VX3 6.5-20x 40mm or 50mm ?

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dpopl8r

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I am trying to decide between the leupie VX3 6.5-20 with the 40mm or 50mm objective. The 40 mm scope will sit lower and more in line with my cheek and natural point of aim. The 50 mm sits higher, but will [probably?] allow in more light, which would help for hunting first and last light whitetail and elk. I will likely upgrade the 40mm scope with target turrets, similar to the stock 50 mm. I will be shooting this rifle/scope predominantly from prone position.
Any advice or thoughts ?
 
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-where your bigger objective comes into play is dusk/dawn and low light- i wouldn't think of putting anything bigger than a 40 on a walking rifle, and my saddle gun is a 32mm- for a 50, i'd want to do the bench thing or an established shot- bipod down, lock into the ground, everything you can do to steady the shot- and then only if the majority of my shots were dusk/dawn /low light- or really long range- that 50 mm may weigh considerable more too
 
as far as position goes, you may THINK you're going to do prone shots, but in 38 years, i've only seen kneeling/sitting and offhand used on elk/moose- the grass is typically too high and those buggers always seem to VANISH completely just as you're getting into position- it wouldn't be the first time you hear a wtf in elk country- inciidentally, they seem to "hold " better from horseback- i guess the smell of the horse covers the human scent
 
Or you could get one of these

CZVarmit006.jpg
 
t-star said:
as far as position goes, you may THINK you're going to do prone shots, but in 38 years, i've only seen kneeling/sitting and offhand used on elk/moose- the grass is typically too high and those buggers always seem to VANISH completely just as you're getting into position- it wouldn't be the first time you hear a wtf in elk country- inciidentally, they seem to "hold " better from horseback- i guess the smell of the horse covers the human scent
Click to expand...

I should have mentioned, this scope is for a specialized 300 RUM long range rig, not a saddle or thick cover rifle. I have other elk rifles with a 3-9x40 and 4.5-14x40 for "thicker" cover. The elk and whitetail I hunt are predominantly taken at forest edges along large (huge) agricultural fields and cutlines/cutblocks here in Alberta and shots have been typically quite far (300-400 yards +). I set up on a good vantage and prone seems to be my most common position, but forsure sitting with shooting sticks (on the ground or in treestand) is a common field sposition. I also want to play around on gongs and paper targets out to 1000 yards or so, hence the higher magnification.
Good points everyone. I am leaning to the 40 mm just to keep the rig more compact and lighter, but am concerned about what I would be giving up (if anything) by going with the 40 mm over the 50mm ? Tnx
 
I've managed to mount a few 50mm scopes in low rings, so the higher mounting issue may not apply at all. 20 power scopes start dimming out in a hurry when the light starts going down. I went long on 40mm varmint scopes before I got turret happy, now I'm buying 50s to get the turrets for nothing, and am not finding ther big lens to be any handicap at all on the heavy barreled belly guns. I wouldn't touch one on a sporter, until I needed an illum, then went with a VXL3.
Did I mention I change my mind once in a while?:D
 
I would personally use something with less power. I agree with the prone shooting comment, but the issue of light is double sided. The problem with small objectives is not their ease of use in LOW light, it is their Ease (or lack thereof) of use in HIGH AMBIENT light. Trying to gaze down a darker tube when your eyes are adjusted to sun and snow is extremely difficult.

I don't see why a variable 2- 10X scope wouldn't be the cat's ass for all hunting. I compete with high power scopes but hunt with 3-9's dialed back to their lowest power. Just my opinion....
 
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