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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 2,379
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 2,379 |
Hard to beat the ziess v-4s for the money
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 47,959
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 47,959 |
Hard to beat the ziess v-4s for the money What does the store owner in Beaver use? He was telling me about shooting eggs at 500 yards with his 7mm practical.
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
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Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 3,592
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 3,592 |
Hard to recommend a scope without knowing the build specifics… I agree. Doesn’t make sense to put a yard of scope on a light rifle or a little fixed 4x on a Sendero. It would be good to know what kind of rifle. I have lived and hunted western states my whole life. Deer, elk, etc. I’m a competent, but not exceptional marksman in the field. For someone like me, it doesn’t make sense to have a “specialized” rifle to shoot out to 300-400 yards. I use fairly standard bolt actions with modest scopes in the 2.5-8x to 3.5-10x. I’ve actually been using a lot of fixed 6x scopes lately. Just plain reticles and fairly pedestrian calibers.
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 2,379
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 2,379 |
Hard to beat the ziess v-4s for the money What does the store owner in Beaver use? He was telling me about shooting eggs at 500 yards with his 7mm practical. He shoots Leupolds
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 8,793
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 8,793 |
For a Western rifle, and a new scope, I'd be inclined to go with a Nightforce SHV 3-10x42 Forceplex. Meebe a Tract Toric.
Last edited by High_Noon; 10/17/21.
l told my pap and mam I was going to be a mountain man; acted like they was gut-shot. Make your life go here. Here's where the peoples is. Mother Gue, I says, the Rocky Mountains is the marrow of the world, and by God, I was right. - Del Gue
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 771
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Posts: 771 |
I’d go 14-20x as your top magnification. I have several 4.5-14x, 3-15x, 4-20x. Functionally, they’re all useful. I think a 3-9 will leave you wanting. For elk, it would probably work. For coues at 500+, a 9x top end will hurt you.
“One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning.” - James Russell Lowell
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,202
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2008
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I live out here and everyone I know uses a 3x9 of some breed. Mine is a Bushnell.
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 30,881
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 30,881 |
Building a rifle to take out west. Looking for suggestions on glass. I have very pleased with Tract Toric line of scopes. I have 3X15X50, 2X10X42, and one of their rimfire scopes. They are high quality scopes at an amazing price
I got banned on another web site for a debate that happened on this site. That's a first
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 32,030
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 32,030 |
A 3x9 is more than sufficient - a anything from 2-7 will work well. personally I would trade every one of my variables for straight 6x40.
if i knew then what I know now.........
The only true cost of having a dog is its death.
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 47,959
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 47,959 |
A 3x9 is more than sufficient - a anything from 2-7 will work well. personally I would trade every one of my variables for straight 6x40.
if i knew then what I know now......... For YOU it may be "sufficient".
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 47,959
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 47,959 |
Hard to beat the ziess v-4s for the money What does the store owner in Beaver use? He was telling me about shooting eggs at 500 yards with his 7mm practical. He shoots Leupolds I thought so. Upper end VX6 and the HD's If I remember correctly. I won't hold that against him though...
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 2,379
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 2,379 |
He does well with them BSA. I’m not knocking the Leupolds I’ve just had very good luck with Ziess products and as of now I have no reason to change. His practicals really shoot well by the way.
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 3,730
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I find that mirage can play heck with anything over 10-12x. I too prefer 2x8, 3x9, 3.5x10, 2x7 even 1.5x5 (Leupold) I have killed just a few with scope up on 8X or higher. Mostly from 1-5 power. I wish they still made 4x and 6x scopes that are smaller in size, etc.
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 863
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 863 |
For 350-400 yards, any solid 2.5x8/3x9/3.5x10 will suffice, particularly if you sight in for maximum point blank range (on my western rifles, this equates to 2.5 to 3.5” high at 100 yds). This will allow you to hold center chest and get a vitals hit from 300-375 yds depending on round/ ballistics. As long as the scopes will hold zero, they are good to go.
For set and forget rifles sighted in this way I’m using Swarovski Z3, Z5, Leupold VX3, Vari-x-III and Nikon Monarch glass. Please note I view these as only good for set and forget. Of these, the the Monarchs have been the most predictable/repeatable. Of these, my favorite have been an early Z3 and the Z5 (truly stunning optics). Having said that, I doubt I’ll purchase another Swarovski rifle scope.
I also sight my dialing capable scopes in this way so I can dial for extended range. Of those, I’m presently using a Tract ToricS(SCP), a SWFA SS(FFP), Zeiss DL(SFP) and a LRHSi(FFP). Of these, the LRHSI is the stand out. Sadly, they no longer make these.
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,958
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Posts: 1,958 |
Not sure why a rifle scope from the east wouldn't work out west. Animals can be killed at bayonet range and anything beyond. I don't like a heavy scope so I put Leupold 2-7's on most of my rifles. Good out to 500 yards, no problem. My old man has been using the same Weaver 2.5X since the 70's and never has an empty freezer. I guess like others have said, what type of rifle you are building will make a difference. Also depends if you are going hunting or shooting.
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 56,257
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 56,257 |
Most guys think "Going out west, I need a 24x scope".
I could hunt with a 6x and not feel too bad. 2.5-8 is about ideal.
_______________________________________________________ An 8 dollar driveway boy living in a T-111 shack
LOL
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3,592
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3,592 |
2.5-10 or 3-15 You really don’t need more than 10x for hunting normal ranges. You ever get into thick, you’ll appreciate the low end wide field of view. The bigger the scope the heavier it is. You going to be in side b side all day or on foot?
All of them do something better than the 30-06, but none of them do everything as well.
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Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 2,508
Campfire Regular
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Posts: 2,508 |
It's refreshing to read so much (in my opinion) GOOD advice on this thread. Something tells me that on some other forums you'd hear guys pushing for a lot more magnification and weight. And complexity. Maybe even batteries. Consider that 8X makes a buck at 600 yards look like he's at 75. That kind of puts the power requirement in perspective. Shooting animals is a lot different than punching paper for the tiniest groups, but 8X will still support very accurate load development at the range. And Out West is a real big place, with lots of different terrain and cover, so don't overlook the low end of your magnification range in your choice. You can go from thick heavy dark timber to a cross-canyon shot in a few minutes walk. Good luck with your search!
Rex
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,736
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Campfire Regular
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I agree with Brad and others, a little more info about the rifle and what you'll be hunting would be nice. Out west is a big place with varied conditions from dark timber to wide open plains. What animals will you target?
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I agree with Brad and others, a little more info about the rifle and what you'll be hunting would be nice. Out west is a big place with varied conditions from dark timber to wide open plains. What animals will you target? A few years back I was looking for a reasonably light scope that would cover all those bases for my 3 go to hunting rifles. I picked up 3 Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x44mm CDS-ZL2 scopes with the Firedot Duplex Reticle. They are working out great for me, this year I got my antelope at 438 yards and my elk at 650, although I can also end up at close range in the mentioned dark timber.
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