Help me join the 21st century regarding scopes

[Gemsbok45]

I’m not going to disagree with anyone on this post.All very good scopes. For the best performance under the most severe circumstances there is only NightForce. Most people hunting will never need or use its abilities.

 

[BryceM]

Well, here's a short story. I bought a used Mk V .300 Wby in the 1980s. It came with an already old Leupold 2-7X scope. I hunted with that setup for two or three decades. After my first trip to Africa with it, where it performed flawlessly, I decided it was time to upgrade.

I bought and installed a new VX-5 Leupold, and that's when a bunch of trouble started. It was maybe the most aggravating, frustrating thing I've dealt with in a rifle. I was also changing my loads and bullets at the time, so it took a bit to ferret out the actual problem. Everything would sight in fine, and then at random times the zero would wander off. Several inches. Then it would shoot perfectly again for a while. Off the scope when to Leupold. They send it back and say nothing is wrong. Long story short..... after some trial and error I just determined it was a bad scope. Every rifle I tried it on went to crap. I bought a different setup for the .300, and the rifle has been just fine ever since.

Sometimes "upgrading" causes new problems. The old Leupold 2-7X? It lives on an old Browning Safari .375 H&H now. Pretty darn reliable too.

If you want to get a quality scope that will last a lifetime, Swaro or Zeiss are excellent. But, if you look in my gunsafe, you'll see 90% Leupold. I've had 20 that work and one that didn't. I have some illuminated reticles. Mostly, I never turn them on.

I have one Trijicon and like it.

 

[BryceM]

.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Like you, I'm a hunter who started out in the sixties and stuck with 70s scope technology until relatively recently. In 2018 I retired the 1972 3x Weaver mounted on my 30-06 for a new 3-9x Nikon. I had shifted from tracking deer/elk/moose in deep woods to hunting muleys on the prairies and African plains game so needed glass with more range. The Nikon scope was on sale so what the heck. Two years ago I decided to build myself a 404 Jeffery and brought the old Weaver 3x out of retirement. Seemed like it should work fine for the gun's purpose. Alas, insufficient eye relief for the 404's healthy recoil. My right eye is all I have remaining so I had to look for another scope. I opted for something simple and though I now have the "disposable income," I just couldn't see myself spending thousands on optics that I might only have a chance to hunt with a few times before it's time to cash in. I found a 1-4x Bushnell with very clear glass and excellent eye relief at a ridiculous price so decided to give it a go. It has a 30 mm tube but I discovered a discontinued Weaver one piece mount that is extra low. Proved to be an excellent combination with instant acquisition when cheek on the stock and wide field of view. No lighted reticle. I didn't want the extra obtrusion on the tube. Anyway, I've done fine so far without electronics, including shooting two buffalo. Also, no Christmas tree reticle. Totally unnecessary for a rifle of limited range. So far this scope has held up fine. I always have the option to shift to iron sights. Warne QD rings hold zero every time.

 

[Roland Robinson]

Take a look at the Swarovski Z5i+ not quite as expensive as the Z8 and a very good scope. I just put a 2-10 on a 30-06 and love it. The 2-10 isn’t perfect for a DG rifle but I think serviceable.

Would it be difficult to mount on a magnum action?

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Would it be difficult to mount on a magnum action?

Two things to keep in mind: 1) length of tube between ocular and objective bells 2) diameter of objective lens. If length between bells is too short for the action, the scope will have to be mounted on a rail or with an extended ring. If considering quick detach rings for optional iron sights, keep in mind no one makes extended quick detach rings. Then you're stuck with either one piece base or rail to mount a short tube scope. The greater the diameter objective lens = higher mounted scope to clear the barrel. Higher mounted scope can be more difficult to acquire target quickly and can also make for more abuse from recoil. For both these reasons scopes of low magnification and no objective bell are usually desirable for dangerous game rifles. No need for extended rings or one piece bases and the scope can be mounted very low (only limitation is bolt handle clearance).

 

[Russ16]

Would it be difficult to mount on a magnum action?

I’d have to measure it.

 

[RLL]

keep in mind no one makes extended quick detach rings.

Talley does make Extented bases to use qd rings. 1” or 30mm

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Talley does make Extented bases to use qd rings. 1” or 30mm

Are they not simply one-piece bases? I have a couple of aftermarket semi-pic rail bases with multiple ring slots forward of and behind a cutout in the middle for loading the magazine. Here's one mounted on my 03A3 Springfield with short tube Nikon scope. Formerly it had an extended ring forward but when I added iron sights I wanted QD rings and had to change to multi-slot one piece base because no one makes extended QD rings.

Leopold and Redfield also made/make one piece quick detach bases that can be used with their rings but the location of the rings on the base is, I believe, fixed limiting flexibility for adjusting eye relief for short tube scopes. The one piece bases I have chosen accept any standard Weaver style rings.

 

[Nhoro]

I think budget scopes have improved disproportionately to expensive scopes. So the gap between a cheap scope and an expensive scope is closer than it used to be. I would go with a 1-6 or 1-8 variable scope. That would do african hunting from 0- 300 m for me. I tried a 1- 6 ? scope, Vortex with a red dot. On 1 power, I was able to use it with both eyes open like a red dot sight. And I have happily used a fixed 4x scope on my 30-06 when I first got it. I like higher power scopes for target shooting but don't feel the need for hunting in Africa.

 

[WI-2021]

Thank you for the suggestions. I’m happy to have the opinion that 1x6 is ample. I’ve never dialed a scope all the way up in the Northeast where shots are 180 yards MAX and my eyes are still sharp.

While a 1-6 will likely be ample in terms of illumination, the light gathering of the small 20-24mm objective lenses is rather lacking compared to something with a larger objective. A non-issue in good light, but very noticeable at dawn and dusk.

 

[WI-2021]

Another to consider is Trijicon. They make a nice and rugged scope. The only 1” tube I am aware of is a 3x9 Huron. Not illuminated, but can be had with a thick German style Crosshair.

Trijicon Huron 3-9x40 German #4 Crosshair, 1 in., Satin Black Riflescope 2700004

FREE SHIPPING on Trijicon Huron 3-9x40 German #4 Crosshair, 1 in., Satin Black Riflescope 2700004

www.eurooptic.com

Unless they recently discontinued it, Trijicon has a 3-9x40 Accupoint with tritium illumination in various reticles. I have one and it's a pretty decent scope, but might be a bit lacking in eye relief for a .375. I am a big fan of their scopes in general though.

 

[5shot]

Buy the Zeiss in the classifieds

 

[CBeck]

I think budget scopes have improved disproportionately to expensive scopes. So the gap between a cheap scope and an expensive scope is closer than it used to be. I would go with a 1-6 or 1-8 variable scope. That would do african hunting from 0- 300 m for me. I tried a 1- 6 ? scope, Vortex with a red dot. On 1 power, I was able to use it with both eyes open like a red dot sight. And I have happily used a fixed 4x scope on my 30-06 when I first got it. I like higher power scopes for target shooting but don't feel the need for hunting in Africa.

Agree completely. More budget friendly scopes have come light years towards the high end.

 

[WI-2021]

Some non tactical hunting scopes for your consideration….unfortunately both 30mm but have conventional illuminated reticles and capped turrets.

Frontier 30 FD 1-8x24 L4A FD

All models feature Hawke's new H7 optics with high zoom ratio, supreme clarity and light transmission. Supreme accuracy for rifle shooting, driven and hunting applications. Capped Low-Profile Turrets. 30mm Mono-Tube Chassis. Illumination. Wide Angle FOV. High Volume Eyebox. 100mm Eye Relief...

us.hawkeoptics.com

SPECTRA 6X 1.5-9x32i - GPO USA

GPO SPECTRA 1.5-9x32i Compact Riflescope: Versatile Performance for Diverse Shooting. Includes GPObright High-Transmission Lens Coating Technology.

gpo-usa.com

I have one of each of these as well and consider both to be a great value. My GPO is the 44mm objective version though. The Hawke also comes with some really nice flip up caps. Mine are on lower recoil rifles, so I can't comment directly on how well they would hold up, but they seem well built, so I doubt it would be a problem on a .375. Cameraland NY and BH Phot Video generally have them at good prices.

 

[Roland Robinson]

Around and around and I think I’m currently trending towards the non-illuminated Swaro Z6 1.7-10x42

Who wants to weigh in?

 

[375Fox]

Around and around and I think I’m currently trending towards the non-illuminated Swaro Z6 1.7-10x42

Who wants to weigh in?

Only complaint I have on that particular scope is I find the non-illuminated crosshairs difficult to see against dark objects. I prefer the Swarovski illuminated scope over Leupold’s but non-illuminated I think the Leupold VX5 2-10 draws a much better contrast.

 

[KY Hunting Guy]

Around and around and I think I’m currently trending towards the non-illuminated Swaro Z6 1.7-10x42

Who wants to weigh in?

I have one on a 300H&H. I love the scope and think that it will work great for what I want it to do. The Glass is fantastic and it fits my rifle perfectly. The 300 is the one in the green stock.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

Around and around and I think I’m currently trending towards the non-illuminated Swaro Z6 1.7-10x42

Who wants to weigh in?

If you want the Z6 here is best option.
Last of the Z6i as they are discontinued. Jump on it before they are gone. I believe Euro Optic bought the last remaining stock from Swaro.

Swarovski Z6i 1.7-10x42 4A-I Riflescope Black 69238

Purchase Swarovski Z6i 1.7-10x42 4A-I Riflescope Black 69238 at Eurooptic.com. This Swarovski Z6i rifle scope has been designed to be utilized for long range shooting, especially in low light conditions. Get Swarovski Optik scope for sale!

www.eurooptic.com

 

[ldmay375]

Around and around and I think I’m currently trending towards the non-illuminated Swaro Z6 1.7-10x42

Who wants to weigh in?

I cannot speak to the ruggedness / longevity, but optically and field of view I am a fan. I have the non-illuminated Gen 2 Plex. The first generation of the Plex was definitely too thin for my liking. I am a fan of 1st focal plane #4's, but have no problem with the Gen 2 Plex.