Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Maine Moose Optic

So a friend has moved up to near the top of Maine, started the move last year, taking loads of stuff north every couple months (good for him, I'm not down with that level of cold so much anymore, but I digress.

That lucky FOOL put in for his resident Moose tag, and GOT one, basically on his first go-round as a resident! (I'm NOT jealous...) Anyhow, he has several rifles to choose from for his "Moose battery", but he is thinking about a new optic to go on his Ruger Hawkeye 300 Win. and in his words, suitable, power wise for possible shots from 40 yards to 400 yards. He asked how optics may be vulnerable in extreme cold. He asked what brand.
I told him three things, which I would like confirmation or correction on:
1. Brand; Leupold, Vortex or Nikon (Monarch or above)
2. Low mag: 2-4x high mag: 10-14x, with as big an objective as he can manage.
3. In general cold mostly effects optics if you are going in and out of warm, not just staying in a cold environment.

For his request, and my recommendation, change my mind?

A Leupold 2-7x or 3-9x would be perfect . Of course if money is not a factor ....Swarovski.

Back when I was into hunting them I always wanted to put together a Moose rifle with a 50mm objective. Because I always ended up shooting them at the crack of dawn or dusk. Never shot a Moose in good light.

No more then 9-10x at the top end . 42-44 with an illuminated dot, None of the brands you mentioned are rock solid on a 300 win mag with the possiblity of the Vortex dial up lineup which is about as useless in Maine as two tits on a bull.

Look at a Meopta Meopro 3-10x44 with an illuminated dot or a Meopta Meostar R1 .

Something with a big bold reticle. You don't need a lot of magnification to hit a VW at 400 yards.

Exactly, and the range will be 100 yards or less.

I would go with a VX 3 3.5-10 X 40 or equivalent in another quality brand. Im not a fan of any bigger objective than 40 for hunting. Just my preference. Seems like I got into buying specialized scopes for every type of hunting. I’m moving back to a more general go for about any situation scopes these days.

I have a VX-R 3-9 with the FireDot Duplex, it is nice1

I was going through this same type of dilemma with my 338 Super Grade and I chose the Meopta Meostar R2 1.7-10x42. I think it's the perfect scope for a larger caliber rifle where you want the benefits of the lower magnification but still have plenty left on the higher end for any longer range shots. Meopta scopes are tough, reliable and track superbly.

What zone is your friend hunting? It would be a real surprise any guide could not get a moose close. Bull or cow? Which season?

Right ..... Moose hunting and deer hunting would be well covered by either one of these choices, but we seen to have to make it much more complicated/expensive then it really needs to be.

If I get drawn for a moose tag this year, one of two rifles will be going depending on the weather. One with a Leupold 3-9 (300H&H) and the other with a 2.5-8 (275 Rigby). K.I.S.S.

I've seen that several times here in NB as well. First time applicants getting drawn, including myself in 1988.


It's not that cold up here during that moose season to be a factor with a modern optic.

I'm still kicking myself for not picking up a Nikon Monarch 3 1-4 with German #4 ret for my 30/06. That seems about perfect.

A 3x9 would be plenty of power for that. As for the extreme cold, he won't find that during Maine's moose season, even up in Aroostook county.

A Tract Toric in either 2X10 or 3X15 would be perfect for any type hunting or shooting. They are excellent scopes and the 2X10 is $694.00 and the 3X15 only $100.00 more

A lighted reticle might come in handy but any scope will do chances are his shot will be under 100 yards.As far as the weather goes it's not that cold during our Moose seasons.

Not the newest wizz-bang on the block, but a proven optic that covers all your requirements...

Trijicon Accupoint 3-9x40.

Keep the thread updated with his progress please. And wish him luck on behalf of the fire.

I built a 358 Norma for a Moose rifle back in the 1970's, put a Weaver V-4.5 on it, never felt wanting with it. Worked well in the off season for squirrels loaded with 148gr DBL ended wadcutters over a few grains of 700x.

I got all ready to go one time, but buddy up there couldn’t get the details worked out for us....had a 358 BLR with a 1.5-5 Leopold and heavy duplex that I thought would work...but I can’t really know.

Maine moose season is in October, not February. It isn't cold here in Maine during October. 3-9x if you like variables. A fixed 4x will do the job without any miss or fuss.