Building what I hope to be called an all around rifle for Alaska, though it won't be a primary rifle for the big bears. Under all conditions what scopes/reticles do you give your blessings to?

I lived at Ft Greeley for a year so I understand what cold can do to mechanical items. Do you feel an illuminated reticle is in order for those days which are shorter in light and longer in dark. No dialing up, just a BDC type of reticle for holdover if the range gets out to 500-600'ish.

Thanks,

Alan

I've run Leupolds exclusively


2x7 compact

2.5 x 8

6x42

4x

1.75x6


few of them been rode pretty hard and put away wet


never failed me, I'm happy with them for the $$ spent


good value ime&o

I've used a bunch, but have settled that for big game hunting I can't find anything better than 6x42 Leupolds.

4x33 and 6x36 leupolds

2.5-8x Vary-X III Leupold.

A few 3x Leupolds, a couple of 3-9x Leupolds (all duplex reticles), and some low power Redfield and steel Weaver post and crosshair. I also run Lyman 48's and 66's on a couple of rifles. Most of our hunting seasons run when the daylight hours are long so a lighted reticle is not needed.

Have seen good service and collected game using a variety of scopes. As Mart says, it's generally long hours of daylight during hunting season, low light performance is great but it doesn't need to be the absolute best and illumination is not necessary IMO.

I've used and been happy with Leupold 2.5s, both regular and scout, fixed 3xs from Leupold and Weaver, Leupold 4x, 1.5-5, 2-7, 3-9, 4.5-14, a Weaver T10, Burris 4.5-14, and a 1.75x and 2-7 from Redfield.

The Mrs has and uses a fixed 1x steel tube Weaver on her 22, a Leupold 1-4 on her 270, and a new Redfield 2-7 on her 30/06. She hasn't had a lick of trouble connecting on game with any of them.

Only scope I have used in Alaska is a Leupold M8 3x20 with a 4MOA TKLee Dot installed.

It worked well for me.

A Leupold Heavy Duplex would be about the only change I might consider.

Lived and hunted on Adak for three years, also have made many hunting trips in the state. While living on Adak I had one rifle, a 30-06 with a Redfield 4 power and a duplex reticle, no problem with shots to 400, practiced alot learning hold over. Of course those were the days before hold over reticles and turrets became the norm. Illumination would not be necassary as a good glass goes along ways in low light.
A 6x Leupold of your choice would do a great job.
The scopes that make the trips to Alaska now days is the Swaro and Kahles 1.75-6x42 with duplex reticles.

Leupolds, and Tascos of World Class Plus quality and above.

I've been using a 2-7 Leupy II for about 35 years now; it's still going strong. The 3.5-10 VXIII is a fantastic scope - only had that one about 10 years. The Tasco 3.5-10 WC+ (20 years) is nearly as good, and has survived tremendous abuse, including a 30 foot fall out of a tree stand. I like the Tasco WC+ 6 power I have on one rifle as well.

I also think you would be well served by a straight 6X in whatever flavor you desire, but Leupys are hard to beat for the price, for most hunting conditions. If you want to pay the outrageous import duties on the quality foreign brands, have at it - probably will make no difference in your actual hunting success over the Leupold.

Have you noticed how hard it is getting to find straight-power scopes in the last few years? I generally set my variables on one power and leave it there for the season, or the hunt if conditions change. Highest setting for more open hunting, 6X in the thicker stuff. Can't remember the last time I went below 6X...

All have heavy duty Duplex type cross-hairs. I do have an old (antique?) 3X Leupold with fine cross-hairs I have to mount on something... my now deceased brother had it mounted on the Win 94, but I went back to the aperture sight once I got my hands on the rifle again.

When I went I had a Tasco World Class 4-16X on both the .300 Weatherby and the .375. I chose them because I had trouble with more expensive brands.

I was there for 33 years so used various scopes. All were Leupold. My 375 H&H was a Vari X III 1.5-5. My various 338's 2-7, 3-9, 2.5-8, and 3.5-10. 30-06 was 3-9, 2.5-8. I tended to set my scopes on the lowest power and virtually never had to adjust. Even when I was in So. Africa last year 2.5-8. To me the most important thing was that it was a nice clear picture.

Zeiss conquest.... one that had I can't recall how many years on my buddies 338 win mag guides rifle, finally gave up, probably 20 years of rugged use, and Z replaced it for free since they didn't have the parts to fix it with... me not being even the original owner.

I'm ok with L too, I have some of them, but will pay for Z every last time generally speaking.

INteresting a buddy had a couple on an 06 and a 243, biggest pieces of junk we'd ever seen at the time.

But then I had a world class for load testing 223 stuff for many years and it took many, probalby from about 89 or so through 2013 for it to go TU. Trying to have it repaired currently, we'll see....

Burris, Leupold, Meopta and Nightforce.

That's been the heart of it for me. I've also had a Leu 3-9X Compact on a 223 I've banged around with for years. Also the last 2.5X fixed that Weaver made; three of them have been pounded without fail on some rather kicky rifles.

I've had a Swar and a Zeiss both go tit's up on me twice.

Leupold is the only scope I'll attach to a rifle that goes into the field anymore.

I have used Luepold, Burris,Meopta,Pentax I like the option of a lower power 2 x 7, 2.5 x 8, 3 x 9, and I never used 9 or 8 for that matter. My .338 Lapua where's a 1.5 x 4, and my 8mm Rem Mag, has a 3 x 9, both dual X. If I were going to go to a lighted reticle I'd go Trijicon no batteries no extra weight.

Contrary to what some feel here if you are going fixed power I'd stick with nothing higher than a 4 power.I hunt sheep and caribou mainly and my longest game animal is a Dall sheep at 450 yards plus with my scope on 4 power. If I need to study an animal I use binoculars or a spotting scope. A fixed 4 power is stronger in moose country than I like but its doable. This is just my opinion I also don't like every small movement that gets exagerated in scopes at higher powers.

I have a variety of scopes on my rack of rifles, Leupold, Nikon, Burris and even a Pentax. I love the Burris Fullfield II's and the Nikon ProStaff 3-9x40's and truly find them the equal of the Leupold VX-II's.

Like Scorpion, I also have many various scopes, and IMO, it doesn't take much to better the Leopold VX-1 or VX-2. The Burris or Vortex do that quite well. As in a fixed power for our big game rifles, I do agree with 8MMRem., however my favorite fixed power scope is the Simmons Elite Presidential MDL., in either the 4x44 or the 6x44. Sadly, Simmons only made them for a short time.
Twink

I have not had an issue with several brands of scopes, lucky maybe. I do know you can get a lemon in any brand, and sometimes more than once. Our hunting styles / terrain differ, for me 200 yds would be an exceptionally long shot and under 100yds the norm.

My most used scopes are Kahles 1.1-4x24 and Kahles 1.5-6x42 both First Focal plane with 7A reticles. I have used these on 338 Win mag, 375 Ruger, and 416 Ruger, without complaints for moose in timbered areas. I consider the 1.5-6x42's my all-around scopes.

I think at the moment (subject to change) my "ideal" bear set-up would be a 416 Ruger with a Zeiss HT 1.1-4x24 with the second focal plane #54 illuminated reticle. The #54 is a Heavy reticle and in the second focal plane allows full use of the lowest power, which is much handier for me than iron sights. The illumination is a very small dot in the intersection of reticle. From playing with this scope, it would have to be really dark for the need of the illumination. But, my shot distances are short.

I have 1.7-10, 2.5-10's, 42's & 50's objectives some illuminated, which so far remain used for larger game. I have a Meopta R2 1-6x24mm illuminated 4C reticle which also seems as though would make a good larger game all-around scope for my terrain.

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I run Zeiss and Leupolds. Can't go wrong with either one.
The 3.5-10 Zeiss on my 280AI Kimber smoldered a 'bou yesterday at 5 below and a very stiff crosswind. Dropped in its tracks at About 210 yds.

Good exit wound from the Zeiss? LOL

Thats hilarious.

Zeiss all the way!

Any other than Tasco, or Simmons and not breathing into scope
on cold mornings as you bring the rifle up!

Clarity defog it, works on my SCBA masks... dang good on scopes too even if you breathe on em. LOL.

I have swaro's and leupy's on my guns. If you don't was to spend the bucks for swaro a 2.5x8x36 leupold is hard to beat for all of North America.

I have had good luck with the Bushnell Elite series on my .375 Wby and my .340 Wby. Very clear, weatherproof, and recoil immune.