recommended minimum scope power
- Thread starter mainecoon
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1.5 to 2.5X. Large field of view to find game quickly.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/714449/leupold-vx-3-rifle-scope-175-6x-32mm-duplex-reticle-matte
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1362115305/leupold-vx-3-rifle-scope-25-8x-36mm?cm_vc=ProductFinding
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/714449/leupold-vx-3-rifle-scope-175-6x-32mm-duplex-reticle-matte
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1362115305/leupold-vx-3-rifle-scope-25-8x-36mm?cm_vc=ProductFinding
For a woods scope a 1-4X20 is about perfect. If you've never tried a scope on 1X they are amazingly fast to use up close. Faster and easier to use than irons for quick snap shots. Both eyes should be open regardless of the scope magnification, but many people just can't do it with more magnification, 1X is easy. For those rare longer shots 4X is enough for at least 200-300 yards.
My 2nd option is a 2-7X32. You get a little more precision on 7X vs 4X and 2X on the lower end isn't too bad. But the difference between 2X and 1X is significant on quick shots.
I don't like anything with more than 3X on the low end.
My 2nd option is a 2-7X32. You get a little more precision on 7X vs 4X and 2X on the lower end isn't too bad. But the difference between 2X and 1X is significant on quick shots.
I don't like anything with more than 3X on the low end.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
100 yards divided by 4.5x equals 22 yards.
You can almost spit a watermelon seed that far.
Heed Walkalongs advice for a very low power variable.
rc
You can almost spit a watermelon seed that far.
Heed Walkalongs advice for a very low power variable.
rc
Bobson
Member
Is Leupold discontinuing the VX3 line or something? I've been looking for that 2.5-8x36 (matte - duplex) for over a month now. Everyone's either been showing out of stock, or removing it from their catalog entirely. OpticsPlanet had the gloss finish B&C reticle for a while, but that's been gone for a few weeks now, too. Now Midway shows "Discontinued" (instead of just "Out of stock - no backorder" as with most OOS products).
Maybe that's why Leupold is offering the rebate - to clear the shelves for stores to allow room for a new lineup? Idk.
Maybe that's why Leupold is offering the rebate - to clear the shelves for stores to allow room for a new lineup? Idk.
Sunray
Member
More about what firearm the scope is on and too much magnification than what's minimum.
New England's woods are the same as Ontario's. A 1X scope is infinitely better in the bush than irons. Low magnification is better than anything above 8/9ish.
Leupold doesn't care if the store shelves are clear. They've already been paid for stuff on shelves.
Optics Planet is showing a 2.5-8x32 handgun scope. No other 2.5X VX3 scopes at all. Leupold does show they still make it though.
New England's woods are the same as Ontario's. A 1X scope is infinitely better in the bush than irons. Low magnification is better than anything above 8/9ish.
Leupold doesn't care if the store shelves are clear. They've already been paid for stuff on shelves.
Optics Planet is showing a 2.5-8x32 handgun scope. No other 2.5X VX3 scopes at all. Leupold does show they still make it though.
CApighunter
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The terrain I hunt for deer is a mix of dense pine trees with occasional open granite slab areas and cross canyon shots up to 300 yards. On my 30-06 I have a 3-9x40 and it's perfect for the longer shots and doesn't sacrifice much for close range. My 30-30 wears a weaver 1-3 which is plenty out to 150 yards and is perfect for the denser areas.
zb338
Member
Get a good make 2X7 scope. You have the low power and if
you ever need it, or to sight in your rifle you have the
higher power. You won't be sorry. Someday you might decide
to hunt a different area and you would be all set.
Zeke
you ever need it, or to sight in your rifle you have the
higher power. You won't be sorry. Someday you might decide
to hunt a different area and you would be all set.
Zeke
It's very common to be overmagnified and underscoped, if such word can be used for settling for less than ideal glass and coating quality. Many people are blinded by the numbers, high magnification at a low price and end up buying what's probably the worst choice for most hunting situations. It's not more for less, it's buying scopes that would be more useful as potato gavels than aiming devices.
I've fallen victim to that too. At one time I had a number of medium quality 6-18...6-24 scopes that were ok at the range but useless for hunting in even sparsely wooded areas. The glass wasn't quite up to par either, $300-400 and high magnification ment that image was more often than not distorted in some way and coatings couldn't meet the marketing claims of light transmission.
This is just an opinion, but the best universal hunting scopes I've come across are made by high-end brands, magnification somewhere between 1.5 and 8, with a fairly large diameter objective. Light transmission and clarity are great, FOV at 100 yards is at least 50', sometimes even close to 65, weight is still very bearable and 3-4" eye relief suffices nicely unless you try to do something stupid or mount the scope on a light, heavy recoil magnum rifle. The (discontinued) Zeiss Conquest 1.8-5.5x36 was one of my favorites despite its 50yd parallax, so was (discontinued) Nikon Monarch 1.5-6x42 which is only available as B-300 with a BDC reticle anymore. Kahles, Zeiss, Swarovski and Schmidt & Bender still offer a few models, with or without illuminated reticle or dot. I'd love to see more affordable scopes manufactured in this magnification range, with a relatively large objective, just to be able to justify buying a few more. At $1.5k+ each for high end ones that isn't likely to happen anytime soon.
I've fallen victim to that too. At one time I had a number of medium quality 6-18...6-24 scopes that were ok at the range but useless for hunting in even sparsely wooded areas. The glass wasn't quite up to par either, $300-400 and high magnification ment that image was more often than not distorted in some way and coatings couldn't meet the marketing claims of light transmission.
This is just an opinion, but the best universal hunting scopes I've come across are made by high-end brands, magnification somewhere between 1.5 and 8, with a fairly large diameter objective. Light transmission and clarity are great, FOV at 100 yards is at least 50', sometimes even close to 65, weight is still very bearable and 3-4" eye relief suffices nicely unless you try to do something stupid or mount the scope on a light, heavy recoil magnum rifle. The (discontinued) Zeiss Conquest 1.8-5.5x36 was one of my favorites despite its 50yd parallax, so was (discontinued) Nikon Monarch 1.5-6x42 which is only available as B-300 with a BDC reticle anymore. Kahles, Zeiss, Swarovski and Schmidt & Bender still offer a few models, with or without illuminated reticle or dot. I'd love to see more affordable scopes manufactured in this magnification range, with a relatively large objective, just to be able to justify buying a few more. At $1.5k+ each for high end ones that isn't likely to happen anytime soon.
41 Mag
Member
I hunt a varied mix of woods and pastures ranging from as thick or thicker than this,
to as wide open as this,
I have specific rifles that I use in the more wide open areas but the one that gets the most use is a little short Ruger Compact in .308. I topped it with a 1.5 x 6 x 32 Burris Signature when I got it, and after only one time to the woods fell in love with that combo.
It has plenty of field of view for fast up close shots on hogs up in the thick stuff and enough magnification to make a clean shot out to over 400yds. It has probably helped put as much, or more meat in the freezer than, anything else in my collection. It gathers enough light and has a heavy enough plex reticle that early morning and late evening shots in the woods where it gets darker quicker are easily made.
Listen to the reoccurring theme and pick out something you find is bright and clear in that power range and you will be a happy camper.
to as wide open as this,
I have specific rifles that I use in the more wide open areas but the one that gets the most use is a little short Ruger Compact in .308. I topped it with a 1.5 x 6 x 32 Burris Signature when I got it, and after only one time to the woods fell in love with that combo.
It has plenty of field of view for fast up close shots on hogs up in the thick stuff and enough magnification to make a clean shot out to over 400yds. It has probably helped put as much, or more meat in the freezer than, anything else in my collection. It gathers enough light and has a heavy enough plex reticle that early morning and late evening shots in the woods where it gets darker quicker are easily made.
Listen to the reoccurring theme and pick out something you find is bright and clear in that power range and you will be a happy camper.
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Sav .250
Member
Just about any variable power scope will do. Just keep it on the lowest setting.
Likewise. 52ft 100yd FOV at 2x is a very nice feature, even though 10x is rarely useful. Conquest DL 1.2-5x36 has 90ft 100yd FOV but the downside is a smaller (36% surface area) objective for similar $, which hinders its usefulness as a low light scope. I wish Victory HT 1.5-6x42 was cheaper, it's just about the ideal hunting scope in my book but two and a half grand is a bit steep for a street price.
OpticsPlanet
Member
2-7x or a 2.5-10x.
I have a Vortex Viper PST 2.5-10x32 FFP MOA, going on two years now, the 10x is more than I need, but I'd rather have it and not need it, than...
Mark H.
I have a Vortex Viper PST 2.5-10x32 FFP MOA, going on two years now, the 10x is more than I need, but I'd rather have it and not need it, than...
Mark H.
dubbleA
Member
I have a couple of Swarovski 1.5x6x42's with German #4 reticles and all I can say they are great in close quarter hunting situations. They offer quick target acquisition along and decent in low light situations. One has to get used to seeing the barrel muzzle when set on the lowest power though. At first it was a distraction.
1.5 x 6 works really real. YMWV
1.5 x 6 works really real. YMWV
My .35 Rem TC carbine wears a Leupold 2-7X.
Ruger RSI .243 wears a Redfield Revolution 2-7X.
Will be toting it for yotes next week.
Leaving the 700 .243 w 4-12X AO Leupold in the safe.
Inside of 200 yards on stuff as big as yotes or deer.............don't need anything more.
Ruger RSI .243 wears a Redfield Revolution 2-7X.
Will be toting it for yotes next week.
Leaving the 700 .243 w 4-12X AO Leupold in the safe.
Inside of 200 yards on stuff as big as yotes or deer.............don't need anything more.
22-rimfire
Member
From a practical point of view, even my variables that go less than 4x always sit at 4x. So, my answer with a fixed power scope is 4x. You sort of get comfortable with the magnification after a while.
wanderinwalker
Member
The scope I always wanted to try out for hunting here in New Hampshire is the fixed Leupold 2.5x. In a land where 100 yards of is open country, it should offer good FOV for quick, close shooting, with enough magnification to take those rare "long range" shots over 300 feet.
My old Remington Mountain Rifle wore a 2-7x33 Leupold that was bright and clear on 2x and never got turned up any higher except at the range.
My old Remington Mountain Rifle wore a 2-7x33 Leupold that was bright and clear on 2x and never got turned up any higher except at the range.
redneck2
Member
I'd get to the Cabelas website and get a VX-3 at 1/2 price before they are gone
redneck2
Member
It said the rebate was good until the end of the year. I thought the price would be too. I just looked, and the cabelas discount is gone from the ad.
I have a friend that bought three while they were cheap. Nothing that good lasts forever.
I have a friend that bought three while they were cheap. Nothing that good lasts forever.
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