Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics What hunting scope to buy?

I am going to purchase a dedicated deer rifle. Either a Tikka T3x or a Kimber Hunter 6.5CM, 7mm-08, or 308. I will not shoot beyond 300 yards. I prefer a Duplex reticle. I want a scope that will track well when sighting it in and then hold zero. I want a generous amount of eye relief. I would be fine with a fixed power scope or a variable. What scope fills this need?

Nightforce SHV 3-10x42 and never have to think about your scope again.


Dave

^THIS^

I would be looking at the Tract Toric 3-15X42 with T-Plex reticle

Duplex reticle, 300 yards, hold zero.

So far my relatively new Leupold VX-3HDs and VX-5HDs work well and do exactly what you require. I am still a maximum point blank range hunter, so once set, my scope don't get adjusted. So a ballistic reticle and giant knobs are totally unnecessary. A max of 8X to 10x is entirely adequate to 300 yards.

You didn't say what your budget was. You can find 2.5-8s and 3.5-10 VX-3HDs for $459.99, and 2-10X VX-5HDs for $759.99.

Here's a 2.5-8X VX-3HD on my Win M70 Featherweight .308.


A 3.5-10X VX-3HD on my Win M70 Alaskan .300 Win Mag.


And a 2-10X VX-5HD on my Win M70 Super Grade .270.


I'll say this: you DO NOT need a 30mm tube. You won't need the extra amount of adjustment a 30mm tube gives you at 300 yards. 30mm tubes are big, and bulky on a hunting rifle. You'll save money with a 1" tube. With respect to the VX-3HD versus VX-5HD, you'll get glass on the VX-3HD that is, to my eyes, just as clear as the VX-5HD.

I've had a lot of luck with Leopold scopes, the "Leupold Hate" thread not withstanding. They are generally very, very good scopes.

Your location is showing in GA. Are you going to be hunting in low light conditions? Is weight a concern?

There's a Cabela's Instinct (Zeiss Conquest/Meopta clone) for sale for $350 in in classifieds right now. Can't imagine you wouldn't be completely satisfied with it for your needs.

Many excellent vintage / recent scopes that fits the bill for you. High dollar value.

Weaver microtrac K4 (4x steel tube USA or aluminum tube Japan)
Bausch & Lomb Scopechief IV. or "just" B&L (4x or variable). High end scopes in 1980's.
Leupold M8 4x, 2-7x, 3-9x
Bushnell Elite (Japan mfg)
Bushnell Banner (Japan made 4x or variable)
Burris Fullfield (4x or variable)
Sightron SII. ( 4x or variable), or if you get lucky, a Sightron SII Big Sky 3-9x or 3.5-10x)
Nikon Monarch or pre-Monarch ( I have a fixed 4x pre-Monarch, which fantastic).
Don't laugh off Japan-made Tasco "World Class" or "World Class Plus" scopes.

One of my thoughts are what style of hunting do you do? Still hunting or tracking FOV would be an asset 1.5-5x20, 1.5-6x4?, 2-12x4? and most of the 2.5x-whatever with a minimum of 40' on the bottom end, I prefer more. Shooting out of a stand, known distances, mostly standing/ walking targets you can get away with a lot more scope.

Might want to look at the Burris Fullfield II 3-9x40mm. Lots of love here on the fire for that scope. I couldn't find any negatives on it. Doug has them for $159.00 shipped. I have one and like it a lot.
Bob

Yes to low light conditions as I primarily hunt in the woods but I do hunt some power lines. Mostly stand hunting but some still hunting. I am not overly concerned with weight. Would like to spend $500 or less.

I good 6x scope would work well. I'd do a hard pass on the 3-9x Burris if you are considering low light.

You've now been recommended about 20 different scopes as the best for you.

Did that help?

A 6X scope will do all you need. Don’t cheap out.

There are a lot of scopes that will serve you well. When you place emphasis on eye relief and low light performance under $500, that spells Leupold. Unfortunately, Leupold can behave oddly getting to zero. Most of mine have. That said, all of mine have held zero once set.

I have two scopes in the sub $500 range that I'd recommend, based on your stated needs. This one from our site sponsor https://cameralandny.com/shop/tags/...0138-9c55-00163e90e196?variation=2779766 I have that one but with the red dot (which you may want to consider) It dialed right in, has great low light performance and decent eye relief. It is a tad heavy. I haven't read of any issues with them. I also have a a Burris Veracity which checks your boxes. It too is a bit heavy. I have read of some owners who though the glass wasn't good. I think our eyes play heavily into which glass works best for us. https://www.natchezss.com/burris-ve...fp-ballistic-e2-reticle-black-matte.html

Sounds like you’ll hunt similarly to how I hunt.

For a $500 or less hunting scope, I think there are several good options. This isn’t an exhaustive list as I’m not an authority. Just some scopes I’m familiar with.

Used Trijicon Accupoint 2.5-10x56. New may not be much more than $600.

New GPO Passion 4x 3-12x56 can be bought for $500 delivered tyd. It has a German #4 reticle. I like the one I just bought.

If you can get a used Meopta Meostar for $500, they’re awesome in lowlight.

I also really like my Zeiss Conquest DL 3-12x50. I think you may find one used in that price range.

All of the above have 30mm tubes. I personally like how they look. Personal preference.

I really like the large objective lens. It makes a big difference for lowlight hunting. I know scopes don’t
“gather” light. But, I sure see more with my 56mm than my 42 in the same glass.

Happy hunting!

I have never used one, but I have heard good things about them. https://www.cdnnsports.com/passion-4x-3-12x56-g4-ret-german-precision-optics.html

In the woods one may like less than 3x at times.
Out to 300 yards on deer maybe just go w a 2-7x w 1 inch tube?

Newer scopes of over three times power range might be worth looking at

Classic rifles imho look best w classic looking scopes.
So a 30mm w big honking objective, eyepiece or turrets looks funky.

Modern plastic stocked rigs can wear about anything.
So looks proly no biggie. Weight might be a consideration though.

My deer rifles....one wears a peep, another a 2-7x, one a 3.5-10x and the last a 4-12x.

And if I buy another, in a thumper, 1-5x.

In my area, yup, 300 and in

Listen, we all have our favorites. I've hunted with Leupold, Weaver, Burris, Bausch and Lomb (when they were called B&L), Bushnell, Simmons, Tasco (Japanese), (and I'm sure I'm leaving out some) and they all did what I wanted them to do. None failed. All had at least decent glass, some of them downright excellent.

Your requirements for a duplex reticle, for shots to 300 yards, with decent low light performance can be met by many scope makes and models. A duplex reticle is fine for what you want to do. You don't need any complex ballistic reticles for those kind of shots. You don't need a bulky 30mm tube. You'll get your best low light performance at low magnification. If you want decent low light performance at the highest magnification, you are going to want something that gives you an exit pupil of no less than 4mm. The more the better. That means if you have a max power of 8X you need at least a 32mm objective. If you max power is 10X, a 40mm objective will get you there. Lots of scopes out there to choose from that have that.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll make a fine choice. Post a pic of whatever you select. Not a single person on this site would ever tell you that you could have done better with something else - I'm sure of it.

Vortex Optics. They’ll have something to match your requirements. They’re price, warranty, and customer service, are great.

My 12 bushnell elites,4200,6500 all fit the bill

Tract 2X10 or 3X15 is your Huckleberry

As jwp says......my Tract Toric has been great over the past 5 years or so.

Already mentioned this a couple days ago

You need about 5 more dedicated deer rifles so you can get 6 different scopes.

I have no business looking at scopes but I find the Tract and the GPO teams interesting..

I think GPO are ex zeiss guys and Tract are ex nikon guys.

You can buy direct from each outfit.

https://www.sportoptics.com/meopta-meopro-524380.html

$25 over your price point but a very good scope.

Those scopes selling for $500 bucks these days?

This is what home equity loans are for.

Something along 2-10 , 2.5-10, 3.5-10 is all you need for 300 yards and less.
You don’t need 12 or 15 power at 300 yards. Don’t get me wrong, I love having good zoom at the range.
But as a hunting rig I’d beMore concerned about wide field of view in the thick stuff. Rather ram the max zoom
Plus you’re getting a light weight rifle, no sense in getting a small Hubble to weigh it down.

At 600 yards my vx2 3-9 on the old 270, the cross hair pretty much covers up 8” gong and I still hit it consistently.

yep

I agree, and I’ll buy every one you guys can show me under 5 bills - after the OP buys his, of course. 😉

Zeiss conquest 3-9 would work nicely, and can be had for $300-$400.

A Zeiss Conquest 3-9 world work or I could live with a 4X Conquest

I gotta give a little love for the Trijicon Accupoint. My personal pref. is the green dot. I found my 4-16X50 Accupoint for $500 new in box a few years ago at a LGS had my BIL and a good friend pick up a couple more for me. Was a limit of 1 per customer:)

I don't see a $500 limit on his original post. Is that an arbitrary figure, or did I miss something?

Dave

Dave, in reading through it looks like he added that later in the thread, after your response. My bad.

The easy answer is always Leupold.

Fixed it for you. You can thank me later

For what you want the NF shv 3-10 is what I'd choose.

Tract Toric 2X10 or 3X15 is his Huckabee I've got Nightforce and Tract and trust me Tract are top notch


$754 fir the 3X15 and $100 less for the 2X10

Plus if you wait for a demo model it will be $500 or less

Roger that. I wondered if perhaps I'd missed something.

Dave

He said generous eye relief... In my opinion, 4" should be the minimum these days, so the nightforce doesn't even meet that... He didn't mention whether he does much hiking or is concerned about weight but Nightforces also tend to be boat anchors weight wise. They also don't fall in the budget he added.

LEUPOLD VX-3i 3.5-10x40mm Matte Duplex (LEU170680)
$429.99

You focused on the “generous eye relief” part of his request. I focused on the “track well and hold zero” part. Though nice, a scope doesn’t need a full 4” of eye relief to be functional…especially in the chambering(s) he mentioned. The 3.5” of the SHV is plenty on that front, and that’s not a guess.

A scope does need to track well and hold zero to fulfill its primary purpose though. Nightforce scopes do that.

As for the weight issue,….I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree on whether or not 22 ounces constitutes a “boat anchor”.

Dave

I guess it depends on which rifle he goes with and the length of the scope tube. Eye relief could be a concern with the T3X if he opts for talley lightweights or similar as the spacing doesn't leave a lot of room to adjust scope for eye relief with shorter scopes. If he opts for a rail and rings then it may not be an issue. I know on my T3, I tried 3 scopes before I found one with enough eye relief to set properly in the spacing with talley lightweights, I needed minimum 3.75", the first couple scopes were around the 3.5" and could not make them work.

VX-3HD 3.5-10 with the illuminated reticle can be had for $450.

If you are in dark timber or low light, the illuminated reticle will be more beneficial than a larger objective or maintube diameter.

Buy a used 3x9 leupold and be happy.