Wish I knew what it was - he didn't seem to reticent about sharing his views and opinions and I thought was what his fans liked about him.
Yep, thats what I liked about Stick. He knew what/who he liked and why.....
YOU GUYS WITH 6X42 SCOPES ON YOUR BEAR RIFLES CAN SEE TOO FAR. I LOVE MY 6X42 BUT LIKE TO SHOOT MY BEARS TOO CLOSE FOR A 6X. MY CHOICE IS THE LITTLE 2 1/2 Leupold COMPACT ALTHOUGH I JUST PUT A 3X Leupold ON A NEW 9.3X62. IF YOU HAVE TO MAGNIFY A BEAR MORE THAN 2 1/2 or 3 TIMES YOU ARE TOO FAR AWAY. IMO
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Phil Shoemaker
Big Stick
The 2.5 Compact is a huge POS,as compared to the 6x42.
It ain't a matter of magnification,it's a matter of aquisition and I'll Drag Race for Pink Slips,with the 6x42.
Anyone that can drive a well fitting rifle with both eyes open,ain't gonna be plagued in a up close and personal tussle via 6x42.
The 2.5x would be amongst my last picks,if only because I own one....................
I agree that the 6x42, especially the newest Leupolds, are great scopes. I have carried one on my 30-06 for nearly thirty years and killed a few big bears using it however in my opinion there are a lot better scopes for a dedicated bear rifle.
The late African PH and gun writer Finn Aagaard and I both did a number of tests while he was alive and on three other occations I actually timed myself plus a number of other highly experienced Alaska bear guides and without exception they all made faster hits with the low power scopes - and yes we used the 6x42 also. I also know the military also prefers low powered optics for CQB rifles and they also have more than a little experience.
I guess it's differences of opinion that make a horse race and if someone tells me he is faster on target with a 6 than a 2 1/2, and actually had someone else do measured and unbiased timing, I guess I'll believe him. By that reasoning a big 12x should be even faster?
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Phil Shoemaker
Big Stick
Aquisition isn't a lineal function,based on magnification solely.
It is a series of concessions melded together,to yield a high speed instrument.
What the 6x42 has over the 2.5x Compact,is a copious ocular,which of course is where aquisition begins.
The 2.5x reminds of a peephole on the front door. You gotta phiddle [bleep] your eye into place,to get the view on the exit side. Sure...the FOV is generous,but the start of aquisition is so compromised in comparison,that the FOV attribute is moot.
Open the door and gawk out...dat's the 6x42,with it's generous ocular,no critical eye-relief and friendly eyebox working in perfect harmony.....................
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When both Finn and I set up our original tests we had a person with a stopwatch who would give the GO command and start the watch and as soon as the shot was fired, stop it. There are now electronic timers that do it. Shooters started with their back to the target and on command turned and fired as quick as possible. Only hits counted. I have also done this with a ninety degree turn and directly facing the target with a low gun.
I don't care what the theoretical optical superority may be on larger powered scopes; for me, as well as everyone I have seen tested, low power scopes are noticibly quicker on target. If 6x42's were faster you would see them on all SWAT rifles and all over Iraq since troops can now purchase off-the-shelf gear.
I have never had any problem with the little Leupold and have been using them ever since they came out. If your rifle stock fits you should not have a problem sighting through the 2 1/2 Leupold. The hole on ghost ring peep sights are a lot smaller and are blazingly fast if you know how to use them.
If Big Stick , I hate this anonomous stuff- who are you and what are your qualifications and shooting experiences ?- has problems with the little 2 1/2 Leupold scope then he should choose whatever works best for him. Is the wide open view from your front door magnified 6x, (ie 1/6th the size) or if it was do you think it would be faster to use?
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The 2.5x's ocular,will fit comfortably INSIDE the 6x42's.
As to shooting 'Ghinnies,lots of 'em are hosed daily,with glass exceeding 6x magnification.
Now...if the 2.5x wore the 6x's ocular,one could run with both rapid aquisition and a generous FOV,but that isn't a current option(nor is it pending).
Within any given magnification range,there are specimens within those ranks,that are more user friendly.
Not all glass is created equally,despite sharing numerical designators.....................
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Left to right: 6x42,2.5x,3.5-10x.
As to full race glass(speed at all costs),nothing seriously considered,has an ocular as small as the 2.5x's. Be it dot-sights,halo's or a traditional scope. For conversation,the 3.5-10x smokes the 2.5x,so it's not just a 6x42 trademark to do so.
I'm a Ghost Ring fan,drive a multitude of iron configurations from a Garand,CETME,AR to Anschutz Match aperature sights. My eyes are not once they were,so I'm not as good as I once was with them and favor glass as a means of correcting my sight.
Long way of sayin',just because 2.5x is stamped on the sample,that ain't an automatic conclusion from which to draw speed of aquisition.
'Course,I shoot an open mind and try alotta things and am not under the illusion that M4's wearing the 2.5x Compact,is what's keeping my Country safe.....................
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We are in agreement that the view from the 6x42 is superb and if you choose to use one for close range bears it is a free country and if it works for you that's great.
For me, I'm not only backing up paying clients but when it's my butt on the line I choose to use the 2 1/2 compact as I know from twenty-five years experience and numerous ultra close range bears that it works for me.
It's a good thing we all don't agree as the gun and scope manufacturers would all go broke.
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Phil Shoemaker
Other folks' money,doesn't influence my tackle.
I weigh results,solely and that's why the 2.5x sets in the stands.........................
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Don't know what you are alluding to about other peoples money but when my life is on the line only performance counts.
You still havn't introduced yourself.
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Phil Shoemaker
Alluding to nothing.
Dying ain't much of a living.
I am me.................
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Big Stick, I figured you were you and that is the problem I have with these forums. In order to carry on a civil and intelligent conversation all sides need to be open with who they are and how they earned their opinions. I don't answer letters from folks too embarrased to sign their name and see no reason normal folks on these forums should either.
Everyone dies -- the unfortunate thing is most people don't really live.
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Phil Shoemaker
My favorite color is blue,but that really ain't prudent to the crux of the discussion.
There's lotsa "names" that don't know their ass from a hole in the ground,same goes those,less a shard of notoriety. Pretty easy to discern who's a fan and who's a player,less being troubled with their favorite flavor of ice cream.
Mel Gibson delivered that line well.........................
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Big Stick, you are right again about many "names" not knowing their ass from a hole in the ground and there are plenty of "no names" out there with a world load of knowledge and experiences. Sometimes it gets a bit confusing sorting them all out.
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Phil Shoemaker
There's some very good stuff mulled over on these pages,some guys are famouser than others,but most share genuine enthusiasms.
Like anything,a guy's just gotta seperate the wheat from the chaff,but that typically isn't too hard.................
You boys will notice a trend here.
All the glass mentioned,tote an ocular diameter greater than the 2.5x and that reiterates my point.
Trumping the 2.5x isn't solely a 6x42 virtue,as it's pretty easy to do.............................
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I must be a beady eyed little rascal as my eyes don't have any trouble seeing through peep sights with a 1/4" hole and compared with those the ocular on my 2 1/2 Leupold looks like a picture window.
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Phil Shoemaker
If the 2.5x is a picture window,the 6x42 is a scenic overlook,less the pane.................(pun there)
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Guys, this thread is getting a little old for me. You guys keep poking your bears out of windows. I've got to get ready for bear season. Have a good spring and summer. I'll get back on from time to time when I fly into Naknek and the Russian cannery workers aren't tying up all the computors.
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Phil Shoemaker
Phil,laffin' here. I mean who REALLY gives a [bleep] how anyone else skins a cat?!!?
Bears are moving here and I look to be salting the first hide,pretty quick........................