|
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 772
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 772 |
All this talk of upstarts and "boutique" manufacturers has me wondering how similar our wants are.
This would be my ideal all around hunting scope:
2-10x40(ish) -FFP -MQ reticle turned upside down, etched -Mil adjustments -Zero stop -Capped windage -10 mil/rev low profile elev. turret -Glass equal to at least Conquest/Meopro -accurate and repeatable tracking/rtz - ~4" constant eye relief -16 oz, up to 20 if it has to be - at least 15 mils of travel -$1000-ish
I would sacrifice the 5x mag range to keep weight down if necessary. 2.5-10 or even 3-9 will do.
I hear people complain about FFP in hunting scopes. I was worried about it too before I purchased a SWFA 3-9. That reticle works like an upside down #4 at low power. By 5x, you can use the hash marks and at 9x it still does not cover too much of the target. FFP reticles can work just fine if well designed.
If this scope was made and guaranteed, I would buy one. How many others would though? What is your ideal?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,312 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,312 Likes: 2 |
I'd take all of those features, but adding illumination wouldn't hurt my feelings either.
Semper Fi
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,972
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,972 |
I would like a SWFA SS 3-9 with a smaller elevation turret with locking feature and zero stop,and capped windage. I like the MQ reticle just fine but I would like a tritium dot for low power low light. Tritium won't add weight.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 3,282
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 3,282 |
- a simple 3-15x40 (3.5-10 or 4-16), - duplex reticle with two holdover hash marks. - don't care if mil/moa, or how many per rev, don't dial for hunting, with two holdover hash marks, can cover out well beyond my comfortable shooting range - holds zero. - capped turrets - good eye relief ~3.5"-4" - Conquest-like glass - affordable (<$500)
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 942
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 942 |
A Leupold 2x7, 2.5x8, and 3x9 that functions properly and holds zero.
Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms should be a convenience store; not a government agency.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 Likes: 1
Campfire Oracle
|
Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 Likes: 1 |
Wow! I'm behind the curve! My 'serious' hunting rifles have Leupold VX2s 3x9x40...cause when it comes to big game I like my scopes like my pocket camera...."point and shoot" I leave the high $$$ spending to the binoculars which get used a thousand times more than the scope.
Turrets, dotz, and stuff to fiddle with go on the varmint scopes...
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,871
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,871 |
I'll have a Meopro 2-10x40 with their #4 but in the size of a vx3 3.5-10x40 for $500
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 30,820 Likes: 14
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 30,820 Likes: 14 |
I want a Henry buck in mine................
T R U M P W O N !
U L T R A M A G A !
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 518
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 518 |
Something with a great eye box, good eye relief, about 1.5 to 6 or 8 power. 32 or 36mm objective. Tough as nails yet still less than 13 ounces.
Oh and as low as you can physically go with capped adjustments.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 13,766 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 13,766 Likes: 1 |
For my hunting use that varies from thick wooded mountain sides to open fields that require dialing or hold off in low light: Reliable/robust Perfect tracking and return to zero Good glass Zero stopped elevation dial, capped windage (MOA or MIL, makes no difference to me) I prefer 2FP for my use but 1FP can work......fixed power simplifies Prefer a fixed 6x but 2-10+/- is fine. 42mm objective. A bold glass etched hunting reticle - narrow thin inner plex is fine as long as the spacing between outer bars isn't wide, leave it narrow enough to bracket, no need for more than 6 MOA on either side at 100 yards. Windage marks are nice. Make the outer bars heavy enough to be seen in low light and quick to find in thick stuff. Illumination on the inner is great if done right but not required if the outer bars are bold and close. With a max power of 10 I prefer no parallax if it's not on a rimfire. Good eye relief/easy to get behind 20 oz or less I've used two scopes this season that are really close. 2-10x42 Tract Toric. I really don't have a complaint on this one....it was outstanding this season. Going to keep dialing with it through the year to verify it's reliability....hopefully it will continue. 2.5-10x42 NSX. If the NSX had a better hunting reticle and wasn't as finicky regarding parallax it would be a perfect fit. Edited to add pic/subtensions of a very workable reticle. Not overly heavy but bold enough to see with good duplex spacing. The inner plex could be thinner to help at longer range, especially if it was illuminated on the inner section only like the NSX IHR. I wouldn't mind the outer plex being .5 MOA heavier but no lighter for my use.
Last edited by JCMCUBIC; 02/13/18.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 29,383
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 29,383 |
I want a Swaro Z3 that holds zero
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 151,747 Likes: 15
Campfire Savant
|
Campfire Savant
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 151,747 Likes: 15 |
One that works like my Leupolds, guess I’ll buy another Leupold
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 42,620 Likes: 1
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 42,620 Likes: 1 |
I've tried to like and buy a SWFA. Most of the folks here who've forgotten more than I'll never know about scopes and hunting recommend them. I worked with mils most of my life in the Navy, but those reticles are all but worthless to me for the type of hunting I've ever done which for all practical purposes is dawn or dusk. I'm familiar enough with all my rifles & calibers I hunt with to feel perfectly comfortable on game out to say 350-400 yards and this I can do with a decent scope. I do have a knob twister, a Leupold (sorry) custom CDS turret on one of my Browning 300 Win Mags that works as advertised, although I must say all the know twisting I've done is not much, but it does work for me out to 400 (farthest I've tested). I really like the B&C, LRD, (or similar concepts) on scopes, all I do is calibrate the lines to the caliber's drop and go from there. For extreme low light hunting, I like illuminated reticles and do have a couple. As for power, I prefer a variable, I think the highest magnification I have is 14X on a 22-250. I just can't warm up to fixed X scopes, but I do have one, a 6X with LRD which again works well.
A good principle to guide me through life: “This is all I have come to expect, standard lackluster performance. Trust nothing, believe no one and realize it will only get worse…”
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,680
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,680 |
Wow! I'm behind the curve! My 'serious' hunting rifles have Leupold VX2s 3x9x40...cause when it comes to big game I like my scopes like my pocket camera...."point and shoot" I leave the high $$$ spending to the binoculars which get used a thousand times more than the scope.
Turrets, dotz, and stuff to fiddle with go on the varmint scopes... I agree 100%. On my 375 Ruger, it's topped with a Leupold VarX-III 2.5x 8. It has the old friction adjustments----set it & forget it. On my 30/06, my everything rifle, it's topped with a Leupold 6x. It's 2" high @100yards again set it & forget it. Those are my only hunting rifles. Bob
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,831
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,831 |
I think you are describing a SWFA 3-9x42. Just need add the shim zero stops from Tim Kulin, then add Boxer style red cap on Windage. Then you’ll have a:
3-9 power range Zero stop Capped Windage 19 oz scope FFP WAY more than 15 MILs of travel Plenty good glass Super tracking and mechanics and RTZ And if you buy them on the sales that are once or twice a year you can buy two of these setups For less than $1k
Only thing it would lack out of your list is low pro 10 mil turret.
That is the scope that will be going on my wife’s Kimber 308 if they do a tax day sale.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,076
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,076 |
I would like a SWFA SS 3-9 with a smaller elevation turret with locking feature and zero stop,and capped windage. I like the MQ reticle just fine but I would like a tritium dot for low power low light. Tritium won't add weight. This
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 297
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 297 |
My Leica ERi I’ve been playing with checks all the boxes for me.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 772
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 772 |
I think you are describing a SWFA 3-9x42. Just need add the shim zero stops from Tim Kulin, then add Boxer style red cap on Windage. Then you’ll have a:
3-9 power range Zero stop Capped Windage 19 oz scope FFP WAY more than 15 MILs of travel Plenty good glass Super tracking and mechanics and RTZ And if you buy them on the sales that are once or twice a year you can buy two of these setups For less than $1k
Only thing it would lack out of your list is low pro 10 mil turret.
That is the scope that will be going on my wife’s Kimber 308 if they do a tax day sale.
I have one and it does come close. While I don't have a big issue with the eye relief, it is not constant. I have capped my windage turret and I have figured a way to zero stop. I would really like to see the reticle flipped upside down. I was surprised by how good the glass is. The elevation turret is still tall. If they would do a low profile zero stop elevation turret and factory capped windage, I would definitely be willing to pay more for it. I'd even let the other stuff (eye relief, 10 mil/rev, upside down reticle, and weight) slide.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 772
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 772 |
FWIW, for the vast majority of my hunting, a set and forget scope set up works just fine. This thread is about ideals though and sometimes I want the ability to dial. I'm not a fan of BDC reticles. I've used them and they work ok but it doesn't compare to dialling and having hash marks on the horizontal for wind holds.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 468
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 468 |
Leupold already offers what I like in a scope. I've never had any issues with my Leupold scopes.
I only like a heavy or regular duplex. No mil dot or lighted reticle for me.
|
|
|
|
566 members (12344mag, 1234, 17CalFan, 160user, 10Glocks, 10gaugemag, 62 invisible),
2,334
guests, and
1,169
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,192,517
Posts18,490,944
Members73,972
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|