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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,311
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,311 |
Guys--I haven't hunted at west in the last 5 or 6 years due to some college tuition bills for my daughter. I'm ready to get back into elk and mule deer hunting out west. I have two rifles, a NIB Sako Tecomate in 300 WSM and my old elk slayer a Weatherby Mark V SS fluted barrel 300 Bee with a brake. I'm torn between the Nightforce SHV in 4x14x56 or the Leupold VX-6 3x18x44.
While I have killed elk at 512 and 401 yards with the Bee with a Vari X iii 3.5x10x40 I really don't want to shoot over 500 yards and hopefully under 250 yards. The last elk I killed in 2008 was 176 yards. I've looked at both scopes and like them both, cost is close and I'm not sure I need the Nightforce for the type of hunting I will be doing. Also, I'm a Leupold guy, I think the Leupold on the Bee has taken a chit after 4-500 rounds as the groups are opening up. I plan on buying new scopes for both rifles and want them to be the same. I'm also in the air on illuminated reticules. Other scope recommendations are welcome. Thanks in advance.
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 28,235
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 28,235 |
I have that 3-18 VX6 on a HCR 7RMag. It takes a back seat to nothing I've seen, including a couple of different NF scopes, IMO. Best eyebox in the business, I like simple duplex reticles, the CDS has been perfect with about 200 rounds through it so far (not a big twister personally, just casually).
Mine does have the Ill firedot duplex.
It is irrelevant what you think. What matters is the TRUTH.
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,071
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,071 |
With that application, I'd go VX-6.
Target shooters seem to prefer Nightforce with its toughness and great tracking.
I think the VX-6 glass is better and the VX-6 is lighter and more streamlined. Hunters generally don't twist as much as target shooters, and my experience with VX-6 tracking has been great.
I also like the VX-6 duplex, thinking its the best out there for hunting. The VX-6 eyebox is the best I've used, and yes, I've used Nightforce.
IMO, others will have their opinions. That's mine.
DF
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2004
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,071
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,071 |
Guys--I haven't hunted at west in the last 5 or 6 years due to some college tuition bills for my daughter. I'm ready to get back into elk and mule deer hunting out west. I have two rifles, a NIB Sako Tecomate in 300 WSM and my old elk slayer a Weatherby Mark V SS fluted barrel 300 Bee with a brake. I'm torn between the Nightforce SHV in 4x14x56 or the Leupold VX-6 3x18x44.
While I have killed elk at 512 and 401 yards with the Bee with a Vari X iii 3.5x10x40 I really don't want to shoot over 500 yards and hopefully under 250 yards. The last elk I killed in 2008 was 176 yards. I've looked at both scopes and like them both, cost is close and I'm not sure I need the Nightforce for the type of hunting I will be doing. Also, I'm a Leupold guy, I think the Leupold on the Bee has taken a chit after 4-500 rounds as the groups are opening up. I plan on buying new scopes for both rifles and want them to be the same. I'm also in the air on illuminated reticules. Other scope recommendations are welcome. Thanks in advance. If you can find a store carrying both scopes, hold them side by side, I think you'll know the one to pick. Not sure where you would need to go to find both in stock. DF
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Joined: Nov 2010
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,071 |
I just had a brain fart...  If you gave Doug your credit care number, I'd be suprised if he wouldn't send both scopes and give you some time to decide which one you wanted to keep. Seems like I remember hearing something about him doing that. It may be hard to find a store carrying both. Give Cameraland a call or send a PM. DF
Last edited by Dirtfarmer; 03/21/15.
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,601
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,601 |
I have that 3-18 VX6 on a HCR 7RMag. It takes a back seat to nothing I've seen, including a couple of different NF scopes, IMO. Best eyebox in the business, I like simple duplex reticles, the CDS has been perfect with about 200 rounds through it so far (not a big twister personally, just casually).
Mine does have the Ill firedot duplex. I have the same scope and agree completely. Clearer than a NF in my opinion and a better hunting scope also IMO.
Nut
Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.
Thomas Jefferson
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Joined: Nov 2010
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,071 |
 When you find yourself rubbing the cat against the grain, turn the cat around...  DF
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2000
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FYI some states do not allow illuminated reticles for hunting. B&C doesn't allow the electronic reticles, but does fiber optic IIRC either. May not matter to you.
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Joined: Jan 2007
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2007
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....... I really don't want to shoot over 500 yards and hopefully under 250 yards. The last elk I killed in 2008 was 176 yards. I've looked at both scopes and like them both, cost is close and I'm not sure I need the Nightforce for the type of hunting I will be doing..... FX3 6x42 LR reticle. Easy-peasy with a 300 Weatherby to 500; 600 if you need it. I can hear the wailing of the lamentations...."but it's a fixed power !"  No problem.....really. 
The 280 Remington is overbore.
The 7 Rem Mag is over bore.
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Joined: Dec 2007
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 25,090 |
I'm in the 6x42 camp as well. Great hunting scope.
Elk are big critters and 6x is plenty for my half blind azz. Some, with eyeballs better than mine, utilize it to great effect on targets far, far smaller than elk at ranges far beyond 500 yards.
“Life is life and fun is fun, but it's all so quiet when the goldfish die.”
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Even the 6x36 w/dots will work a long ways. Not far behind the 6x42 and some even like it better. powdr
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Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
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What JG Raider said ...exactly.
I'll be selling a kidney to get a couple more ...
Roger
NRA Life
CRPA Life
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,311
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
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Thanks guys, I really appreciate the information. I think I'm going to go with a Leupold VX-6 3x18x44 on the Sako. When I have more money I will have to make a decision on the Weatherby.
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,863 |
NF NXS 2-10 would be tempting but there are no flies on the VX-6! Top shelf either way.
Good Shooting!
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 42,601
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 42,601 |
Personally, I'd go with the Leupold VX-6. I just don't see the NF, given it's weight, knobs, etc as a viable hunting scope for most folks.
A good principle to guide me through life: “This is all I have come to expect, standard lackluster performance. Trust nothing, believe no one and realize it will only get worse…”
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Joined: Mar 2010
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,716 |
Personally, I'd go with the Leupold VX-6. I just don't see the NF, given it's weight, knobs, etc as a viable hunting scope for most folks. The 44mm VX6 weighs 19 ounces, which is the exact same weight as the 42mm NF NXS. If you like Leupold go with it. Rick C. was on here touting them and then his broke. I had a Mark 4 fail, and that was the last Leupold I bought except for a fixed 4x for a 22LR. All have been sold off except for the fixed 4x and all have been replaced with NF. I've never had a single problem with a NF and one has many thousands of rounds under it from 7WSM, 308's, 300WM and 338LM's, including hunting. The 2.5-10x42 NXS Compact is a very nice size, and very durable. All of the praise for Leupold's customer service is misplaced in my opinion. The best customer service is to design a product right, build it right, and quality check it before it goes out the door, so that it does not come back. That is excellent customer service. When the deer of a lifetime is in front of me, I want the scope to work, not a customer service call.
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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They all have repair departments for a reason, including NF. The VX6 is a fantastic hunting scope. I've probably got 600 rounds shot using 2 different VX6's with zero issues. I've had them side by side with NF scopes that our hunters have brought into camp, and I just don't see the appeal on a hunting rig. To each his own though.
I'll admit though, if I were bound and determined to twist knobs repeatedly, quite often, hundreds upon hundreds of times per year, I'd likely go the NF route. On a big game hunting scope, personally, NF ain't even a consideration.
It is irrelevant what you think. What matters is the TRUTH.
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