Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting LR scope specs recommendation

sorry to solicit yet more advice, but I've not yet bought a "turret" scope. I've happily used simple 4-12x40 Redfields on 308's for elk thus far.

but now that I'm building a purpose-built rifle, I need a scope to match.

my back wall will be 500 yards.

my current LR scope specs (and reasoning for each) are:

top magnification around 20-25x (more than that seems unnecessary at 500)
30mm tube (better light transmission, a little more rigid)
FFP reticle (so I dont have to worry about magnifcation setting)
MIL-adjustments (reportedly easier to use than MOA, but I've no experience w/either)

if I'm getting off track, please advise.

thus far I've seen a few scopes that meet all those specs and still <$1k, which is my "target" (see what I did there) budget.

you don't need 20-25 for 500.......

This. A 10-12x on the top end would be plenty for that range imho.

Dave

A LRHS2 from GAP would work well.

10x fixed.

This goes against every one of your criteria but would be ideal for your needs


3-15 Tract

except budget, it would fit nicely

What is the actual purpose of the rifle? Edk

elk rifle from 300-500 yards.

most of my elk hunting areas are short range (<300 yards) but there are also several spots where opportunities are considerably longer.

Very simply put, your question is written with a lack of experience that wouldn't suit much of the criteria you are listing.

Forget the 30mm, it doesn't transmit any more light than a 1 inch tube. You also don't need more room in the erector under 500 yards.
Mil dots are not for the neophite
FFP is still another feature that is suited to a more experienced shooter

Look for a Swarovski Z-5 3.5-18X44 BT 4w and you will have found Utopia. It will do all you are looking for and you won't be sorry.

Swfa 6x42 or 3-9x42. Perfect for 500 yard hunting rifles.

LRHS2, as has been said previously.

20x is going to be way too much of a good thing at 500 yards for a few reasons, smaller field of view makes it tougher to get back on target after coming off recoil, especially if the target moved, and it will really magnify your breath and body movement.

Plenty of used Schmidt & Bender 2.5-10’s and 3-12’s available that will fit your requirements.

500 yards I'd happily SS 6x milquad for $300. Along with Seekins or Arc M10 rings.

I own all of the SWFAs mentioned herein and the Bushnells. In my opinion, you would be hard pressed to do better than a Bushnell LRHS or LRTS. I like and use the SWFAs and Bushnells; but, if I were searching for that "just one" for your identified purposes, it would be the LRHS/LRTS.

Yep. I'd look for a used LRTSi 3-12x. The reticle is bold enough to be useful at mid-power and 12x is enough for 500yds. I'm glad I got one when they were being made.

I bought a used Night Force 3-10X42 SHV, it tracks well and has all the magnification I need. I wished it had a zero stop, but like the capped windage.

I shoot an 8” gong with 3-9 out to 600. Granted the gong pretty much disappears with the heavy duplex. But I do it.
I swing out to 800+ with my 3-12 but I’m not a consistent hitter that far..
3-12 maybe 3-15 max is all you need. Especially if you plan on hunting with it.

Elk are big and provide a pretty good contrast for your crosshairs. I’d have no problem, whatsoever, placing shots at 500 with a fixed 6x, or a variable in the 2-7x to 3-10x range.

While I believe there is no such thing as too much scope- what you really need for your purposes is pretty simple compared to somebody who is trying to spot bullet holes on paper at extended ranges. For game as most have said above a top end of around 12-14 power would be more than enough and both the Bushnells and SWFA scopes, along with many others in this range are more than adequate for your uses. The longest two shots I've ever made on elk were 515 yards and 600 yards and the 2.5 -10 B&L Elite 4000 I had mounted on my 338 WM was more than enough scope for aiming and placing the shot on both.
I carry a 4.5 -14 on my new elk rifle just to use to identify points as spike only tags seem to be the only tags we seem to be able to draw any more... if that is a consideration a slight bump in power may be in order but a 20 power scope on a hunting rifle is often a nuisance when shooting shorter distances or moving through the woods...

It might seems trivial - but do make sure, that reticle and adjustments match. Be it MOA/MOA or MRAD/MRAD(my preference).
A MOA reticle and MRAD -turrets or vice versa is unnecessaryly complicated - but has been offered.

10x MRAD SWFA Mil-Quod or a 3-12x44 Bushnell LRHS MRAD would be my choices (I do have both).