Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Looking for a woods hunting scope recommendation

Looking along the lines of 1.5-5, 1.75-6 x 20mm to 40mm. I’d like to keep the price under $500 - I’m only shooting a .308 Win 60-80yd max - won’t be dialing - don’t need anything much fancier. Bonus points for illumination. Not interested in Chinese manufacturers.

I’ve been looking at Athlon & Sightron but am open to other suggestions - I’ve been a longtime Leupold user but want to branch out into other top brands but just don’t have the knowledge base to make a good decision.

Love to keep my business with Doug if possible.

Thanks!

If it’s going to be in the brush I’d want a heavier reticle so it’s easier to see in lowlight because it stays darker longer in the morning and gets darker earlier in the evening and would want at least a 32 mm objective. Not sure what scope to recommend but isn’t Athlon a Chinese manufactured scope?

I agree with the heavy reticle - not sure about the entire Athlon line - I hope it’s not - they have some interesting configurations

I would go with one of these.

https://cameralandny.com/shop/tags/...013a-7d2d-00163ecd2826?variation=3250934

Ed that looks pretty good! I’ve never looked thru a Sightron - what would you compare it to?

I know you mentioned lower power but I think the Trijicon Accupoint 3-9x40 is a good scope for wooded areas. It's light at 13 ounces and has illumination. You can always set it at 3X if you want a bigger FOV. Worked great for me in Africa in thornbrush.

I have one of these on an AR.It is super fast to pick up the reticle on moving animals.
https://cameralandny.com/shop/brand...0135-0fee-00163ecd2826?variation=1693577

Trijicon is a great choice. I replaced a Leupold with a Trijicon credo 1-6X24. Good glass, good illumination, quality built scope. I'm very happy with it. Its a lot of scope for the money.

Not a lot out there. Looked at several and decided on the Sightron 1.75X5X32. Put it on a new Henry 45-70 Big Boy, so far so good. Would have rather had a 4a reticle but didn't find any. I have had Sightron's before and still have two. Good scopes. Needed some type of scope as we have a point restriction where I hunt, the old eyes aren't what they used to be. Better in low light than the smaller 24mm tubes.

I've had a Leupold 1-4x20 on my main woods rifle for years and have been quite content and successful with it. Not many scopes left for us woods hunters these days. Don't want no bullshyt tactical scope with some busy ass range compensating reticle on my woods rifles. Everybody thinks they're a spec ops sniper these days. Fuggin idiots.

I have a number of Leupold 1-4s in it's many designations and they work in the woods. I'm really liking the Freedom 1.5-4 with the PigPlex reticle, very fast target acquisition. I have them all on coyote calling rifles and they are the "Cats Azz” for fast action close in and will get me to 300 yards if needed.

I have one of the Sightrons S1G2s on a little 20 Practical coyote rifle and it is pretty nice, not enough time behind it to give a full review.

Truer words have never been spoken.

I know your style of hunting mimics mine, and I keep going back to a 1.5-5 Leupold. It’s really hard to improve on. Field of view at 1.5x is around 77 feet at 100 yards if memory serves. Eyebox is very good, target acquisition is very fast. One that really interests me is the Trijicon 1-4x24 Accuview with the post/triangle on top reticle. I think I would prefer a German #4 with an illuminated dot, but that’s not offered on that scope. And users of the post/triangle report it is very fast once you become accustomed to it. I think it may be worth a try on my 7600 carbine.

100%

I’ve got a 1-4x Leupold as well and like you say it’s been a good scope.

I have a Vortex Diamondback 1.75-5x32 that physically looks identical to the Sightron. Perhaps the glass is different between the two.
I just found a good used Vortex Razor 1.5-8x32 that I like a great deal. No longer made but they come up in the used market once in a while.

If you can find one, I would choose a good 3X scope. Wide enough for close and easily good to 150 yards, also KISS.

Leupold 2.5-8.
Yes i know it’s more than you want. You’ll appreciate the 8 power at the range and the 2.5 is still pretty wide.
Hate there is little selection in hunting low powered scopes. Unless you go AR style LPVO

My favorite for those needs is the Lupey 1.5-5 with the heavy duplex. I only have one with the heavy duplex and it has moved around on rifles a lot. Heck this one even tracks kinda consistent.

Another vote for Trijicon. I bought an AccuPoint with German #4 with the green dot after reading a thread here. Asked a few questions and it has delivered. Tracks perfectly, excellent glass and I put mine on a Featherweight in 308. i can shoot well past legal limits here and the green dot is amazing, both in low light and moving game.

Burris 1-6 x 24 30 tube illumination under $500.00 hands down best scope for the money i have 4 of these scopes they are very tuff scope. good luck ,Pete53