Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics 2-7x33 vs 3-9x40

Wanting to put a smaller lightweight scope on my rifle but I am trying to decide what to do. What are the disadvantages of the 2-7 vs the 3-9? Will it make a huge difference in those last few moments of legal light? How about for aging eyes, is the 9 power that much better than 7? I've never owned a 2-7 so I thought I'd ask around here. Thanks.

What rifle are you putting the scope on?

It would be going on a Remington Ti in 270.

...........A Remy Ti is a fairly lighter weight rifle and I assume that is one of the reasons why you own one. I would opt to use a lighter weight scope to maintain that theme.

For all practical hunting, there is little difference between a 2x7 vs a 3x9. In other words, in the field, a 2x7 or a 2.5x8, will do anything a 3x9 can do.

Off the top of my head, here are some good choices for your Ti.

3-9x33 Leupy Ultralite at 8 or 9 oz
2-7x33 Leupy VX2
2.5-8x36 Leupy VX3
2.5-8x32 Nikon Monarch
2.5-10x32 Sightron S2 (have this one on my 300 WSM)

Notice that the objectives are all below 40mm? A lower profiled scope in my view, would look better on your rifle.

When you get into the 32mm objectives and larger, the Zeiss, Kahles and other similiar quality scopes, the optical quality is better, but your weight and certainly the price will increase.

How far is your average shot? A fixed power scope has less internal glass so is a bit brighter than a variable all things equal if the quality is the same. The Leupold fixed 6X36mm would be bright and light. The heavy duplex reticle would take you to the end of legal light. The 6x42mm FX3 would be even better in dim light.

You might find that the 2-7 won't have much room between the rings to move the scope fore and aft on a long action, could be wrong?

My average shot will probably be 200 yards or less but I have had the occasional 400 yard shot. I do have a set of extension rings if I need them or mounting a 2-7. Thanks for the responses.

I'd vote for the VX3 2.5-8x36. Great scope.

another suggestion, I am running a Leupold FX-II 6x36 LR on my T3 .270 (similair weight as the new generation of 700 Ti's) that works great and weights it at under 10 oz..

It orginally was on my super light 1st generation 700 Ti 7mm-08 and fit nicely on that gun also.

I really like the size of the Leupold 2-7x scopes, both the old 2-7x28s and the newer 2-7x33s. The only issue that you might have with a long action rifle is having enough tube to get the eye relief that is correct for you. I currently have around 50 2-7x scopes mounted, making it my favorite variable scope configuration. Besides a variety of Leupolds, I have 2-7x scopes from B&L, Burris, Lyman, Redfield, Simmons, and Weaver.

Jeff

OW,

What is the difference between the LR reticle and the Boone and Crockett reticle or are they the same?

260,
50 mounted scopes??? You're not married or you have a very understanding wife!!!

Thanks for the responses.

B&C has several hash marks, as well as marks for windage.

LR reticle only has two small cross marks below the main crosshair. The LR reticles are very nice and clean looking if you think a B&C would be to much.


On a long action, my vote would be a VX-3 3.5-10 with a CDS turret. Get it on sale at cabelas with a coupon code and save yourself some money.

Married for almost 23 straight years!

Actually, I probably have close to 100 scopes mounted, but only around 50 are 2-7x.

My wife considers firearms a good place for me to expend my excess energy, but she does put her foot down when we go on vaction. No laptop, no FFL, no gun shops, and no gun shows.

Jeff

Check out this link to Koshkin's site: Optics Thoughts: Tweener Scopes. He does about as good of an explanation, and review, as I think you'll find.

FC

FC,
Great link. Thanks.

260,
You've got a lot of excess energy. Good to know the Cornhusker state is well armed.

My vote, if you do any close range hunting at all would be for the 2x7. The 2 vs the 3 at the low end will make more of a difference than the 7 vs the 9 at the high end.

If you could I would step up to the VX3 line as the new coatings make then quite a bit brighter than the multicoat 4 on the VX2 and you get the twin spring errector as well.

If you can get the CDS turret as it's a lot cheaper to buy a scope with one than get it fitted afterwards.

In the 2x7 LR the elevation marks are dots.

Do you find the Leupold 2x7's to have the best eye box and eye relief? I had a B&L and was not pleased with those aspects of it.

My .270 has worn all three of the Leupolds mentioned.
The 2x7, 2.5x8 and the 3x9.
Of the three I like the 2.5x8 the best and it's now there permanently.
It's the clearest, tons of eye relief, and it looks the best on the rifle as far as size and balance go.

Shot requirements on BG(elk?)from 200-400 yards are generally not that demanding from a magnification standpoint, and I can't imagine that any of the scopes mentioned(2-7,2.5-8,or 3-9) are not perfectly capable of doing it in fine style.

At least in theory, a 400 yard elk magnified 7 times looks like he's between 50-60 yards away.If you've seen many elk at that distance,for point of reference, he looks like a draft horse.

I like 2.5-8's in this category,but the other two are fine.