Rifle Scopes Lightweight option under $1100

[Tsarbomba]

just bought a Barrett Fieldcraft, so im looking for something lightweight. Until now, I never really made a decision on buying a scope based on weight. But here i am.

90% of the time, my shots will be inside 400 yards. Was thinking swaro z3 4-12. But could save a few oz’s with the 3-10. What other options, have just as good glass as the swaro at around that 11-14oz mark?

 

[thecontract]

I would look towards the new SWFA 2-10 with plex reticle or the Sightron 2-10 S-TAC with the holdover reticle...

 

[beetroot]

Leupold VX3i line is pretty lightweight, not sure if the glass is on par with the Z3 or not.

 

[gr8fuldoug]

You cannot go wrong with a Swarovski Z3 as a light weight hunting scope

 

[Fret]

These are nice and at a good price:

Amazon.com : Vortex Optics Razor HD LH 2-10x40 SFP Riflescope G4 BDC MOA : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : Vortex Optics Razor HD LH 2-10x40 SFP Riflescope G4 BDC MOA : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

 

[Jefe's Dope]

The Athlon ETRs are light at 28ozs. Currently ½ off for both the 2.5x15 and 4.5x27. Midas Tac is similar but lacks illumination and has covered windage turret.

 

[Langford]

Vortex Razor HD LH 3-15 is a very good lightweight hunting scope, I’ve had a few of them.

 

[gopherslayer]

The Athlon ETRs are light at 28ozs. Currently ½ off for both the 2.5x15 and 4.5x27. Midas Tac is similar but lacks illumination and has covered windage turret.

That’s double the weight of what he’s seeking.

I can’t recommend anything 14oz or under but I do know my SWFA 3-9HD is a decent scope at 19oz and I can see past legal hunting light with it when it’s overcast and gloomy.

 

[spife7980]

The Athlon ETRs are light at 28ozs. Currently ½ off for both the 2.5x15 and 4.5x27. Midas Tac is similar but lacks illumination and has covered windage turret.

That’s double the weight of what he’s seeking.

I can’t recommend anything 14oz or under but I do know my SWFA 3-9HD is a decent scope at 19oz and I can see past legal hunting light with it when it’s overcast and gloomy.

Its also the BTR that is half off and not the ETR.

 

[Jefe's Dope]

Its also the BTR that is half off and not the ETR.

Yes, you're right. My bad.

 

[golden_311]

The vortex razor hd lh 3-15 is 16oz I believe. Had nice glass and an ok Moa reticle.

 

[tlsmith22]

You can find the Zeiss V6 on sale in that price range, great glass and LW. I’d also look at the NF 2.5-10x42 NXS, another nice piece of glass in a LW scope.

 

[goatboy]

With the weight of that rifle, no need to go ultralight on optic. A 16-18 oz scope, 4-6 oz more than a 12 oz, should be considered as ideal target weight but if you expand to 22 oz, you pick up a lot more options, though mostly SFP.

 

[Birddog6424]

How light of a rifle do some of you guys hunt with? My primary elk hunting rifle is 12lbs.

My little 6.5 Grendel that I chase whitetail and wolves with is still 10.5lbs. I've hunted with a 16lb 6.5 Creedmoor as well, which is the weight limit here in Idaho. I guess I just dont notice the weight.

 

[Boar Pig]

Leupold VX-3 4.5-14x40. I think it comes in at 13 oz. Plus, you can buy 2 of them for $1100 and have money left for some Talley mounts.

I’ve got one mounted on a Mountain Ascent. No complaints at all shooting at 400 yards or less. Total rifle weight is right at 6 lbs.

 

[Tac Beard]

I have two Z3s, a 3-9x36 plex and a 3-10x42 BRH. They’re great scopes, super light, rugged and fantastic glass. I’ve banged them around AK for years— up and down mountains, through nasty alders and devil’s club, even dropped one from a tree stand. Not to mention hundreds of rounds of heavy recoil. Always held perfect zero and they look good as new through the scope. I’d have never thought such a light scope would hold up so well.

My son has a VX-3 2.5-8x36 that’s been through most of the same stuff and come out just as well. The glass is pretty close, features are close, not as refined as a Z3 but basically the same weight and half the price.

If you need a scope to dial, the 2.5-10 NXS is awesome; only ~20oz depending on objective and at least as tough.

 

[.50 Cal Cow]

Zeiss Conquest V4 is in the price range you are looking for as well.

 

[Codiekfx400]

Leupold vx6 with a cds dial would work well.

 

[WB300]

Went through this same process with a Fieldcraft 2 years ago. If "set and forget" scope, Swaro, Razor HD LH or Leupy. If dialing, go NF SHV 3-10 or for a more low profile look go NXS 2.5-10x32.

Keep us updated with pics of the final product.

 

[Mk32784]

I am putting together a hunting gun and this is quite useful for me. But I noticed most of these scopes use plex reticals and have capped turrets. How do you then take a shoot at 300/400/500 for game?

 

[Boar Pig]

I've got the Boone and Crockett reticle in my VX-3 4.5-14x40. With 6.5cm precision hunter factory ammo, the 400 yard hash is within 1.25" of actual bullet path. Which is better than I can shoot a 6lb rifle in the field anyway. I limit my shots to 400 yards.

 

[762 ULTRAMAGA]

How light of a rifle do some of you guys hunt with? My primary elk hunting rifle is 12lbs.

My little 6.5 Grendel that I chase whitetail and wolves with is still 10.5lbs. I've hunted with a 16lb 6.5 Creedmoor as well, which is the weight limit here in Idaho. I guess I just dont notice the weight.

I'm with you to an extent, I personally feel that skimping out on a quality LR scope is a terrible place to save weight.
My light weight setup weighs 7.8 lbs wearing a MK5 3.6-18, it was 4oz lighter when it had a zeiss V4 that didn't track...
I like to keep my elk rifles under 10lbs scoped though, it's pretty rough packing a heavy rifle 3000' back up out of Hells Canyon

 

[Birddog6424]

I'm with you to an extent, I personally feel that skimping out on a quality LR scope is a terrible place to save weight.
My light weight setup weighs 7.8 lbs wearing a MK5 3.6-18, it was 4oz lighter when it had a zeiss V4 that didn't track...
I like to keep my elk rifles under 10lbs scoped though, it's pretty rough packing a heavy rifle 3000' back up out of Hells Canyon

Hell's Canyon separates the men from the boys. No doubt.

I'm not terribly far from you where I stomp around. I hunt up John Day Creek in Riggins. Great country.

 

[762 ULTRAMAGA]

Hell's Canyon separates the men from the boys. No doubt.

I'm not terribly far from you where I stomp around. I hunt up John Day Creek in Riggins. Great country.

Just so the Californians are clear.. There isn't a single elk around there

 

[Tactical_Tom]

If you really need something lighter EuroOptic has the Leica Magnus1.5-10x42 L-Ballistic on sale for $1,099. It has matching turrets, and the reticle isn't a BDC reticle, since it has uniform graduation.