scope question?
- Thread starter 7mmlefty
- Start date
I have a 3-9 x40 Bushnell on my 30-06. It is an old Scopechief IV, so it is probably 30 years old. It does the job very well. The advantage of a variable as I see it is that when I am target practicing, I can be more precise holding on the bullseye than if I had a fixed 4. With a fixed 4 power, the crosshairs will completely cover the bull and on a 2 inch bull you have a lot of variation. Just my opinion.
- Location
- Niagara Region, Ontario. For now
I've got a Bushnell 3200 3-9 x 40 on my .243 that doubles as my coyote, and deer gun. For the money($200) I don't think there is a better scope on the market, but thats just my opinion.
I don't plan on shooting past 300m but even at that distance I find myself keeping the magnification on the lower side even for coyotes. The issue comes down to field of view with the higher power settings. I could probably do with a 2-7 as I usually don't go past 6x's anyways.
I don't plan on shooting past 300m but even at that distance I find myself keeping the magnification on the lower side even for coyotes. The issue comes down to field of view with the higher power settings. I could probably do with a 2-7 as I usually don't go past 6x's anyways.
With the advancements made in the durability of variables in the last 15 years there is absolutly no reason not to take one. I second the 3-9x40mm Zeiss conquest. This year it took a Mule deer high in the mountains at 430 yards and two weeks later took another one at 30 yards in the bush. It was also dropped while sheep hunting and landed scope down on the talus. Put a gouge in the finish and when I reconfirmed zero it was still dead on at 200 yards. Perfect hunting scope if you ask me, and unlike some other responders on this thread I actually hunt out west.
gunrunner8
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Kamloops, B.C.
That's exactly my opinion, none of my hunting rifles are poluted with over 4 power variables, I have one 1-3 Weaver, one 1-4 Leupold and three 4x Burrises mini. The longer I hunt the firmer is my opinion that field of viev, eye relief, clarity are more important than power in that sequence. Also to much power impedes more than to little power IMHO. To "see" the animal I am employing good quality binoculars instead the scope....
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I think the scope you pick should suit your distance you
are comfortable with shooting .If you are going to shoot
out to 300 yards you should have 9 power. If you plan shooting
farther go to higher power . I like Variable power scopes out
12 power . This not to say lower power would not work. I just
think this is best for the average hunter to use .
are comfortable with shooting .If you are going to shoot
out to 300 yards you should have 9 power. If you plan shooting
farther go to higher power . I like Variable power scopes out
12 power . This not to say lower power would not work. I just
think this is best for the average hunter to use .
I would put my 42mm Swarovski or Kahles scopes up against the 50mm scopes used by most hunters as far as brightness is concerned.
I can mount up to 44mm scopes on my rifles with medium Leupold rings,50mm scopes will not clear the barrel.
Have you even looked through a 42mm Kahles CT/CL or a Swarovski 42mm scope,in low light conditions?(outside of a store)Several of us have compared my Swarovski and Kahles 42mm scopes to the 50mm vxIII, and the brightness was comparable,despite the 8mm difference in lens size.When four of us did a side by side comparison of the Kahles 42mm,and the 40mm VX3,all four of us found the Kahles noticeably brighter.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
My choice would be a 3-9x40 by a quality manufacturer.
Most 40mm objective scopes on the market these days will easily gather enough light to permit you to shoot at legal times.
More important than light gathering and large objectives is a reticle you can actually see. A reticle which is too fine will turn your scope into a monocular at dark, regardless of whether it's a Swarovski or Tasco(non-lighted of course).
Most 40mm objective scopes on the market these days will easily gather enough light to permit you to shoot at legal times.
More important than light gathering and large objectives is a reticle you can actually see. A reticle which is too fine will turn your scope into a monocular at dark, regardless of whether it's a Swarovski or Tasco(non-lighted of course).
Outside of B.C.,most decent quality 40mm scopes will do.However,in B.C. the legal hunting time is from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset.It takes a very high quality 40mm scope to transmit enough light at one hour before sunrise,or at one hour after sunset,especially in the timber, with no snow on the ground.
Seems there are a multitude of answers here and all are correct to the one's posting them.
I can think of two things that stand out, budget and size of optics.
I have found that the shooters with good/great vision seem to get by with the 4X power.
With my eyes, I find at the range and a target set at 100 yards/meters, 9X just cuts it for me.
I would suggest what ever works at 100 y/m's for you is what you should purchase.
On my 6.5X55 with the 6X18X40 scope mounted on it, at 100 yards on the 18 power, I see the target easily and group well with this set up. More so than a 3X9 on 9 power. Then again, when I was in my early teens, I had no problem grouping at 200 yards with the 4X mounted on my Brno 21H 8X57.
If you choose a variable, just remember to keep it on the lowest setting. You don't want to be
caught on 9X when a short quick shot is necessary.
Looky.
I can think of two things that stand out, budget and size of optics.
I have found that the shooters with good/great vision seem to get by with the 4X power.
With my eyes, I find at the range and a target set at 100 yards/meters, 9X just cuts it for me.
I would suggest what ever works at 100 y/m's for you is what you should purchase.
On my 6.5X55 with the 6X18X40 scope mounted on it, at 100 yards on the 18 power, I see the target easily and group well with this set up. More so than a 3X9 on 9 power. Then again, when I was in my early teens, I had no problem grouping at 200 yards with the 4X mounted on my Brno 21H 8X57.
If you choose a variable, just remember to keep it on the lowest setting. You don't want to be
caught on 9X when a short quick shot is necessary.
Looky.
Correct,a high end 40/42mm scope with the best lens coatings can be just as bright as an average 50mm scope with average lens coatings.Of course the high end 40/42mm scope will normally cost quite a bit more more than an average 50mm scope,but it can be mounted lower,and it is normally lighter as well.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
Duly noted. The OP is from Ontario, 1/2 hour after sunset IIRC.
Regardless, an unlighted Swarovski TDS reticle will be as unnoticable as a Tasco Duplex at black dark. I use binoculars to identify what I'm shooting at, not my scope, so seeing the crosshairs is paramount to me.
I live in Alberta,but I have hunted in B.C. on several occasions,your home province, may not be the only province that you hunt in.I have the heavy 4A reticle in my Kahles scopes,and they work great in low light conditions.
