Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Lightweight, simple, affordable 3-9ish options?

Looking for suggestions for a lightweight (12 oz or less), basic hunting scope around 3-9x. Capped turrets, fairly simple reticle, etc.

I have a 2.5-8x36 VX3 that I may use but wondering if there's something else I should consider. Would actually like something 2-10 if there's a lightweight option out there.

The Trijicon Accupoint 3-9x40 would work. The eye relief is a bit short on 9x but I've had no problems using one on a .30-06. And of course the Burris FF II 3-9x40 is a great value.

not exactly sure on the weight , but it kind of screams simple verse fulfilled II ballistic plex..

For the 3-9 portion of the question you just described a Leupold VX 2 or VX Freedom with duplex crosshairs for a reticle.

drover

Have a few 2.5-8x vari-x III, one on a .376 steyr that’s been beat around, flown 5 times through airport gorilla baggage handlers, rode on ATV’s etc and never lost zero or failed. For its intended use, I haven’t felt the need to trade it out for anything else. Definitely not a Burris FFII. Trijicon 3-9x is a good option depending on use, I have one on a .223AI that gets back door garden pest control duty.

You just described the Burris FF II 3-9x40
Read the things Mr. Barsness has to say about them in the latest Rifle Looney News. They are wonderful scopes.

Another vote for the Trijicon 3-9 x 40 Accupoint. Second focal plane. Weight 13.2 oz, some of the options have an illuminated center dot with a duplex type reticle. Dot does not need a battery. Adjustable brightness Fiber optic in daylight and a trijicon illumination in low light. My two scopes have the green dot which helps acquire an animal quickly. My 7 1/4 lb 338 RCM has one and is perfect for the type of elk hunting I do. It might be exactly what you are looking for. Europtic has them for $606 right now.

+1

The only failures I’ve had with the Leupold 2.5-8x has been with every VX3 and above, roughly 7 scopes total failed between those models for me... The vari-x III’s I own have been bulletproof.

Trijicon Accupoint’s replaced the faulty VX3’s on up for me.

This is intriguing. I haven't used maven products before but have heard good things.

Swarovski Z3 3-9x36

eBay = Swarovski Habicht A or AV 3-9x36

Consider this yet again another Vote for the Triji

Light
Tough
Simple
Fast

I have one that over 10 years old and you can still see the dot after shooting time is legally over.....I just don't understand why Trijicon is the only company I know of that uses radioactive material to light their optics....all those companies that use batteries are decades behind in the technology aspect....I tried many years ago one of those battery junk scopes was glad to get rid of it and recoup my money....

Unless your particular scope is somehow "busted", you've already got the best o' the breed. Most all of us look for upgrades but IMHO there isn't one, you're already there. (Find something else to fix. :))

Tom

I realize you're probably right, just figured it was worth exploring.

I'm looking to replace a 3-9x33 vari-x compact that I actually really like other than the fact that the power adjustment ring is very stiff. Nothing worse than fumbling with magnification when trying to get a shot off.

Don't know what the OP considers "affordable," but the Z3 3-9x36 goes for around $800. In my experience most Americans who ask about affordable scopes consider around $500 maximum, and less is better.

I would not recommend a used Habicht A or AV, as had some bad mechanical luck with them, plus the turrets aren't sealed against moisture.

In my experience the Burris FFII and Vortex are good to go. The only way they don't quite meet snowboardguy's criteria is they weigh around 13 ounces.

One more vote. Was just up in the woods, that green dot is awesome.

I love Fullfields for the bargain they are but you already have something that fits the bill.

I wouldn't remove my Vx-3 and replace with one of my Fullfields.

If you just want to try something else for newness' sake go for it. Heck we have all done it. Justifying just clouds things. I would just be surprised if you would think it worth it in the end.

What vortex?

Was about to ask the same question. Been leery of the cheaper vortex’s