Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Thoughts on long range backpacking scope

Any suggestions for a long range scope for my 7short that keeps the backpacking weight tolerable?

How long you wanting to go with it?

First blush, I'd say a CDS if going to 700 or so, and a M1 if you intend to go longer.

I'd go with a 6x36 Leo or 2-8 Leo and be quite happy with it. Fact is I have a 2-8 with M1 on it now and have a 6x36 going in for a CDS soon.

Dober

I've pondered the same thing with my 7 SAUM.

I have a Leupold 3.5x10 on it, and the problem is that I love this scope and anything else seems like too much of a compromise to be worth the couple of ounces of weight savings.

I'll check in on the suggestions though, who knows?

I'd be doing a 3.5-10x40 Leo with an M1 or target turret up top. That'll do it all out to 1,000.

I have a Leupold 2.5-8x36 with M1s that I've been happy with. Probably 14 oz or so with the M1s.

the swaro Z3 line is lite scope that performs very well.
4-12x50=14.5oz
3-10x42=12.67oz
I had a z3 and liked it very well. I traded up to a z5 for the magnification. I had the bt turrent on both and it really works well.
If you want more magnifiacation the Z5 are pretty light as well.
5-25x52=17.5oz
3.3-18x44=15.9oz

If I were you, I'd call the Dbag in Wisc about getting one of the VX3s with CDS that he (IIRC) has on sale. The 3.5-10X40 model would be a good fit if you wanted more top end than the 2.5-8X36 recommended above.

Is this scope for your current 7 WSM or the one you ordered?

Tyler,

This will be for the one I ordered. I have a VX3 CDS 4.5-14 on my Kimber 7 Short.

I will be spending a week with DBag in Colorado in 10 days, so I will run this by him as well.

I like the sounds of the Swaro, but not sure what kind of range the system is applicable for. I am hoping for something out to 6 or 700 yards, but for big game hunting I don't intend to stretch it past 500.

help an old guy out here. im just not up to speed on all this alphabet soup stuff. i have quite a few leupolds mostly old
and im very familiar with m1s and target turrets. i have a few
from back when with premier dots also. but i dont know what cds means.
thanks

CDS on the left. this is the moa version. CDS=Custom Dial System. if you send Leupold your specifics, they will send you a knob marked in yards instead of moa

Toad-for the CDS do you send Leo the scope or just order the dials?

Thx
Dober

you have to send in the scope for the CDS conversion, but for the custom knob, you have to supply the ballistic info (bullet, MV, elevation, temp, ect...)

Miller- If you're happy with that scope, I'd put the same thing on the new rifle as it will probably be heavier than what you have now. You should be safe with balance.

They mark your dial with your pre-worked up load. Bullet type, weight, sea level elevation, speed on top. The numbers are the yardages ( x 100). Just dial to your range and they are damned close to bang on.

Rapid Z 600. No need for knobs.

Nightforce 2.5-10x32 (22oz). Or man up and get the 3.5-15x50 (30 oz). If you're a turret twister they're great and reliable. If you prefer to holdover on your longer range shots, the Rapid z works great.

The guy east of you goes with the straight 10 power S&B which give you the best of the turrets and light weight. Pretty sweet scopes too if you don't mind not having a variable power scope.

I'd look at the Zeiss 3.5-10, either in 600yd rapid z or standard reticle, I believe right now if you buy a Zeiss Conquest you get a free upgrade for a custom turret.

I've decided to try the Steiner 2.5-10X44.

I have to say I'm impressed. Super lowlight performance.
Super clarity and contrast.
Etched ret.
The Steiner Plex S1 ret. is very nice. Holdovers and Holdoffs.

I picked this because there are turret caps very low profile and you can still spin clicks if you wish.

Pretty light ( 18 oz.) and compact and it sits on a light and compact rig as well.

For 8 bills it's worth a look!

I'm in a similar position. I am looking at Zeiss, swaro or the Steiner coca is running. I currently have a swaro z5 with the BT and it works really well. Little long but all else is nice. Are custom turrets available for the Steiner? I have heard great things about that glass! Is it the dual or single spring setup?

Good question. I'm not exactly sure.

The ret. is so versatile that I don't think I'll ever twist the turrets. This rig is more than likely limited to 600 yards.

chip shot eh..? ;-)