as an all around elk deer pronghorn rifle?

What say you?

Mine wears a 2-12x VX6. Fantastic hunting scope IMO.

I'm liking the Tract Toric 3-15 BDC I put on mine so far. If I had the extra $400, I might have gone with the VX6 but I don't think I'll miss any game animals because of it, and I'll use that money on components.

Mine wears a Kahles 1" CL 3-9X42 with 4D reticle.

The reticle works well out long ranges, and that is the brightest scope I have ever used. Great for those last few minutes of light. It goes without saying the optics are top-notch.

Hard to find though, they have been discontinued for a few years now.

6x36 Leopold with the dots is easy.

6X SS MQ either. I own them both.

So 9 power (on the high end) would be more than sufficient.....

Nightforce NXS 2.5-10x42

I think so. I've killed all that stuff to 400-500 yards with a fixed 4X. And a lot of it was in your back yard....

So a 6X is a luxury and 9X is downright decadent.

My 7mags wear a Bushnell Elite 4-12 with BDC and a SS6x. Both are great scopes. I can keep either minute of deer chest at 550. That is farther than I care to shoot, anyway.

Nightforce 3-10x42 SHV

Alway baffles me how many suggest a 3-9X. Is everyone over 60 yrs old? What's wrong with more Xs? What's the own side?

I picked up a SWFA 3-15X in MOA. Great turrets, FFP, and clarity kicks Vortex ass by quite a bit. $559 on sale. It's probably not the Be All, End All scope.

Why slum a 6x or 9X on an antelope rifle?

3.5-10x40 30mm w/ M1's.

All around? You didn't mention weight so I will suggest a Bushnell 4 1/2-30X50. It is twenty-two ounces. It matches Leupold VX-6 and Swarovski z5 in low light. Mine are crystal clear throughout their magnification range.

I am going to say +1 to this. Best all around for size, weight, and most important reliability.

Are you going to be twisting turrets or using a holdover reticle, or neither? You didn't mention the budget or desired weight, so I'll go with 2 options:
z5 3.5-18x44 15.9 ounces of goodness, or
Z6I 2-12x50 that lil red dot is wonderful in the dark timber hunting elk.

Agree, but for half the money the SHV will do the same job... same glass... great tracking... however, without the illumination.

For what the OP described.... if it were ME and I was spendingNightforce NXS coin... I'd go 3.5-15x50. In fact that's my plan for my antelope rifle I'm building this winter. But I do put a premium on LR performance these days that others may not.

Thank you gentlemen. Just an academic question.

Hard to pinpoint the "perfect" scope, but I could be very happy with a Bushnell LRHS 3-12x, NXS 2.5-10x42, SS 6x, or SS 3-9x.

I agree on the value there, I just wish they put in a better reticle for lowlight and that is all my rifles would wear

Shot a bear at 600 yards with my ss 6x on a 7mm. Was shooting steel out to 850 yards with it. If I ever upgrade thinking a 4-16 ATACR would be the only one of interest. Since I have the ss 6x on my primary rifles it makes it easy and doubt I change again.

Jeff,

You sure the SHV has the same glass as the updated stuff found in the newer NXS models like the 2.5-10x42 and the ATACR, etc? I understand it's a noticeable improvement over the previous stuff (likely just a difference in coatings) that they were using in the NXS.

For me the verdict is still out on how well they'll track with durability and reliability in mind. NF brought out that scope with the comment that they were designed to be a scope for the common guy, without the overbuilt internals and mechanics of the NXS. I'd still trust the NXS to work every time, over the SHV, but time will tell if the SHV, while not as overbuilt as the NXS, is built "enough" to be durable and reliable.

Just some of my thoughts.

NSX 3.5x15 is just to heavy for an all around rig, the 2x10x42would be the better choice

Leupold 3.5-10x.

I've used Kahles 3-9x42mm, Leupold Vari X-III 3.5-10x40mm and 50mm, Nightforce NXS 2.5-10x32, and Bushnell LRHS 3-12x44mm on 7mm rifles. Currently I'm still on the LRHS. If I did another that were smaller and lighter I would go back to the NXS 2.5-10x32mm.

I really like the Leupold 4.5-12..Mine have two dots below the crosshairs and the post.. Great aiming points to about 600..

Glass... I have heard it said the SHV and NXS are the same.... however, I did not know that the Compact NXS has upgraded glass above the other scopes in the NXS lineup... interesting!

Mine has been tracking great and seems to be a very solid scope. My presumption would be that Nightforce "knows things" about building them like that <g>. I'd certainly prefer the similar NXS if money were no object, but I'd very happily buy another SHV if I had a rifle calling out for a 3-10 class scope.

But I think my antelope rifle will be calling out for more than 10x on the top end <g>.....

Because you have already killed many antelope with a 6X or a 3-9X, and don't want the extra weight, bulk, blocky lines and length that usually go along with variables maxing in the teens

Killing antelope and mule deer with a 6X, or 3-9X scope is not hard; killing elk with them is even easier

Hi magnification scopes on hunting rifles like bowie knives on your belt are signs of inexperience.

Flame away, ha ha

Luepold 6x36.

or


Luepold 2.5x8

Damn, agree with Bob on this one, well maybe a few others but this one for sure:). Course that ss 6x is a bit bulky....

Me too. 6x is plenty for any distance I would be shooting. I use a older Zeiss fixed power and it has been a terrific scope.

If I use a variable it is either a 2.5-8 Leupold or a 3-9 Zeiss Conquest.

I prefer scopes that are 40mm or less.

But it's a 7-mag......... it can do amazing things.... if scoped properly!

Otherwise.... sheesh.... might as well just carry a .270.

There is no "optimum", no "perfect"...there is only hunters choosing tools. It's all subjective.

7-mag is pretty damn optimum.

For a elk rifle I'd go light weight something like a vx3 3.5-10x40

If price was no object I'd look at glass from Swarovski, Zeiss, S&B and the Nightforce choices maybe the vx6, and with antelope on the menu probably go with 14+ on the top end as long as I could have 4 or less at the bottom.

I've used a 3-9 Conquest for several years on mine and haven't felt limited but the extra magnification doesn't hurt anything and comes in handy occasionally determining if a bull is legal or if a branch is in your way.

I've gone to the Z6&800 reticles lately and while they aren't as appealing as a simple X for close stuff they are very useful and fast to targets over 400 yards. Personal preference in glass and reticle probably vary too much for a single best choice.

Good all-around scope. Perfect for the task.

Some questions should not be dignified with and answer.

Have a Kahles CL 3-9 with the 4a reticle and MultiZero feature on mine. All I need...

Leupold FX-3 6x42 Heavy Duplex or Dots

Not sure if it's the best "all-around" scope, but for me it's works well. Mine has a Conquest 4.5-14x50 with turrets, buts it's strictly a long range bean field rifle. I have other lighter rifle/scope combos in smaller cartridges for "all-around" purposes.

Mine is a Zeiss Conquest 3.5-10X

+1 dots Tikka Superlite 160 Accubonds

The down side is weight, both the carry weight and the weight that strains mounts, especially when mounted high for clearance. All that weight up in the air doesn't do anything for balance and handling either, especially if you do much hoofing around with the possibility of jumping game. My next scope is going to be a hunting-style fixed 6 for its handling qualities, simplicity, and reliability.

Yeah, I'm over 60, and have learned a thing or two about what works for me in the field.

I'm over seventy and still use either a 4-16X40 or a 4 1/2-30X50. The hills I hunt are so steep if you slip you can go a hundred feet before you stop. A couple years ago I moved a deer from the small level spot where it fell and it rolled for at least thirty seconds. There was no way I could keep up with it.

I tried the fixed power when I was in my forties and never looked back.

And the point is....?

Most people who haven't hunted antelope much don't realize you can usually get a sub-200 yard shot with a little patience.

True. If they'd get their asses out of the truck and try stalking them they may learn how to do it.

But with a "long range"rifle with a sewer pipe barrel, a Kestrel, bipod, and 3 pounds of scope and mounts, lugging all that crap is hard work if you try to sneak up on them.

The opposite of Pappy348. The steepness of the hills have nothing to do with which scope one uses. It's all about preference.

I have 4 or 5 Leupold 4.5-14x50 LR 30m scopes that I use for most everything except Africa.

I run a 6X SS on my 7mm Mashburn. Couldn't find much to not like about it. I didn't have any trouble laying down and putting the reticle on elk out to 550 or shooting them up close. It is a little heavy but it seems to be a decent tradeoff for the capability.

Got a 3-9x40 Conquest on mine, but have killed deer with a previous 4x32mm.
Used same rifle and Elite 4200 3-9x40 at 5x to take pronghorn, and have killed WT dere here in Tx at 4-6x with it.
In fact the only thing I have killed with it at 9x has been priarie dogs and paper. So 3-9x has been plenty for medium game.

Scotty, what sling is that on the Mash?

Yeah, it's a good scope.

Ditto

I am not as experienced as some of the members here, but I have to agree that I cannot remember using more power than 6x for anything I have killed out west but I have not killed anything past 260 yards. I do like the VX3i 4.5-14x40 and have it on my .270 cal. I plan on putting it on my 7 mm shortly.