Rifle Scopes Lightweight rifle - Compromise on scope or no?

[KPK]

Building a lightweight hunting rig. It’s so hard for me to sway from Schmidt as that’s what I used to, but they are heavy. Is there a lighter weight scope out there that compares to the heavier match type scopes?

Or just get light on gun and roll with a pm2? Just a pound or so lol.

 

[Scottyman]

Swarovski Z5 has light weight options--ballistic turrets-- around 17 oz.

 

[ormandj]

Depends on what you want. I'm putting a ZCO 4-20 on a 10.5" SBR that weighs a little over 6lbs (semi-light) - but I want something with great glass and durability. Would I like lighter? Absolutely. Am I willing to compromise on glass quality or reticle? Nope. There's a lot of options that are lighter with nice glass, but it's always a tradeoff. What, specifically, are you looking for in the scope? If you can narrow down reticles you like first, then stack rank the qualities you care about, that'll probably be enough to help with suggestions!

 

[Glassaholic]

I am itching to try out the new TT315M with Gen 3XR reticle. The 3-15 Light Tactical isn't new (just over 27oz) but the Gen 3XR in this scope is. There's also the Vortex AMG 6-24x50 that is sub 30oz with excellent glass. You didn't give many parameters but mentioned Schmidt has been your goto. Ain't nothing wrong with putting a Schmidt Ultra Short 3-20 on your hunting rifle, yes they are heavier than the aforementioned scopes, but by what 4-5oz, at the end of the day will it matter - only you can decide that.

 

[simpy16]

Leupold Mark 5 3.6-18, glass is not Schmidt quality but its full featured and one of the lighter ones out there. If you want a little lighter it would be the Mark 6 3-18 but glass is not near as nice in it.
I love my ZCOs but the weight savings of the Leupy is what I was looking for on my rifles for packability.

 

[Secant]

I built a light hunter: Titanium action, carbon wrapped barrel and carbon fiber stock so that I could throw a 34oz Kahles on top.

I am looking hard at a TT315M with Gen 3XR though.

 

[Boltyboi]

What do you really want to be able to really do with your rifle? You have other rifles (presumably) set up to be long range rigs.

How far do you want to shoot with it? Is it just a hunting rifle or is it flexing Into a recreational role to slap steel at longer ranges?

If it were me I would get the lightest scope I could that had the features I need to do what I want to do with it.

I like to have my tools specialized. If its a light rifle, keep it light. Let the heavy rifle wear the sexy glass. You'll shoot that one more anyway

 

[Big Ern]

I was in the same boat for my lighter eeight hunting rifle that Jon Beanland built me.

right now I have a SB 5-20 US on it. Glass is great. Size is great. Weight not so great. It isn’t so much the weight itself, but the balance is a little off in the vertical plane. Not terrible, but I think a scope in the 23-24oz range and a 30mm tube would be better. However, that is a category with slim pickings for ffp scopes ie TT315M/315H, or one of the Match 3-24 scopes.

my hunts with the 315M and to my eyes i just can’t justify the $$. I really want to try one of the March scopes, but have never seen one in the wild.

side note: i ran a NF atacr 4-16 42 last hunting season. Great scope. I just didn’t like the rotating eye piece.

 

[Glassaholic]

The March is a great scope, parallax is a bit finicky and IQ falls off above 20x so just consider it a 3-20 and it works extremely well

 

[steve123]

I'd get the March 3-24x52 with fmlt1 reticle.
Though you'll need to stay mid magnification and keep the parallax adjusted for anticipated distance for hunting because it has a shallower DOF than most scopes.
On high mag the focus needs more attention to dial in perfectly.

I loved how short and light my 42 objective version was!

 

[Memberberries]

If your hunting rifle is a 22-250 for shooting Prarie dogs at 600 yds then get scope to match. If it's a 28 nosler for elk in the mountains then buy a scope to match. If it's a 30-30 for whitetail under 200yds then same story.

What are you building, what are you hunting, and how far away?

 

[kyzim311]

There is more detail needed for anyone to answer the original question. What are you hunting, what ranges will you be shooting, any plinking? Are you walking 2 miles with it or 100 yards to a stand? If you truly want a lightweight rifle, you need a lighter scope.

I will throw another option out there, I like the Swarovski recommendation the best so far for a true lightweight hunting rig. Vortex Razor LHT 3-15. gets you sub 20 ounces, very good glass (not S&B), and a lot easier on the wallet. I also like the 30 mm tube and locking exposed elevation turret. I have the older LH model and it has served me well for target and hunting work at reasonable ranges. You lose some high end magnification, but if it is a hunting only rifle that should not be a big loss (depending on questions above).

 

[Aftermath]

See post #2.
Very light weight. Fantastic glass. Plenty of customer support.
No complaints about finicky focus.
Not made in China.

 

[Dave Garrett]

I have been down this road... I spent $100's of extra dollars buy build components that shave every bit of weight possible and then put a heavy scope on... For reasonable priced scope that checks many of the boxes I require in a light weight hunting scope I like the 3-15x44mm Leupold HD5 with windplex... mounted in 20moa talley canted ring/base combos... It just seems to fit the light weight builds well...

 

[XTREM HTR16]

For a lightweight rig that is for open country, the S&B PMII 10x42 is hard to beat.

 

[st1650]

I've got a boner for a March stubby 1-8 or 1-10. 17 oz..... 10X would be plenty for east coast or TX hog hunting. Would go great on a light rifle or a 300BO pistol. Seems like a scope that would fit enough applications it would be worth quite a few years of ownership.

I have a March 3x24-42mm F1. It currently sits on a hunting rifle and it fits like a glove. Wish I had a second.
View attachment 7493333

Same. I have a lightweight build on the go and I'm not sure how to finish it.
Defiance anTI SA 223 bolt
12.5" 300 BLK fluted barrel
Manners Ultraclassic stock
Hawkins hybrid rings
HS DBM

I need a mil/mil scope that I can dial because I do a lot of long range subsonic but also I like to use it for white tail hunting which is usually sub 150yrds in bush env so I want high FOV, low mag but able to dial and still be accurate. Also with illum. I used a VX6HD 1-6 this hunting season and it was lacking just a wee bit at the top end and would prefer 8-10x although I did shoot a coyote with subsonic 300blk at 125yrds and 6x was fine for a neck shot so it's not like I need 15x but is sure nice for target shooting and load dev.

I'm thinking about the new March 1.5-15 but with that kind of money I could get a ChinaSkeet so ....

 

[Night Vision Viking]

5-20 PMII?

 

[Abbotm2]

NF nxs 2-10 20oz

 

[MOUNTIC]

I get caught up in this debate for hunting guns many times a year. I go from custom guns in manners mini chassis with TT315P or ZP5 3-15 scopes thinking I need the very best to mirror my LR target guns. In the end, all those ounces add up to pounds and it sucks day after day after day in the woods. I end up back at factory light weight mountain guns and just bought four of the Razor LHT scopes to swap on the hunter guns. (And I havent been much if a Vortex fan over the years) No they arent even close to the quality of the TT or Schmidt or other real high end scope. But they track true and I can still shoot 1000 yards without issue with them.. Everyone else in camp still kills with 500 dollar rifles and 200 dollar scopes. I'm in the reality check mode where I'm scaling back the hunting gun weight and optics. Im still buying quality scopes in that 800 to even 1400 range for them, but some of these scopes really aren't worth the weight for me for humping around the woods.

If your building a lightweight hunting gun then stick to the plan. The March is good option of high end, but still light. The Mk5/6 has a following. Vortex, Swarovski, etc.

 

[st1650]

I get caught up in this debate for hunting guns many times a year. I go from custom guns in manners mini chassis with TT315P or ZP5 3-15 scopes thinking I need the very best to mirror my LR target guns. In the end, all those ounces add up to pounds and it sucks day after day after day in the woods. I end up back at factory light weight mountain guns and just bought four of the Razor LHT scopes to swap on the hunter guns. (And I havent been much if a Vortex fan over the years) No they arent even close to the quality of the TT or Schmidt or other real high end scope. But they track true and I can still shoot 1000 yards without issue with them.. Everyone else in camp still kills with 500 dollar rifles and 200 dollar scopes. I'm in the reality check mode where I'm scaling back the hunting gun weight and optics. Im still buying quality scopes in that 800 to even 1400 range for them, but some of these scopes really aren't worth the weight for me for humping around the woods.

If your building a lightweight hunting gun then stick to the plan. The March is good option of high end, but still light. The Mk5/6 has a following. Vortex, Swarovski, etc.

Are you talking about the new Razor 3-15 LHT HD or the older gen?

 

[Painless300]

NF NX8 1-8 17oz
March 1-10 18oz
March 3x24 21oz
Leupold 3.6x18 26oz
NF NX8 4x32 28oz
S&B 5x20 30oz
S&B PMII 5x25 39oz
Vortex's RZR G2 3x18 46oz

I would also add the TT 3x15M to this list. It’s 27oz, it has the best glass and turrets money can buy and does not suffer from a finicky parallax. ZCO 4x20 would be my second choice if money is no issue.

 

[MOUNTIC]

Are you talking about the new Razor 3-15 LHT HD or the older gen?

The new ones. No experience with the old ones. This is what came off the rifles.

 

[MOUNTIC]

I would also add the TT 3x15M to this list. It’s 27oz, it has the best glass and turrets money can buy and does not suffer from a finicky parallax. ZCO 4x20 would be my second choice if money is no issue.

How are the turrents on the Marksman compared to the Tangent Professional? I was debating one of the Ms a while back but couldnt do it over the P because I didn't think the M turrets would stack up to its big brother..

 

[HenryTheAce]

The new ones. No experience with the old ones. This is what came off the rifles.

Wanna get rid of the ZCO420?

 

[Painless300]

How are the turrents on the Marksman compared to the Tangent Professional? I was debating one of the Ms a while back but couldnt do it over the P because I didn't think the M turrets would stack up to its big brother..

I’ve had the P and The M. The P‘s turrets are better because they are larger and easier to manipulate however the M series is almost as good, the tactile clicks are just as pronounced as the P. I’ve also owned the ZCO 4-20 while it has very nice turrets they just don’t stack up to the TT in my opinion. I actually love the Gen 2 reticle in the M as 5 power and above can be used fairly easy.

 

[MOUNTIC]

I’ve had the P and The M. The P‘s turrets are better because they are larger and easier to manipulate however the M series is almost as good, the tactile clicks are just as pronounced as the P. I’ve also owned the ZCO 4-20 while it has very nice turrets they just don’t stack up to the TT in my opinion. I actually love the Gen 2 reticle in the M as 5 power and above can be used fairly easy.

Sounds like they are done well then. May have to try one soon for a hunting build I'm putting together with the new Defiance An-Ti LA I just purchased. Thanks for the input on the M scope.

 

[Painless300]

The TT M is the perfect no comprise scope for a light weight hunting rifle. Mine is on a Lone Peak Fusion TI mid action, Proof 22”, McMillian A3A edge with a TBAC ultra 7. All in its right at 10 lbs.

 

[XTREM HTR16]

The TT 315 LRH is also a heck of a hunting scope. It’s the best I have ever owned and likely the last scope I would ever get rid of.