I bought a vx3 3.5x10 this Christmas and I'm seccond guessing my self about the magnification of the scope. I mainly hunt moose and sometimes we stumble on them at 15 yards but also have 500 yard shots. Since moose are big all I would see on the moose is hair, if I stumble on one Would a 2.5x8 be good or I would need to go as low as 1.75x6 to be able to outline the moose and get a good shot.

A close up shot at 3.5X wouldn't be a problem for me. The field of view is pretty good.

I do like 1.5X or 1.75X for fast off hand shooting, but the 3.5-10x40 is my pick of the VX-3 litter. And, I would go with a CDS.

DF

3.5-10 is the best of the VX-3 line, I'd keep it

+1 for me.

+1

xbolt-

I'd not give your current scope a second thought. Go hunting!

This, don't over think it, just go kill a Moose

the question is what do you want the scope to do. the 3.5-10 isn't my first choice for picking up a target fast at short range. most leupolds aren't true to their labled magnification. I suspect its probably closer to 4x on the bottom. compared to a similar scope like the bushnell 3x9 I feel much better getting on targets faster with the bushnell. but the bushnell has a crappy long range reticle and no CDS type model.

It's 3.3 to 9.5 according to the Leopold web site. I'm wounding if the 1.75x6 would have the ability to shoot to 400-500 yards

I wouldn't worry about it as the 3.5x will be fine at close range.

Although mine being at 3x with the VX6; this year while hunting elk, I harvested one from ~10 yards with just a 2 second window. It didn't hinder me at all.

You shouldn't have any problem with your scope if you keep it turned down until you want more magnification. I actually like my 2-7's which are cheaper than my 2.5-8. For future reference, you probably have more magnification than you need on the top end, but I wouldn't go looking for a new scope because of it.

I am not a moose hunter but how in the world can one stumble upon one at 15 yds?

To my way of thinking if 3.5x is too much magnification you should probably be hunting with a bow.

+1 to my favorite scope right now. I have 2 or 3 of them

Kenjs, when you cant see past the end of your arm in the thick stuff 15 yards is a mile....
Lots of stuff killed with a 4x big and small. And 3x has the cult thing going.... Go kill something...
W

In most of the bush i walk in while hunting your lucky to see past 20 yards specialy if the leaves are still on the trees

I'd want less X.

Leupy straight 4x and be done with it.

Why a scope at all? miles

Shot this guy at about 10 yards with a 3.5 x 10. I was literally on the other side of the bushes to the right/rear of him and he jumped up. He was bedded in that little opening within that U-shape of bushes. He spun around to run and I shot him in the neck. Kind of like a 1500 lb. grouse flushing. He seems to be dead! I wouldn't worry a bit about 3.5 on the low end.

Nice moose.

They work well at both ends of the magnification range. That's why I own two of them. The first one was so nice that I bought the second one to avoid having to switch the first one from one rifle to the other.

I put a VX-3 3.5-10x40 CDS on my "primitive" weapon, a BPCR in .45-70. It works great with short or long shots. It will accompany me next weekend for hogs and WT's.

BP purist get heartburn seeing such a concoction. I didn't make the rules, just play by them, trying to have the most functional equipment within prescribed guidelines. The CDS is set up in yards for the load being using.

This is a solid 300 yd. gun, 250 TSX at 2,550 fps, using a Barnes 1895 Marlin load. This 1885 JMB design is stronger than the Marlin 1895 and would probably tolerate an even hotter load, closer to the Ruger #1. But, this load kills'em dead enough...

DF

I use a 4.5x14 in the woods , just practice getting on target with both eyes open.
Sorry for hi-jacking your thread here , Dirtfarmer can you tell me about a 45-70 BP rifle ?
Are you using BP in a centerfire cartridge ?

Naw, that black stuff is way too nasty for me...

The Barnes load is 250 gr. TSX over 53 gr. Vv N120 at 2,550 fps. I've not clocked the load in this gun. May be slightly more than that in the 30" barrel. This gun, built by Miroku for Browning, has a Badger barrel made in the U.S. and has very nice American Walnut. I bought it used from a BP shooter who had worked up a spread sheet with all kinda loads, including duplex. He didn't include the venier sights, I didn't want them, anyway. The trigger had been tuned and is super.

With the CDS turned to 300 yds. it'll put three on a pie plate at that distance, probably around 4" or so if I do my part.

That bullet looks like an ashtray turned backwards, will blow thru a WT deer like a hot knife thru butter. Last one I killed had a destroyed heart and a huge exit wound. Ran around 20 yards, spewing blood like a fire hose. Stevie Wonder could have followed that blood trail...

DF

Thanks. I suppose I can see how one might not readily see even a big moose standing still in brush. Hate to think of spooking one.

So how often do y'all take something out past 100 yds? Like someone above said- why scope at all and do you zero at 50 yds or ? ? Just so you know I am asking as friendly as I can type- not being snooty just trying to understand how things are done up there. Seems like I would be using some un-scoped lever action most likely. That kind of hunting is exactly why I bought mine.

Thanks Hammerdown for the moose compliment!

DF, love that Browning. That is one sweet rifle.

Kenjs, the moose pictured in this thread was spotted at long distance but "re-found" at very close range because it had bedded down.

In the morning and evening I like to watch big open areas such as clear cuts or swamps usually 2-500m and after lunch i usually walk arround in the bush

I have a 2.5x8 on my Ruger 260 and a 3.5x10 on my Ruger 280. I prefer the 3.5x10, though I hunt the wide open prairie. I'd offer to trade you for my 2.5x8, but it's a VXIII and it's silver. And a bit crusty around the edges....

Kaiser Norton

I'd keep it, otherwise if I had good eyes no matter what age I'd mount the best low power scope I could afford.

The longer 3.5-10x40, mounts easier on LA rifles, the 2.5-8 can require offset rings/bases if one likes the scope in a more rearward position like I do. The 2.5-8 is easier to mount on SA guns.

For general use, the 3.5-10 is my pick. I don't find 3.5X a problem with off hand shooting and the 10X is real nice for a LR shot.

They are nice scope, I have both.

DF

IMO it's one of the best scopes to own. They're long enough for long or short action rifles, good optically, light for their size, have good eye relief, and can be used a lot of ways.

I've had several and still have one that's killed a deer on 3.5x at 25 paces running out of a gully and another one at a few steps over 400 when I had time to crank it up to 10x and get a rest. I don't deer hunt any more but the same scope's on a 223 Tika and works well on ground squirrels.

If you go to a lower power scope for moose I'd still keep the 3.5-10x40. Sooner or later it'll be right for something else and they cost more each year. YMMV.

I've missed a few shots with it too but it wasn't the scopes fault.

Ditto

While I like the 1.75-6, it has shorter mounting latitude cranked to 6x than the 2.5-8.

I hunt with a VX3 3.5-10 on my 25-06 and a VX3 2.5-8 on my 30-06, both with B&C.

To my eyes the 3.5-10 has a better field of view on the low end and have been thinking of selling the 2.5-8 to get a 2nd 3.5-10.

Moving up the ladder, I don't like Leupy 4.5-14 scopes. I don't own one, but a good bud does. They just don't do much for me. In that category, I'd go with the VX-6 3-18. I have a VX-6 1-6 #4 Ill. and a plain Duplex 2-12.

The VX-6 is a bigger scope (30 mm), but pretty sleek for its size. To me, Leupold knocked it out of the park with their VX-6 series. More expensive, but a heck of a lot more scope, giving the Alpha Euros a run for the roses...

DF

This is a real picture through a 4.5-14 VX-3 at 40yds.

You won't have a bit of problem with the 3.5-10 at 15yds if you fire a few practice rounds that close.



Guys should put in a little more practice at very close distances with their hunting rifles.