Wanting to put a smaller lightweight scope on my rifle but I am trying to decide what to do. What are the disadvantages of the 2-7 vs the 3-9? Will it make a huge difference in those last few moments of legal light? How about for aging eyes, is the 9 power that much better than 7? I've never owned a 2-7 so I thought I'd ask around here. Thanks.

What rifle are you putting the scope on?

It would be going on a Remington Ti in 270.

...........A Remy Ti is a fairly lighter weight rifle and I assume that is one of the reasons why you own one. I would opt to use a lighter weight scope to maintain that theme.

For all practical hunting, there is little difference between a 2x7 vs a 3x9. In other words, in the field, a 2x7 or a 2.5x8, will do anything a 3x9 can do.

Off the top of my head, here are some good choices for your Ti.

3-9x33 Leupy Ultralite at 8 or 9 oz
2-7x33 Leupy VX2
2.5-8x36 Leupy VX3
2.5-8x32 Nikon Monarch
2.5-10x32 Sightron S2 (have this one on my 300 WSM)

Notice that the objectives are all below 40mm? A lower profiled scope in my view, would look better on your rifle.

When you get into the 32mm objectives and larger, the Zeiss, Kahles and other similiar quality scopes, the optical quality is better, but your weight and certainly the price will increase.

How far is your average shot? A fixed power scope has less internal glass so is a bit brighter than a variable all things equal if the quality is the same. The Leupold fixed 6X36mm would be bright and light. The heavy duplex reticle would take you to the end of legal light. The 6x42mm FX3 would be even better in dim light.

You might find that the 2-7 won't have much room between the rings to move the scope fore and aft on a long action, could be wrong?

My average shot will probably be 200 yards or less but I have had the occasional 400 yard shot. I do have a set of extension rings if I need them or mounting a 2-7. Thanks for the responses.

I'd vote for the VX3 2.5-8x36. Great scope.

another suggestion, I am running a Leupold FX-II 6x36 LR on my T3 .270 (similair weight as the new generation of 700 Ti's) that works great and weights it at under 10 oz..

It orginally was on my super light 1st generation 700 Ti 7mm-08 and fit nicely on that gun also.

I really like the size of the Leupold 2-7x scopes, both the old 2-7x28s and the newer 2-7x33s. The only issue that you might have with a long action rifle is having enough tube to get the eye relief that is correct for you. I currently have around 50 2-7x scopes mounted, making it my favorite variable scope configuration. Besides a variety of Leupolds, I have 2-7x scopes from B&L, Burris, Lyman, Redfield, Simmons, and Weaver.

Jeff

OW,

What is the difference between the LR reticle and the Boone and Crockett reticle or are they the same?

260,
50 mounted scopes??? You're not married or you have a very understanding wife!!!

Thanks for the responses.

B&C has several hash marks, as well as marks for windage.

LR reticle only has two small cross marks below the main crosshair. The LR reticles are very nice and clean looking if you think a B&C would be to much.


On a long action, my vote would be a VX-3 3.5-10 with a CDS turret. Get it on sale at cabelas with a coupon code and save yourself some money.

Married for almost 23 straight years!

Actually, I probably have close to 100 scopes mounted, but only around 50 are 2-7x.

My wife considers firearms a good place for me to expend my excess energy, but she does put her foot down when we go on vaction. No laptop, no FFL, no gun shops, and no gun shows.

Jeff

Check out this link to Koshkin's site: Optics Thoughts: Tweener Scopes. He does about as good of an explanation, and review, as I think you'll find.

FC

FC,
Great link. Thanks.

260,
You've got a lot of excess energy. Good to know the Cornhusker state is well armed.

My vote, if you do any close range hunting at all would be for the 2x7. The 2 vs the 3 at the low end will make more of a difference than the 7 vs the 9 at the high end.

If you could I would step up to the VX3 line as the new coatings make then quite a bit brighter than the multicoat 4 on the VX2 and you get the twin spring errector as well.

If you can get the CDS turret as it's a lot cheaper to buy a scope with one than get it fitted afterwards.

In the 2x7 LR the elevation marks are dots.

Do you find the Leupold 2x7's to have the best eye box and eye relief? I had a B&L and was not pleased with those aspects of it.

My .270 has worn all three of the Leupolds mentioned.
The 2x7, 2.5x8 and the 3x9.
Of the three I like the 2.5x8 the best and it's now there permanently.
It's the clearest, tons of eye relief, and it looks the best on the rifle as far as size and balance go.

Shot requirements on BG(elk?)from 200-400 yards are generally not that demanding from a magnification standpoint, and I can't imagine that any of the scopes mentioned(2-7,2.5-8,or 3-9) are not perfectly capable of doing it in fine style.

At least in theory, a 400 yard elk magnified 7 times looks like he's between 50-60 yards away.If you've seen many elk at that distance,for point of reference, he looks like a draft horse.

I like 2.5-8's in this category,but the other two are fine.

The larger scope will allow you to use more magnification under low light conditions. It will, in effect, bring you closer to ther target and, therefore, allow you to see further.
Both have lots of eye box, the 2-7X feels like it's got even more to me.
I haven't had the differences in coatings jump out at me between Leupold's Multicoat 4 Coatings and the latest Diamond Coat 2 Coatings on the VX3. But I would buy a VX3 over a VX2 simply to get the super hard coatings. E

I like the 2x7's but my favorite is the 2.5x8. Have 4 of them.

You will need either a front extension base, or extension rings to mount the Leupy 2-7x33 on a Rem 700. The combination of short scope and long action are not compatible without the extensions. I have a Vari-X III 3.5-10x42 (I think its 42) on my 300 RUM and it fits perfectly in regular mounts. The 2-7x33 is too short. I tried it.

The OP should also be looking hard at the Bushnell 4200 3-9x40. They feature Rainguard HD coatings which are scratch resistant and water repellent as well. For $250, it's a far better deal than either of the Leupold's with considerably better optics and is more durable as well.

Thanks for all of the responses. I think I've settled on the 2-7 for now. Since I'm a scope junkie I'm sure I'll have to try something different in 6 months but that's what I love about these forums. You can do the research then pick up a good used scope and try it out for awhile and if you don't like it, put it back on the board and start all over again. Thanks again for all of the information.

I'm kinda in the same boat. I'm thinking of buying a Sako A7 243 Win in the next few days for use as a walking rifle for calling coyote that will double for deer with a few ground hogs thrown in now and then. I wanted the rifle light and trim and was thinking a VX-II 2-7x33 would fit nicely in LW Talley mounts. Having the low power would be a plus when swinging onto a closer moving coyote. But, having the exta power of a 3-9x40 does make a difference on smaller targets when you get much beyond a couple hundred yards. I was scoping crows this AM with a 3.5-10X Leu that were spread from 175 to around 250 yards out. There was enough advantage of a 9X setting over a 7X setting on the overall size of a crow that leans me towards the bigger scope if I were shooting a bunch more smaller critters than I were shooting deer. The only thing I dislike about the bigger 3-9 is that it may be a bit on the bulky side for a slim and trim rifle.

The raw numbers go as such:

2-7 is 11" overall, weighs 10.5 oz, and has 5.2" ring space.

3-9 is 12.4" overall, weighs 12 oz, and has 5.6" ring space.

The 2-7 will be at 4.7X with an Exit Pupil of 7mm.

The 3-9 will be at 5.7X with an Exit Pupil of 7mm.

You shouldn't have any trouble making out a big game animal with either scope during legal daytime hunting hours. But, it appears by the numbers that the 3-9 may have a slight advantage.

Someone noted the 2.5-8X Leupold. I've had a couple over the years and they were alway a pain in the rears to fit for a good cheek weld on a long action as the tube is so short. If you think the 2-7 is short, the 2.5-8 is shorter. I dislike extention rings that jam up the top of the ejection port. I like to keep that area open for easy access. If you can make the 2.5-8 fit clean over the ejection port, it's great. If the mounts end up looking like a Frankenstein project, it's not too great.

The CDS was also noted. Excellent ballistic system, but the smallest scope available with CDS is the 3.5-10x40 and that thing looks like a midget wearing a 10 gallon hat when you stick that scope on top of a slim and trim mountain rifle:) You can get the LR Duplex in either the 2-7 or the 3-9. The reticle is a modified German #4 with dots spaced between the cross hair and thick section of the main post. For most standard cartridges, zero the cross hair for 200 yards. When you set the power ring at the max setting, the dots and thick section are spaced to give 6.59" come up at 300 yards, 19.2" come up at 400 yards, and 39.1" come up at 500 yards. Most standard cartridges fall within +/- 5" of this drop compensation at 500 yards. There is an alternative setting for faster high energy cartridges with less drop.

Good Luck on your choice.

I'm late to this thread, but you might enjoy this past one- Yeah, this one

I like both the 2x7 and 2.5x8, but on that rifle would prefer the 2x7 just a little due to its slightly smaller size. Eye box and relief are not critical and ample on both. I've got a 2x7 on a .338 WM and it's a dandy.

I make that debate with myself frequently.

My 2x7 Leupys are trim, less likely to get bumped around, are lightweight and make a lighter rifle balance better for me.

I love the "sight picture" of my Leupy 3x9's--up close in the timber when the elk bust out, and on the uncommon occasion I have to make that longish shot. I also really like the 9 power when shooting groups at the range with my 53 year old eyes.

Indeed, I have demonstrated to myself I can shoot better groups with my Vari X-II 3.5x10 than I can with a VX-II 2x7 on the same rifle with the same loads.

But in the end, I go with the 2x7's--it's the all around "package" that counts for my hunting rifles.

Of course, for me the best of both worlds is the VX-III/3 in 2.5x8........


Casey