Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Compact, Lightweight Variable scope

I’ve got a 350 Legend that I bought with the sole purpose of hunting down here in Southeast PA now that straight walls are legal. I bought a Ruger American Ranch and I want a lightweight optic to sit atop it. Shots will be 50-100 yards mostly, occasionally up to 200. Would like something 2-8x or something similar, under 15oz, under 12”. I don’t want a duplex reticle, prefer something with holdover and or windage points. Illumination is not important. Low capped turrets, finger adjustable preferred. Budget around $500. Leaning SWFA Ultralight, but want to hear other’s opinions first. TIA.

What s the deal with the new rules?

Hadn't noticed, they don't apply here, but I'm curious

If you find one the Vortex Razor LH 1.5-8x32 is a nice scope with a particularly nice reticle.

Burris 3-9s are about 13oz and various “ballistic” reticle seem to be what’s available most often. About $150-$180, and dependable.

With most shots 100yds or less, I don't really see the need for holdovers or windage marks.

+1

There's a Grand Slam 2-8x on eBay.

Vortex Viper 3-9x40 bdc at Midway for $199…

What UP hiker said.

Simple duplex going to be tough to beat for that use. Don't really need wind and elevation hold points for a 350 Legend, and I'd rather keep the reticle simple and easier to see early and late. If a duplex reticle just isn't your thing, there's some great LPVO's around with unique reticles designed for close up/quick engagement use.

I've had good luck with Bushnell Elites for duplex reticle, set it and forget it use. They've been very tough for me and others through the years. You can pick up used Japan models on eBay. Otherwise, they brought back the elite line this year in non tactical offerings; they are made in Korea. I hear good things about Korean Bushnell scopes, but I don't have a lot of direct experience with them so far. Have a few of the new ones mounted up and sighted in, but less than 100 rounds through each, so nothing coming close to conclusive. So far so good though. Eye box, eye relief, and Functionality are good, and the glass seems great for the price point.

I don’t either generally, but answered the question he asked. With the modest ballistics of a .350, a holdover-type might be useful if he wanted to zero at 100 and use the extra aiming point(s) farther out, but a duplex might work just as well for that, depending on it’s dimensions. More than one way to get it done.

Interesting that PA has gone this route after all the years where IIRC, buckshot was the only legal choice, maybe slugs in some places.

This. I've got two.

4X or 6X fixed power would do fine, and is what I would use in your situation. Lighter, simpler (no fiddling!) and more mechanically reliable than variables. I like Duplex hairs myself. Fast, no-think acquisition, and they can be used as rough range-finders.. i almost always carry my variables on either 4 or 6 and don't fiddle with them.

My 6X Tasco World Class Plus on a 30-06 did just fine on two bull caribou at 300 and @350 this fall. I wish they still made them - I'd sell off all my variables (Leupolds of various models and powers up to 3.5-10) and replace with this. I bought this scope maybe 25-30 years ago, and it was on a .338WM for a time: survived a 30 foot drop out of a tree stand once (Be sure you have hold of the right end of the rope! )

As far as I know, Leupold is the only one still making fixed 6, but I have not done an extensive search. A straight 6 is good from under 10 yards out to. ........, depending on the shooter.

Good luck on your selection.

Same here. To each their own but for a 50-100 yard rifle with an occasional 200 yard poke being possible. I’d opt for just about any reticle with a preference for something not to thin for low light shooting and for centering up quickly on target. I like variables but either a low power variable or low fixed seems tailor made for that. If it were me I’d range my furthest possible 200 yard shot when I got in the stand to confirm distance and know my holdover while being ready to throw the crosshairs instantly on the ribs of a deer at your typical 50-100 yard range. Why clutter it up or add variables with things that you don’t need?

Using the deer season xp, if you sighted in 2”high at 100 yards, you are only 3.7” low at 200, which is about the limit of what I would shoot at deer with it. I prefer plex reticles with these numbers, although the Burris bdc reticles are clean enough that I could use them. Sighted in with the first hash being 200 and work back from there. You could do the same with a duplex using the thick to thin portion of the bottom post as your hashmark.

Surprised nobody has suggested the Leupold VX3 2.5x8x.36.

Careful Labman!
You may earn the wrath of the 'fire.
Thems fightin words!

This

Double this^^

Used Leupold VX's have become so expensive it's almost insulting.

I love a #4 reticle but no, I won't sell my 6x40 Burris #4. Do love Burris. Way better than they cost.

I don't see why you couldn't use a BP for the 350. Sounds like it could use it out to 200 or so.

I would guess a likelihood of wanting to zero it at 100 in which case the 'dots' might be of use out to max specified range.

That is how I would do it and walk into the field with it at 3x.

How about the Swarovski Z3 3-9x36 at 12 oz?