Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Help scope my new hunting 308

Ruger Hawkeye SS action and bottom metal
21" Lilja 1-10 in 308 Win throated for 155 Scenars at 2.8 touching leade of rifling
NECG express sights
McMillan stock in GAP camo
All metal work finished in cerakote

I'm thinking a nightforce 2-10 with velocity 600 reticule, or Leupold what?

I'd put a 6x42 on it with an M1 turret and call it a day.

Leupold VX-3 2.5-8.

Unless you have a fat face, buy a KHM3 ring, use the current KHM4 in the rear and the new ring in the front. This will help you get a good cheek weld instead of a chin weld. The Ruger store has a chart.

The 6X sounds good to me. Mine wears a 4X Zeiss from about 1990, but I don't see as well as I did 25 years ago. Next choice would be a 2.5-8. Because of a goofy aberration in my vision, horizontal planes are fuzzy on top while vertical lines remain sharp. I'm liking German #1 and post and cross hair reticles more and more. Trijicons are also appealing to me.

Enjoy your new rifle.

Jack

I dislike big scopes on lightweight rifles since it tends to screw up the handling, at least to me. I also like low powered variables for the diverse hunting I do. For those reasons a 2.5-8 Leupold would be ideal IMHO.

No love for the 2-10x night force here?

Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 #4 Rect.

Regarding NF, now's the time to try one. Euro Optic has a bunch of demos now for sub $1400. If the model you want is not on the website give them a shout. There's a good chance they have a demo in the model but its not listed on the website.

http://www.eurooptic.com/nxs-25-10x42mm-zerostop-250-moa-lv-digillum-ptl-c484-like-new-demo.aspx

I'd have a hard time thinking Steelhead's choice or a SWFA 6x mildquad could steer you wrong. Neither of these will have the Power Throw Lever of the NF though.

Weaver Classic K4. Simple, rugged and great glass.

Another vote for a 6X Leupold with LR dots or turret.

That's it!

It's the best killing optic in that size/power range made. The 2.5-10x NF or the 3-9x42mm SWFA SS, as well the fixed 6x SWFA SS and the Leupold 6x if a couple of onces really matter, are the only scopes worth looking at.....


I don't recommend the Velocity 600 reticles in the NF though. Much better off with a mildot and .1mil adjustments.

What exactly is a "killing optic"?

Didn't they make the conquest 3-9 with the Z600? That would look good on that rifle, and you asked about the NF V600 reticle.

Can't think of a reason the 2.5-8x36mm leupy or the 6x36mm or 42mm won't do the job.

The nightforce is nice, but seems like overkill and extra money spent which isn't needed.

Means it does everything that a scope is meant to do. It doesn't have the glass of a Diavari (the 32mm version that is. The 2.5-10x40mm model is
fantastic) and isn't the lightest, but it's zero retention, tracking, repeatability and durability is unmatche as a whole. The eyebox on the 32mm isn't the "biggest" but it is good enougb, the glass is very good and it's size is better for zero retention. The zero stop isn't absolutely necessary, however is an advantage.

If I could only have one optic to use for killing things it would be a 2.5-10x NF.




I've heard more than once when asked how we like the little Nightforce- "it's awesome for killing".

Depends on how important zero retention, tracking, reliability and durability are to you....

The 2.5-8x36mm Leupold is a decent scope but if really used the majority will develop problems... And quick.

Oh please.........for the tactical crowd, maybe, but the average hunter will never wear out a 4200, Conquest, or a VX3. Probably 80-90 of our hunters have shown up in camp with Leupy's of some variation and hunted all over the world with no issues.

I have been using Leupold 2.5-8s for a few years and never had problems. Then again I don't suffer from LDS.

This one is from 25 years ago and the scope is still going strong.








Some more recent "killing" with the 2.5-8.



Scott killed this nice buck at 486yds and believe it or not the optic dialed perfectly and didn't even explode. Who would have thunk it?



Now, I realize we are all victims of our experience but based on my, admittedly limited, experience if you are having trouble killing with a Leupold 2.5-8 your issues won't be fixed with a change in optic.