Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Consensus on the best low power variable compact scope?

If a man can deal with a 30mm tube, the Trijicon Accupoint 1-4 is only 14oz. Given the superior glass, tracking, and durability compared to my Leupolds the extra couple ounces is nothing to fret.

Good pic Pappy. Nice little rig you put together there. That Trijicon sure doesn't look bulky on that bolt gun.

Thanks. It is a Savage 99C with the removable magazine, barreled at 16" long to 450 Bushmaster. Whatever scope I end up with for this will be QD, and it will have a combination of a fold down peep sight and leaf sights to go along with the banded front sight. The sight base will also be milled to accept a Aimpoint Nano red dot sight that will also be quick release. Lot's more work to do on it before it is finished but at least the stock is done and I can hunt with it.

The Trigicon 1x4 is an option I did not think about and it looks like a prime candidate as it is the same length as the Nikon and only a couple of ounces more. If I go with the super low Henneberger HMS super low rings and possibly mill some out of the mounting surface of the scope mount it may line up just fine.

The size of the scope is mostly an issue shooting out of the truck and trying to quickly grab the rifle and swing it out the window without bumping the scope. I think a straight tube scope is a must and to me it makes a difference.

Attached pic is the Swaro 1.5x6x42, Swaro Z6 1x6 EER, and the Nikon Monarch African mounted.

Gotta love Texas! Anywhere else popping one off out of your truck would cost you the whole shebang, nifty rifle and your ride.

Looks like you will be ready for anything. How’s the balance?

I bet most hogs in South Texas are shot from a truck or Jeep. They are liable to show themselves anytime and almost anyplace and one has to be ready. It is a lot of fun and a great way to get rid of them.

The balance is perfect with that Nikon on it and I think the Trijicon will be spot on also.

I've never handled one, but a Nightforce fan & think the 1-8x25 NX8 should be a nice piece. Provided they haven't scrunched it down too much.

8.7" long & 17 ounces !

I had no idea Nightforce made a scope that compact. The Nightforce on my M1A is a big mutha. I am going to try and find one to look through and get a feel for it. It looks like an option. Only issue I see is the tactical reticles offered. How hard would it be to offer a simple German #4 on such a nice scope?

That's still a big scope for a svelte lever action. 30mm diameter and over 1 lb.
Remember, the only significant advantage of a 30mm scope is more adjustment range for dialing. Just not useful on a lever gun.

I am willing to bet half the Antelope in Wyoming are shot within two steps of a vehicle......

100% agree the 30mm tube itself offers no advantage on a lever gun. That is unless you can get much better glass in a 30mm versus a 1" scope which makes 30mm scopes a relevant consideration on a lever rifle.

I really like the 1-4 accupoint, but if I need smaller/lighter, a Leupold 1-4 with a heavy reticle is one of the few Leupold scopes I doubt I’ll ever be without, and the last one to go will be my VX2 w/German #1….currently on an old Marlin dirty thirty carbine. It’s faster than irons and minute of deer or coyote to 200…..and doesn’t change handling enough to notice.

Nightfirce NXS – 2.5-10x42mm

Leupold 1.5-5.

Too bad Leupold doesn't offer heavy reticles anymore.

You can still occasionally find a heavy duplex out there, though. It doesn’t get any smaller and lighter for a variable, AFAIK (than a Leupold 1-4). The 1.5-5 isn’t too much larger/heavier, either and works well. I just think the 1-4 is a better package….it’s just VX1 or 2 vs VX3 for the 1.5-5.

There aren't any new scopes on the market that are well suited to lever guns anymore. Special congrats goes to Leupold for fuggin up the 1-4 VX Freedom by discontinuing the duplex reticle and replacing with that stupid pig plex reticle. You have to buy used for a good lever gun scope today.

We just got a big shipment of the Nightforce NXS 2.5-10x42 Compact ZeroStop - MOAR Illuminated

+1

I rather like the Pig-Plex reticle for calling coyotes in heavier cover and have made shots from just beyond my bootlaces to 20 yards. I have it on a compact 20P bolt action.

Have shot a pile of moose n caribou with as compact of a scope as I could afford. Always 7-12 oz scopes.

I did run a Burris 30 mm 1-4 euro diamond for a while. It was heavy at 16 oz, but on a 9.3x62 Mauser, not a big deal.

I did shoot a bunch of moose n caribou with a 1.5-5 vari x 3, but didn't care for it. Extremely dim at low light on 5 power, with that tiny front objective lense. The weight was too close to most 2-7 scopes.

Hard as fk to find anything resembling a compact 12 oz 2-7 scope anymore. This Japanese glass gets close enough, and will certainly be my next scope:

https://mavenbuilt.com/products/rs-2-2-10x38?variant=32127979880526