Optics for dangerous game

[SharpsDressedMan]

That little Leupold 1x14 might be just the ticket.

 

[Maverick223]

That little Leupold 1x14 might be just the ticket.

I just looked that up (thought you were referring to a tiny scope to begin with), and that looks pretty neat. Because it has an etched reticle, it will work without illumination (it is basically an illuminated reticle), and won't look fuzzy to folks with astigmatism (like me). It is a little on the pricey side, but I'll still have to look at one next time I visit BPS.

 

[kevinkinney]

Wow, one week away from the thread, and the information rolls in.

I've got a 458 SOCOM upper inbound, with a small crate of 405gr ammo. I've yet to pull a moose or bear tag in our lottery, but my time will come. Our Black Bears run 3-400 pounds up here, and our Moose just run you over in season. I've met a few bulls during canoe trips in the fall. They are spooky.

My price range for optics is about $350-400 before I have to start explaining myself to my wife. That puts me squarely in the Lucid HD7, Leupold Mark AR, or Millet DMS-1 range.

Thanks all.

Kevin

 

[Zerodefect]

Any Trijicon Accupoint with a green triangle recticle.

Not the best for paper punching, but they rule at moving targets.

 

[Maverick223]

My price range for optics is about $350-400 before I have to start explaining myself to my wife.

With that budget I would take a hard look at the Nikon Monarch 1.5-4.5x20mm shotgun scope. It is ideal for close range, has good glass (and the UCC coating), and is light and small. It was discontinued a while back (for what reason I don't know) so they now retail for about $200.00...not bad for that little scope. The Nikon African 1-4x20mm looks to be pretty close to the same scope, but (other than the #4 reticle) I see no reason to pay the extra $100.00 or so.

 

[Al Thompson]

Agree with Maverick. Great scope for the money. Have one on my DMR forgery.

 

[kevinkinney]

For our Alaskan Brown Bears,(griz for you outsiders) which really are dangerous

...You mis-heard us. We in the lower 48 call them "gristly bears" because they taste awful. That's why we don't grow them everywhere down here.

Kevin.

 

[Flintknapper]

kevinkinney wrote:

I've got a 458 SOCOM upper inbound, with a small crate of 405gr ammo. My price range for optics is about $350-400 before I have to start explaining myself to my wife. That puts me squarely in the Lucid HD7, Leupold Mark AR, or Millet DMS-1 range.

Something in the 1 X 4 X 24mm range will be adequate for the SOCOM. I run a Weaver Classic Extreme 1.5 X 4.5 X 24mm on mine.

You'll need 3.5"-4" of eye relief.

Personally, I'd scratch the Millet scope off the list. Yes....I know a lot of people bought them....but a lot people sold them shortly thereafter. It is a Chinese made scope and there is NOTHING about it that impresses me.

My older brother had one....and it was awful in more ways than it wasn't.

If you are going to hunt bear...it could very well be under low light conditions...so opt for something with decent glass. A good value these days is the Bushnell elite 4200 series in a 1.24 X 4 X 24mm.

Good Japanese glass (scope made by Light Optical Works in Japan). Don't be put off by the Bushnell label, they simply lost the right to use the Bausch & Lomb name on the scope.

There are other decent scopes out there in your price range, but do your homework...and DO NOT buy a cheap Chinese scope. If you have save up for a better scope...then do so.

The .458 SOCOM is not a recoil "monster", but it does get your attention with the 405's. A poorly built scope simply won't last on top of it.

Flint.

 

[Maverick223]

Flintknapper, I agree with you regarding glass and durability. Right or wrong, you'll find no Chinese manufactured optics on any of my centerfire rifles (I have but one...a CenterPoint on a 10/22, i'd not buy it again either).

 

[Lakedaemonian]

I would seriously consider an Aimpoint or an EOTech if most of your intended shots are within 100 yards or so. Hard to beat the speed of a red dot sight, and both are solid, reliable options - with the Aimpoint possibly more so.

If you want some magnification, I would consider a lower power ACOG - 1.5x, 2x, or possibly 3x. Still illuminated and relatively fast, though not as fast as the red dot sights.

+1 On aimpoint. A 100 yd zero is attainable and repeatable w/ 0 mag optics. Nearly infinate eye relief for scout mounting, and fast point of aim. Might be a reason why the US military uses them against the most dangerous game of all...

 

[Float Pilot]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Float Pilot View Post
I use various scopes for non-dangerous game like Moose, Caribou, Sitka Bail-Tail deer, black-bear and Mountain Goats. Varying on the terrain and time of season.
For our Alaskan Brown Bears,(griz for you outsiders) which really are dangerous, I use express sights or a ghost ring. They close-in way too fast to be goofing with a scope.

By Denali Park,,,
I spent thirty-years living, hunting & trapping in the Goldstream valley, this would be the first time I've ever heard of Moose & black bear considered non-dangerous game...

__________________

Hmm, I've been here since Eisenhower was the President, and in my humble opinion you have a better chance of being hit by lightening than of being bothered by a moose out in the woods. (around the UAA or UAF campus during winter,,, maybe,, those are mean moose up in the city) In fact I have been charged by feral cattle at the head of the bay, more often than by moose. As for bears,, your camp could get raided by a pesky black bear if you leave your food laying around. And they have played with more than one of my back-packs,,, but.. Most black bear encounters are caused by stupid city folk and not by the bears themselves. I chase them out of my chicken coop with a garden hose or fire extinguisher.

Both moose and black bears tend to die rather easily when shot with anything in the 30-30 power range and upward. I consider something dangerous that takes a couple rifle shots and keeps on coming.

Since a Brown Bear can accelerate fairly fast up to a speed of 35 mph.. or 50 feet per second, They can cover the last 50 yards faster than you want to be goofing with a standard scope. Thus my preference for a ghost ring or express sight. Even with my old eyeballs. If I had to use a scope it would be a Scout Scope for that situation.