Resommendation for optics - Wyoming wide open spaces

[tackleberry45]

At the end of the year I will be heading out to Wyoming/ Montana/ Idaho (Game like Prongs and Muleys....). I know shots here can get into some open spaces where dealing with wind is a real issue. I want an optic I can compensate for windage on (without turning knobs), similar, but not necessarily, a mil-dot. The bolt gun in a Browning X-Bolt in .270. There is such a tremendous selection of glass out there I was just looking for the voice of experience. I am thinking a 3 - 9 will still be fine. I am willing to drop the dollars on good glass if needed.

 

[redbullitt]

Just depends on budget really. I would happily go with a vortex PST. Reticle is great for ranging and windage holdovers. Think of it as a more precise mil dot setup. The PSTs can be had on the second hand market at very reasonable prices.

I have a few of these and am very happy with them.

Their Razor is top notch as well if you are wanting to drop a few more bucks.

I have a 2.5-10x32 on my 223 and it is an excellent scope. Also have experience with the 4-16 and 1-4 pst models. They have excellent customer service as well should you ever need it.

 

[redneck2]

Off the original post but appropriate...

I've hunted eastern Montana multiple times. We have open areas where we go. Very good larger binos IMO are as/more important than the scope. I have Leupold's best 10x50's. Very well worth it. We use binos 50x more than the scope.

That said, we use good scopes. My friend got an antelope with a 30-06 at 362 yards. Plain cross hair reticule.

You will also obviously need a decent range finder.

HTH

 

[HexHead]

A Leupold VX-3 3.5-10 with CDS turret might be just the ticket for you. Send the ballistic info for your load to Leupold and you get a turret cap engrave in yardage for that bullet and load. Their new CDS scoops come with their Wind Flex turret, which is marked for windage.

Using a range finder, if your target is 450 yards, just turn the knob to 4.5, 600 yards, to 6. It works great, used it last month for long range shooting and had no issues hitting steel at 200, 400, 600 yards. Rifle was spot on each time.

 

[jmr40]

There are a lot of options for scopes with dots that work great for elevation. If you want to compensate for wind, you'll probably need something with dials. The "Boone and Crockett" reticle offered only on the VX-3's is the best non dial option that I'm aware of that will help with windage and elevation.

 

[Hairy Clipper]

My experience with higher power scopes has been anything above 12X becomes rather useless due to heat waves on the high plains. 3X9 is very handy.

 

[HexHead]

There are a lot of options for scopes with dots that work great for elevation. If you want to compensate for wind, you'll probably need something with dials. The "Boone and Crockett" reticle offered only on the VX-3's is the best non dial option that I'm aware of that will help with windage and elevation.

Boone & Crockett reticle is also available on the VX-6.

 

[USMC-Johnson]

I'd recomend a Vortex PST 2.5-10. Its going to give you a ton of scope for the money as well as an unbeatable lifetime warranty should you ever have an issue.

 

[MCMXI]

The "Boone and Crockett" reticle offered only on the VX-3's is the best non dial option that I'm aware of that will help with windage and elevation.

I have four Zeiss Conquest scopes with RZ600 and RZ800 reticles and I find them to be better than the B&C reticle offered by Leupold. In fact, I'd put the ZCs up against Leupold any day, or pretty much any $500 - $800 hunting scope in the 3-10x range.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

ive got a couple cds leupolds and use them a lot for crop damage deer at long range and they really work great if set up exactly like you are told to. I shoot lots of deer at long range and have used many different scopes but if I had to make a recommendation id say look at a 3x9. Ive shot deer out as far as 600 yards with 9x and don't ever remember thinking before I shot that I sure could use more power. Most 3x9s are bargin priced compared to the higher power scopes so you can buy a scope cheaper or but a better 3x9 for the same money as a lesser 4x12

 

[Ankeny]

I live in Wyoming and I shoot thousands (literally) of rounds every year at p-dogs, tactical steel, etc. out to 1000 yds and beyond. I also hunt big game. Obviously, to hold for wind you need to have really good dope. Distance is easy, but you still need accurate dope. How far do you want to shoot and under what kind of wind conditions?

My main p-dog gun wears a Nightforce NXS 5.5-22X55 scope with a MLR reticle. My primary long distance hunting rifle sports a Nightforce SHV 4-14X56 with an IHR reticle. The IHR reticle is similar to a "4-plex" but the length of the cross hair, space to the "post", etc are in MOA for holding wind (or elevation).

All of that said, my 7mm-08 (light weight rifle) has a Leupold VX3 3.4-10X40 with standard 4-plex. I am comfortable shooting to 500 yds in light to zero value wind. If I need to compensate for wind to the tune of over 2 MOA, I won't take the shot. I looked through a Wind Plex Leupy after I went to the CDS line. The Wind-Plex has hash marks on the horizontal for 2 MOA each side. That would be fine for light wind and intermediate distance. Worthless for p-dogs and steel.