Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Good sight in and forget scopes

Gerry hunts some tough country in tough weather...

I'm still very happy with my 6x Leupold scopes for general purpose hunting. I have two, and there is one on a 30-06 my son uses. Doggone things never shift zero or have any other problems. One of them has the "long range dots" and I find those useful.

Regards, Guy

I,

Corrected my typing error to help your understanding a bit .

If a cartridge shoots a slug much more than 2,500 FPS, there is absolutely no need for dots out to 300 for most game.

But, it makes sense that you would need help getting to 300.

I was rather sold on my VX2 with CDS, until the groups kept getting larger over time and I couldn't figure out what was happening. Tried different shooting bags and techniques thinking I forgot how to shoot. Thought maybe I changed something in my loads, thought the barrel may have an issue. On a whim (read: when I was at my whit's end..) I put a Burris FFII I had on and the groups got small again, instantly. Sent the VX2 in and they repaired it (said they replaced erector spring and reworked it). But will it happen again? A sub-6lb 338 Fed is rather snappy on recoil. All I can say is trust is a very fickle thing and scope problems can be very insidious. Despite functioning perfectly for many elk trips and local deer hunts and even a trip to S. Africa where it got a great test, and me liking just about every feature of the scope, I don't trust it right now for it's most important job.

My hunting rifle is wearing an SS 6X right now. I just might be buying into the idea of a Nightforce. I want to trust my scope. But is it really more durable, or is that internet legend???

I have been shooting for a lot of decades and the only two scopes I can never remember never having some zero changes are Weaver K-4 (old steel tube) and Leupold M8 6X. Every variable scope I have ever owned has exhibited some zero change, not enough to ruin a hunt but enough that it causes me not have a lot of faith in variables.

My hunting partner and I were in the remote Yukon a few years ago he missed a ridiculously easy shot on a grizzly, fortunately the grizzly ran the other way because I did not have a license for one and really had no interest in shooting one. I saw the impact of his shot, when we got back to camp and checked zero and it was off by more than two feet at 100 yds. The scope would not adjust and hold adjustment, we finished up the hunt using my rifle, since then anytime I am from home on a hunt I take a back-up scope. The scope that failed was a Leupold 3x9 VX-II and had been dead solid reliable right up to its failure, not that what brand it was matters all that much but I am totally convinced that the fewer pieces inside the scope and the lighter it is the less the likelihood of failure.

If I go on another back-country hunt where a failed scope could ruin the hunt I will use a fixed power and have a spare fixed power with rings on it and sighted in for a back-up. Sort a belt and suspenders approach.


drover

not sure what MV my 308 and 185 bergers run, but 300 is easy... its a 3moa drop basically with my existing zero. 9 inches. Hold top of the hair on a deer and all is well. Or just a hair of light...

You are getting what you pay for with the night force. They aren't perfect ( reticle choices, etc,) but the two things they are in spades is tough as nails and repeatable. I have complete faith in mine after using them a few years. They will absolutely hold a zero.

That's good to hear. I'm waiting to hear how the Forceplex reticle stands out in low light. I don't think their other reticles would work for me.

Still think Leupold VX1's for under $150 are good as any and better than most.

Take care, Willie

I would say that's probably a true statement, if you add,for $150.

They will serve most hunters just fine because most won't shoot 20 rounds in 5 years and if they all hit a gallon jug at 50 yards, they are good to go. They will then go forth and slay plenty of 20-80 yard deer and brag about how their scope is just as good as a $2000 Nightforce.

Got about 10 or 12 Leupolds, mostly VX-2s, on rifles from .22 Hornet to .300 H&H, including a Forbes Rifle in .280 AI. No failures yet, and, they don't look like someone soldered a beer can on the ocular end and painted it black.

I've got a Vari X II 2-7 and a VXII 4-12 left that have been excellent so far but I'm not buying any new ones.

Mastodons came and went. The Poobah was there then, hunting them - and he is here, waiting still - for their return.
















(If that does not earn me a turd to smoke, I will file a hurt feelers report.)

That'll do it Carl.....

My family uses a lot of VX-II and VX-2 scopes with the LRD dots, as well as the Redfield Revolution with the Accu-Range circle reticle. They wear the same MOA values for their holdovers. In most rifles that will make 2,800fps or better with a decent spitzer, they are easy to sight in for around a 200yd zero, with the next two aiming points being killing-close at 300 and 400 yards. We have 200/300/400yd gongs in front of the camp and shoot year round. Those Leupold reticles are not bad in a 2-7 or 3-9, as we just go ahead and spin them to max power when hunting an area that offers shots at longer ranges.

...

Going to bring this thread up again, I went hunting out of town just after starting the thread and forgot about it. This has been a good thread so far with lot's of positive comments for Burris, Weaver and Meopta among others. Weaver's seem tough to find in this country but Burris is easy to find and there are a few places stocking Meopta.

I ended up buying a Bushnell Elite 2-7x32 so far but haven't shot it yet, seems like a decent scope but we will see. I'm going to unload a couple of Leupold's but will keep a good M 8 6x36 I have that has been solid.

More than likely I will stay with the Burris 3-9x40 but out of curiosity is there any reason to avoid the FF 11 4.5-14x42? It would be going on my heavy barrelled 260 Rem.

My needs are the same for a new 6.5 Creed hunting rifle. I did a lot of research and solicited a lot of advice, and ended up with the Burris FFII 3-9x40 Ballistic Plex. It was recommended again and again as a clear, reliable, and affordable hunting scope. I like the reticle's 100 or 200 yard sight-in option; it provides a good deal of flexibility in terms of the cartridge/load you use. The scope was $184!! I was open to spending more than that, but the FFII appears to meet all my needs.

So 180 Partitions probably.

Keeping it simple.

7mm08, S&B 6x42 with P3 mildot reticle.