Hey, y'all, in 30 days I'll be ordering a scope for a T3X 270 Win.

I am curious, what scope, brand and power, are y'all using on yours?

I was initially planning on a Nikon Monarch 5 2.5-10x42 with BDC, but I am willing to consider other options as well. Budget is up to, say, ~$500.

Primary use will be in Montana after I retire in 4 yrs, although I am not sure exactly where in Montana, as I am as yet ignorant about where to hunt and rules and such in Montana, nor where exactly in Montana I will land.

Thanks for any help you gents can provide.

Zeiss conquest rapid z 600 reticle.

Way outside the budget given...

My 270's have had 6x36, 2-7x33, and 3-9x40 Leupold's on them. Push to shove, I like the 6x36 with dots. My Kimber MT 270 currently has a 3-9x40 with a CDS.

People that come here to Montana tend to think they need Big-Ole-Hubble-Scopes on their rigs. Really, it's just not so.

I've got 2.5-8 on one and a 2-7 on the other. A 3.5-10 wouldn't be a bad way to go either.

Have our Tract Tekoa 2.5-10x42 that you may like. Retail at $494, but going to be launching a promotion in a few days that will take that price and chop it down some. If you're new to Tract, we're a direct to consumer company, so we cut the extra margin in products out so you're getting higher quality for less.

One heck of a rifle scope for under $500. here's a an article one of our founders wrote up that talks a little more on it:

https://www.tractoptics.com/blog/the-best-riflescope-under-500

Take a look at the Meopta that is on sale right now (might check on when the sale is over) at Camera Land.

http://cameralandny.com/spec-sheet.html?catalog[name]=Meopta-MeoPro-3.5-10x44---Reticle-ZPlex-INCLUDES-a-Meopta-NEOPRENE-Scopecoat-meopta&catalog[product_guids][0]=1256516

Tough to beat that scope at the sale price.

On a .270 I use a fixed 6x Zeiss. I have used a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 as well.

Might want to fix that price. If it is right I will take a few of them.

Put me down for 10 of the Tekoa's @ $94 per!

I’ve never been a Hubble kinda guy. I want to mount a scope to a rifle, not mount a rifle to a scope.

I want to keep the objective to no more than 42.

A lot of people seem to have disproportionate opinions on what is needed for hunting ‘out West’: super duper magnums with Hubbles mounted for 2-mile shots.

I’ve paid close attention to your posts in the past, Brad, and noted that you tend to use 270/7mm-08/308 and have gotten pretty close to the elk, 40-100 yds. I’ve also noted your use of ballistic tips and hot cors. I pay pretty close attention to what Dober and Poobah say, too, along with a select group of others. But I read what everyone has to say and digest it accordingly.

I have a plethora of rifles, and recently bought a Ruger American compact in 7mm-08. I’m focusing now on lightweight, weather-resistant rifles in anticipation of retiring/moving. I would get a Kimber but I shoot lefty, so that’s out.

Keep the info coming, guys! :-) 

I have a Leupold Ultralight 3-9 on my M70. Not a bad scope and light weight and adequate for local shooting hours which are 1/2 before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset. IMHO 3-9 matches up to a 270 fairly well although a 3.5-10 or 2-7 would work fine. I'm sure someone will come along and say you are crazy if you don't go fixed 6.

For $94, I'll give one of those a try.

I agree, I was thinking a 3-9 or 3.5-10 would prolly be close to optimal. I do not discount those who like straight 6's, either of the Leupold or super chicken persuasion, and might try a straight 6 on one of my guns at some point. I kinda have my eye on SWFA for Black Friday for a scope for a different rifle, but with the 270 I'm thinking I'll prolly go with a variable in the 3-9 range.

I have a Leupold VX3 3.5-10x40 on mine.

Thanks for pointing that out guys, messages updated.

I agree with Brad, my favourite is the 6x36 with dots.

I used to prefer the 6X42, but my aging eyes see no difference in brightness between the two, nor do I see any difference in the vaunted eye boxes.

I prefer the longer tube on the 6X36 as well.

This.

Although my serious elk getters have 2.5-8's on them.........


Casey

This...

DELGUE,

Often I'm the odd man out here. I would install a Bushnell 4200 or 4500 4-16X40. I took a Nikon Monarch 3, a Weaver and a Bushnell to the range last spring. When I took them out of the car the Nikon and the Weaver fogged. The Bushnell didn't.

The other day I replaced a Nikon with a Bushnell because I accidentally breathed on it after I made a shot at a deer. I was not able to make a followup shot if needed for at least a minute.

The Rain Guard really works. I like a straight 6X to keep things light. But a Bushnell 4500 or 3500 would do the trick.

Me,too.

My vote goes to the Leupold 3.5-10x 40mm. I've got 2 of 'em; one on a 300 WSM Savage Mod. 10 and one on a Kimber sporterized Mod. 96 Swede. They're both over 10 years old now and after lots of use on 2 different rifles in all kinds of conditions I highly recommend them. Don't know what sort of price they are these days, but if they're beyond your budget There's a lot of other good suggestions here in this thread.

Unless you're into the tactical sniper style 'hunting' I'd also recommend the 6x36LR.


I live in open side of the state both of my 270's have 6x36's on them. But I also don't shoot at game much past 400 yards either.

For the money I don't think there's a better deal right now then the 3.5-10x44 Meopta that cameraland had for $350. That being said a fixed 6x Leupold is seldom a poor choice.

I'm not sniper-qualified. Having said that, I prefer to shoot the wee beasties without them knowing I am there until I do the deed.

I am a sniper when I play World of Tanks. I run mostly tank destroyers.

Keeping it light, I'd suggest a Leupold 2.5-8x36, If your ring spacing will allow. If not, go with a VX3 3.5-10x40, which is always a good option on a long action. The Nikon monarch 2.5-10x42 is an excellent scope, but it's heavy. Something like 18 oz's, I believe. Your rifle may end up being a little top heavy with that one.

The cheaper VX2 2-7x33 is a better scope than the 2.5-8x36.

I have used both on long actions, but the 3.5-10x40 is about perfect on a 270. It alleviates some of the gay

It comes in matte, doesn't it? I mean, a rainbow-colored scope would clash with my camo...just sayin'.

I hear the custom shop does a 270 Win specific rainbow pattern

I've always liked the 2-7 and have bought it rather than the 2.5-8X36. Why do you say the 2-7 is better? Do you just prefer the magnification and size,or do you feel it is a better built scope?

If you like the Meopta glass, Cabela's has their Euro Instinct line on sale for some models right now. $250 for the 3-9x40 EXT reticle, $315 for the duplex. There's also a 4.5-14 if you need that much magnification

18 oz is a heavy scope? Thats pretty funny.

That's the weight I decided on for my twenty-six ounce action. The rifle, with a 26" barrel and ready to go with sling, weighs 6 lb 13 oz.

Personally, I'd look for a used Kahles in 3-9x40. Better eyebox and optic than any mentioned. They are not that hard to come by at $500ish.

I like this one....S&B Summit.

But just about anything from a fixed 4X or 6X, or mid range variable will work.

Agreed

I never hear much love for the VX-R, but I'm really starting to like that 2-7 if it'll work on your gun. I like having the illumination when it's necessary, but you may not need it.

I'd really look into that tract
2.5-10 is a perfect combo. Their bdc is much better and more practical the Nikons.
Wish I needed a new scope.

Leupold M8 4X....

I've had an Elite 4200 3-9x40 on my .270 for five years and haven't felt the need to change.

In current manufacture, aren't there certain brands you see better through than others? Since you have a plethora of rifles I'd think you'd have a plethora of scopes and have an idea of what works for you.

I agree with several other members that the Leupold 6X36 is truly a nice, almost ideal scope. It's tube length allows proper mounting on just about any rifle and the diameters at front and back give great latitude to ring heights, often allowing the use of lows. Additionally, I have found this power more than adequate at both ends of the shooting range (close-up or far out). I am also a believer that fixed power scopes have some small edge in dependability over variables. Good luck in your selection...

I'm throwing in with the 6X Leupold and dots crowd.

Brands on my current rifles are Leupold, Nikon, Redfield, and a 40 year old Marlin 4x32. I've been on 2 mule deer hunts and 1 elk hunt. My experience hunting out West is virtually nil. I was hoping to get a feel for what scope the folks that hunt out there a lot prefer, as well as what 270 shooters prefer. I've been wanting a 270 for 40 years. Now I've got one, and it's going to be one of my core rifles after I retire. I want to get the scope purchase right.

Count me in too, My .270 has a 6x42...although the Weaver 2-10x42 Super Slam is worth a look too.

I have three 270's

One has a leupold 6x36 with the lrd reticle.

Another has a leupy 6x36 with a cds.

The third has a Leupy 6x42 with a cds.

So I guess you could say I am firmly in the 6x camp.

I have a 3-9X Redfield (current manufacture) with the "accu-range" reticle on my Tikka T3, in .270, and it has worked well for me in Colorado last season and the Yukon this fall. It is not too heavy or out of place on this rifle.....the other suggestions are excellent and a good straight 6X scope is hard to beat!

PennDog

Given a choice I would put a Leupold 6x36 with a plain,boring,old fashioned standard duplex.

This works great but will cost a little more $$

$300 conquest
$500 kahles

Don't know if Texas is considered out west. On some parts of my land the max distance shot at a deer would be well under 100 yards. Other parts the shots can be much much further than I'd ever shoot. That's why I have a 3-9 on mine, it is so versatile.

I have two .270s. A prewar M70 wears a Leupold 3.5-10, mainly because I need the length between the bells. The other wears a 2.5-8 Leupold because it was what I had. Both go to work with the power set at about five. Therefore, I suppose I could easily adapt to a 6X.

Most of my hunting these days is in west Texas where you can usually see a long ways, but some of our pastures can get thick, especially in the bottoms. Some of it is in farm country with the deer in peanut fields, or browsing along the edges of waterways where there are still trees and brush.

Before old age began to creep upon me, I hunted the Trans-Pecos desert. The only time that a 4X was not good enough was early one morning I shot at a good buck on a hillside and failed to see the smaller buck standing in front of and just below the larger one. I hit the smaller one in the head. The big guy ran off. A few more Xs might have given me better resolution in the dim light. One mule deer buck was the limit.

At this point it is pretty much narrowed down to either the VX-3i 3.5-10x40 with CDS or the Leupy 6x36 with dots.

I'm still thinkin' on it.

The Bushnell 3550 and 4500 are great scopes. I actually have a little bit older Bushnell Elite 4200 2.5-10X40 on my Winchester 270 and it seems about perfect for that rifle. Look for a used 4200 on Fleabay or similar.

I had the 4200 Elite 2.5-10x40 on my 270 for years too and it was about perfect for me at that time.

These days I sometimes stretch shots further and I prefer some form of BDC reticle, prefereably linearly demarcated in mils but I also run some of those reticles that are supposedly matched to a particular cartridge.

They work ok as long as you actually check the subtensions at the intended power you will shoot them at.

Sorry I drifted off topic a bit...

I tend to agree that a fixed 6x with a decent dot reticle would be good for your 270.

Pass on that Nikon. Look at the 3.5-10x44 Meopta cameralandny is selling. Far better scope. I have that same scope but with the red dot 4C reticle I am considering selling

Leupold Rainbow ring.

Not the lightest, but I love my 6x Super Chickens. I am starting to get over the variable crap. The only time that I really like them, is at the range.

While hunting at reasonable ranges, I don't want to take the time to adjust power and 6x (man, I wish SWFA made an 8x!) is my preference.

I was out at daylight this morning double checking a few deer hunting rifles.

Long story short I think the 6x36 on my ADL 270 went to hell.

Last time I shot it was probably at a deer last Fall. It's just always been consistent and proven so I generally don't shoot it much.


Shooting at 280 yards and the first 2 shots were off to the right 3-4". Adjust and now it's 2-3" low and 3-4" to the left.

WTF?

Adjust and 1' high......

Screw it, something is WRONG with this thing.


But it's worked fine for 7-8 years, probably 1k rounds and a bunch of miles in a scabbard.

And it was colder than chit when I shot at that deer(3x). I think the cold caused something to break or loosen up.

Sam,

M8 or FX-II?

JB, FX-II.

This is why we cant have nice things.

I'm giving it one more try and then it might come off.

My only spare scope is an old Tasco that was originally on the same rifle.

It's probably a 20-25 year old scope.

3-9x40 w/the pronghorn profile on the side.

Just dug it out of the kitchen junk drawer and it is still sharp....

A Leupold failing.......

There's a reason that certain scopes are used.... And it might have less to do with deer "sniping" and more to do with "they actually work".

Not a tactical sniper scope at all.

Just something that worked for quite awhile.

And if it is actually broke, gets fixed and lasts another 7-8 years under similar conditions I will be happy.

Sam Leupold has given me excellent service over the years.. I bought some used scopes that had problems.. I called and told them I bought the scope used, but it needed repair.. No problem and there was no charge... Good luck.. Get it done and it will probably work fine for the next 20 years...

Wyo, we shall see.


Deer opened yesterday but I'm not to excited yet.

Moving cows and fixing fence, damn it anyway.......grin

+1

Leupold did charge $60,but that was for changing a reticle in a 3x scope.

Fu ck the cows and fence building. Hunting is more important!! Wait, that came out wrong....

Sounds like a Leupold to me. I know most of you leupold lovers shoot from the hip, so it really doesn't matter where she's sighted in for, but damn....

I really liked my VX3 3.5-10x40 until it took a crap... Good thing it was at the range and not in the field. I would have really been pizzed... I have Beaverton programmed into my gps for occasions like that...:




My LGS friend says he has to send back more Leupolds than any other brand...

I sure like 3-9 Conquests on my long action hunting rifles. From 3x to 9x they are just great to get behind, the reticle is great in low light, the scope in general is great in low light, and the half-dozen Conquests I've owned, 4 different models, have all been very stable mechanically. Plenty of fore-aft mounting latitude. It's what's on my .338.... among others.

For more money & weight the 3-10x42 NF SHV is a heck of a scope. Might be a tight fit on a long action.

I did not read everything on here, but I think the Leupold 3.5-10x40 VX-3i is a very good value.

donsm70

Rifles fail, scopes fail, bullets fail, primers fail, powder fails, iron sights fail, cars fail, toilet paper fails, people fail...fact of life. How many times have we, as hunters, failed in one manner or another? Does that innately and summarily disqualify us forevermore?

And maybe more Leupolds fail because statistically more people are using Leupolds. Statistics can be a dangerous tool.

Not pickin' a fight. Just sayin' everybody has preferences and other folks' preferences doesn't hurt us either way.

He brings up that scope everytime he gets a chance.

He's pretty much a tool.

No one would accept the failure rate of a toaster.... That so many find acceptable in an aiming device.

Doesn't seem like there are very many choices in dependable scopes for sporter rifles these days let's see you have NF, SS and some Bushnells any others?

are the SHV's as dependable as the NSX line?

There's not many choices. But if one views scopes for what they are-crosshair holders, rather than something to show their uniqueness, then one doesn't need many. When the community of shooters/hunters start caring more about how their scopes work, rather than stare at glass, it'll change.



I wouldn't say anything is as "dependable" as the NXS series, but they work.

Seems to me it's starting to change.

Thanks, I guess the NF 2.5 x10 is pretty much best in it's class......

When the crosshair holders are required to comfortably fit inside a snug fitting scabbard, certain scopes make more sense than others.


Or if you require long range precision something other a 6x36 with frikken dots might be a good idea.


I guess 270 shooters just aren't that tactical.

No need to dial a 270 win just shoot....

Or it seems if you require the scope to stay zeroed.....


Has nothing to do with "tactical" or not. Nor, "tactical sniper style hunting", and everything to do with optics that work. At one point nearly every rifle I owned had Leupold 6x scopes. It wasn't until the 4th or 5th died, that I finally admitted that yes, they too have issues.

Like it or not, you take jabs at those who recommend scopes that actually work, and then your recommendation broke.... In the exact way that has been stated that they go.

NO ONE would love for Leupold to get their act together more than I, but facts is facts, and the fact is the aiming system is the single most likely failure point on the rifle. I can get a scabbard that'll fit a scope with low profile turrets and a 32mm objective. Can you hit with a scope when it stops working?

Formid, I've had many Leupolds die on me. Some of these stupid fu ckers (like SLM) DON'T shoot as much as we do. I guarantee it... . I bought a rifle from him a while back and asked how accurate it was and he didn't have a clue. Said he only shot rocks with it... I guess if you are shooting at rocks and barn doors, a leupold is good enough..

Hell, I bet "we" don't even shoot as much as we do.

Don't know about 'optimum' but I recently took an old 6x Leupold down to my brothers place and mounted it on his Brno ZG47 in .270, he seems happy with it.

I think some stare because they like seeing their own reflection in the lense,
and saves having to carry a vanity mirror around.

Dunno what you're all feeding your scopes that keeps killing them...

I won't be asking you blokes to look after my dog when I go on holidays!

I used to be one of the biggest fixed 6 Leupold cheer leaders on this site. The last two I killed, one died around 1000 rounds and the second around 250. Made a post to that effect and had people coming out of the woodwork fussing and complaining. The funniest was Burns insisting there was nothing wrong with the scope - I just didn't know how to use it. Wanted me to ship it to him to evaluate.


I wish the Leupolds lasted like the SWFA SS's. I would love to have a FX-3 6x42 w/ M1 on my Kimber. Since I swapped everything over to SWFA I haven't had a single problem....


David

Dam, you can't even get that right. You didn't even have to ask.
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...1/Win._Featherweight_308_FS.#Post4799961

Still having to ask permission on all your purchases?

Now that right there is funny!!!

Leupold 3-9x40 ... I had one leupold fail on me and this leupold was one where sn did not have a letter in the sn, all numbers which from my understanding leupold started putting letters in the sn starting 1971-72 I think..

Uh oh someone was caught doing a Hillary Clinton...

4X

I have had many scopes over the years but never owned one over $500.
The best scope I have owned , without question, is the Leupold VARI-x lll 4.5-14x40mm with a fine duplex redicle over a Browning X Medallion 270 WSM.