Rifle Scopes Help a hunter choose his scope

[jcann]

I'll be buying from Experticity so the prices are very close to one another. I'll be putting it on a GAP built 7wsm which is used for deer, hog, antelope hunting and steel when I'm working things up for an upcoming hunt. With one child now out of college and another one in her 2nd year I'm strapped for funds but I feel either one of these will make a fine hunting scope.

In no specific order:

Vortex Gen I Razor HD 5-20X50 w/EBR-2B
or
Bushnell DMR II 3.5-21X50 w/G3

Which do you see as the better of the two as a hunting scope?

 

[jcann]

Wow, not a single suggestion?

 

[cattleman99]

There is a gen 1 razor for sale on here, if I had the cash I’d pounce. I’d look into that

 

[cattleman99]

Well nevermind looks like it sold. I personally would go with the bushnell because of the lower magnification range

 

[ykrvak]

Personally, I prefer to have a lower end on the variable magnification with hunting optics. Never know when you’ll need to put one in a critters noggen who’s hiding in the pickers. Given the two choices, I’d take the bushy for that reason.

 

[jordan0317]

The dmr2 will fill that role well. Lighter weight, Has a lower end, lower pro turrets. Its what I would choose in your situation. And yes, I've owned both.

 

[fdkay]

the DMR II is a dandy package, but, you are talking hunting here.
The DMR II has a minimum focus distance of 50 yards (maybe 75).
The Vortex isn't much better at 40.
If you are confident the minimum distance to make the shot is going to be 50+, then I think both will serve, with the preference too the DMRII, because of the lower bottom end.

 

[Dthomas3523]

I'll be buying from Experticity so the prices are very close to one another. I'll be putting it on a GAP built 7wsm which is used for deer, hog, antelope hunting and steel when I'm working things up for an upcoming hunt. With one child now out of college and another one in her 2nd year I'm strapped for funds but I feel either one of these will make a fine hunting scope.

In no specific order:

Vortex Gen I Razor HD 5-20X50 w/EBR-2B
or
Bushnell DMR II 3.5-21X50 w/G3

Which do you see as the better of the two as a hunting scope?

What is the minimum and maximum distance you expect to shoot on your hunts? Will you be using the rifle for anything other than hunting?

 

[gingerking5566]

Definitely the Razor over the Bushnell. It's a nicer scope in features and the glass is better. The 3-18 is a nice optic. I have one on my 6.5 Creedmoor upper and it also spends time on my Surgeon .243/.308 switch barrel. You will not be disappointed in the scope.

And some advice, call around and ask about pricing. Websites will have the same listed pricing but dealers can sometimes do better if you call and talk to them.

 

[supercorndogs]

Definitely the Razor over the Bushnell. It's a nicer scope in features and the glass is better. The 3-18 is a nice optic. I have one on my 6.5 Creedmoor upper and it also spends time on my Surgeon .243/.308 switch barrel. You will not be disappointed in the scope.

And some advice, call around and ask about pricing. Websites will have the same listed pricing but dealers can sometimes do better if you call and talk to them.

Gen 1 razor, not genII. The glass isn't as good in the Gen1 as the Bushnell, and besides the click less zeroing the features are the same.

I probably wouldn't choose either one for a hunting scope, even though I have hunted with both. If hunting was the the single purpose. I would find something lighter, smaller, and with a better FOV than both.

 

[jcann]

What is the minimum and maximum distance you expect to shoot on your hunts? Will you be using the rifle for anything other than hunting?

I took one at 712 yards two years ago and you can shoot a lot further than that around Lamar Colorado.

 

[alfmoonspace]

I am running a Bushnell 3-18 on my 300 win mag, like it for that application because it sits low on my howa.

If I was you, I would find something light and has a big FOV. Then run with it and see how you like it.

 

[powdahound76]

I run an LRHS 3-12 on mine.
Hasnt given me an issue yet. Not the lightest and does work great

 

[ThunderRun]

What type of hunting do you do?

I'll be buying from Experticity so the prices are very close to one another. I'll be putting it on a GAP built 7wsm which is used for deer, hog, antelope hunting and steel when I'm working things up for an upcoming hunt. With one child now out of college and another one in her 2nd year I'm strapped for funds but I feel either one of these will make a fine hunting scope.

In no specific order:

Vortex Gen I Razor HD 5-20X50 w/EBR-2B
or
Bushnell DMR II 3.5-21X50 w/G3

Which do you see as the better of the two as a hunting scope?

Experticity? Which company do you work for, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[jcann]

What type of hunting do you do?

Experticity? Which company do you work for, if you don't mind me asking?

Deer, hog, and antelope.

Former Marine

 

[jcann]

I am running a Bushnell 3-18 on my 300 win mag, like it for that application because it sits low on my howa.

If I was you, I would find something light and has a big FOV. Then run with it and see how you like it.

I'm not too concerned with the weight of a scope. I'm running a 26" MTU barrel and the type hunting I do doesn't require me to hump the rifle long distances.

 

[Dthomas3523]

I took one at 712 yards two years ago and you can shoot a lot further than that around Lamar Colorado.

I’d go with Razor then.

 

[6mmDaniel]

I’m actually looking at getting rid of a Vortex PST GEN II 5-25 in MOA. I have a set of tan geissele rings ($350 off their website). It’s a great scope. I’m just trying to get a razor for the locking turret feature. I used this scope for hunting as well. It has less than 200 rounds shot with it on

 

[6mmDaniel]

I’m actually looking at getting rid of a Vortex PST GEN II 5-25 in MOA. I have a set of tan geissele rings ($350 off their website). It’s a great scope. I’m just trying to get a razor for the locking turret feature. I used this scope for hunting as well. It has less than 200 rounds shot with it on

I took it to the range this weekend actually and I was hitting steel at dialed in at 600 yards then went back down to my zero stop just to shoot a 3/4 MOA group at 100 yards. Right in the bullseye.

 

[Glassaholic]

OP, I'd highly recommend you start with a Vortex PST II 5-25x50, I have one and it is a fantastic optic for it's price and would be good to get you started in that range (the 5-25ish) range while not breaking the bank but being a good solid scope. I have had the DMR II and it is a good scope but optically I think the PST II edges it out just slightly. Also, one thing to consider for your type of shooting is the FOV at the short end of the magnification range, you might think the DMR II at 3.5x has a huge advantage over the PST II at 5x, but the differences aren't huge as the DMR II is pretty poor at 3.5x with only 25.3' at 100y while the PST II at 5x gets 24.1' @ 100y, in fact, the PST II has one of the widest FOV's of any 5-25 out there.

Also, I would not recommend the DMR II for anything close up as it can only focus/parallax down to 75 yards (the PST II can go down to 25y), anything closer gets pretty blurry real quick. Finally, while I like the G3 reticle I think the EBR-2C reticle is a bit better because the Christmas Tree portion is not as intrusive as the G3 with its dots instead of solid lines.

One final thought, I have purchased from Experticity before myself; however, I would highly recommend giving the Hide Dealers a chance, they can sometimes beat mil/leo pricing with some of the deals they get from the manufacturers so it's worth giving them a call and telling them you're a Snipers Hide member. I'd recommend Mike or Richard at CS Tactical, Jason at Eurooptic, Mike at Mile High Shooting, Doug from Cameralandny is also a great guy to work with and I've also heard good things from Sport Optics but don't have experience purchasing from them.

PS - my first 7 was a 7 WSM that I bought just over 5 years ago but I sold it because it weighed a ton and I couldn't see myself hucking around the Rocky Mountains when hunting, I currently have a Chanlynn built 7mm SAUM that I love. To me, the 7mm short mags are absolutely ideal for big game hunting/long range as they have superb ballistics and pack a lot of punch with the heavy 175 bullets like the Hornady ELD-X 175gr; however, I noticed in your game lineup you didn't list Elk which is primarily what my 7mm SAUM is for, for anything smaller the 6.5 Creedmoor is more than capable ballistically and energy wise, heck, the 6.5 CM is also a very capable elk cartridge as well.

(One the Left: Chanlynn 7mm SAUM with Bighorn TL2 short action, Chanlynn 26" custom Medium Palma Contour barrel, Manners EH1 stock, ARC M10 low rings and Minox ZP5 5-25x56 scope. On the Right: SAC 6.5 Creedmoor with trued Winchester short action, PROOF 24" Sendero contour barrel, Manners EH1 stock, ARC M10 low rings and Vortex Razor HD AMG 6-24x50 scope.)

 

[Hondo64d]

I'll be buying from Experticity so the prices are very close to one another. I'll be putting it on a GAP built 7wsm which is used for deer, hog, antelope hunting and steel when I'm working things up for an upcoming hunt. With one child now out of college and another one in her 2nd year I'm strapped for funds but I feel either one of these will make a fine hunting scope.

In no specific order:

Vortex Gen I Razor HD 5-20X50 w/EBR-2B
or
Bushnell DMR II 3.5-21X50 w/G3

Which do you see as the better of the two as a hunting scope?

I think you’d be making a mistake to not include the 4.5-18 LRHSi in the mix... Especially at $750...

John

http://www.gaprecision.net/ga-store/optics/bushnell-lrhs-4-5-18x44-g2h-illum.html

 

[Glassaholic]

I think you’d be making a mistake to not include the 4.5-18 LRHSi in the mix... Especially at $750...

John

http://www.gaprecision.net/ga-store/optics/bushnell-lrhs-4-5-18x44-g2h-illum.html

Are they still selling those at that price, for some reason I thought they sold out? Those are crazy good deals and yes, the LRHS/LRTS scopes have great glass for their price range, even at their normal price range of $1200 or so, but at $750 this is a downright steal.

 

[Hondo64d]

Are they still selling those at that price, for some reason I thought they sold out? Those are crazy good deals and yes, the LRHS/LRTS scopes have great glass for their price range.

They have another batch coming in which you can preorder. My understanding is that will be the last of them.

John

 

[jcann]

OP, I'd highly recommend you start with a Vortex PST II 5-25x50, I have one and it is a fantastic optic for it's price and would be good to get you started in that range (the 5-25ish) range while not breaking the bank but being a good solid scope. I have had the DMR II and it is a good scope but optically I think the PST II edges it out just slightly. Also, one thing to consider for your type of shooting is the FOV at the short end of the magnification range, you might think the DMR II at 3.5x has a huge advantage over the PST II at 5x, but the differences aren't huge as the DMR II is pretty poor at 3.5x with only 25.3' at 100y while the PST II at 5x gets 24.1' @ 100y, in fact, the PST II has one of the widest FOV's of any 5-25 out there.

Also, I would not recommend the DMR II for anything close up as it can only focus/parallax down to 75 yards (the PST II can go down to 25y), anything closer gets pretty blurry real quick. Finally, while I like the G3 reticle I think the EBR-2C reticle is a bit better because the Christmas Tree portion is not as intrusive as the G3 with its dots instead of solid lines.

One final thought, I have purchased from Experticity before myself; however, I would highly recommend giving the Hide Dealers a chance, they can sometimes beat mil/leo pricing with some of the deals they get from the manufacturers so it's worth giving them a call and telling them you're a Snipers Hide member. I'd recommend Mike or Richard at CS Tactical, Jason at Eurooptic, Mike at Mile High Shooting, Doug from Cameralandny is also a great guy to work with and I've also heard good things from Sport Optics but don't have experience purchasing from them.

PS - my first 7 was a 7 WSM that I bought just over 5 years ago but I sold it because it weighed a ton and I couldn't see myself hucking around the Rocky Mountains when hunting, I currently have a Chanlynn built 7mm SAUM that I love. To me, the 7mm short mags are absolutely ideal for big game hunting/long range as they have superb ballistics and pack a lot of punch with the heavy 175 bullets like the Hornady ELD-X 175gr; however, I noticed in your game lineup you didn't list Elk which is primarily what my 7mm SAUM is for, for anything smaller the 6.5 Creedmoor is more than capable ballistically and energy wise, heck, the 6.5 CM is also a very capable elk cartridge as well.

(One the Left: Chanlynn 7mm SAUM with Bighorn TL2 short action, Chanlynn 26" custom Medium Palma Contour barrel, Manners EH1 stock, ARC M10 low rings and Minox ZP5 5-25x56 scope. On the Right: SAC 6.5 Creedmoor with trued Winchester short action, PROOF 24" Sendero contour barrel, Manners EH1 stock, ARC M10 low rings and Vortex Razor HD AMG 6-24x50 scope.)
View attachment 6906291

Thinks, I'll try giving them a call. Who knows, maybe they can beat Experticity's prices. I know Vortex would probably be a good choice but I'm not 100% confident with their tracking but I could be wrong concerning the PST Gen II.

I haven't hunted elk since 1981. Back then I was shooting a 7mm mag. I have a 260 for a range rifle and I had GAP build my 7wsm before George came out with his GAP 6.5 4S. Before I had the 7wsm built, it came from Winchester as a 300wsm. I feel the same as you about the 7mm. It's devastating with a Berger 180gr Hunting VLD at ~2,950fps.
We hunt antelope on a private ranch (50,000 acres) southwest of Lamar CO. There are a hand full of trees, a lot of cacti, short buffalo grass, and you can shoot from horizon to horizon. It's ideal for long range, flat shooting, hard hitting calibers.

This is at sunrise

 

[jcann]

I think you’d be making a mistake to not include the 4.5-18 LRHSi in the mix... Especially at $750...

John

http://www.gaprecision.net/ga-store/optics/bushnell-lrhs-4-5-18x44-g2h-illum.html

I don't disagree with you on that fact...I just feel I may need a little more magnification from time to time.