Best Optics for .243 in Northwoods for Deer

CraigC said:
They're everywhere because people buy them. What I wonder is why they buy them in the first place. Disagree on their utility. I would wager that 99% of those who have them would be better served with a low power variable. I know guys that never shoot over 100yds but use a 4-12x.
Click to expand...

I agree.

And I've got a friend that swears by his 4-16X on his Sauer 30-06 for his woods rifle. His shots are rarely even out to 100yds.

But, he hunts from elevated blinds, over feeders, and he shoots relaxed stationary deer. So for him a low end of 4 works.

I've got a couple Leupold VX6HDs : 2-12 and 3x18. In theory they could be used as "big woods" scopes due to the low end. Problem is for me, they reside on a 24" barreled .270Win and a 24" barreled 300WM, and I'm just not putting 3000+ FPS bullets into deer at "big woods" distances on purpose, nor am I dragging long action, long barreled, rifles through the woods.

For woods I use lightweight carbines, mid bores and LPVOs.

But, I hunt "big woods" while on the move, either still hunting or doing drives. Rarely are my deer "relaxed" nor are they "stationary" and there's not a a lot of time to make a shot.

It's all about conditions IMHO.

One of the longest shots I've ever made was 540 meters in Austria on a Chamois, from one ridge to the other with a 6X.

The 6X was because at the time I had 2 Steyrs; an 8x68 with a 1.5-6X and a .270W with a 2.2-9. Both wore Steyr QD mounts and when packing I screwed up and grabbed the wrong scope. Luckily the action length was the same and the 1.5-6 attached to the .270 without a hitch, zero'd the rifle and off we went. I also used the 8x68 on a 5x4 bull at a little over 300 yds and the 6X wasn't a hinderance there either.
 
Chuck R. said:
I agree.

And I've got a friend that swears by his 4-16X on his Sauer 30-06 for his woods rifle. His shots are rarely even out to 100yds.

But, he hunts from elevated blinds, over feeders, and he shoots relaxed stationary deer. So for him a low end of 4 works.

I've got a couple Leupold VX6HDs : 2-12 and 3x18. In theory they could be used as "big woods" scopes due to the low end. Problem is for me, they reside on a 24" barreled .270Win and a 24" barreled 300WM, and I'm just not putting 3000+ FPS bullets into deer at "big woods" distances on purpose, nor am I dragging long action, long barreled, rifles through the woods.

For woods I use lightweight carbines, mid bores and LPVOs.

But, I hunt "big woods" while on the move, either still hunting or doing drives. Rarely are my deer "relaxed" nor are they "stationary" and there's not a a lot of time to make a shot.

It's all about conditions IMHO.

One of the longest shots I've ever made was 540 meters in Austria on a Chamois, from one ridge to the other with a 6X.

The 6X was because at the time I had 2 Steyrs; an 8x68 with a 1.5-6X and a .270W with a 2.2-9. Both wore Steyr QD mounts and when packing I screwed up and grabbed the wrong scope. Luckily the action length was the same and the 1.5-6 attached to the .270 without a hitch, zero'd the rifle and off we went. I also used the 8x68 on a 5x4 bull at a little over 300 yds and the 6X wasn't a hinderance there either.
Click to expand...
Agreed, 100%. It's all about choosing the right tool for the job. I think a lot of folks are just afraid of having too little and never consider that they might have too much. Or that you can even have too much.
 
I would say to buy a Leupold, Burris or Vortex, due to their warranty. Love the firedot.
The best thing to do is find somewhere that you can actually look through them at dusk, outside.
Years ago, I had a scope fail, and went to a local Fleet Farm at dusk, thinking I was going to buy a Leupold, but the Burris was a lot clearer. In the woods, largest field of view you can get.
 
Another good reason for a little more magnification 9,12,16 power would be making the .243 your varmint gun too. I have shot 55 gr projectiles out of my .243's for a long time. 3900+ fps, and they get the job done once deer season is over. A lot of Black Friday sales coming up, check out some websites and save some $.
 
I put a Leupold 2.5x on my .308 for deer in the woods.
Got the scope used. Need to check the box, it seems like it might have the heavy duplex.
It works but think the rifle needs a 1.5-5x or 2.5-8X.
Still just a deer rig (probably be fine w a fixed 4 x).....but lower mag makes movers easy.

Do have a .243, have had several over the years. 3-9X AO, 3-9X tactical, 4-12X AO, 3-9X AO (EFR) and currently my last one, wears a Mark AR Mod 1 4-12X AO.
It has the fine crosshair. I prefere regular, even for varminting. On a .22 lr maybe the fine is better, didn't mind it on my 1022 or Anschutz.
This .243 is for yotes.

Honestly, the gloss 3.5-10X AO leupold, last version w click adjust...............would be a dandy scope.
Why they dropped it?
That thing w a regular standard duplex, would work from .22 lr hunting to .300 winmag.

Even in matte they should have kept that scope.
Yeah target and long range 12X or more can be handy.
But for field position and occassional bipod use.............a "sensible" scope would be nice.

I saw some rather interesting scopes/mounts at the range last week.
Deer season opens tomorrow.

Proly said upthread, but if .243 is primarily a varmint rifle, 4-12X AO
If its mainly a deer rig then 2-7x or 3-9x would be plenty.
Something w AO is preferred when varminting IMHO.
I ran a 3-9X AO on a Ruger #1B in .243 for two decades blasting chucks.
Had a EFR version (smaller) on a Rem 600 in .243 and that was a good fit (looked right).
 
Last edited:
9x isn't useless.
It aint the best for offhand work, but Ive done it, and with scopes of higher mag.

I think 9X entirely usable when a buck walks out into the field and one has a rest, or goes prone.
There the 9X lets you check the animal more closely (is it your target buck, does it have a busted tine?)

Whats funny is..........with such a variable..........its like it gets used at either 3x or 9X.
The other powers of it just get ignored.

:)
 
Hookeye said:
9x isn't useless.
It aint the best for offhand work, but Ive done it, and with scopes of higher mag.

I think 9X entirely usable when a buck walks out into the field and one has a rest, or goes prone.
There the 9X lets you check the animal more closely (is it your target buck, does it have a busted tine?)

Whats funny is..........with such a variable..........its like it gets used at either 3x or 9X.
The other powers of it just get ignored.

:)
Click to expand...
I tend to keep em at 6ish (ring bump on top for most of my scopes, makes for an easy visual/tactile reminder)or 9, 9 when i forget to turn them down, 6 the rest of the time lol.
That changes when im using the fat part of the Duplex for range compensation, then ill adjust power to change relative POI. It also changes for zeroing or when i have plenty of time to set up, then ill play with the power till i have the best image i can get in the current conditions (which may not be max).

I like more power simply because I don't tend to use that lower end, so as you said, a chunk of the range is getting ignored. Thus my "something must die" rifle wares a 6.5-20.
 
Couldn't find a clean gloss Leupold 2-7X long tube (older model) so grabbed a 3-9X Vari XIIc .
Ruger #1A in .308.
Will be next years deer rig.
Unless I stumble across a clean 2-7X to swap in.
Proly just leave the 3-9X at 4X. It'll work, just looks a little big on the rifle.
 
I managed to get my "unicorn" "Big Woods" scope on order yesterday. They've been out of stock for a while at Leupold and I wanted to use my .Mil discount. I received the "in stock" notice yesterday morning, got one ordered and told a friend that was looking for one. By 1100 when he "got around to it" they were out of stock again.

www.leupold.com

VX-3HD 1.5-5x20 CDS-ZL Illum. FireDot Twilight Hunter

The VX®-3HD 1.5-5x20mm delivers legendary performance and extreme clarity in an incredibly tough, lightweight package. It's the perfect workhorse for those close to mid-range shots.
www.leupold.com www.leupold.com

We've got a drive planned for Friday, but there's no way it will be here in time and zero'd, so I'll use the Swarovski 1.25-4X I have mounted now. I wanted the benefits of a LPVO combined with the speed on a RDS, so I'll see how it works out.
 
I alsmost tried my Steiner 1-4X on my Ruger #1 A.
Almost.
Lucky I didn't have Ruger 30mm rings around.
Would need offset rear, think Leupold makes em.

Boring ol 3-9X.
Not my ideal woods setup, but usable.
My .35 rem 760 wears a 2-7X.
3-9x.jpg
 
If 500 is your budget, I’d recommend the Vortex Viper HS 2.5-10x44. It’s got nice glass, very clear, and with the optical quality that 10X will get you out pretty far to match the excellent ballistics of .243.

it’s essentially similar to the PST Gen 2, 2.5-10X32 but non illuminated, non parallax adjustable, capped turrets and 10 ounces lighter.



www.sportoptics.com

Vortex Viper HS 2.5-10X44

Vortex Optics Quick Reviewmagnification range: 2.5X to 10Xscope weight: 16.5 ouncesscope length: 12 incheseye relief: 4 inchesscope finish: matte blacktube size: 30mm
www.sportoptics.com www.sportoptics.com
 
So no one has ever used 9X to figure out if that branch that looked like an antler was really an antler...and found that it was and was attached to a deer? Or put down your 8X bino's only to find that you couldn't resolve the deer you were looking at with the scope on 2X? Nobody? While I can allow that 15X on the top is too much - due to size, weight and a low end that isn't low enough - but as long as the low end is low, absent the weight and bulk I don't get the concept of too much up top. And I prefer the low light performance of large objectives on low power. Say what you will about the "maximum exit pupil the human eye can use", to me, more are better.
 
95% of the time I have a pair of binoculars.
In the context of what the OP asked within the realm of 100 yards or so my 1.75-5 x 32 works wonderfully for me.
It‘s low light performance works well for me also, as I like to call it a day when I can’t see that well with my actual eyes.
If I shoot something late I like to be able to track it, if it doesn’t DRT.
If I’m sitting on a large ag field then that’s a bit differen, and I’ll go with larger optics.
 
OP never came back to let us know what he ended up getting (if anything) or whether he followed anyone's recommendation(s).

Nevertheless, some nice looking rifles pictured (@Hookeye, love the #1).
 
I, too, was hoping to find out how things worked out for the OP. Now I'm waiting to see if Chuck R. likes that 1.5-5x 20mm Leupold with illuminated reticle. My prediction is that he will like it. It's all you need in a woods scope and an illuminated reticle can be worth its weight in gold at first & last light. My main woods gun is a Marlin lever in .30-30 and it had a Leupold 1-4x 20mm on it for 20 years. Never needed more X's but there were a few times I sure wish it had an illuminated reticle. Couple years ago the rules around here changed to allow shooting game 30 min. before sunrise until 30 min. after sunset. Which is why it now wears a different scope with an illuminated reticle. Can't recall ever having either of those scopes turned up past 3x when hunting the woods.
 
22250Rem said:
I, too, was hoping to find out how things worked out for the OP. Now I'm waiting to see if Chuck R. likes that 1.5-5x 20mm Leupold with illuminated reticle. My prediction is that he will like it. It's all you need in a woods scope and an illuminated reticle can be worth its weight in gold at first & last light. My main woods gun is a Marlin lever in .30-30 and it had a Leupold 1-4x 20mm on it for 20 years. Never needed more X's but there were a few times I sure wish it had an illuminated reticle. Couple years ago the rules around here changed to allow shooting game 30 min. before sunrise until 30 min. after sunset. Which is why it now wears a different scope with an illuminated reticle. Can't recall ever having either of those scopes turned up past 3x when hunting the woods.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I'll have to wait for next season for a true test, although I might take it down to Ok for a pig hunt next month.

Buuut, I've used similar setup on my 3Gun rig (FireDot VX6Hd 1-6X) and a 1.25-4X on my M7 in 350RM. The scope it's self is very, very nice, great glass, forgiving eye box, and the reticle is daylight bright. It's only a couple ounces heavier than the 1" tube model. I just need a chance to shoot something with it.
 
100yd & less? On a budget? Open sights. Something like a shot gun bead is fine. Express sights w buckhorn(Ala Marlin). Large apertures, etc. A deers vitals are approx 8" around. Should be no issues ( & faster, I might add) w no scope. Easier target then most folks think.
 
Bcwitt said:
100yd & less? On a budget? Open sights. Something like a shot gun bead is fine. Express sights w buckhorn(Ala Marlin). Large apertures, etc. A deers vitals are approx 8" around. Should be no issues ( & faster, I might add) w no scope. Easier target then most folks think.
Click to expand...
Must be nice to have good eye vision. Many don’t.
 
Bcwitt said:
100yd & less? On a budget? Open sights. Something like a shot gun bead is fine. Express sights w buckhorn(Ala Marlin). Large apertures, etc. A deers vitals are approx 8" around. Should be no issues ( & faster, I might add) w no scope. Easier target then most folks think.
Click to expand...
How are scopes slower?
I think when properly set up they are faster.
 
Hookeye said:
How are scopes slower?
I think when properly set up they are faster.
Click to expand...
A scope will deliver a more accurate shot faster, no doubt. But @ close range, a large Buckhorn or just a bead is much faster on a large moving target.
 
Hookeye said:
How are scopes slower?
I think when properly set up they are faster.
Click to expand...

I agree 100%

Action games like 3 Gun which require speed are dominated by LPVOs.

Do a search for rifles set up for driven boar hunts and you'll either see LPVOs or RDS set ups.

www.youtube.com

Wild Boar Shoot Training

Tim Pilbeam is learning about charging boar, running boar and high seat boar. In his new outing in the Rucksack & Rifle series, he goes to Mamima Jakt in Swe...
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www.youtube.com

Top 3 Driven Hunt Rifles | Norma Academy

What rifle systems are suitable for driven hunting? Let Steffen Foullon walk you through some common rifle setups to maximize your hunting success on driven ...
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
 
My 19" Sako carbine .243 sports an old Leupold Vari-X II 2x7. It's good for prairie dogs to 300 yards, I've found. A 3x9 is plenty good for anything a .243 can reach.
 
I have NEVER liked buckhorn sights.

Peeps, scopes, reddots and reflex ...........no problem.

I am picky on gun fit and scope setup. Makes movers easy.
 
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