Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting For what conditions would you put a heavy scope on a mountain rifle?

Would you ever consider putting a heavy 10X fixed 30mm scope on a relatively lightweight very flat-shooting rifle? (a 6.5 lb 257 Weatherby minus ammo, sling, rings, scope)...

it sort of defeats the purpose of "lightweight"... makes the rifle top heavy... etc

but...

If I was dialing my scope for a shot beyond the reticle's aiming capability...

I'd think about it.





I'd much rather have a 12oz scope on that rifle. If I ever find one that has even OK optics, 6ish magnification, and a functional elevation turret, I will.

If it gets too top heavy, I just hold it upside down.

It's your boat. Whatever makes it float. If a few more ounces is going to fuuck up your day, you made worse decisions before the hunt than how much your scope would weigh.

Great answer


mike r

My dedicated Coues deer rifle is set up that way. Lightweight 6.5-06 and 10x Leupold Mark 4.

LOL, those pics are proof enough for me. Thanks, I am going to cross the LD with the heavy scope...

Wishing y’all the best with your scope of choice on your rifle.

Put on the one you like.

As for me.................................... No ........I would not.

I think you are creating a problem that doesn't exist; i.e., there are already several scopes in the mark with BDC type reticles that having aiming points out 500-600 yards or repeatable dial elevation turrets.

Groundhogs, Prairie Dogs, Ground Squirrels, etc...

In addition, heavy scopes on big kicking light weight rifles are a good way to stack your bets on something going wrong....

All conditions. The backcountry is the last place I want to deal with a scope failure, so a few extra ounces to hedge my bets with a scope that will keep working right is a small price to pay, IMO. The SS 3-9x is my preference for that application.

This ^^^

I ran lightweight scopes including fixed 6 Leupolds on my lightweight rifles for years, and refused to use a scope greater than 15oz or so for the same reason. However, I eventually got tired of scopes shifting zero, erratic tracking, and having to shoot more than 10 shots at the time to sight in a rifle.

I finally gave in and tried a heavier scope with proven reputation for mechanically reliability and immediately felt like a dumb@$$ for not switching sooner. The pros of having a mechanically reliable scope that holds zero and tracks well greatly trumps the minor weight penalty. No longer having paranoia everytime I have a slight "bump" on my scope also adds benefit.

Until someone comes out with a lightweight scope that can prove to be as mechanically reliable as a SWFA/Nightforce, I will be running 20oz scope on my hunting rifles.

A SS 3x9 will give you really good long range capability. My boy has one on a tikka, and it is a really good set up.

Its always nice when you make a funny (to you) comment, and it is taken in the way it was intended. Seems to happen so rarely on the internets.

That rifle had a good first year. Also shot a Caribou and the wife shot a Mt Goat with it later. I agree with the above statements regarding the SWFA 3-9. It is a bit trimmer than the fixed 6 or 10, and reliable. Pretty tough to beat on a lightish rifle.

Any scope should be strong enough to be used as a carrying handle. Optics need to be clear. I prefer simple reticles and don't need or want rows of hash marks or dots. I prefer a scope which is small enough that the scope won't be the first thing which hits the ground so no 50mm objective bells. Weight is not a huge consideration but bulk is, to me. I carry the rifle in my hand when I am backpacking and a bulky scope doesn't make it carry better.
I am perfectly happy with fixed power scopes of 3X or 4X but I understand that most modern hunters are not. The perception is that one can not hit anything beyond 200 yards when looking through a 3x scope which is simply not true. In the end, it's a personal choice and, I'll confess, if SWFA would make a scope with a simple reticle and a little less bulk, I'd buy one. GD

GD, the 2.5-10 might be interesting to you. https://www.swfa.com/swfa-ss-2-5-10x32-ultralight-rifle-scope.html

Although I don't know that you are wrong in preferring lower power fixed scopes either.

To tame recoil?

For Me never. In a light weight rifle as big as I would go is 3x9 and I’m in the process of taking my 3x9 off to put a 2.5x8 on.
I have never had a problem with my rifles holding zero and I mean like years.

What about the years you dislike?