Which of these scopes would you buy?

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condoor

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I'm looking for a scope to put on a Stevens 200 .30-06 for deer and elk in CO. I've narrowed it down to the following choices. I'd like to know which of these you'd pick and why.

1) Burris Fullfield II 2-7x35 $159 (Balistic Plex Reticle)
http://www.swfa.com/pc-5646-203-burris-2-7x35-fullfield-ii-rifle-scope.aspx

2) Burris Fullfield II 3-9x40 $199 (Balistic Plex Reticle)
http://www.swfa.com/pc-8070-203-burris-3-9x40-fullfield-ii-rifle-scope.aspx

3) Burris Fullfield II 3-9x40 $139 (German 3P#4 Reticle)
(keeping this source confidential until I decide what I'm going to buy)

The third option seems like a great deal, but it seems like the Ballistic Plex Reticle would come in handy for longer shots. I also like the idea of the slightly smaller/lighter 2-7 scope, but I'm worried about how much of a sacrafice in light gathering ability I'm making dropping down to the 35. Anyway, any advice would be appreciated.

thx
 
Personally, I'd go for door # 2.
I like the bigger bell for more light, and I like the BP crosshairs. Especially in low light conditions.
You might also look at the Nikons in the same fields.
 
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Optically they will all be the same. I owned the 3-9x and it was an excellent, robust scope.

Keep in mind, the Ballistic Plex reticle will only work at the highest magnification. That would be 7x or 9x depending which one you buy. You should consider that for the game you're trying to take and at what distance.

They both have very similar FOV, eye relief, weight and length, and exit pupil. The 3-9x should be brighter due to the 40mm objective. Also, the 3-9 has 1/4" clicks, the 2-7 has 1/2" clicks if that makes a difference. For a hunting scope, brightness is important for dusk & dawn hours.
 
I'm leaning on option 3, I'm just worried I'll miss the Ballistic Plex Reticle...
 
I did option #2 when I bought a scope. I put a 3-9x40 FFII on my Remington ADL .270. I love it, and I would recommend it to anyone. It's awesome, and the glass is better to my eye than the Leupold VXI's I looked at in the same price range. I never use the Ballisticplex, and I probably wouldn't miss it if it wasn't there, but it's nice to have in case I ever want to figure it out with my ammo.

For 30-06, and elk, I would go 3-9 just because I think you can get more range out of it than the 2-7. That's just me. The difference in weight is small, and you're right, the light gathering ability is going to be better with a larger objective. But, if you're wanting to keep light as possible, the 2-7 is a great scope and would serve you well too. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the choices you've listed.
 
After years of messing with variable power scopes, I finally settled on a straight 6x. Quick target acquisition, lotsa eye relief, and all the magnification I need for my typical big game hunting situations. Everything I've ever killed was less than a hundred yards. Most of the time, a lot less!
 
I find the German recticle works much better in low light, and I have several of the Ballistiplex. They work very well on my rifles up to 300 win mag.

If you don't buy the German recticle scope please pm me the source and I will buy it.
 
I have #2 and I like it, but I haven't tried #3, so I can't say which I'd prefer, given the option.
 
I would recommend going with the 3x9 (door #2), specifically because it has a longer tube (distance between bells) and thus will be easier to mount satisfactorily on a rifle built for needless long-action cartridges like the 30/06. :);) You won't use the fancy reticle but that's Ok.
 
What's nice about the B-plex is that you can just sight it in at 100 yards, and it will show you the drop. And you will use it for hunting past 100 yards. Why not?

Sure, you should verify it, but for hunting, it's a lot quicker than turning the knobs for distance, and more accurate than guessing your hold-over.
 
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Shawnee

I'm gettin the strangest feelin that you don't care for 30 caliber rifles. Would you say that is an accurate deduction? :D
 
#2 of your choices.

A Leupold Vari-X III 4.5-14x40 AO (Duplex reticle) is what I got on my Rem 700 BDL in .338 RUM for elk.
 
I replaced the hensoldt on my HK with your #2... It was a good improvement. That was about 10 years ago... and thought it was such a good choice, I mounted a 6.5x20x50 on my .223 bolt gun instead of another Leupold, Ziess or IOR... I own 2 Burris, 2 Luepold, 1 IOR and I Ziess. Wouldn't have another Conquest, but I'll own more of the other three brands.

 
I would take option "D". None of the above. I despise Burris optics and would go with a Leupold in the same price range.
 
I love the burris optics. I have 2: one 3-12x on my 30-06, and a 2-7 on my 460S&W. Both are excellent! The rifle scope is about 15 years old and still awesome.

Rarely do I move it out of the 3x position, though, and only for shots out past 200 yards.

And about the recticles working at maximum magnification, take it to the range, shot and see how the recticle works at your favorite magnifications, whether it be 3x or 4x or whatever. Memorize your bullet and how it interacts with your recticle and it will work.
 
Light gathering ability is simply objective lens diameter divided by power.

A 2-7 x 32 would have an exit pupil of 16mm at 2x, and an exit pupil of 4.57mm at 7x.

A 3-9 x 40 would have an exit pupil of 13.3mm at 3x, and 4.44mm at 9x.

So, assuming the scopes are of equal lens quality, a 32mm scope at 7x is slightly brighter then a 40mm scope at 9x.

The human eye can only use 7mm at the most, and that's with young eyes.

So, any scope with a larger exit pupil then 7mm is no brighter then any other scope because your eye can't tell the difference.

Any scope with an exit pupil smaller then 7mm is not able to transmit all the light your eye could theoretically use.

1224.jpg
rcmodel
 
I am getting door #2 for Christmas to put on my rem. 700 in .270. This is my second deer rifle and I looked for about a year at several brands: Leupold, Burris, Zeiss, Nikon, etc.

I finally picked the Burris since I found dollar for dollar it was the best for the money.

enjoy,
e'trode
 
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