Hunting & Fishing Need help with scope size

[Hostile Natured]

I have been reading and reading and reading and I am still undecided.

I have a new Sako 85 .308 and i need a scope for it. The rifle is used mainly for hunting deer and pigs and some range work. Shooting between 100 to 600 yards.

I have narrowed the choice down to brand, i am going with a Schmidt and bender Klassik 3-12X?

Need help with the objective lens size. Basically, 42mm or 50mm???? The mount hight will not change as I will be running the xtra low optilock rings and mounts and both size objectives will sit in the same rings.
the weight difference between the two scopes is minimal and i'm not worried about the price either.

What is everyone running?

 

[MadmetalP238]

My preference is to go with 50mm objectives on my scopes. they allow for a wider field of vision when magnified and also allow for better clarity and brightness in low light conditions because they allow for more light, something that can be very important in any hunting situation. hope this helps. get some pics up when you get your glass mounted

 

[RUMrunner]

if cost and weight isn't an issue why not go with the larger lens?

 

[sjb269]

If the rifle has a slim barrel profile , I think 42mm looks more balanced. I'd be surprised with a quality optic if the 50 made a real world difference?

 

[308winchester]

I have the S&b 3-12x42 and I know someone with the 50mm.

He wishes he had the 42

 

[tobedell]

The 50mm, even at 10 power your exit pupil is 5mm and in low light objective might make all the difference.

 

[Dog&Jeep]

How will scope size effect the rest of your gear? For example: a 50 mm objective won't fit most saddle scabbards, while a 42 would. If none of that sort of stuff really matters, I'd go with the 50mm for the reasons stated above.

Good luck with it.

 

[lancetkenyon]

The extra 5-10 minutes of hunting light might make all the difference in the world one day. If price and weight were no objective, I don't understand your reasons for not going with a 50mm? Personally, I have NEVER wished I had gone with a 40 (or 42) mm over a 50mm. I would rather lug around an extra 2-6 oz. than limit my shooting light. Some of the big boys are darn near nocturnal, and you might ONLY get 2 minutes of shooting light at them.

 

[hlee]

Here in Tx legal shooting light is 30 min before sunrise til 30 min after sunset. My experience is that if it is too dark to see at 9x with a 40mm objective it is too early or late to legally shoot. But, my eyes may be better than others...

 

[InsidetheStorm]

50mm. More light and better image at higher magnification = better shootin.

Do you want a rifle that looks or one that shoots? I'd lug around a coffee can duct taped to a piece of pipe if it would put 10 rounds in one 30 cal hole at 600y.