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How many of you guys use a Leupold 1.5x5 on a "non DGR", like your regular deer rifle? Remember when the 4x was considered the "all around" scope power/use? And if one went out west then the 6x was the berries? I used a 1.5x5 on a 35 WAI for years, I even shot a black wildebeest at 347yds with it on 5x, easy cheesy. I know many use it for woods hunting, but how about even out on bean fields/food plots, etc? I sold mine awhile back, now I'm kind of thinking of getting another as opposed to a SWFA 2x10 Ultralight. This would go on a .270W. I need to add that I don't like a big heavy scope on my rifles. Opinions guys?

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5x is plenty for me to connect at 300 yards, no problem at all. I like the format of the 1.5-5x20 Leupolds, but at first and last light they don't hang in as well as my 6x42's.

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I have one on a late 50's Savage 99EG in 358 Win. Works great. I am lucky enough to be able to hunt in both open areas and in the brush. Works well for both. I try to keep shots under 150 yards, but that's me.

On another 99 in 300 Savage, I use the M8 6x. It does everything I need it to do. Even have taken a couple deer at 230 yards with no issues.


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Haven't used that one but really like my 1.7-6x on my 375. I like the looks of the straight objective scopes on classic rifles. Never felt handicapped when 4x was the standard and maybe it helped me refrain from taking a too far and questionable poke. I would probably go straight 6 on a 270 but at five X an elk will still look pretty big. A number of rifles wear 2-7x or 2.5x8 scopes too so not a big difference. Some of the AR models in that range are made for dialing but with illumination and mega turrets the weight advantage is lost.


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I have killed a handful of animals on 8x to 10x, but far, far more from 2-6x I have often wondered why carry around a bulky variable if I'm only comfortable with the FOV of the low to mid powers? Target range, sure, I get it. Just thinking out loud...

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Even on targets not too big of a hindrance. If it is at all just get a dedicated target scope and quick detach mounts. I was just thinking last night how many times higher magnification made a difference. I usually don't change the setting on a variable when I hunt and just leave it at 5x as a good compromise. I also was trying to add up the actual time I have spent looking through the scope and it was just a couple of hours even on my favorite set ups, about the same as a one day of spot & stalk hunting just glassing.

Our predecessors would shoot to 300 yards and further with iron sites and cartridges with much more of a rainbow trajectory than what we shoot now. Some would probably give me a run for the money even if I used a 4X scope and they irons.


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I like small x20mm scopes.

Own two of the Leupold 1.5-5s, one Leupold 1-4, Nikon Monarch 1-4, and a Bushnell Scopechief 1.5-4.5. The Leupold 1.5-5s are my favorite of the bunch. The one is on a Ruger #1A 275 Rigby and the other is waiting for it's next assignment, probably onto a 7600 30-06. I like those scopes on rifles with rifle sights. To me they look "right" and are ample for the hunting we do here.

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I have a Vari X III 1.5-5, a couple of VX2/II 1-4's and several Nikon 1-4's. I also like the x20 low power variables - mostly on Ruger No. 1's and other rifles with open sights.

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I have a couple of them on mannlicher stocked Ruger 77 RSIs and my pet 44 International.

I sent them back to Leupold for reticle changes from the duplex to heavy duplex back when Leupold would do that job for under $100 and have shot a few whitetail does with them during of SEASONS CHOICE and RIVER antlerless whitetail seasons.

I really prefer the 2-7x33 Leupold VX2s, as I think that they are a brighter scope than the 1.5-5x20s, but the 33mm objective requires the removal of the rear sights on the short action 77 RSIs, at least they do for me, and to my eyes a mannlicher stocked rifle without open sights looks rather naked.

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I used a Vari X 1.5-5x20 with a Duplex reticle on a Ruger .338 Win. for 12 years here in Alaska. Bears, caribou, moose, etc. Longest shot was a broad side on a moose at about 350 yards. I eventually replaced it with a Vari X 2.5-8x36 Leupold.

My current 1.5-5 is a VX3 with a German #4 and is for use on a .356 Win. or as a back up scope. I wish I would of went with Leupold's Post/Duplex reticle instead of the #4. Over all they are great little scopes in my opinion and can easily handle over 90 percent of the shots I have taken at big game.

They are the "Classic" DG scope in my opinion and are quick to get into action on an AR platform.

Personally, I would prefer a 2.5-8x36 on a .270 or a SWFA 3-9x40 HD. Good shooting to you.

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I have used my 1.5 x 5 for over 35 years I think its the best scope for where I hunt in the east, woods and small fields.

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Originally Posted by mathman
5x is plenty for me to connect at 300 yards, no problem at all. I like the format of the 1.5-5x20 Leupolds, but at first and last light they don't hang in as well as my 6x42's.

This was my experience as well. I had a Vari-X III 1.5-5x20 on a short action 700 until two years ago, and was happy with it. I had to quit hunting a little earlier than with other scopes, but that didn't really bother me. I replaced it with an IOR Valdada 4x33 that I stumbled across. I'm likely to put the old scope on a Marlin 1895 when I get around to it.


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They make an ideal scope for a lightweight AR truck gun. I had one on my 16” AR that rode in the truck all the time. Killed a turkey, 2 deer, a bunch of coyotes, and 54 pigs one year with it from 5 to 300 yards, never had to rezero and never felt handicapped. Had it on a 458 Winchester I used in AK for 6-8 years before I put it on the AR.

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I bought my first one in 1986, have three mounted on rifles now, with another on standby waiting for the right gun to come along. One on a Savage 99 .308, another on a Rem 700 Classic 350 RemMag, and the third on a Ruger Mini 14. They're all Vari-X III of some vintage, oldest is back from era of friction adjustment turret dials.

Then again, my other most used scopes are Vari-X II and VX II 2-7 models. Currently have those on a Kimber Montana .308, a Rem 700 Classic 250 Savage, and a Rem 700 Classic 300 Savage.

I don't go up to a 3-9X scope until I get to my .280.

Never felt over or under scoped with any of them. They spend most of their time on lowest magnification, unless I'm sitting still in a spot with good views.

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Originally Posted by mathman
5x is plenty for me to connect at 300 yards, no problem at all. I like the format of the 1.5-5x20 Leupolds, but at first and last light they don't hang in as well as my 6x42's.

+1

I like the low power for off hand shooting. 5X is good enough for most applications.

Low light would be the weak point.

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I have a half dozen 1-4x20's(mostly Leupold) on various coyote hunting rifles, combo and levers. They just plain work for calling coyotes, more than enough X's for 300 yard shots and lots of FOV for those at your shoelaces. Coyotes I can hunt with no restrictions on starting or quitting time, if I can see a coyote coming to the call with my bare eyes the scope is plenty bright enough to kill him. I do run 1.5x6x40mm scopes on my some of my bolt action for coyotes as they get use in more open country, I haven't noticed a whole lot of difference, but I think they look better on the bolt action in some cases.

Drilling

[Linked Image]

A bolt action that looks great with a straight tube scope

[Linked Image]

They are plenty accurate enough also.

The drilling above at 200 yards.

[Linked Image]

Last edited by erich; 06/28/19.

After the first shot the rest are just noise.

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Originally Posted by Dirtfarmer
Originally Posted by mathman
5x is plenty for me to connect at 300 yards, no problem at all. I like the format of the 1.5-5x20 Leupolds, but at first and last light they don't hang in as well as my 6x42's.

+1

I like the low power for off hand shooting. 5X is good enough for most applications.

Low light would be the weak point.

DF



All true...except maybe the low light thing.

On 4X the scope still has a 'exit pupil' of 5mm...which is all the light over 40 yr. old eyes are capable of using....


I used the 1.5 to 5x exclusively for many years on 3 different rifles, and at ranges out to 450 yards. Only reason I quit them is the eyes kept getting older and started showing a preference e for more power....


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Originally Posted by ingwe
Originally Posted by Dirtfarmer
Originally Posted by mathman
5x is plenty for me to connect at 300 yards, no problem at all. I like the format of the 1.5-5x20 Leupolds, but at first and last light they don't hang in as well as my 6x42's.

+1

I like the low power for off hand shooting. 5X is good enough for most applications.

Low light would be the weak point.

DF



All true...except maybe the low light thing.

On 4X the scope still has a 'exit pupil' of 5mm...which is all the light over 40 yr. old eyes are capable of using....



I used the 1.5 to 5x exclusively for many years on 3 different rifles, and at ranges out to 450 yards. Only reason I quit them is the eyes kept getting older and started showing a preference e for more power....


You're neglecting the effect of magnification. It isn't just the size of the exit pupil, the intensity of the light in that 5mm beam counts too. A 10x scope with a 50mm objective will produce a brighter 5mm shaft of light than will a 4x and 20mm.

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I have Leupold 1x4x20 mm's on my favorite lever guns that I take whitetails and black bear with in heavy timber/brush and open country conditions and have great success.

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I have a VX-3i 1.5-5X20 on my Guide Gun. About a good an application as could be for this scope.

[Linked Image]



I have a 1.5-4X20 VX-Freedom on my .458 SOCOM, so far it's held up good, seems to be perfectly adequate for the job. It;s held zero and moved the appropriate amount when adjusted, though the turrets feel mushy compared to the VX-3i. The only thing I haven't directly compared is low-light performance, but I suspect it will be sufficient to shoot during legal shooting hours, if I choose to hunt with this rifle. I've threatened to deer hunt with it the last 3 years but haven't followed through.

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