swarovski z3 3-9x36 or Swarovski Z3 4-12x50. Won't be shooting past 300 yards. Mostly range work with the occasional whitetail here in WI.
Thanks

Same as for a .30/06, .270, .308, .243, etc, for the same usage. I'd go for a 3-9, 2-7, 2-10, something in that range, or even a dependable 6x. Keep the weight and size to a minimum, no big objectives unless you hunt where it's often very dim at either end of the day. Big knobs or CDS stuff ain't needed.

3-9 will be lighter and more compact. I have a factory reconditioned z3 3 -10 I could part with. It looks like they might have sent me a new scope. Have one on a 280 ai.

On my M70 280 AI for years it's been a swaro Z3 3-10x42 with 4a, I've been very happy with it and don't plan on changing things up.

How far is your range?

You will appreciate the extra magnification while target shooting, and both scopes will be virtually identical in most hunting scenarios. I would lean towards the 12x for that reason.

2.5 - 10X 42mm is perfect fit for my five 280’s

I would agree. For anything hunting or targets to 300 yards, a 2.5-10X will work just fine. If you are set on the two that you listed, I would go with the 4-12X, just in case you decide to stretch the legs of that 280 with a trip out west or you find yourself with the opportunity to shoot steel at longer ranges.

How far out yardage wise are you comfortable with your 280 and scope? I stuck a NF 3-12x42 on my 280AI. It doesn’t have the illuminated center reticle, so I’m having slight difficulties picking up a small target with the MOAR at distances the AI can handle.

Based on my AI pushing 3200 fps with ease on 140’s down range. I may consider either changing out to more power, maybe 4.5-14 or something with a lit reticle...😎

I have a Leupold VX-R 4-12 on my Remington LSS 280.

Out of the 2 you have listed I’d definitely go with the 4-12

I have a 2-10x50 Elite 4500 on mine.Most of the time the trigger gets squeezed,it's during the last hour of the day.Go with the 4-12...

No brainer on going with high mag.

My fixed 6x SWFA sure has changed my thought process on needing a lot of X's to shoot long range.

2.5-10x32 NXS on mine, I would go with the 3-9 for a do all hunting rig. It will go as far as you need to with a 280. Optics seem to be a personal taste though, you probably know which path appeals to you.

4.5x14 Leupold VX3i CDS

14x and CDS for a 280 out to only 300 yards?

I had the same thought...

But a 165 grain bullet cooking at 3k seels the deal quiet well.


Under 300 9x is plenty,, once you cross 400 you want 12-16x range zoom (at least for me)

What comes under this category?

3.5-10x44 #4 Zeiss Conquest on my Sako AV in .280. Meopta MeoPro 4.5-14x44 BDC on my Rem. 700 XCR II in .280.

Depends on the rifle it's going on imo....tried a vx5hd 2-10×42 on a Rem 700 mtn rifle .280. Perfect mag range but being 30mm tube was too big for my tastes...so I just traded back for a like new, never mounted, VX3, not the 3i, in 2.5-8×36. Darn that scope fits good. Hate Leupold or not, this combo works. Btw, haven't checked out in person the new VX3i, but the scope I had before was a VX3 2.5-8×36. Very pleased with it and glad I found it.

🙂. Sounds like a fixed 4x or 6x with LRD’s, or 2-7x (2.5-8) or at most a 3-9x. You don’t need an elev turret to 300 but if going beyond, it helps.

For ex with a 6x LRD, you can kill a whitetail at 50 or bang a gong at 500. Simple, solid, light.

At 300 yards or less, the extra magnification isn't gonna do much other than help you see holes in targets. I'd get the 3-9x of the two listed choices.

My Mauser actioned 26" Shaw heavy Sporter barreled .280 sports a 3.5-10x40 VX-3i. Hate Leupold or whatever, I have no issues with it what so ever. Inside 400 yards there's no need to do any knob twisting. I set mine at the range and use Hold Over and Kentucky Windage. I've got some Berger 168 grain VLD hunting bullets that mine shoots real well over 53 grains of IMR 4831. I haven't chronographed that load yet but it's inside 1 MOA at 100 yards. That's plenty good out to 300-400 yards. It's a real sweet rig with that scope.

I have a 3.5-10x40 Leupold VX-3 with a Boone & Crockett reticle on my Rem 700 Mtn rifle in.280. So far it has worked great. Shoots sub moa as far as I want to shoot which is around 400 yards max.

Just ordered up a Zeiss V4 4-16x44 with a Z-MOA reticle for my 280AI. 😎

400 yards twice & 300 yards comfortably, without hesitation. That was with my 280 Remington. My 280 AI pushes 140’s to 3200 too, but I have yet to air it out on a field target. Shot 500 yards at the range.

I have a 2-10x and a 3.5-10x on my .280s...those selections just reflect my own preferences. I could get by with a 4.5-14x, a 6x, a 2.5-8x, or even a 4x or 1-4x. A 6-18x or 6.5-20x would be ridiculous in my opinion, but if that's how a guy wants to roll then I say that's what he should use.

À chacun sa vérité.

I'd get a 3-9X for your .280. It's a bit lighter in weight/length and doesn't have an adjustable objective to worry about in the field.

The 3-9X is as accurate and should do everything you want to do, include spot antlers, if necessary, before the shot.

My 280 has two scopes set-up for it: Vortex Razor AMG 6-24x50 and SWFA SS Ultralight 2.5-10x32. It is not a super light rifle, but it is very accurate so I like to shoot pretty far out with it when I practice. I like the idea of having a lot of trigger time with my rifle, hence the crossover precision scope (AMG), that works very nicely on 6x. However, the tiny 2.5-10x32 does exceedingly well on it out to 300 yards and if I did not spend a lot of time shooting beyond 600 yards at the range, I would probably just keep the Utlralight on there. For shooting offhand, the lower magnification the better for me. I shoot notably better offhand on 2.5x than I do on 6x.

That brings us back to your original question. I would probably lean toward the 3-9x36, unless you plan to spend a lot of time in low light, where a 50mm objective of the 4-12x will have an advantage.

ILya

I’m currently running 4 different 280s. 3 wear Leupold VX3i 3.5x10x50mm, the other a Zeus’s Diavari 3x9x42.