Sorry in advance for this being so long but I've already put a lot of research into this and I figured that I'd put my initial thoughts down in an attempt to help "fill the gaps" in my thought process (so to speak). Before anybody asks, no a rifle is NOT an option. We are in "slug country".
Anyway, I've decided that it's time for me to upgrade/supplement/whatever my current (primary) slug gun which is a 12ga Remington 870 Special Purpose Deer with a 23" cantilever rifle slug barrel. This shotgun is currently equipped with an older model Bushnell Elite 3200 1.5-4.5x32mm FireFly. I also bring along another pair of 870's, one is a 12ga the other is a 20ga youth model, both sport rifled barrels and open sights. These "secondary" slug guns are generally only used (by myself and others in my hunting party) when still hunting or tracking game. I'll be adding yet another slug gun to the stable shortly, a Browning Maxus Deer, and that is what my next scope will adorn.
My primary mode of hunting is sitting in a tree, most days you will find me in my tree from about 45 minutes before sunrise to 40 minutes after sunrise (or, until I bag a buck that is). The area that I hunt is very hilly (SE MN) and I sit in the bottom of a wooded ravine (primarily oak and cedar trees so it does get pretty thick). Once out of the ravine, it's farm country. Lots of pasture land (cattle) and fields (corn, alfalfa, soybeans). Over the years I've taken deer from distances measuring as few as 10 yards out to 195 yards (laser verified) with the average distance in the 95-110 yard range. With a 12ga sabot slug, I'm comfortable shooting at distances out to 225 yards which is roughly the max that the location that I hunt in will allow for (although, I strongly prefer to keep it under 175 if at all possible. The buck that I took at 195 was a follow up of a wounded animal).
With the type of terrain that I slug hunt coupled with the fact that I'm throwing a 12ga slug, I generally gravitate toward a low powered scope. Unfortunately, low power generally means lower quality scopes and smaller objectives. Thus, it's been a tough hunt for quality glass. If possible, I'd like to adhere to the following;
- objective > 30mm
- price < $1250
- low power between 1.5x and 2.5x (mainly for wide FOV)
- FOV > 45' @ 100 (on low power)
- fixed eye relief > 3.5" (sucks to get slapped by a scope mounted on a slug gun)
As a baseline I've been comparing the new potential scopes to my tried and true Elite 3200 (although I'd strongly prefer something of much higher quality this time around). For reference, here are the details on my Bushnell...
Bushnell 1.5-4.5x32mm (discontinued)
- FOV
100: 63'-20' (HOLY FOV BATMAN!)
- Eye Rel: 3.6" (advertised as fixed but I do not believe that it is)
- Reticle: Heavy Duplex
- Length: 12.5"
- Weight: 13oz
I do like a number of aspects about this scope. The FOV is fantastic (although I believe that this has more to do with the power range than anything else) and the size/weight has been fine. It's also held up to the beating of a 3" magnum 12ga slug just fine. On the flip side, the low light performance is what you'd expect from a $200 scope. In the ravine bottoms this isn't a huge concern (it goes from light to very very dark quickly) but when I'm hunting in other stands (along fields or pastures) this is obviously less than ideal. I also hate the reticle. Although it's been great in the woods, it's far bolder than it really needs to be.
I've run through my list of options and here is what I've come up with so far, coupled with my thoughts on each...
Swarovski Z3 3-9x36mm
- FOV
100: 39'-13.5'
- Eye Rel: 90mm Fixed (3.543")
- Reticle: 4a
- Length: 12.13"
- Weight: 12oz
- Price: $779
I LOVE Swarovski glass and put one of these Z3's on a .270 WSM it's been a great scope on that gun but I think that the 9x is more zoom than I really need considering my 225 yard ceiling. The FOV is also a little tighter than what I'd consider ideal. I still can't wrap my head around a 3-9x on a slug gun either, it just feels wrong. I do love this scope though so I didn't want to exclude it from consideration.
Leupold VX-3 2.5-8x36mm
- FOV
100: 37.5'-13.7'
- Eye Rel: 4.5"-3.6"
- Reticle: Duplex
- Length: 11.4"
- Weight: 11.4oz
- Price: $400
I have one of these on another .270 WSM and, like the Swarovski, I really like it on that gun. This offering doesn't appear to better the Z3 in any way however, lower power but tighter FOV? It made the list mainly because it's the best fit from the VX-3 line that I can find and, quite honestly, when I purchase the one that I already own my intent was to put it on my 870. Instead it ended up on a .270 WSM. It looks like a good choice at first glance but I think that there are better options out there.
Leupold VX-2 2-7x33mm
- FOV
100: 44.6'-17.8'
- Eye Rel: 4.2"-3.7"
- Reticle: Duplex
- Length: 11.3"
- Weight: 9.9oz
- Price: $300
A 2-7x seems IDEAL for a slug gun and this is really the only offering from Leupold that appears to fit. The FOV looks good, the size/weight fit the bill, the reticle is alright and you certainty can't complain about the price. I have never owned a VX-2 though, what am giving up in comparison to the VX-3/Mark-4? Is this going to be the big step up from the Elite 3200 that I'm looking for?
Zeiss Terra 2-7x32mm
- FOV
100: 46.5'-13.5' (actual zoom is 2.3x-7x)
- Eye Rel: 90mm Fixed (3.543")
- Reticle: 20 Z-Plex
- Length: 11.5"
- Weight: 13.4oz
- Price: $350
Ohh, ahhh... With no real-world reviews though... I'm hesitant. Sure, for the price, I'm not sure that I could go wrong but... There are so many questions about the new Terra line that I'm just not sure what to think. Looks great on paper and it's hard to have anything but confidence considering the reputation of Zeiss but ????
Meopta Meostar R1 1.5-6x42mm 30mm
- FOV
100: 67'-20'
- Eye Rel: 3.7" Fixed?
- Reticle: Illuminated 4C
- Length: 13.25oz
- Weight: 20.6oz
- Price: $1100
I like everything about this scope but the weight. I'm betting that this is due to the illuminated reticle more than anything else but that's a feature that I don't feel I need. Quite honestly, I've only ever used the FireFly feature on my Elite 3200 once and that was to see if it worked. It didn't really wow me so I haven't used it sense. Maybe on a scope with better low light performance I might find it more useful? Even though the weight is high, it is a stand gun so that's not a total deal breaker either.
Kahles CL 2-7x36mm (discontinued)
- FOV
100: 48'-17' (actual zoom is 2.3x-7x)
- Eye Rel: 3.6" Fixed
- Reticle: 4a
- Length: 11"
- Weight: 13.6oz
- Price: ???
This looks PERFECT on paper! Seriously, where can I get one? Didn't Swarovski make a similar scope a few years back as well? Why would they discontinue such a perfect fit??? Sigh...
So, what am I missing??? What makes/models did I overlook? Your thoughts on the various options that I listed above? Thanks for your input on this. This is a decision that I'm really struggling with...