like Leupold but know people that like Vortex. Spend as much as you can reasonably afford, and you will always think it was a good deal.
 
It really depends on what kind of hunting you do and what ranges you expect to be shooting. I hunt Northern Ontario and although longer shots are possible, 90% are under 50 yards. I’m a big fan of the 1.5x5 Vari-XIII but if you’re planning on dusting coyotes at 300 yards, you’ll need more magnification.
Nice rifle by the way. Let us know what you decide and maybe post some pics.
 
Any 3-9 or 3.5-10 powere range scope is going to fit your needs. If you want to keep it lighter and mounted lower, stay with scopes with objective lenses of 40-42mm. 50mm will mean you need higher mounts, and heavier.
Leupold will have the best glass in your mentioned makers,and even if you find a good dealon EE, it has a lifetime warranty and should you ever need it, their service center is in Alberta.
Bushnell and Vortex also have good warranties, but I do not know where there warranty centers are.

If you aren't shooting longer ranges (400 yards and beyond), then paralax adjustment isn't necassary.

Budget wise, Leupold's VX-3 3.5-10x40 will still be within your budget. If looking for one with the B&C reticle, they usually run about $100+ more. For shots beyond your 200 yard zero, the extra hash marks help with hold over. This scope will be 12" long and weigh inat 16 oz; lightweight, yet rugged. Their Alumina scope covers are a good investment in protecting your glass. Not cheap, but worth it.
Swarovski had a sale on where you could get their Z3 3-9x36 for $700. Another maker of even higher quality glass. Their Z3 3-10x42 were selling for $900 and you could get their BRH or BRX reticle with the hash marks for ranges past your 200 yard zero. These are top quality scopes fitting of your quality firearm. Swarovski's scope covers are crazy expensive, and they do not make them for the 3-9's, and not for all of their other scopes.
 
Bushnell elite 3-9, 2-10.... boringly trustworthy and fit the bill perfectly.
It's one of those decisions that are best to not overthink. U der 400 bucks and will work just fine.
 
rral22 said:
I would look for a scope in the 3-9x range (2x-7x is better) and smaller is better than big. Large objectives force you to mount the scope higher, and legal shooting is never done in the dark, so you won't need the supposed "light gathering" of large scopes. Parallax adjustment is OK, I guess, but I've never adjusted the one on the only scope I own that has it. Lower powers are more important for a hunting rifle of any type than is high power magnification. You can shoot any coyote or deer at any reasonable distance with 7x or 9x. Repeatable and predictable adjustments are much more important than power. Bushnell makes some good scopes, but no one makes good, cheap scopes. I like Leupold but know people that like Vortex. Spend as much as you can reasonably afford, and you will always think it was a good deal.
Click to expand...
I'll second that opinion!
 
Mounting a cheap 3X9 Bushnell scope on a Sako is an insult to the rifle. Yes if that is all you can afford it will work and be reliable. If it was mine it would at the least have a elite 4200 4X16X40 on it until I found a good used Zeiss Conquest 4.5X14X42 in a plex reticle. I have never found it handy to have windage marks in a hunting scope and prefer not to have to look through them when I'm trying to hit a running coyote.
 
Leupold Vx-3i 3.5-10x40. Sako extra-low optilock rings and bases. B&C Reticle. Or a duplex reticle if you're a traditionalist like me. I believe it'd partner well with your particular rifle and cartridge choices.
 
Leupold VX3 2.5-8 is an excellent option...Handy compact unit with enough magnification to get you out over 450 yards easy...The 36mm objective has enough light gathering ability well into dusk...Been using them for over 25 years...The more scopes I get the more I realize how much I like these units for their all purpose usefulness.
 
I have a Bushnell 4200 4-16x40 on my .243 that I use mainly for coyotes but sometimes for deer and I love it. Lots of magnification for those hung up coyotes at range, side focus and very bright optics.
 
The Sako deserves a Leupold... the VX-3 2.5-8X36 is a good scope, I have several... but to me, the .243 as a coyote rifle would benefit from a little more power on the top end, you can step up to the VX-3 3.5-10X40, but I have the VX-3 4.5-14X40 on my .243, .220 Swift, .223 and .22-250... 4.5X is low enough for close in deer, and a coyote at 300 yards is not a big target, you will be glad for the 14X on the top end. AO is not necessary, and you can save a little money with a standard objective. I like the Varmint Hunters reticle on my varmint rifles, but I also use the B&C... once you check your stadia points of impact (for your rifle and ammo), it takes a lot of the guess work out.
 
Deciding what magnification range to choose in your scope is a balancing act between detail (magnification) and context (field of view). If you have too much detail and not enough context, you might see a patch of hide, but not know what part of the animal you're looking at. If you have too much context and not enough detail, you might be able to see the treeline, but not be able to find the animal standing on the edge of it. You know better than anyone else the terrain you intend to hunt in, and the opportunities for shots you are likely to have. Don't get so caught up in the idea of making that half mile shot if 150 yards or for that matter 75 yards is the more typical range for your location. A 2-7X that you can hit with trumps a 6.5-20X that you can't find the target with, but if you typically shoot beyond 500 yards, its tough to argue against higher magnification that allows you to see the game at range, particularly if they are partially obscured in the brush or are standing in a shadow on a bright sunny day.

Leupold is an excellent choice of scope for Canadian riflemen. Not only are they robust optical instruments of excellent quality, Leupold's unlimited lifetime warranty and their excellent customer service through the Korth Group in Okotoks AB, makes them hard to beat. If you want to change your scope's reticles or turrets, Korth can usually accommodate you. If you want to have a used scope checked out, they will do so and make any necessary adjustments free of charge, and provide a detailed explanation of what they did and why.
 
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