Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Yay or nay VX3 2.5-8x36 on my baby...

Hi guys: Fellow Winchester gurus..... I've been tossing around the idea of putting a Leupold VX3 2.5-8x36 on this old rifle for quite a while now. This is how it looked with the hubble on it:



It's really proven itself on the range with this set-up:


However, I think it would be more handy with a slimmer and lighter piece of glass on it. I've got the Leupold DD's ready. What do you guys think???




By the way, the Talley lightweights went to a good home. Thanks Desertmuledeer.....

That scope is never a bad choice, except maybe for hunting in really thick timber. It could be made to make do even there.

There ain't a handier scope made. I'd prefer it or the 1.75-6 on any rifle I hunt with in Oregon.

Tough to find a more balanced scope than that, light, lean, bright and dead reliable in my years of experience of using them. A no brainer in my mind. This pre-64 270 of mine came with the 3.5-10X as purchased and it just looks a bit big to my eyes but will remain for other reasons.

The 2.5-8 Leupold is a great scope, however, in mounting it on a pre '64 Model 70, its tube length means many mounts such as Leupold DD's or any standard Weaver mount will not let you get the scope mounted so that the eye relief is perfect, in my experience.

You can make it work with Leupold DD's or Weaver style bases but you end up having very little "wiggle room" to account for awkward shooting positions or heavy clothing. Talleys let you reverse the front ring and let you take advantage of the scope's generous eye box at all powers.

I have un corrected vision and a pretty average build, but I am sure people with different eyes and body sizes may feel differently.

It's pretty tough to ever go wrong puttin the 2.5-8 on, especially a Fwt. I have a couple on mine, but, I have to agree with Fireball, the 1.75 is a dandy as well. A 2-7 Kahles looks mighty fetchin aboard one too though, and it's a damned nice piece of glass as well. Regardless of your choice, you aren't going to be doing wrong with any of them.

If only obviously. No need in putting on or carrying around any more than you need. Extra xxxx's always take away from slim and handy. You need 8x for hunting? Straight 3x-Leupold said it is closer to 3.4-, 4x, 1.5-5s are really nice on a FWT or a 6x36 if you don't. Used to think the 2.5-8 was special. Found out for here in Pa I don't need it most of the time. Leupold QR's solve the problem for when I think I may.

Hardly even know they are there. What do you need?

My experience mirrors TCP.

I just referenced my .300Magnum in another post. It came to me wearing an M7 4x. It was all out of whack. A tiny little scope on a big heavy rifle. I found a Century Edition gloss 3x9 40MM and think it looks and functions fantastically. It looks like it fits, because it does fit. It was easy to mount and looks great.

I love love love the 2.5x8 Leupold but not on m70's. Hard to make it work as it is intended. These rifles are big and heavy and look and function well with bigger scopes. just my .02 worth.

My .375 wears a 1-4x20mm as well but those scopes have little place out here in the West.

There was a time that I thought a 2.5-8X was a BIG scope;that was years back when I used 3X and 4X only on BG rifles and hated every variable ever made.

Today I only hate MOST every variable ever made ,and have had a few 2.5-8X's..... but hate the 2.5-8X somewhat less;so I put one of the "new" VX3's on my 270 4-5 years.I have not touched the scope for adjustment since then. I twist it to 6X on the range and 4X while hunting.

It's been pretty good so far.

Big? It looks like a perfect fit to me.

3.5-10x40

Long action --> long scope.

My soon coming M70 7x57 is going to sport the Leupold 2.5-8X with their DD rings/mounts. I think that combination will look superb as it should also on a pre-64. Low mount rings should work well.

Which comes first; what works, carries and balances best or looks superb?

That scope gets my vote, then again with my old eyes my favorite Leupold scope to hunt with is their 4.5X 14 X 40 AO with varmint reticule.But I shoot a lot more crows and varmints than whitetails and we can harvest 12 whitetails a year! very best winpoor

Not only how many, but how also enters into the picture. With the increasing amount of stand hunting how a rifle carries is becoming less important to many.

Model 70's are not all that lacking in body fat to begin with. Standards especially.

I do have a couple of model 70's, and a few scopes have been tried thereon you know.

Have long been a fan of Leupold M8 fixed power scopes....3X, 4X and 6X. They look good on both new and old rifles and can often be had for a song at the markets that I frequent.

Yes I know. Also know you understand the concept of matching target to scope power and reticle and that BG game has a beeeg sweet spot. Unfortunately most these days don't.

Battue, For sure every year added age wise seems to bring less and less walk and spot, I used to call it indian hunting and it was by far my favorite way to hunt, I also used to love the creek and river bottoms,now I hate the chore of getting the deer out of the deepwoods. Back in the 70's I loved the super cold and windy days as I would walk and jump shoot em, if the wind was just right you could get to within 15-20 yards before he would jump and run, killed my biggest and oldest buck that way, first thing I would do is turn that 3x9 down to 4x. Boy time and age changes a lot of things.. very best WinPoor