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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 190
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
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The best low light scope I have ever owned is a S&B Zenith 3-12X50 with a very bold FFP plex reticle that gets ridiculously large as the power is turned up. It's a great scope. The reticle is every bit as important as the OBJ.DIA. or coatings. Terry Finally some great advice here ! I use the exact same scope on my 25-06 and I also have a S&B Zenith 2.5-10x56 which is even better in low light on my 30-06.....one of the best scopes money can buy !
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Joined: Jan 2007
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2007
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The best low light scope I have ever owned is a S&B Zenith 3-12X50 with a very bold FFP plex reticle that gets ridiculously large as the power is turned up. It's a great scope. The reticle is every bit as important as the OBJ.DIA. or coatings. Terry Never owned Terry's scope, but I have looked through a lot of Euro's and American scopes.Nothing beats the high end,30mm Euro's like Zeiss, Swaro, S&B,and Kahles after dark, for my eyes.I love aiming through those things. Yes, they take the cake at the end of the day. The FFP reticle comes into it's own as the sun goes down. At 3X. The bush is 208 yards. At 6X. The reticle is VERY bold. At 12X. The reticle is huge. Keep in mind the target is over 200 yards away. This scope just plain works in low light. Terry Good pictures Terry. They help illustrate the point.That reticle doesn't block anythingbecause the target is magnified as well. I am not a scope maven and mostly hunt with pretty pedestrian stuff But,when it comes to serious low light glass I have yet to see any 1" scopes seriously challenge those 30mm FFP's from Swaro,Zeiss,S&B etc...the only one's that have come close that I have looked through are the S&B Summit,and the Kahles 3.5-10x50.A 1" Swaro isn't in the money. The 3-9 Conquest got close but the reticle quits while that of a 2.5-10x42 Swaro PH just kept trucking.....I'm talking 250 yards up into trees where resolution was still sharp enough in bad light to really see.Both are good but a real solid notch below a top end 30mm FFP for brightness, resolution and plain old "seeing".
The 280 Remington is overbore.
The 7 Rem Mag is over bore.
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,512
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2007
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Terry, no doubt - hard not to admire beautiful wood while in the field. Remember my Dakota Predator 6BR, sure was nice holding warm Walnut on the cold mornings I launched some 95 BTs thru deer vitals I have used both as well, and no doubt, synthetics are great tools. What not to like about that hunting tool of yours, and in a 264 bore! So Bobin, the 30mm PH was distinctly better than the 1" models, nice to get feedback. What reticle on the Conquest quit? Good info.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 35,900
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2007
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So Bobin, the 30mm PH was distinctly better than the 1" models, nice to get feedback. What reticle on the Conquest quit?
65: Their version of the Duplex.To be fair, I should add that it was likely after legal shooting light at that point.Up to then the Conquest did very well;but the Swaro PH outclassed it after that.
The 280 Remington is overbore.
The 7 Rem Mag is over bore.
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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I hear ya, well if I ever go night hunting... No doubt the PH ups the ante...
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,144 Likes: 1
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,144 Likes: 1 |
Look at it this way, maybe the Conquest will keep you outta jail... Sounds like that PH Swaro may tempt you to take a shot way too late... Just saying... DF
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 35,900
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2007
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DF: Not likely It was an exercise while testing scopes over the winter,or at the range on local deer off season;not something I'm really hung up over. I spend only a little bit of time stand hunting,and mostly walk. Very few of my better deer have been killed at last light.
The 280 Remington is overbore.
The 7 Rem Mag is over bore.
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,580
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Look at it this way, maybe the Conquest will keep you outta jail... Sounds like that PH Swaro may tempt you to take a shot way too late... Just saying... DF I did some "testing" outside recently after getting a Conquest 3-9, and I definitely could go "to jail" shooting a deer out to a few hundred yards at least 7-8 minutes past legal here in MN with it.
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Joined: Nov 2010
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Look at it this way, maybe the Conquest will keep you outta jail... Sounds like that PH Swaro may tempt you to take a shot way too late... Just saying... DF I did some "testing" outside recently after getting a Conquest 3-9, and I definitely could go "to jail" shooting a deer out to a few hundred yards at least 7-8 minutes past legal here in MN with it. I do like the Conquest. My latest was a Cabela's special, $299 for the 3-9x40. I had to pay state sales tax but no postage; final cost, $311. IMHO, that's about the most glass for the buck, anywhere. DF
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Joined: Jan 2007
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2007
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Conquest is a lotta bang for the buck....I don't know of anything better in that price range.
The 280 Remington is overbore.
The 7 Rem Mag is over bore.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 7,132
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Put a German #4 in that 3-9X40 Conquest and it becomes a serious contender also. Terry
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Joined: Nov 2010
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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What does Zeiss charge to retrofit a #4 reticle?
DF
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Campfire Outfitter
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Konnari Thanks for posting that. You dont see many of those around. Very nice. dave
Only accurate rifles are interesting.
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I love the S&B Zeniths, but they do not have much travel in them. You are limited to what you mount them on if you want to use a 100 yd zero.
Great scopes though - VERY clear!!!
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Joined: Feb 2001
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Campfire Outfitter
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For what Bobs talking about. Its a non issue. Ill take the fat FFP reticle and the bomb proofness. Everytime. dave
Only accurate rifles are interesting.
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Joined: Mar 2004
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Campfire Tracker
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FWIW...have done some shooting under same conditions--though not from a tree.
If you are sizing the game up, my experience with all the top name Euro & US scopes has been that a really good bino trumps the best rifle scope--always. Provided you have the luxury of the critter staying in view long enough to get the bino on him, or you do what I do in those last minutes--keep the bino plastered to your face.
Once the light recedes enough you can't judge horns or age with the scope, there will still be enough light left for the bino to make the ID and then make the shot. That doesn't represent much time at all, but it still is a little time and anything prior to that ain't a issue with a decent scope & reticle.
A 42mm objective and heavy reticle like the #4 in the Conquest or the #1 in a Leupold will get the job done. If you want to spend the bucks you can do the Euro 1st plane FFP at 6x--no flies there, just cash, but the end result will be the same.
Defend the Constitution
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Campfire Tracker
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Having used both I respectfully disagree.
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Campfire Tracker
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Back equally respectably disagreeing with you, Terry...:)
but I do agree with your 98 selections....
Defend the Constitution
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I can see mo with the S&B than I can with my Leupolds. IMO, mo is better.
Merry Christmas my friend. ;^)
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Campfire Tracker
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Merry Christmas Terry.
I certainly would not argue that particular point...
Defend the Constitution
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