Rifle Scopes New hunting scope

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Spool1094

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Nov 22, 2017
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#1
Hey yall, looking for other input on a new optic going on a woods deer rifle. This will be going on a straight wall cartridge so max range out to 250y. I'm looking at lower magnification ranges 2-10 or 3-9 SFP. I've looked at many different options but seems like the "dedicated" hunting scopes are mostly 1in tubes. It's not mandatory but ideally I'd like to have a 30mm tube for better lighting. Statistically, most of my shots will be at first/last light. Illumination is not mandatory but would be nice, I feel that reticle selection is more important.

I've kind of narrowed it down to:
Trijicon Huron 2.5-10x40
Leupold VX Freedom 3-9x40
Leupold VX5-HD 2-10x42

What else should I look at?
 
#2
A lot of hunting scopes have 1” tubes because they typically don’t need the extra room for extreme amounts of elevation adjustment, along with keeping them as light as possible.

It’s commonly stated that the larger the tube diameter, the brighter the scope…but that’s not the case. Lens quality, coatings, objective size/exit pupil diameter all play a role in that. Swarovski used to have a good article on their website about this, but it’s no longer there from what I can see.


From the looks of it, you’re ok with SFP? There are a lot of very good dedicated hunting scopes on the market, budget will help narrow down the suggestions. Out of the ones you’ve mentioned, the vx5 will have the best glass.
 
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#3
Langford said:
A lot of hunting scopes have 1” tubes because they typically don’t need the extra room for extreme amounts of elevation adjustment, along with keeping them as light as possible.

It’s commonly stated that the larger the tube diameter, the brighter the scope…but that’s not the case. Lens quality, coatings, objective size/exit pupil diameter all play a role in that. Swarovski used to have a good article on their website about this, but it’s no longer there from what I can see.


From the looks of it, you’re ok with SFP? There are a lot of very good dedicated hunting scopes on the market, budget will help narrow down the suggestions. Out of the ones you’ve mentioned, the vx5 will have the best glass.
Click to expand...
Yes, I think that’s the way to go. I have a few FFP scopes and they’re really hard to see at low magnification which is likely where I’ll spend 90% of the time.

I’m not dead set on SFP though. I definitely see the benefit in having accurate subtensions regardless of magnification.

Maybe it’s just my eyes but I looked at the VX freedom and vx5hd at a retailer yesterday and I couldn’t notice a discernible difference between the two in glass quality. Mind you it with just for a minute, inside a store.
 
#5
I was really happy with my vx5 last year.

Running the 3-15 htmr

No shots very far out and in practice time at the range, it was excellent at 600 yds.

I would also consider the mk4hd if looking at the 2-10 range.
 
#8
I’ve been looking for weeks and it appears there is no perfect scope. Will have to compromise somewhere. The vx5 would be perfect if they offered a reticle with a way to hold over.
 
#10
The vx5hd is an excellent hunting scope. I just went through the same thing for a 450 bushmaster. I decided to try the Burris veracity PH and am pleasantly surprised with it. It is ffp but the reticle is very usable at low mag. The ballistic feature with the HUD is pretty awesome.
 
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#11
Can’t beat VX5HD for the money

Good glass, good turrets, tracks.

I had one on this rifle. Upgraded to VX6 for more magnification. Bangs 12” plates at 1000 yards off tripod even when I let a new shooter try like here:

 
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#13
I actually just came across the Vortex Viper HD in the 2-10 which has the BDC reticle which checks all the boxes. The only vortex I own is a PST II and it’s meh. So now I think I’m between the VX5hd and the Viper HD. Unfortunately can’t find much reviews on the Viper.
 
#18
Spool1094 said:
I’ve been looking for weeks and it appears there is no perfect scope. Will have to compromise somewhere. The vx5 would be perfect if they offered a reticle with a way to hold over.
Click to expand...

They do….
You have to figure out your hold and make sure your on the “right power”.

BDC reticles are a guess and “close”.

I want exact. If you need 0.4 mils, why settle for anything different?
 
#19
powdahound76 said:
They do….
You have to figure out your hold and make sure your on the “right power”.

BDC reticles are a guess and “close”.

I want exact. If you need 0.4 mils, why settle for anything different?
Click to expand...
Not sure if you understood hold over. As explained above I’d like the capability to hold at longer distances. I’m not sitting at a bench and dialing turrets at my leisure.
 
#20
Spool1094 said:
Not sure if you understood hold over. As explained above I’d like the capability to hold at longer distances. I’m not sitting at a bench and dialing turrets at my leisure.
Click to expand...

I did.

The vx5 with the HTMR reticle has .5 mil has marks for hold overs.

SFP scope holdovers are different (only accurate at a set power) than FFP which is why I mentioned being on the correct power.

I hunt too. I used FFP scopes for some time, then the vx5.
I still dial for game.

Last year is a fine example. Elk coming in, but never give a shot, so I break my cover and tripod and sneak forward across open ground to where the mtn rolls over.
See elk with clear shot.
Range elk at 209 yds.
Dial 0.3 mils
Shoot off hand
Elk in a pile 12 yds from where he was hit.

Better than a hold
Would have had too much mag for off hand shot if dialed to 15.
.5 mil hold at 209 yds is a good bit higher than where I wanted to hit.

Same hunt, buddy tried to use a holdover (a vx5 scope, different reticle).
Elk at 355.
No hit, no dead elk.
I do believe 100% he woulda had a dead bull elk if his dope was taped to his stock and he dialed vs hold
 
#21
I have a 2.5-10x42 Nightforce NXS on my short-range hunting 308. The longest shot possible on the hunting club I'm in currently is maybe 150 yards. Pretty happy with it so far. Mine is MOA with the MOAR reticle. I wish it was MIL/MIL-R, but my dad gave it to me and I don't dislike MOA enough to bother selling/trading it.

I've also hunted similar distances with my SCAR 17 and a Razor Gen II-E 1-6 which worked just fine.
 
#24
The optic on the rifle in the video posted is a 3 to 18 x 50 which is 22 ounces - the Leuopold VX6-HD

A comparable night force will weigh at least a half a pound more, which was not acceptable on this lightweight backpacking rifle

And we got them on sale for 1500 bucks

Everything is a compromise, but this particular specimen performs every time I pull the trigger and the entire rig as picture, including suppressor and magazine with a 24 inch barrel and a 3 to 18 x 50 scope is 9 pounds even

This dude -the OP - is after all building a hunting rifle

The scope I previously had on it might be better suited to the OP: under 20 ounces and $1200

www.leupold.com

VX-5HD 3-15x44 CDS-ZL2 Side Focus HTMR

The VX®-5HD 3-15x44mm is made for anything and everything. Its 3-15x magnification range lets you take full advantage of any situation. Turn the power down to 3x for thick timber hunting, crank it up to 15x for your trek across the open plains, or go anywhere in-between. This scope has the...
www.leupold.com www.leupold.com

They also make a 2-10 but no side focus
 
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