Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Ballistic Turret Hunting Scope

I have an Ed Brown Damara in .300 Win Mag. It's light, around 7+ pounds with a brake. I'm shooting 180 gr. Ballistic Tips at 3,000 fps, approx. 1/2 MOA. I'm looking for a trim, light hunting scope with a ballistic turret, programmed for this load. Am looking at the Leupold VX-3, 3.5-10x40 CDS and the Swarovski Z3, 4-12x50 BT Reticle. I know there is a price spread there, but like both scopes. Cabelas has this Z3 on sale for around $1K, the Leupold will cost around $600 or so. The Leupold custom turrets are less expensive than the Outdoorsman's custom Swarovski turrets. I don't want the big, M1 Leupold type target turrets, just a simple one with a stop at 100 yds. Don't expect to shoot much over 500 yds. May need an extra turret for high altitude hunting.

Would appreciate input and advice.

Thanks,

DF

I have used the VX-3 you mention for shooting out to and beyond 600 yards in both a AR-15 and a 300 RUM.
Worked fine.

I'm in the same boat. I'm looking for lightweight, long-range scope with a turret. Leupold seems to have the lightest offering with the CDS line, but there is no side focus, which concerns me some. I was thinking about the LR 4-14x40 (30 mm tube) and having a CDS turret put on it. I'm not sure what I'm going to end up doing. Vortex has a new hunting scope line due this summer. Might wait to see what they are like. Too bad Sawrovski doesn't have a scope with a low profile, MOA marked turret.

Doc,

Too bad you have to consider the 30mm, bulkier scope. The 1" VX-3 4.5-14x40 has only 19.9 ft, field of view at lowest power, as compared to the VX-3 3.5-10 with 29.8'. Both the Swarovski Z3 4-12x50 and the Z5 3.5-18x44 have 29' and 30' FOV at lowest power respectively. That's a 10' difference that could be an issue at close range and the reason I eliminated that model from my short list.

DF

I forgot to add that Outdoorsman makes a custom ballistic turret for specific loads for the Swarovski Z series BT scopes. It's not cheap at $199, as compared to the Leupold CDS turrets at around $50 or so if I remember correctly. And one may need a high altitude and a low altitude turret for the same load.

DF

I actually called outdoorsmans and talked to them about their custom turret. I asked them if they would be willing to make me a simple MOA turret as opposed to one with yardages on it (which is what I'm used to with my NF scope), but they would not do it for some reason. I've got an older Swaro 4-12 on my light rifle now, and it is a good scope, I would just like to have an MOA turret and develop my drop chart for each load and location I hunt. Swarovski really seems to be missing the boat on this one.

Folks making yardage turrets but refusing to do an MOA turret would show their true ignorance IMHO... MOA has been working for years....

Agreed. MOA is the only way to fly.

I also have a 300 win. Here's what I did and I'm very pleased with it. I put turrets on a leupy 3.5-10 through the custom shop. I also used Burris rings and offset the inserts to give me, IIRC, 20 moa elevation. It's a great rig, light, and is GTG, for me, out to 700.

These folks make turrets for alot of scope makers. I do think these are the tall turrets though.

http://www.kentonindustries.com/

I am sending 2 of my Leupold scopes back to Leupold to have them install their system using their turrets. The cost is very cheap for what you pay get and I already have the Leupold VX-3 rifle scope and VX-2 rifle scope.

I was in your situation just before Christmas. I chose to go with the Leu. CDS and the custom dials.

The reason I chose that system is because of its simplicty. 90% of my shots will be inside 250 yards, I only hunt one elevation, and for hogs and deer, I use but one bullet.

If I expected changes in altitude or bullet selection I would have gone with the M1 turrent.

I'm learning to use M1 type turrents on my hevey barrel rifle, and am enjoying the lessons.

GB

Hi Tonk,

Last I time I spoke with Leu, they wanted $90 to install one (elevation) M1 turrent. What are they charging per CDS turrent?

the 3.5X10X40 is a very light and clear scope. i like a 40 mm i can mount it lower. all of my leup have been awesome. my long range ones have tracked perfectly and i use them for 1000 yard compettion. i shot a record book RM sheep with one. i do not have any swaro scopes. only binos. they are awesome too.

Dirtfarmer, I use the stock turret on my 3-10x42 AV to get me well past 500 yards.

A thought...

Sounds like you might want to look at the 1", 4.5-14AO, VX3, w/CDS.

Or Nightforce NXS 2.5-10X32 with NP-1 reticle. It's the way I went for my fav. hunting rifle.

Same price, I did two with CDS ele's this year.

[quote=Jeff_O]Dirtfarmer, I use the stock turret on my 3-10x42 AV to get me well past 500 yards.

A thought... [/quote

Jeff,
Didn't you make a "custom" sticker to go on a scope that let you dial in for longer ranges? I've thought about doing something similar on my Swaro. Do you have a link to that post or can you let us know how what you came up with and how it works? Thanks.

Out to 500 yds, you can ignore altitude

Bad advice

IMHO if your shots are all inside of 250, there is no need for a turret ever.