Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters new scope: Leupold 6x42 heavy duplex

New scope arrived yesterday, but I can't decide which rifle to try it on, Ruger 77 tang safety 35 Whelen (currently with 2.5x weaver)or Winchester 70 classic compact 308 (currently w/ Nikon Monarch 2-7). I plan to use it for deer in woods and small fields, most shots are 50 to 150 yards. Thoughts?

Whelan. Woods rifle, woods reticle.

My .35 Colonel has a VX3 1.5-5x20 on it. Heavy duplex. Huge FOV and great eye relief. That is how I like my larger caliber rifles.

In this case, it is a tough call and one could make cases both for and against which rifle to mount it on.......

Looks like you need a new rifle

Those you have seem well scoped - but the 6x42 with Hvy Duplex is one of my favorite scopes as well. Mine is on my Borden 30-06

My main objective is to improve view in low light dusk situations.

I bought a new Model 70 Classic Compact in .308 last year. I mounted another brand of 6X42 scope with a No. 4 reticle. Last fall, I took it into the Pennsylvania forest where shots are from 50 to 150 yards (One shot ended up about 25 yards. The deer walked right up to the blind). It was an excellent combination. The 6x42 excels at counting antler points at those ranges. I may take a different rifle the next few years but they will all wear a 6X42.

I have used the Leupold 6x42 before. It does give you a bright picture in low light. This includes deer in the shade in the deep woods as well as dusk and dawn. I can't comment on running shots.

Cheers,

GrimJim

I have a couple of 6x42s with heavy duplex reticles installed in QR mounts so that I can swap them onto the rifles for use at first/last light.

Jeff

I have a 6x42 with Heavy Duplex on my New Ultra Light Arms .30-06, and find it works great in dim light at woods ranges, but also works great out to 400+ yards. It ain't just a woods reticle.

I often find 6x too much and would be better served with a 4X more often than not.......

I have a couple FX-3 6x42s and I'm thinking about swapping to the wide reticle. The standard duplex is a bit tight for my tastes.


P

Put the new scope on the Whelen. Save the Weaver for a lever-action. Leave the Winchester alone, except to hunt with it a lot.

I hear you, 2much. Only problem is mighty whitey looks dang small through a 4x at 200+ yards. That's why I use variables, 2-7x33 for smaller guns, 3-9x40 for larger. The only reason a couple of my scopes aren't Leupolds is because I am not made of money.

That one.

In my limited experience, the heavy duplexes work well on rifles with larger bores. I used a 1.75-6X on my .375 H&H for both elk and African plains game. It remained on 6X virtually all the time. Shots ranged from about 40 yards out to 320+ meters.

Got one on my 9.3x66/370 Sako Magnum, its a 35Whelen on 'roids.

I really appreciate the Heavy duplex on my 6X42's. It snaps my eye to the center of the reticle quickly and, due to the 9 inch opening on it and the medium duplex, I can very quickly range a buck or bull elk. Was really tempted to open fire on two really big bull elk season before last, but didn't thanks to the Heavy Duplex in my 6X42. I was made aware of the fact that they were a good 600 yds. out. E

How far do you measure in yards before you switch to meters?

The scopes that I swap out are VX-II 2-7x33s with HD reticles. I do the swap for the brighter 6x42 at dawn/dusk, but don't like it as a full-time scope 'cause it physically overwhelms the two rifles that I have set up with Leupold QR mounts, a Remington 7 MS and a Winchester/USRA 70 WSSM.

Jeff

I range/estimate in yards, but my PH did so in meters. I could do the math, but if you can't, let me know and I will PM you the conversion factor.

Mine is on my Forbes .270 and seems pretty close to perfect for me and what I use it for.