Best Optics for .243 in Northwoods for Deer

Id probably suggest a 1-4, 2-7, or 3-9 ish variable. The specific option would primarily be personal preference in terms of form factor and features desired,

Personally Id go with a 4/6 to 14/20+ because thats what I like using on most (only scopes I have on rifles that don't fit that profile, are my .375 with a leupy 3.5-10, and my .257 with a Leupy 3-9) of my rifles......I have a older Riton x5 (full disclosure its going back for repair) 3-18x44. Its a really nice scope for the cost, and IF my .243 wasnt a 99 id probably use it or something like it on there....as Is im considering keeping the k4 or possibly replacing it with something that LOOKS and feels similar but has a higher magnification/range.
 
Last time I checked Wyoming doesn't allow lighted reticle to hunt big game. Make sure your state does. In thick areas where shots are short and likely quick, I want a reticle that I can see fast and easy. Where I hunted in southern Maryland 100yds was a long shot and a thin precise reticle was tough to use. Too much magnification has the same sort of problem in dense areas. Back in those days I had a 2x7 on my rifle and a straight 2.5 on my slug gun. At 100yds with a 243 there isn't going to be any range estimation or hold over issues. Put the cross hair on the heart and squeeze the trigger. Gently. Low power, simple reticle that you can see against a convoluted background in low light. Those are the criteria I would use in picking a scope for that type of hunting.

Edit to add good, bright glass to see the deer in dim light. You don't want to not be able to pick the deer out of the bushes that you can clearly see with your naked eye, and you definitely don't want to not be able to see antlers and shoot the doe when all you have is a buck tag and they are both standing there together.
 
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Could kill all my deer w a 2-7X from spittin distance to 300 yards and not complain
That said, my current .243 wears a 4-12X AO.........but its primarily a yote rig.
Did run a diff .243 for deer, mostly timber hunting, and it had a straight 4x.
Only shot one deer, 50 yards on the trot.
No big deal.
 
I put a Meopta optika 5 3-15x44 one my new .243 but I mainly use the gun for coyote hunting. If it was used primarily for deer I’d get the 2-10x42. The Optika 5’s are around the $450 range, nice glass but a little heavier scope. My 7mm-08 deer gun has a 3x9 vari-X II Leupold and that works great but at your distance a 2x7 would be awesome and light (ebay). Just picked up a RT-6 Burris and like it so far but haven’t shot it much.
 
I think for hunting in close woods I'd also go for something in the 2-7,3-9 or even a 1-4 would all be good choices.I have more Leupolds than anything else.They check more boxes than other scopes in their price range.I like to watch for used ones on Gunbroker,and I just found out today that Bruno's Shooting Supply sells used scopes.I like to buy used Leupolds because the lifetime warranty goes right along with them.I have 16 Leupolds and I bought more than half of them used.My main deer rifle is a 308 with a 2-7 Vari-X2.It's nothing like the huge tactical style scopes that are all the rage nowadays.It's compact,has plenty of eye relief,light weight,non-critical eyebox and dependable adjustments.Before I put it on my 308,it was on my custom 280 that I built back in 1981.I didn't have to take the turret caps off that scope for 28 years.No adjustment was needed after the initial sight in.28 hunting seasons without an adjustment is quite a long time and says something for the scope,but also the mount and the rifle itself.
 
A 1-4x would be plenty. I have never understood the popularity of 3-9x's in the east, unless you're taking 400yd shots across beanfields. For some reason, folks seem to be terrified of not having enough and never consider they may have too much. Should be exactly the opposite.
 
My NM deer hunting has varied from long range to pinon and cedar covered areas which were not extremely dense but certainly not long range My persona lscope choice was a 3 X 9 variable and it always worked well in any condition I hunted. I managed one kill about 30 yards and the longest was at a stepped 300 yards. It could have been several yards closer or farther depending on how well I maintained my steps and it wasn't completely flat terrain. The scope was perfectly adequate for all my conditions but personally If it was really thick stuff like I have seen in east Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi I would opt for a red dot or just open sights. This is just my person experience and opinion and is worth exactly what it cost.
 
While it’s not a .243, I have a Vortex 1.75-5 x 32 diamondback on my Tikka T3x compact.
it is my “Still hunting” rifle, and weighs in at around 6.5 lbs. unloaded.
it is easy to acquire a sight picture in the dense woods, and I can confidently shoot out to 300 yds on a open cornfield. IMG_3876.jpeg
 
You've put me in a quandary on one hand a <100 yard woods gun should have a 1-4x or 2-7x ish scope, but a 243 is a fine long range and varmint cartridge and begs to have a scope with 10x or more at the top.
I suppose if it was mine it's probably end up with a 2-10x or 3-12x.
Eurooptics has some 3-12x Bushnell Engages on clearance now it's a darn nice scope for the $$$ has locking turrets which would be good on a hunting rig.
 
Larry in wyoming said:
Oh that's an easy one to solve: get the low power for the woods use hunting that he is doing. And get another rifle with a higher power scope for any potential long range work that might come up. See! simple.
Click to expand...

More cost effective solution would be two scopes in QD mounts for the one rifle.

That would allow for a woods optic and load, and an open country optic and load. I'd slow things down some with a heavier and/or bonded bullet for woods. Then have a more rapidly expanding, higher BC load for open country.

It's the approach I take with a couple of my rifles that are use for both.
 
With the 243 you have the best dual purpose cartridge ever designed. Up close deer and coyotes that require a little reach.👍
The traditional 2-7 or 3-9 scope will fit your woods rifle needs, while giving you a nice top end for reaching out with longer shots. Just don't go with a variable that has a bottom end is more than 4×.
Leopold freedom series scopes are a good value for around $300.
 
On the hunt for a deer .308 optic now.
Ruger #1 so they SUCK for rings on factory quarter rib.
I can tolerate a single offset at rear ring location, but a 2-7X Leupold or 2.5-8X.........either requires TWO offset rings for me to use.
And I aint fond of that look.
So..........proly end up w a Leupold 1.5-5X.
Not gonna pay the silly price for a gloss longer tube 2-7X (80's era).
Optics have advanced enough its not worth it on a serious rifle.
A gloss and gangly 4x would work on a .22 or 22 mag, but the days of those for $150 are over.
They want 200 (or more ) for em w ring marks.

Not against going non Leupold, but dunno who makes a 2-7X w longer tube these days.
So proly stuck w a 1.5-5x.
 
Agree the #1 mount setup is not ideal. I had a 1.5-5x on the only #1 I ever had. Leupold used to have short and long versions of their 1.75-6x but they're probably even more ridiculous than the others. Not sure if the long is long enough for the #1 though. I got a short version to put on a Ruger .338 carbine.
 
WisBorn said:
With the 243 you have the best dual purpose cartridge ever designed. Up close deer and coyotes that require a little reach.👍
The traditional 2-7 or 3-9 scope will fit your woods rifle needs, while giving you a nice top end for reaching out with longer shots. Just don't go with a variable that has a bottom end is more than 4×.
Leopold freedom series scopes are a good value for around $300.
Click to expand...
Do those have HD glass ? Im not sure I want HD in darker hunting areas . Just my experience.
 
If you're looking at a good entry-level optic that won't break the bank, I think the Riton Optics 1 Primal 4-12X50 will fit all your needs. I have done a lot of timber hunting, and having the 50mm obj is a great advantage for low-light situations. I have this scope on a .308 Win, and I couldn't be happier. Coming in at under $300, I think it will get the job done for you. You can also dial in the reticle for bullet drops just in case you have a 200+ yard shot. A lot of folks use maximum point-blank range to zero their rifle to a certain sized vital zone. That might be perfect for your hunting situation.
 
Of course now I need a scope for a new to me rifle.
Nobody making nice gloss nowadays.
And old Leupolds are stupid priced.
Worst case I'll just yank the 3.5-10X off the Ruger #1B and slap it on the new to me #1 A.
 
Rifle came w high rings. Proly go w mediums and have to remove the folding rear sight to clear anything w a bell.
 
CraigC said:
A 1-4x would be plenty. I have never understood the popularity of 3-9x's in the east, unless you're taking 400yd shots across beanfields. For some reason, folks seem to be terrified of not having enough and never consider they may have too much. Should be exactly the opposite.
Click to expand...
The popularity of a 3-9 scope is because they are easy to find anywhere you go. I use to use a 3-9 on my deer rifles for that reason. And they work just fine on 3x for thick woods/hills and you can then go to 9x for longer shots in open fields.
 
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