Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics fixed scope recomendation ??

A straight six Leupold will be much easier to "get behind" than that Nikon.

I'm not sure what you mean. I hunt dark holes in a timber lease with 6x Leupolds, no problemo.

6x can take you to walking to the truck in the dark and it doesn't have to be all that far away.

The reticle gets the win in low light, not the difference between 4 or 6.

Same same. I have used M8, FX-III and FX-3 6 powers and all look into those "dark holes" quite well.

I would have with a 4x, like the Leupold. I had one on a .45/70 Marlin and it worked very well, with ample FOV and ample magnification for the sorts of distances a hot-loaded .45/70 (and by extension, a .444) can reach. I also have a 4x on my 9.3x74 double rifle, and it works a treat there, for similar distances. The 4x Leupold also is very light and, importantly, has a small diameter eyepiece compared to some (especially many variables), so you can mount it low and still access the hammer easily.

I have owned a number of 6x scopes, and still have three of them. IMHO while they are a very versatile choice, they do give away a bit of FOV, and hence speed on close-in fast-moving critters. Not my choice for a .444 for that reason.

YMMV.

For what he is using it for I still think a new Classic K4 would be about perfect...if you really must spend more look into a Leupold FX-II in 2.5x20.

Just ordered a K4 and a K6. I believe the K6 will go on a 35 Whelen that Redneck is doing up for me now. The K4.........not sure. Maybe the 300 Wby Mag to see what it will take.

I'm thinking there's a reason they're cheap.....I guess we'll see. At least they have a lifetime warranty.

I applaud your ability to regurgitate forum math. I am fully aware of ubiquitous exit pupil forumlas. I have also dialed down in low light on my 2.5-10x42 varipoint and been able to see at low powers what I could not at 6 or above.

Doubtful.....but......congratulations?

Doubtful only if you do not place a premium on clarity or have never actually experienced the matter in the field. Which is you?

Dropping an anterless deer at 100 yards, last light...does it matter if it's a button or a doe? That level of clarity can absolutely hang in the balance.

Feisty. I like it.

When the exit pupil gets above 7mm, unless a person's iris dilates to an unusual degree, all that's happening is the front side of the eye is being illuminated around the pupil. A 10mm exit pupil doesn't get more light to the sensor, the retina.

If I've already shot a buck in a 1-buck county..........I'd be damn sure and identify what I'm shooting at....at last light....with a good pair of BINOCULARS! I'd much rather spend $2 grand on good BINOCULARS and $500 on a decent scope than spend $2,500 on a scope and use only that $2,500 scope to identify game.

I'm pretty sure 2 eyes are better than one.......But maybe that's just me. You're probably a LOT better with one eye than I am with 2.

First let me be clear that I don't point my rifle at a deer without first positively identifying it as such.

The vast majority of my shot opportunities are just a few seconds. And I'm hunting thick cover out of confined stands not tower blinds over open spaces. No time time to fool with binos most of the time.

Or you could just find a better place to hunt.

I don't dispute that but the increased exit pupil over 7mm still provides a distinct improvement in clarity with good glass.

Anybody who's had a slow recovery from PRK can attest to the importance of the distinction between clarity and visibility.

Yep, I'm sure of it. After reading this thread, I'm certain that 3-gun nation and all of the Tier One units will be throwing all their variables in the trash and slapping 6x's on EVERYTHING, even their breaching shotguns.

So if you've already shot a buck in a 1-buck county, you'll take a quick shot (2 seconds) at a "doe" in thick cover at last light?

How do you ID any game if you don't have time to "fool with binos" and "don't point my rifle at a deer without first positively identifying it as such".

Something here just does not compute. Again......Congratulations?

I haven't seen that.

Lol you are too much. I don't shoot any deer in thick cover outside of a very limited range. I shoot them when they move from cover into a shooting lane. But because the shooting lane is surrounded by thick cover I only have a reasonable expectation of a couple of seconds opportunity before they exit the lane.

I kill the first antlerless deer that presents a clean shot. After that I shoot every anterless deer I can be reasonably certain is a mature doe....50+ deer /sq mile. I don't have a one buck limit. I shoot a buck every three years or so. I hunt where there is an earn a buck law. Buttons are treated as antlerless not anterled.