If you didn’t have a budget and were in the market for a scope where shots could be 500yds+ what would you get? I’m possibly looking for a new scope for my 280. I’ve got a ZEISS diavari victory 2-10x50 on there right now, might just want a bit more magnification. Maybe something light too.
I would look at the Bushnell 4200/4500 Elite series scopes in a 6-24 x 40 or 50 mm objective. Glass is superb on these, the weight is light compared to some of the other scopes like NXS, Huskemaw, and a few other that get bantied around here a lot. I've found the click adjustments to be firm, accurate, and repeatable on each of them I've owned and the AO is excellent. Price is way below what you may pay of the high dollar scopes also, so if you don't like it, you aren't going to lose much if anything on it if you decide to sell it. .. unless you want to go with a mil-dot or MOA/MOA reticle.... which I'm pretty sure aren't available on these. There is one in the classifieds right now that looks very nice. I've shot rock chucks with my 223AI with mine at over 500 yards and I like it a lot....
Zeiss v4 4-16. Nightforce nxs 3.5-15 if you don’t mind weight. Huskemaw 3-12 or 4-16. Don’t laugh about the huskemaw. Compared to my Zeiss v4 it just a slight step behind, but a good step above my bushnell elite 4200. The one I have tracks flawless
And I will have a tough time buying a 6x42 until Leupold gets their [bleep] together and changes that Wide Duplex out for a useful reticle (unless the custom shop comes back and will put in either a Heavy Duplex or LRD).
I like my V4 quite a bit might go V6 but the improvement isn’t that great. I’m using a 3-15x50 now HD5 glass isn’t as good but the performance with the z800 Christmas tree reticle is just terrific.
Leica ER 3.5-14 42mm. replaced by lesser quality ERi and ER5. if you can find the ER 3.5-14 it has side focus and 30mm tube. I, too, have a 280 I built in early 1990's and I put a VX3 6x42 on it then and it still rides there today. three rams, and many elk, mulies, pronghorn and whitetails later.
Zeiss v4 4-16. Nightforce nxs 3.5-15 if you don’t mind weight. Huskemaw 3-12 or 4-16. Don’t laugh about the huskemaw. Compared to my Zeiss v4 it just a slight step behind, but a good step above my bushnell elite 4200. The one I have tracks flawless
Just bought the Nightforce NXS 3.5-15 X 50 with the MOAR Reticle about an hour ago. Mounting it on my new Sako 85 Laminate Stainless Varminter in 243 set trigger. This is strictly a Night time Coyote Rifle to be used from my "Portable Blind" we can hunt Predators at night here in California that in it's self is amazing but we can't use any type night vision inferred of any type just spotlights.
If money is no object then Id go with a Swaro X5 ,they make a 3-18 or 5-25 version. Glass is as good as it gets and you can dial for longer shots. Either that or look at a March scope. Tons of versions to look at but they are mostly lightweight. I love the Zeiss V4 and V6 models and would be great but not as good as that Swarovski. Swarovski also makes a Z8 model that people rave about but i like the X5 for dialing and Ive not used the Z8. With top of the line glass you can use more magnification because of the clarity. All the rest of the scopes with Alpha glass are going to be tactical scopes that are very heavy. Good luck
I grew up on the Plains. What do you plan to hunt on the prairie? Small game, something that tops out at 18-24 would be fine, but heat waves may make things tricky midday. Deer, something that tops out at 14-18, but the biggest limitation is light gathering as deer move the most right around and after sunset.
What you have on your rifle right now is an excellent scope. I would not change. I have the exact scope on a .270 and if I can't make the shot with it on 10x then it's too far. The great majority of the time you can get closer and make a clean shot which we as ethical hunters owe to the game we hunt.
If you didn’t have a budget and were in the market for a scope where shots could be 500yds+ what would you get? I’m possibly looking for a new scope for my 280. I’ve got a ZEISS diavari victory 2-10x50 on there right now, might just want a bit more magnification. Maybe something light too.
I think your Zeiss is more than adequate, but when I hunt in WYO with my Blaser .257 Wby Magnum, it's topped with a Schmidt and Bender 3-12X50 Scope.
I wish I could ever get to that place where I could "put the money aside" and buy anything my heart desires... alas, that isn't going to happen in this lifetime- unless I drop all my other hobbies and sell all but a couple rifles, etc.... with that being said, I have made great efforts to find the best of the "affordable" scopes, if there is such a thing in a quality scope, and found some of what I would call bargains that work very well for me and my needs.
There are some very good suggestions on this thread that I haven't had the opportunity to try yet, so I can't comment on them ... but for a few of them a couple things rule them out besides the price- weight, overall size, and sometimes just plain aesthetics.... but for just plain usefulness there is a very broad range of glass available in all price ranges that will work fine for just about any discipline with a little research....