What do I need in a hunting scope?

D

daver36

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Amaranth Township, Ontario
Hey guys,
I'm new to the sport so any advice is awesome. So I picked up a savage axis in .223 for plinking and 'yotes. I'm already looking to upgrade the factory weaver 3-9 that came with it. With all the deals being thrown around this time of year I figure it's worth a look. I was figuring on a 4-12 power, I bored a buddies rifle before and liked that setup. I guess my main questions are about paralax adjustment and reticles. How critical do people feel paralax adjustment is? For hunting, is it worth investing in a lighted reticle? Just looking for thoughts and opinions. I'm probably in the $400-$500 price range. Cabelas has the Nikon prostaff 7 on sale right now, thoughts?

Thanks in advance guys,
Cheers
Dave
 
I have a couple nikon's and I find them very serviceable scopes, they're older and lower end than the Monarchs. I suspect the Monarch 7 would serve you well. My hunting .223 wears a Redfield Revolution 4-12x40 with an accurange reticle. I've been very well served by it so far. I have never turned my scopes magnification past 10 while shooting at anything living, and truthfully rarely use the BDC reticles a few of my scopes sport, paralax adjustment really only comes into play when shooting much longer range, although it may be different if I was using a shotgun or rimfire scope which typically are set for 75 yards or less.
 
Parallax adjustment on a scope for coyote hunting is more of a hindrance than a benefit in my opinion. It’s frustrating when you have a coyote coming in fast at 100 yards but you have your parallax set for infinity and all you see through the scope is a blurry bunch of fur. It’s pretty rare that you’ll ever have time to adjust the side focus when calling predators.
 
coyoteking said:
Parallax adjustment on a scope for coyote hunting is more of a hindrance than a benefit in my opinion. It’s frustrating when you have a coyote coming in fast at 100 yards but you have your parallax set for infinity and all you see through the scope is a blurry bunch of fur. It’s pretty rare that you’ll ever have time to adjust the side focus when calling predators.
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Good advice.
 
Thick reticle for low light. Unless long range I think parallax is a non issue. Tried a nikon & sold it quickly. Seemed cheap & didn't like the reticle. Leupold has more eye relief which really isn't an issue on a 223. Get a nice used leupold. Lifetime warranty & a step up from Bushnell & Nikon. My two cents only after 50 plus years of hunting.
 
I have a Nikon monarch 3 , 4-16 x 42 (44?) on both my moose/elk rifle and on my predator rifle. I don't find adjusting parallax an issue but I have spent a lot of time getting to know my scope. My buddy got the same scope but he bought the BDC recticle and I bought the Nikoplex recticle. I use Nikon's Spot On ballistic app and have both my rifles dialed right in. I don't like the BDC recticle at all and to me it's a gimick.
My Nikon's have been excellent scopes and seem to stand up to my hard use just fine.
 
I want as much light gathering as possible and a reticle I can see as it’s getting close to last light, those are my only complaints for a hunting scope. With my 4-12x40 I rarely dial up the magnification past x6 when I’m hunting, so a 3-9 or 4-12 is plenty for me.
 
Dukester said:
Whats wrong with the Weaver?
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It isnt a Leupold ;)
Heck, these threads are....
Well, lets say entertaining.
Guys have spent loads of money on several brands of scopes and they find whats best suited for them.
New guys need to learn by trial and error.
Not saying to buy ten differant scopes, but go and check each one out at the scope counter and then drop some cash and see if it works for them.
A Toyota P)/U will get one into the bush as will a Dodge/Chevy or a Ford.
What one will get you home quicker ??
 
FLHTCUI said:
It isnt a Leupold ;)
Heck, these threads are....
Well, lets say entertaining.
Guys have spent loads of money on several brands of scopes and they find whats best suited for them.
New guys need to learn by trial and error.
Not saying to buy ten differant scopes, but go and check each one out at the scope counter and then drop some cash and see if it works for them.
A Toyota P)/U will get one into the bush as will a Dodge/Chevy or a Ford.
What one will get you home quicker ??
Click to expand...

I used to love leupolds, then I discovered Nightforce.:p

I’ve got a Burris Fullfield ll mounted on a 10/22 that I absolutely love. I think it cost all of $220.00. Crisp, clear glass and great eye relief, it would be just as good on my go-to deer rifle. Retail price isn’t necessarily an indicator of quality.

On the other hand, I once put a BSA Sweet 17 on a 17 hmr and it couldn’t hold zero at all. Sometimes a name counts for something.
 
FLHTCUI said:
It isnt a Leupold ;)
Heck, these threads are....
Well, lets say entertaining.
Guys have spent loads of money on several brands of scopes and they find whats best suited for them.
New guys need to learn by trial and error.
Not saying to buy ten differant scopes, but go and check each one out at the scope counter and then drop some cash and see if it works for them.
A Toyota P)/U will get one into the bush as will a Dodge/Chevy or a Ford.
What one will get you home quicker ??
Click to expand...

Got an old ( 70's ) Weaver 3-9 with the flip up post. Still one of my favorite scopes. I've spent a lot of time looking through Trijicons and high end Leopold's but my favorite scope was a 6-18 Redfield in the 70's. When you are this new, maybe what you want is what you got.
 
Dukester said:
Got an old ( 70's ) Weaver 3-9 with the flip up post. Still one of my favorite scopes. I've spent a lot of time looking through Trijicons and high end Leopold's but my favorite scope was a 6-18 Redfield in the 70's. When you are this new, maybe what you want is what you got.
Click to expand...

Welp, if it aint broke dont fix it.
Me, I like to fix things till they break and have learned that Leupold works well for me.
Had a weaver scope for a .22 that was fantastic, could shoot dimes at 50 paces and helped kill many a gopher in Alberta.
Sounds like your Weaver is treating you well .
Or is it the other way around.
Tight Groups,
Rob
 
I have a Sig Whiskey 3 on my 223. It's a little heavier than a Leupold, but for the price i think it's better than a VX-3. And anything below it isn't even close. And i have looked through A LOT of optics

Compared to a Nikon, or Vortex, it's not even on the same continent.

Out on a very cold hunt.

 
RangerPark said:
I used to love Nightforce, then I discovered the Leupold VX6-HD line!
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I just picked up my second VX-5 HD 3-15x. Beautiful optic. IMHO the perfect hunting scope.

When I picked up the first one I was deciding between the Leupold and the Nightforce SHV 4-14x. Leupold won hands down mainly due to the weight factor. Man is it light in comparison and it offers everything else that the SHV did. Plus a better magnification range.
 
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