$650, what scope would you get for hunting big game?

[Art Eatman]

I've been kinda partial to Leupold scopes, these last forty or so years. Mine are all the older Vari-X II; mostly 3x9x40. It's easier to see bullet holes at a hundred yards than with a Weaver K4, but it doesn't really matter for Bambi.

Prairie dogs, though, 7X and 9X make it easier.

I've center-punched the steel of my 500-yard range via holdover and holding a couple of feet of windage, with 10X. Didn't seem like all that big a deal.

Absent tiny critters as targets or precision paper-punching, it seems to me that folks worry too much about run of the mill situations and hunting scopes. Serious low-light is a different matter, of course.

 

[wsm]

9000feet?

Man you are a hell of a shot! 9000feet equals 3000yards. Seems like the reticle would cover the complete animal.

 

[wsm]

Jeager mounts

That's a beautiful rig you've got there, DM. Had those mounts put on a Sauer
Weatherby when I was stationed in Germany in 1970. Worked great, but they couldn't stand up to the handling when shipped home. Scope was crushed. I've still got the bases, I think.

 

[jbr]

Just for fun you should check out the Burrus Eliminator - Laser scope. Pretty impressive. Good review of it in american hunter (or some hunting mag i read) a while back. Might take some of the fun out of it but cool to see the possibilities out there. I use a Burrus Fairfield II 4.5x14- bought for $250 on ebay - does the job but low light vis. could be better - most of my shots are at 175-220 yards. Leupold might be my choice with $650.00 burning a hole in my pocket.

 

[bpl]

Man you are a hell of a shot! 9000feet equals 3000yards

WSM,

He's talking elevation, not distance

 

[welldoya]

I've been real happy with my Leupold 3.5x10x50 Vari X 3 with bold reticles but, to be honest, I rarely crank it all the way up and when I do, it's mostly for scanning far away areas.
I could do just as well with something in the 2x7 range. But, seeing as how you are talking about 500 yard shots, you might need the higher magnification.
I've just never had an opportunity to shoot over 150 yards and usually less than 100.

 

[Geno]

One of my all-time favorite hunting scopes was my Leupold Vari-X III, 3.5-10X40 AO. I usually had it set on 5X. That was for hunting the Michigan bean fields, where I took shots in deer from 300 to 525 yards. Even 525 yards, the power was set on 5X, not 10X.

This is the current version, however, they are now not offered with an AO.

Option 1: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=130994

Still $50.00 under budget, here is a great scope, Leupold VX-3, 4.5-14X40 AO:

Option 2: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=354628

If you can stretch your budget by $29.00 more dollars, here is a great scope, Leupold VX-3 4.5-14X40 AO Varmint:

Option 3: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=875163

Geno

 

[biff47]

Cheap-guy advice

I use a Burris Fullfield II. Love it to death. Save the extra money for a trip to where the big game live.
I don't own a 416 Rigby, though, so ymmv

 

[X-Rap]

DM I don't know how you mount your gun but that set up looks like it would have the scope sticking half way through my head prior to the recoil of that double going off.
My eye usually sets about 3" behind my trigger finger.

 

[DM~]

I'm not sure how to answer you, but it's in the proper place for me, or anyone that's shot it. AND, i have let a few others take game with it here on my place,

Here's a couple does my friends harvested,





And a couple i harvested that came through together,



Everyone loves it!

DM

 

[CraigC]

I think it just "looks" way too far back because the receiver on a double (or drilling) is much further forward than probably any other rifle. Just looking at the ocular bell in relation to the trigger, DM~'s scope is very similar to how most of mine are mounted.

 

[Adam123]

I'd buy a Swift and never look back. They are just as good as the big name brands, but don't have the big name price. With the extra $400, I'd buy some ammo and 20 inch rims for my car. Then, I would crank my stereo system and cruise around the hood.

 

[General Disarray]

Nobody mentioned Falcon Menace5 yet? Mine was $395 shipped, and is unbelievable quality for the price.

If you want to get serious about scopes (and $650 is getting serious) check out the reviews that were done on many top of the line scopes here: http://www.snipercentral.com/menace4.htm

They're very informative, and leave you with a range of options between price and quality. I think the Menace exceeded what I need from a $400 scope; you'll have different needs

 

[gamestalker]

A Leupold VXIII 3.5x10x40 with rings, bases, and flip up lens protectors will work in the $650 range. Leupold is all you need and everything you want. I'll never buy any other brand of range finders, glasses, spotting scopes, and rifle scopes.

 

[CowboyTim]

Weaver Super Slam 2-10X42....spend the other $200 on ammo and range time.

 

[blackops]

A Leupold VXIII 3.5x10x40 with rings, bases, and flip up lens protectors will work in the $650 range. Leupold is all you need and everything you want. I'll never buy any other brand of range finders, glasses, spotting scopes, and rifle scopes.

My loopy rings are high for the last 50mm I had so I'm just going to go with a 50mm objective again so I don't have to change my rings (actually because I want bigger glass )

The only part I would disagree with is their rangefinders. My Leica's published yardage is 1200 and it ranges every bit of that and then some. The Loopys have a tough time ranging maximum. Not to mention this glass is superior. Have to go with Leica or Swaro for ranging. If you want to go big time, a Vectronix Vector.

 

[Art Eatman]

There is a big difference between "need" and "want" when it comes to scopes.

For one of my longest kills, at 350 yards, my 3x9 happened to be set on 3X. But, I hit within an inch or so of my desired point of impact.

My father meandered back and forth between two sporterized Springfields. He had witnesses to more than one kill out around 500 yards. One rifle had a Stith Bear Cub 4X; the other a Weaver K6.

Look: My old .243 wears a 2x7x32. Zero difficulty in hitting prairie dogs on out to 300 yards. Hard for me to believe in "need" for a bunch of magnification for something as big as a deer or an elk.

And binoculars are for looking around for Bambi or Elmo the Elk. I get more than just a bit grumpy when some fool checks me out through his scope. Spent all his money on a bunch of scope and then couldn't afford binocs.

 

[blackops]

Is the VX 3 a step above the VX2 optically? I mean I see the option of having a "gold plated" ring on the objective for $70. The VX3 has the gold. I could care less to spend 70 to have a gold plated ring and obviously you pay for that on the VX3.

 

[Birdmang]

Vx2 is gold ring also.

 

[blackops]

Vx2 is gold ring also.

why is it less than in the same model configurations? My real question is what is the difference in optic quality and function?

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Zeiss Conquest for $399----take your other $250 and get ammo--accessories--and tags for next year.

 

[blackops]

Zeiss Conquest for $399

Excellent choice, but, I want a reticle tailored for holdover shots or a system such as Leupold's CDS to assure the best possibility for accurate long range shots in minimal time.

 

[Maverick223]

Until CDNN sold out of the clearance Kahles Helia CL series scopes I would have said that was the best choice hands down. That said, there are still some outstanding alternatives out there. My favorites, roughly in order of preference/value, are as follows: Zeiss Conquest, Minox ZA-5, Meopta Meopro, Sightron S-IIBS, Vortex Viper, Minox ZA-3, Sightron S-II, Bushnell 4200, Nikon Monarch, and Leupold VX-3.

 

[blackops]

maverick, Minox was on the top of my list at the beginning, but I soon came across quite a bit of complaints of the reliability/functionality of their scopes. I get the impression to give them a couple more years to get the kinks out, but their glass is from Schott and that's all that needs to be said of their clarity.


Does Sightron offer glass that is superior to a VX 3? Also as I've mentioned already, need a quality aiming system in the reticle.

 

[Maverick223]

I haven't bought a Minox, nor heard of the problems, but appreciate the heads-up...it was on my short list for a small-medium game rifle due to the excellent optics (the one I used was nearly as good as a Conquest) and range of magnification (3-15x42mm in particular). I might have to give it a bit more time on the market to see how the problems are handled and resolved.

IMO the Sightron S-II Big Sky is a bit better than the VX-3, but the S-II is probably just a shade worse (FWIW I believe the only optical differences between the S-II and S-IIBS is the coatings used, but I may be wrong). Either is a better value that most any Leupold, but the Leupold has far more choices so it is easier to find exactly what you are looking for (especially if you want a gloss finish, as these are becoming harder to find). All three are available with ballistic reticles, but again Leupy affords more choices (and even a custom shop...but you pay for that convenience).