Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics 2.5-8X or 3.5-10X ?

I used a Weaver 2.5-7x32 on my old Remington 700 BDL in 6mm Rem. I killed about 30 white tail with it. I would have killed more but I was busy using other rifles as well. But that old scope gave exemplary service through the years. However, now days I prefer more magnification. I like the 3.5-10x40s. I also really like 4-12x40s because on shots over 100 yards I crank them up to 12.

2.5X8X36. In my opinion, THE perfect scope.

I often reach for a 3.5-10x40 or 2.5-8x36 if the funds are there, but find the VX2 3-9x40 more budget friendly while being optically acceptable. I don’t see a lot of difference, but like the 2.5-8 on more compact rifles, with the 3.5-10 getting the nod on full-size sporters.

I’m not real sure where the op’s armpit of the Midwest is exactly, but if it is anywhere like where I hunt in northern WI. we can’t always see the forest for all the brush and trees in the area. All of my scopes are variables, but our deer here can show up fast and disappear just as fast and don’t always give a guy a classic broadside shot presentation. While sometimes I’ll have the time to dial up the power, I never have had the time to dial it back down. Given that, my variables are always set around 2 or 2.5 power for the big exit pupil diameter and wider fov. Many of the variable scopes marked 3.5 power on the low end are actually closer to 4x when you read the fine print. A smaller objective on the 2.5-8x36 gets it closer to the barrel in lower rings too. A variable 10x is on my western rifle, but not my WI. rifles.

Varying opinions, vary, because eye sight and applications vary

SO, make yourself happy. JB - funny post. I have killed with both, and scopes either side of it, using from 2.5x thru 24x on variety of shots on varmints and deer. I do lean on keeping a lean package, smaller, lighter, lower is always preferable, IF it works for my application.

All that said, never needed more for deer when a 6x fixed was mounted, and the same for a 12x for varmints in my area. Blackbirds thru Coyotes to 300 yds and other critters........12x has worked.......so what is NEEDED on deer sized game.........well, I get that it depends on lighting, distance, terrain, and other conditions. Agree FOV is sometimes underrated. Being fast on target can be key to bagging game or missing a shot opportunity.

Re: OP, I never had much bad to say about either, more pros than cons on both, IME.

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Yep. Took a deer at 75 yds with a fixed 2.5x.........8x should easily get you to 300-500 yds depending on conditions. If an 8x is good for Frankk to 100, then a 12x should get him to 150.

I need to put a 2.5x Leupold on my 40X in 308 and get a certain few from my deer camp up to the range with their rifles. We can hang one of those deer in profile targets at 300 yards and see what's what.

My timber rifle wears a fixed 4x.
Previous timber rifle had 2-7x. Shot two deer, 50 and 75 yards and scope was 3x or less.

I have that scope sitting in a box like new. Click adj VX1.
Excuse to buy another rifle LOL.

Dont think itd fit or look right on the #1B i got.
Save it for a custom #1 next yr

Mathman, that might surprise some folks with how well it will shoot. Watched a gent shoot MOA and under with irons from a Garand years ago, at 100 yds.......a 2.5x might do some 3-5" groups, if you have a contrasting target. I'd bet if you have the dope, you will get a majority of hits in the vitals. 200 zero, hold on the back......standard duplex of course....

Hookeye, a 6x fixed, or a 2.5-8x will fit the #1.....my B's had 6x36 and 6x42s. Some #1's I cheated and used reversible front ring, believe Ruger has them offset like that......had a custom done in 6BR, and believe it was D&T and used Burris bases directly on the barrel without the rib. Shot a group - UNDER 1/2" - at 330 yds.......it worked. Oh, it was Glass bedded b/c Pac-Nor had had a Phenom shooting 308 they built like that..........and I had a Kepplinger set trigger. Good luck on the custom.

The 3.5-10x is on my open ground rifle

The #1 I want built is a stainless A model in .35 rem w synth stock.

Ruger made a few 338 Federal in 1A config, 22" sporter, maybe an AB. Seen them at a Shot show, not many made, but you might find one, Blue of course.

Making a carbine for the woods? I flattened a deer at 75 yds, DRT, with a Marlin 357 with 158s at 2050 mv, no doubt a 35 is a solid tool.

I personally just do not like the 2.5-8. I have had several and sent them all down the road. The picture just looks so much bigger and brighter to me through a Zeiss Conquest, so that's what I replaced most of them with.

Yeah, my '63 ADL 760 in .35 rem whops em pretty good

I have both and have heard the 2.5-8 works well for SA and 3.5-10 for LA. With most of you being “small” statures I’m forced to suffer from “short” 13.5” lop on factory guns which I have few of so extra tube length is always helpful getting a good head position for me. I’ve also got the long jawline of the more handsome specimens of our race so I don’t mind a slightly higher mount even if it raises my LOS up higher from COB.

My favorite is either a Kahles 1.5-6x42 or Zeiss 1.8-5.5x38 at the moment. I’ve not tried the Victory in that range or a few others. For longer ranges I’ve walked away from those guns/scopes with the relocation and quickly realizing I can see miles from my vantage points and they’d have been better utilized than I thought. Trying to decide how best to jump back into a LR rig and what to do for optics. My head says Kahles, ATACR, or S+B. My wallet that just spent $60-70k in work on the house, saw my vacation rental income shut off, and now shelling out for 2 kids in private says otherwise.