Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Light weight scope choices.

The Weaver V9's are light scopes. I believe they are 11oz or so.

If you have the Kahles, I wouldn't buy another scope unless you needed one. That 2-7 may be a little heavier, but you're talking ounces difference. I love my Kahles glass. Much better than all of the Leupolds and equal to the Z3.

Will not do this all the time, but enough to not be that big of a surprise. Like math man has frequently said, match the target to the reticle, power and distance and small groups can be shot with low power. Or at least small enough for BG.



Addition: Just checked and this was with a 55gr Barnes.



One got away from me here, but a Deer wouldn't know it. Not that I would use a Blitz king on Deer.




I would use a 55gr Barnes TSX however.




If I was after Groundhogs I would up the power, but as of now I use it for Deer.

I've tried the Leupold Ultra Lighweights, both 2-7x and 3-9x. If really careful they can be decent. They are flimsy though. I've damaged 2 tubes by using Talley mounts without more than finger pressure.

A more durable option, albeit a bit heavier, is the Schmidt Bender Alpine series. I'm currently running this on my Ultralight 300 Wby and has held up well. No damage, great tracking...

I like VXIIs 2x7s and FXII 4 fixed for lightweight. Both work very well on a short action.

VX 3 2.5-8x36

If that is a Zeiss 3-9x36, it was made some time ago. Back then they put Leo's glass to shame--things have changed.

Unfortunately for me, with standard mauser actions, am just built wrong for Leu compacts, 4x and all of the shorter Euro scopes with 3.15 ER without resorting to a 13.25 LOP. I can't stand having to crawl up to get a full sight picture when mounting a rifle for a quick shot.

Have cut stocks for particular Euro scopes...:)

These have more mounting latitude and work well for me under 12oz--the weights on the ones from here, some vary from the catalog weight:

Leo 3x20--8oz (on the nose, new model)
Leo 1.5-5x20--9.3 oz
Leo 2-7x33--9.90 oz
Leo 6x36--10 oz
Leo 1.75-6x32--10.90 oz
Leo 3-9x40--11.25 oz
Swaro 3-9x36--11.60 oz


for very low light with these, the Swaro's coatings work well (for me) and the Leo 6x36 works just as well

Thank you to the OP for posting this question. I was about to put up the same. I have a 5lb 260 on order. Am considering the Z3, vx3, and as a wild card was curious about the Trijicon 3x9. I own a Sightron big sky 3x9x36. It is on a rimfire at present. I have always been paranoid about parallax error and every scope I own is either a side focus or an AO. Think I might step out and go without AO on this scope. Someone told me that a Leo handled the speedy recoil from a light rifle better than Swarovski or zeiss. Could be just his experience. This will be a whitetail rifle in the southeast. Shots can be long but typically are under 200. Some shots in the woods under 50 are also common. Long winded here but looking for recommendations. Other question I have is if a couple of ounces of weight either direction make much difference on a super light rifle? I am not obsessed with having the lightest rifle in town. Just thought a light rifle would be fun to have.

Bonefish
I can tell you for a certainty that my kahles 2-7X36 is better in low light than my Zeiss Conquest 3X9X40.

I've read several reports of the Swaro 3X9X36 not holding zero.

SWFA screw up

LMAO

I have a Kahles CL 3.5x10x50 that is great. The Z3 erector system is not supposed to be as robust as the z5 and z6. I may just try my Sightron or grab a 3.5-10x40 vx3 and try it. Gun is 4 months away from delivery. Any feedback on Trijicon? They are light and I like the idea of the fiber optic and tritium illumination. Have no idea of their glass quality.