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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 26,219
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 26,219 |
Of the two the 3.5-10.
All my rifles have 2-7 or 2.5-8, more compact for a mtn rifle.
Casey
Casey
Not being married to any particular political party sure makes it a lot easier to look at the world more objectively... Having said that, MAGA.
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Joined: Feb 2002
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 32,044 |
My vote would be for a Straight 6 power Leupold
A Doe walks out of the woods today and says, that is the last time I'm going to do that for Two Bucks.
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,266
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,266 |
Of the two, I far and away prefer the 3.5x10 over the 4.5-14.
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,207
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,207 |
I have a Leupold FX3 6x42 with the Long Range Duplex on my Tikka Super Lite 7mm Rem Mag bright and light.
Last edited by byd; 01/12/17.
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,213
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,213 |
Beware of mounting the astronomy telescopes on your elk rifle. A young man in my group had the misfortune of having his scope cranked up to max zoom. His wasn't even that powerful - 3-10 or something. When an elk trotted close by in a very small clearing he could find only hair or branches in his sights. I was grateful he had restraint enough not to shoot and unknown patch of hair.
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 590
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 590 |
I like the 3.5-10, 2.5-8 and FX3 6x. Consider getting the heavy duplex reticle, in some cases that means using the Leupold custom shop. That reticle is good in low light and won't obscure much on large animals even at long range.
NRA Benefactor Life Member NAHC Life Member
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,082
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2007
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I'm with most of these other guys. 3.5 to 10.
I like my scope to be as small and light as possible. Light because if I have to lug it up the mountain on my own to feet, light is very good. If I'm sticking it into a saddle scabbard, small objectives and turrets that don't stick out really far fit better and I'm not as afraid of them getting tweaked or damaged while riding through timber or if the horse decides to take a rub on a tree or something.
Edit to add: I run a straight 6x on my antelope rifle if that tells you anything.
Last edited by Snake River Marksman; 01/12/17.
Stupidity is expensive If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,727
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,727 |
3-9 on my rifle. 9X is plenty from field positions. The vital on an elk is the size of a garbage can lid.
A true sportsman counts his achievements in proportion to the effort involved and fairness of the sport. - S. Pope
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,416
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,416 |
Fixed 6 or lower for heavy cover, Fixed 6 or variable to 9,10,12 etc for mixed cover. Hunted some dense stuff in Oregon with a 3-9 and never took it off of 3. This year, hunted in SW Colo and was grateful for the 15x though I shot my elk with it on 4x.
Support your local Friends of NRA - supporting Youth Shooting Sports for more than 20 years.
Neither guns nor Liberals have a brain.
Whatever you do, Pay it Forward. - Kids are the future of the hunting and shooting world.
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,024
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,024 |
Beware of mounting the astronomy telescopes on your elk rifle. A young man in my group had the misfortune of having his scope cranked up to max zoom. His wasn't even that powerful - 3-10 or something. When an elk trotted close by in a very small clearing he could find only hair or branches in his sights. I was grateful he had restraint enough not to shoot and unknown patch of hair. Young man needs a little more education. Sounds like he got some that day...
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 23,499
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 23,499 |
Beware of mounting the astronomy telescopes on your elk rifle. A young man in my group had the misfortune of having his scope cranked up to max zoom. His wasn't even that powerful - 3-10 or something. When an elk trotted close by in a very small clearing he could find only hair or branches in his sights. I was grateful he had restraint enough not to shoot and unknown patch of hair. Young man needs a little more education. Sounds like he got some that day... Happened to a fella hunting with me this past yr for elk. He was a first time elk hunter and he had if I remember right 4.5x-14x40 scope on his rifle. We started into the timber and I said crank your scope down to 6x. Anyhow several hours later I'm whispering elk get ready to shoot his reply I can't see it he tried and tried so I ended up shooting it! I later asked did you turn your scope down like I said too? He goes no I didn't lol..
Last edited by 79S; 01/12/17.
Then STFU. The rest of your statement is superflous bullshit with no real bearing on this discussion other than to massage your own ego. Suckin' on my titties like you wanted me.
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Joined: Jan 2014
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2014
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For several years I have used a Zeiss Conquest 3-9 on my 7mm RM for elk and deer out to well over 300 yards. I practiced out to 600 yards with it and have reached out over 500 on a big pig but the 3 power gets used way more often than the 9 power.
When I went to the HD 5 on a 300 Bee the choice was a 3-15 with the Z800 reticle. With that combination I practice to 800 yards and feel confident out to 600. The 3 power still gets used way more often than the 15 power even with the reticle calibrated to max power for my load. So far I've taken a cow at 280 and 550 with that combination.
Given your choices and rifle I'd go 3.5-10 based on the lower end magnification. In addition to the 200+ yard shots with my 7, I shot one at 60 yards and one at 11 yards and have been a little too slow in the woods with my 3 power up close to take a shot a couple of times. If 4.5 was my bottom end I'm not sure I'd choose to try hunting the thick woods very often but that is just my opinion.
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Of the two listed I'd go with the 3.5-10. Most of my rifles have a fixed six power or 3-9x40.
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OP
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Campfire Tracker
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Scope Opinion on Elk Rifle.
Answer to the thread title: A friend of mine who hunts elk in three states every year, looked at my Nightforce 12-42X56 and said, "I can see no reason that scope is not mounted on an elk rifle."
I have no idea how far he will shoot at game, but he has made lots of shots between 500 and 600 yards. The last scope I saw on his rifle is a Bushnell 6500 4 1/2-30X50. Before that it was a 6 1/2-20X. WRONG ANSWER
I probably hit more elk with a pickup than you have with a rifle. I have yet to see anyone claim Leupold has never had to fix an optic. I know I have sent a few back. 2 MK 6s, a VX-6, and 3 VX-111s.
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Joined: Aug 2010
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,024 |
Beware of mounting the astronomy telescopes on your elk rifle. A young man in my group had the misfortune of having his scope cranked up to max zoom. His wasn't even that powerful - 3-10 or something. When an elk trotted close by in a very small clearing he could find only hair or branches in his sights. I was grateful he had restraint enough not to shoot and unknown patch of hair. Young man needs a little more education. Sounds like he got some that day... Happened to a fella hunting with me this past yr for elk. He was a first time elk hunter and he had if I remember right 4.5x-14x40 scope on his rifle. We started into the timber and I said crank your scope down to 6x. Anyhow several hours later I'm whispering elk get ready to shoot his reply I can't see it he tried and tried so I ended up shooting it! I later asked did you turn your scope down like I said too? He goes no I didn't lol.. Right, you sure you didn't say, "send it"... You know, being in the military and everything... ![laugh laugh](/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/default/laugh.gif) . You guys were wearing your gilly suits too...... You laid in the same bush for 3 days, without even taking a pizz. A bee landed on your nose and you just stared it down, until it gave up and flew away...
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 23,499
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 23,499 |
Beware of mounting the astronomy telescopes on your elk rifle. A young man in my group had the misfortune of having his scope cranked up to max zoom. His wasn't even that powerful - 3-10 or something. When an elk trotted close by in a very small clearing he could find only hair or branches in his sights. I was grateful he had restraint enough not to shoot and unknown patch of hair. Young man needs a little more education. Sounds like he got some that day... Happened to a fella hunting with me this past yr for elk. He was a first time elk hunter and he had if I remember right 4.5x-14x40 scope on his rifle. We started into the timber and I said crank your scope down to 6x. Anyhow several hours later I'm whispering elk get ready to shoot his reply I can't see it he tried and tried so I ended up shooting it! I later asked did you turn your scope down like I said too? He goes no I didn't lol.. Right, you sure you didn't say, "send it"... You know, being in the military and everything... ![laugh laugh](/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/default/laugh.gif) . You guys were wearing your gilly suits too...... You laid in the same bush for 3 days, without even taking a pizz. A bee landed on your nose and you just stared it down, until it gave up and flew away... Well I didn't want to Bragg 😁
Then STFU. The rest of your statement is superflous bullshit with no real bearing on this discussion other than to massage your own ego. Suckin' on my titties like you wanted me.
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 97
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 97 |
Depends how you're hunting that late season. If you do like many on those hunts you'll be glassing, ranging, and shooting. I'll be there with a 5.5 x 22 and wouldn't consider anything less than 14. Think about how you'll be hunting and go with your gut.
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