Rifle Scopes Hunting Optic - Low Light

[HPD-NOLA]

I have been doing hours of countless research and need a new optic for my hunting rig. Its a Remington 700 .270. This gun will only be used for hunting at ranges no more than 300 but majority of our shots are around 100-150yds. I would like illumination since most of times I hunt in the woods where my stand is so its darker earlier than my surroundings for the open lanes or fields. These are the few I am looking at which was trying to stay around $500-800. Any others I am missing would be helpful to. Thanks in advance!

Leupold VX-R - 4-12x50mm
Trijicon Accupoint of Accupower - 2.5-10x50mm
Zeiss Conquest HD5 - 3-15-x50mm

I am LEO so should be helpful with getting some pricing. Plan to visit a local shop this week hopefully that carries all the major brands just wanted some insight before trying to be SOLD on something in the shop.

 

[IanHusaberg]

Take a look at sig optics! Whiskey3,5, Tango4,6!!!

 

[SubOptimal]

Scopes, and particularly glass have greatly improved over the last few years since I was shopping for scopes. I have found that some of the high end glass has moved into the lower price ranges but for true "count the hairs" light gathering, you will probably have to raise your target price a bit over the scopes you suggested.
Have a look through Swarovski, Bushnell or Burris. All can be had at somewhat reasonable prices and will be superior. I have always been a Leupold fan and that will probably do you.

 

[HPD-NOLA]

I have a Burris XTRii 3-15x50 on another rifle we use for training. Great optic like you said SubOptimal! I was looking for something smaller after noticing a lot of the specs and lighter plus the capped turrets. This week, I plan to go to the shop to take a look at some models. I looked through a VX-R yesterday evening and that was impressive for the price. I don't need to count the hairs off the deers head at 200+ yards just needto identify if he is on our "approved" list to take.

Ian I did notice some good things about Sig, so will have to take a look at those for sure!

 

[BurnOut]

Out of the optics listed, the only one that I have any experience with is the Zeiss... and I am VERY pleased with it, especially given the price point.

 

[HPD-NOLA]

I also forgot to mention Meopta line. Very good remarks from people with them. One guy decribed being able to see ants on a tree at about 80 yards. Guess he was satisfied!

 

[6point5CM]

I would use your LEO perks on a Meopta (they have a 3-10 ish model with amazing HD glass) or the Zeiss HD5 for the purpose you described. I firmly believe my HD5 5-25 glass was better then my ATACR. I sold the Zeiss due to needing a more turret focused scope, but pure glass wise, I would pick that over my ATACR. Colors were better, and clarity was definitely better. People think you need a 30 or 34mm tube for light but it's simply not the case. A quality piece of glass will work gread in a 1" tube.

 

[5RWill]

If you're partial to Mil i'd thrown in the LRHSi. Glass is ridiculous for the price, going toe to toe with my USO SN-3. Reticle might be a tad thick at 18x for that particular model but it doesn't bother me. Clarity, color accuracy, and resolution are a large improvement over the ERS i had. I haven't tested it in lowlight yet but i'm expecting good results.

Of the mid-high tier scopes i've had i'd rank them in descending order based on glass quality alone. If it were overall the Mark 6 would probably be last. Not a fan of that scope.
USO SN-3
Vortex Gen II 1-6
LRHS
Leupold Mark 6
Leupold Mark 4

I put in a lot of reading for the LRHS as much as i could find honestly, and the general consensus is the glass is far above it's price tag. I've seen a couple saying it held it's own compared to their premier LT, seen some mention it outlasted their mark 6. Which i have no problem seeing. Also saw two post on here with guys comparing it to their Kahles and AMG, saying it held it's own.

If FFP or Mil is in anyway a want or must have, i highly highly recommend the LRHS.

If not the HD5 gets my vote. Having used my cousins quite a bit it's just a great scope. Zeiss puts out some seriously nice glass in almost every price range. I don't like that the zero stop limits the elevation turret, but for the range you're looking at I don't think it would be an issue.

 

[6point5CM]

If you're partial to Mil i'd thrown in the LRHSi. Glass is ridiculous for the price, going toe to toe with my USO SN-3. Reticle might be a tad thick at 18x for that particular model but it doesn't bother me. Clarity, color accuracy, and resolution are a large improvement over the ERS i had. I haven't tested it in lowlight yet but i'm expecting good results.

Of the mid-high tier scopes i've had i'd rank them in descending order based on glass quality alone. If it were overall the Mark 6 would probably be last. Not a fan of that scope.
USO SN-3
Vortex Gen II 1-6
LRHS
Leupold Mark 6
Leupold Mark 4

I put in a lot of reading for the LRHS as much as i could find honestly, and the general consensus is the glass is far above it's price tag. I've seen a couple saying it held it's own compared to their premier LT, seen some mention it outlasted their mark 6. Which i have no problem seeing. Also saw two post on here with guys comparing it to their Kahles and AMG, saying it held it's own.

If FFP or Mil is in anyway a want or must have, i highly highly recommend the LRHS.

If not the HD5 gets my vote. Having used my cousins quite a bit it's just a great scope. Zeiss puts out some seriously nice glass in almost every price range. I don't like that the zero stop limits the elevation turret, but for the range you're looking at I don't think it would be an issue.

What's that weigh? I've read some guys love them and some weren't impressed. I've been temped on one several times, but the reticle just seems weird on paper. I think I need to get behind that reticle in real life. I like what they did with that scope on paper for sure.

 

[5RWill]

What's that weigh? I've read some guys love them and some weren't impressed. I've been temped on one several times, but the reticle just seems weird on paper. I think I need to get behind that reticle in real life. I like what they did with that scope on paper for sure.

Haven't actually weighed it but going on the spec sheet 26.5oz. I had read some of the same reviews, but found the overall consensus to be well received, and for 806$ after rebate it was a no brainer. Honestly though i couldn't be more impressed with it. Friend of mine who recently got his 4.5-27x56 Gen II Razor, just got in his 3-12 LRTS and told me the glass was gorgeous when i asked him how it was. I was curious if it's varying from scope to scope, which i imagine between everyone's eyes it is. Least going off this first impression i wish i had two more. A 3-12 for the SPR it's sitting on, move the 4.5-18 to dads 300wby, and have a 4.5-18 for my AR10.

I will say they're both a little long considering the magnification range, the 4.5-18 looks very long. That said it's comfortable to get behind, i don't find the eyebox too tight, it's somewhat tight don't get me wrong. But nothing to warrant complaining about. Turret clicks are extremely tactile and positive. Zero stop is simple enough, capped windage works well, magnification ring is very easy to turn.

The reticle to me is a refined G2 with a "circle of death" I like it honestly, quite a bit, least for hunting.

All in all it's a ton of scope for the money.

 

[Simia Dei]

Unsure how easily you guys have access to them, but everyone I hunt with over here uses a vixen optic (sambar deer shooting, max range 200m or so, most shots taken between 50-100m). The vixen VII 2.5-10x56 is what I will be replacing my current optic with for low light work, they are a magic optic for the price. If needed, the higher mag models offer a mil dot reticle as well.

 

[ccasanova]

What about the Vortex Raxor HD LH? I'm looking at the 1.5-8x32 for my 6.5 Grendel SBR for <200yd deer/hogs. It's half the weight and price of the Gen2 Razor, capped turrets, SFP. Seems to be a minimal feature (hunting) scope with quality glass. Only drawback is no illumination.

I have a Zeiss 3-9x50 on my .270 I'm happy with.

 

[6point5CM]

What about the Vortex Raxor HD LH? I'm looking at the 1.5-8x32 for my 6.5 Grendel SBR for <200yd deer/hogs. It's half the weight and price of the Gen2 Razor, capped turrets, SFP. Seems to be a minimal feature (hunting) scope with quality glass. Only drawback is no illumination.

I have a Zeiss 3-9x50 on my .270 I'm happy with.

I have the Razor HD LH (3-15 model) and really like it for a light weight scope with decent magnification. It sits on my Kimber MT in .280 AI. With scope, rings, and bullets I'm 6lbs 10oz. I haven't been able to test out the turrets yet as far as spinning them goes. But I enjoy the glass, reticle, and most of all the weight. For a rifle I would shoot 500 yards and in or wasn't spinning knobs a lot, I think it's a nice setup if you want weight savings.

 

[Primus]

I would look hard at the Razor HD LH in that price range.

 

[Langford]

I picked up a 2-10 Razor HD LH for a 50 Beowulf AR (whitetail rifle), its an amazing scope for the price. No illumination, but the heavy crosshairs makes it fairly easy to see the reticle when it's getting dark. I'll be picking up the 3-15 model for another build soon.

If you want illuminated for sure, The Nightforce SHV line is very good. I used the 4-14x56 for a few years, loved it but just sold it. I've had both the 2.5-10 accupower and accupoint, the accupoint was better than the accupower...but still pretty far behind the Nightforce SHV imo.


I recently picked up what I consider to be the ultimate low light hunting scope (S&B polar t96, 4-16x56 ffp illuminates p4f reticle), can't wait to get it out into the woods.

 

[XTREM HTR16]

For a pure hunting scope, under 300 yards, I'd look hard at the Leupold VXR 3-9x40 with fire dot or for better glass choose the Zeiss Victory 1.5-6x42 with illuminated dot.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[HPD-NOLA]

Went to a shop the other day that had a bunch of optics to take a look through. We looked through Meopta MeoPro and MeoStar models, Vortex Razor HD LH, Trijicon Accupoint, Leupold VXR and VX3i, Zeiss HD5, and Swarzo Z3 and Z5. They didn't have any Sightron or the Bushnell models to look through. For the price range the Meopta MeoPro and Razor was top on the list with discounts. Didn't like the reticle they had there for the Razor but glass was awesome between both.

Most defintely some nice optics out there since this is my first big optic purchase. Most have been $300 and under most of my life except the Burris XTR. Will keep updated.

I did pick up a VXR 4-12x50mm on a steal I couldn't pass up to put on another rifle so need to get rings and base for that. Any suggestions?

 

[N-C]

I looking this scope for dusk or night time ( coyote ) is $689-699 + tax
[h=1]ATN X-SIGHT II SMART OPTIC HD 5-20 X 85MM DAY/NIGHT OPTIC[/h]

 

[70worm]

Trijicon Accupoint 2.5-10x56mm