Gun, Tikka T3 lite stainless .300 wm. Purpose is a designated western hunting rifle. I will be chasing it all. This is my first high powered hunting rifle, and I have not hunted out west before. My first hunt is a Montana spring black bear in 2015. I want to keep the scope under 1K but would like it around the $800 mark or less ideally. I have been looking at vortex pst or hs in 4-16 and VX3 in 4.5-14's. I would really like the low end a bit lower but I think 4- would be fine. What are your thoughts and suggestions.
Hunting & Fishing Ordered the gun, now I need a scope! What are your favorites!
- Thread starter Nuke Man
- Start date
Nuke Man.
I bought this scope, VX-6 2-12x42mm CDS Illuminated Reticle (includes metric) - Leupold | Leupold
last year, mounted it on my hunting rifle and promptly went to Africa. I had Leupy make me up the free CDS dial to match my hunting load and off we went.
The optics are the clearest I've seen in a hunting Leupy scope, the illumination feature is incredible combined w/the scopes light gathering capability. I could've taken a warthog across a waterhole when I could barely see him with the naked eye because it was so dark. The PH and I were both amazed.
I realize the price is a bit above your stated budget, by shopping around you may be able to squeeze under the 1k mark.
In a nutshell, this scope kicks ass as far as hunting scopes go.
LX
I bought this scope, VX-6 2-12x42mm CDS Illuminated Reticle (includes metric) - Leupold | Leupold
last year, mounted it on my hunting rifle and promptly went to Africa. I had Leupy make me up the free CDS dial to match my hunting load and off we went.
The optics are the clearest I've seen in a hunting Leupy scope, the illumination feature is incredible combined w/the scopes light gathering capability. I could've taken a warthog across a waterhole when I could barely see him with the naked eye because it was so dark. The PH and I were both amazed.
I realize the price is a bit above your stated budget, by shopping around you may be able to squeeze under the 1k mark.
In a nutshell, this scope kicks ass as far as hunting scopes go.
LX
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I was drooling over that scope LX! Looks like everything I want in a scope. I'm not really sure about the illuminated reticle though. May not be legal for hunting in all states.
How bout this: Well under your budget and a damn fine scope. Vortex Optics - Viper HS 4-16x50 Dead-Hold BDC
1911fan
1911fan
NukeMan, Congrats, from one FIB to another, on your excellent taste in hunting rifles. PST might be your best option. Also look at:
Bushnell Elite Tactical
Weaver Tactical
I like a tactical models for hunting because it's what I know. I like the turrets and a mil/mil setup. If you don't need any of that, you can sometimes save yourself some $$ with the aforementioned scope's non-tactical counterparts (i.e. Bushy Elite 6500). Leupy is not a terrible choice, but I'd go Vortex first, for sure.
Bushnell Elite Tactical
Weaver Tactical
I like a tactical models for hunting because it's what I know. I like the turrets and a mil/mil setup. If you don't need any of that, you can sometimes save yourself some $$ with the aforementioned scope's non-tactical counterparts (i.e. Bushy Elite 6500). Leupy is not a terrible choice, but I'd go Vortex first, for sure.
I have a scope with 16X on the top end and it doesn't get used much. When you get into the higher power scopes, you have to adjust for parallax which is a bother when hunting. For hunting scopes, I've found 7X, 8X, 9X and 10X powers on the top end very adequate for shots up 400 yards and even further and without the parallax bother. In hunting black bear, I'm doubting you'll be taking any shots even close to 400 yards.
Leupold VX3 2.5-8 or VX2 2-8, why get a light weight rifle and top with a huge over weight scope. The VX3 has a slightly larger obj and more top end magnification but 2 ounces heavier but still lighter than most in this class of scopes. I ran a fixed 3x Alaskan on my 338 and never once did I need or want more out to around 425 but the scope had more to if I wanted just not me. Others have different experiences, this is only mine.
Do your best to run what ever scope you decide at its lowest power, this way if you jump an animal at 125, the flied of view will allow you find it quickly, see it, mark it and bang, I have seen hunters and me too use scopes at high power, forget and then cannot find the animal or get a good shot off. If you need to glass an animal, use binos keeping rifle set for the shot.
Superb rifle decision by the way!
Do your best to run what ever scope you decide at its lowest power, this way if you jump an animal at 125, the flied of view will allow you find it quickly, see it, mark it and bang, I have seen hunters and me too use scopes at high power, forget and then cannot find the animal or get a good shot off. If you need to glass an animal, use binos keeping rifle set for the shot.
Superb rifle decision by the way!
C'mon Nukeman, Its F*%$ing Illinois Bastard. How long have you lived here?
I second the Leupold VX3 in 2.5x8, or go to the 3.5x10. Let me know if you want to check out a couple. Also sent you a PM, I'm back from vacation and have some gun experimenting to do.
I second the Leupold VX3 in 2.5x8, or go to the 3.5x10. Let me know if you want to check out a couple. Also sent you a PM, I'm back from vacation and have some gun experimenting to do.
Both my Tikkas wear Leupold VX-r, the one for Mountain hunting is the 2-7x33, and 3-9x40 for the plains. I like the 30mm tube and the tiny red dot in the center of the reticle. Makes target acquisition much easier. Both have CDS, although the VX3 has a better magnification range. The 2.5-8 would be fine for just about anything. I ran a Vortex HS 4-16x44 and it was a very nice scope, but I always found myself dialing back to x8 so I went with something a little more compact, yet the ability to dial my shots.
As far as magnification range goes, I think it boils down to what your're used to. My preference is toward the upper middle of the pack (if that makes sense), I don't & probably won't own anything lower than 12x.
I believe that VX6 would be a dern good choice. I haven't used one but 2-12 is a great mix of power & the 42mm objective keeps the package relatively compact. If I had to choose one attribute over all else it would be clarity. With that being said, my favorite dedicated hunting scope (that I own) is a Zeiss 4.5-14. Best glass I own.
t
I believe that VX6 would be a dern good choice. I haven't used one but 2-12 is a great mix of power & the 42mm objective keeps the package relatively compact. If I had to choose one attribute over all else it would be clarity. With that being said, my favorite dedicated hunting scope (that I own) is a Zeiss 4.5-14. Best glass I own.
t
My Tikka T3 Lite in .270 Win wears a Nikon Monarch. That is a really nice piece of glass for the price. Here are some links for some really good hunting/tactical scopes that haven't been mentioned.
P.S. I love Leupold too...got one on one of my Savages. Cannot speak to Vortex but I hear great things.
Zeiss 3.5-10x50 Conquest Rifle Scope
Nikon 3-12x42 Monarch 3 Riflescope
SWFA SS 3-15x42 Tactical Rifle Scope
Sightron 3-12x42 SII Big Sky Riflescope
Bushnell 2.5-16x42 Elite 6500 30mm Rifle Scope
P.S. I love Leupold too...got one on one of my Savages. Cannot speak to Vortex but I hear great things.
Zeiss 3.5-10x50 Conquest Rifle Scope
Nikon 3-12x42 Monarch 3 Riflescope
SWFA SS 3-15x42 Tactical Rifle Scope
Sightron 3-12x42 SII Big Sky Riflescope
Bushnell 2.5-16x42 Elite 6500 30mm Rifle Scope
Update on scope. I finally decided on the optic. I just ordered a VX-6 3-18X50 illuminated B&C reticle. Got a hell of a deal from the guy that's painting my Tikka. Thanks to all for your advice. Can't wait to take this setup on her first hunt!
Definitely will LegioX! I can't wait to get the rifle back.The stock is being dipped in Kryptek highlander, the barrel, action, bolt, bottom plate and mags are cerakoted fde.
Here she is. I went with the 2-12 X42 with the #4 reticle. I liked the field of view and set parallax on this better than the 3-18.
Here she is. I went with the 2-12 X42 with the #4 reticle. I liked the field of view and set parallax on this better than the 3-18.
I see bag juju with the rifle scope and the window sticker, I can some dirt scratching happening!
Killer rig!!!!!
Yea I've gotten plenty of grief from friends about the sticker in the background! I'm not loyal to any one brand. I decide on what features I'm looking for and go from there, Vortex didn't offer what I was after for this rig. Now I got a Leupy sticker for the back window too 
I plan to use 180 grain Nosler Partitions probably in the Federal variety LegioX. And I got another year to wait! 2015 can't get here soon enough!!
I had Color and Camo Graphics out of Quincy IL do the hydro dip and Cerakote. I also got my scope from them. I didn't buy the 3-18 model.
He added a little burnt bronze on the bolt for a nice finishing touch. I'm very happy with how it turned out. And the VX6 is the cats ass! Very happy I went with that mag and reticle (firedot #4)
I plan to use 180 grain Nosler Partitions probably in the Federal variety LegioX. And I got another year to wait! 2015 can't get here soon enough!!
I had Color and Camo Graphics out of Quincy IL do the hydro dip and Cerakote. I also got my scope from them. I didn't buy the 3-18 model.
He added a little burnt bronze on the bolt for a nice finishing touch. I'm very happy with how it turned out. And the VX6 is the cats ass! Very happy I went with that mag and reticle (firedot #4)
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