Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Low light, deep woods scope for my .358

I am contemplating messing with success and doing the ol' scope shuffle, resulting in my M7 .358 needing a new scope.

The IDEAL scope for it would be extremely good in very low, grey light. It would be of relatively low magnification- certainly no more than the 2.5x8 that is currently on it. A fixed power scope might be OK.

Ideally, it would cost... lets say $600 on down, to eliminate the uber-expensive stuff that I can't justify or afford.

In Oregon in the big woods in the grey drizzle, the light can be rather bad. Any scope I swap to, would HAVE to be better than the VX-III 2.5x8 or there's no point in messing with things; it has done me OK so far but in the worst of light, say 1/2 hour before dawn in a drizzle, it is borderline.

Your thoughts are appreciated. One contender is the Zeiss Conquest 4x; BobinNH is liking what he sees from that one.

Here you go Jeff... :GRIN: Schmidt & Bender 1.5-6x42 Zenith 30mm Riflescope.

http://www.swfa.com/pc-2455-281-schmidt-bender-15-6x42-zenith-30mm-riflescope.aspx

2.5-8 conquest. Tough to beat a Zeiss in low light. IMO noticably better than the leupold.

Meopta Meostar 1.5-5 would be a great choice.

IOR Valdada 2.5-10, but those suckers are heavy.

Kahles makes a 2-7 I think, great glass.

Good luck.

Jeff, check the classified section for the guy selling the Kahles 2-7. That should be just about right for what you are looking to do.

How about a 1.5-6x36 Bushnell Elite 4200. The Rainguard definitely works, and may prove useful up there in Oregon.
http://www.adorama.com/BS421637M.html

With a 20mm objective?

6x42 FX-III.

6x36 VXII

I missed that one in the catalog...

FXII... wise guy.

BSA 4x Brighter Green Laser Kit with LED Light and Rifle Scope Mount Matte

Midway price
$149.99

Jeff I'm going w/the 1.8-5.5x38 Zeiss Conquest and not looking back.I shoot all of my animals on 6x exclusively and 5.5 will certainly not be a hindrance.It's clear, has great light gathering ability and a 4in. eye relief.It's got a somewhat longer tube for better mounting and a better scope to me than the 2.5-8x36 Loopie.WISH I COULD FIND A USED ONE! POWDR

No worries, those white rump patches should be visible as your target indicators with any scope. Just kidding...

With the rain that you have to deal with, I'd have to think that a 4200 series B&L would be very hard to beat. The Rainguard works well and I don't think you're losing any ground optically in the range you mentioned. There doesn't seem to be a good solution to keeping the "wet" off the lens (I've read your posts before about blizzard caps and the like) other than having a "Rainguard" type treating. And the 4200's are good glass.

FWIW...

Something at 6x for low light, assuming you aren't stillhunting, tracking, stalking or whatever you call sneaking around like a cat killing stuff. If you are perched somewhere I would not be using a 4x in low light. Magnification is an asset.

Anything in the VX class and higher from ANY maker/labeler is going to give you the low light performance you want including the "last 5 minutes" and darker...provided you have enough objective to use the power. Like say 36 and FWIW I think the 32 is close considering today's technology. Maybe still a bit on the theorectical side but close...

Which used to be the last "15 minutes"...:) Marketing is an amazing thing ain't it?

The reticle thou choosest is most important. You need enough black to see it after the skinny ones fade...it makes a ton of difference. You simply will see your target better with enough black in low and lower, light conditions.

Buy a scope with your favorite creature features in that quality range with a reticle for the task and you are good to go.

The Leupold 2.5x8 has been serving me well; so anything I do has to out-perform that scope. Which, on a practical, real-world level, might not be possible under my $600 limit.

Another thing I forgot to mention is that I don't want a HUGE objective because of the compromised position that puts my head in. My M7 LSS stock has no cheekpiece and the comb is fairly low. I just switched it over to Talley LW's, which are a little higher than my Leupold Low rings were. I THINK I could fit a 40mm objective, MAYBE, but no way does a 42mm fit and I'm not going to mount my scope any higher, than where the Talleys put it.

Of the scopes mentioned on this thread, the 6x36 Leupold and 1.8-5.5x38 Zeiss Conquest intrigue me the most. I guess I should be looking at the 4200 Bushnells but... gag gag... BUSHNELL?! Why couldn't they at least call them something else? My kids pellet gun has a Bushnell on it for Pete's sake <g>!

I can find things NOT to like about either of the above, too. A 6x seems like a lot of scope for close-in work; I'd really have to get my eyeballs on one of those first.

The Zeiss has two problems. First, it will have to have Butler Creek caps on it, at BEST, and those have leaked on me in the past- and because the ocular is so large on the Conquests, it's possible that my bolt wouldn't clear with a BC cap on there, anyway. It doesn't with the 3.5x10 Conquest on my .338, but obviously this is a different scope on a different action so... but it's gonna be close. If it doesn't work I'm left with bikini-type covers or NO covers... ugh. Second, I would like to at least have the option of running an elevation turret and that is MUCH simpler with a Leupold scope. I currently have a turret on my .358 and have it dialed in out to 400 yards.

Based on your requirements you want a low light, deep woods scope, mounted low, turrents, and set up to go 400 yards w/a .358?

Make things simple.....send your 2.5-8 back in to Leupold to get their heaviest reticle installed. That will take care of your low-light and you have the same setup that you're currently happy (or not happy) with.......

JCM

If the Leupold 4x33 or 6x36 with a big fat reticle doesn't work then a spotlight may be in order.

Sometimes it is just not the right time to be shooting and any time close to 1/2hour before dawn even without a drizzle will usually always be questionable or difficult. Snow on the ground combined with a nice full moon and crystal clear air can change things but that was not the question.

This trying to shoot with limited available light gives me pause for a variety of reasons.

Funny, the x42 objective works in Talley LW Lows for everyone else.

And, is plenty fast enough for the folks who use them.

Might want to try that............

I sure do like the trijicon accupoint...that red triangle (or amber, or green) shows up real good....think they are now in the 500.00 range...