Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Western Rifle

Building a rifle to take out west. Looking for suggestions on glass.

The best that you can afford.

I put one of the new Trijicon 3-18's on my main rifle (7mm Mashburn Super) and couldn't be happier. Amazing glass, adjustments are on point, illumination is real nice and the reticle is excellent for shooting.

How far are you expecting to shoot? For thee average Joe a 3X9 SWFA is had to beat.

I’ve heard some great things about Trijicon. Especially in low light conditions.

Don’t have a specific distance in mind. Want something that will be comfortable making a shot 350-400+

bushnell lhrs

I'm in this camp ^

This is what I choose:
LEUPOLD VX-5HD 3-15x44mm CDS-ZL2 (30mm) Duplex Reticle
https://www.bearbasin.net/product-p/leu171714.htm

That is a good deal too! Have been a fan of Leupold as well. Have a 3x9x40 and it runs with the best of em

Out to 400+ yards a good 3-9 , 2.5 - 10 , or 4-12 in any decent scope will do nicely... Lots of great suggestions above, but I would look at some of the Athlon scopes Doug has on his site.... I would recommend the SWFA in a second but it seems they never have anything in stock any more... hopefully that will change soon when the supply chain gets fixed.... which may never happen while Biden is in office...

Scotty, how much does that one weigh and is it a FFP or SFP scope? 3-18 is a great power range. Very versatile for sure. I imagine it would work great for the OP's 400+ yard requirement, as long as it tracks well.

I’m already out west, and I usually shoot 350 yards plus. My hunting rifles wear Leupold VX-2 4-12 CDS scopes.




P

Bingo. Swfa 3-9x42 HD super chicken. Easy button.

Nightforce NXS 2.5-10 is what I use for 2 of my western rifles. The 28 Nosler which has insane reach has a Nightforce NX8 2.4-20 but it's heavy.

I have the SWFA but I prefer the Trijicon Credo 3-9. I like locking or capped turrets on a hunting rifle. Trijicon Mil-Square is comparable to the SWFA Mil-quad but it's illuminated and second focal plane. They are similar price points and in my opinion the SWFA and Trijicon Credo are the best at that price point.

https://www.trijicon.com/products/product-family/trijicon-credo-3-9x40-riflescope

I believe mine weighed 23 ounces on my scale BSA, without the battery in it. It is a FFP, easy to set up zero stop and dials like it has eyes so far.



That FFP Credo 2-10 looks danged nice as well. I may spring from one of them for my 300 RUM.

Love the SS 3x9 as well and just put my last one on a PRC, great scopes for my use, but they're getting tougher to grab these days. So far not many have found the Trijicon's, so they're available and a little less money than the NF 2.5x10 NXS's

Nightforce in the 4-16 power range

Hard to recommend a scope without knowing the build specifics…

I'd go with a quality 3-9x40 . I've repeatedly read it's the most popular scope, both east and west.

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 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.

He shoots Leupolds

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.

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.

I live out here and everyone I know uses a 3x9 of some breed. Mine is a Bushnell.

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

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 thought so. Upper end VX6 and the HD's If I remember correctly. I won't hold that against him though...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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

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.

With a lack of info these are some examples: A new bean field rifle such as a 26" 6.5 PRC could carry a 3-10x40mm or 4-14x44mm scope, a new field toting rifle would be 20" or 22" barreled 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08 Rem or 308 Win with a fixed 4x32mm or 6x36mm or a 2-8x36mm variable or a 3-9x40mm variable, a bear buster in heavy timber would be a 22" 35 Whelen or 9.3x62 Mauser with a fixed 2.5x20mm, or 3x 28mm or a 4x32mm.

I would go as light as possible unless it is a flat land only rifle or a heavy build. More weight and more X's are hard to carry and harder to hold if you are winded. I have never felt handicapped by a 6x scope for typical hunting ranges. I have cranked scopes up to 9-10x but rarely when hunting. 10x + pretty much only for targets.I grew uo with fixed four X's and then 2-7x's so this predisposed me to stick with what works for me. Last couple of scopes were Meopta Meo Stars and so far so good.

Not a western hunter, but shoot the same ranges here in the east as I would imagine I would in the west.

Ive used about all the popular scopes, besides Nightforce and S&B.

Anymore it’s real simple for me. If I’m going to be dialing, I buy Bushnell LRHS/TS. If not, either Burris FFII 3-9 or 4.5-14.

Still have a few Leupolds and SWFA on rifles, and will buy V16s when I see a good deal. But the Bushnell or Burris have and will do all I need from a scope.