new scope

[Tyler]

Looking to put a new scope on my 7mm mag this year. I was thinking of getting either a zeiss 4.5-14 or leupold of the same power with the z-600 reticle that has the cheater hashes going down for farther out ranges.

I have never used this type of system before I was thinking it might help for a 4-500 yard shot but not be as complicated as an actual tactical scope. Anyone have any experience with this type of system?

 

[troutslayer29]

I just put a Nikon Buckmaster 4.5x14x40 with the bullet drop compensator reticle on my browning 7mm mag and am very happy with the performance. I use nikon on all my rifles and think they work well. Also with the spot on system the reticle is very easy to dial in to your particular round.

 

[packer]

I use the Leopold Boone and Crockett with my 7mm. I have found some of the factory loads are not consistent at long range. So have gone to hand loads with aerodynamic bullets and very precise powder measuring. If you are going to shoot long range get the load right, then practice, practice and more practice. I never shoot with a hot barrel with no more than three shots fired between cooling. Keep the barrel clean as well and site your rifle in at elevations that are near the elevations of your hunt. Being good at this game is much more difficult than the novice realizes. I also use the power setting I sighted in with to shoot with in the field, especially at long range. Just a few thoughts from a guy who has been doing this for years.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

I agree with packer. I also use Leopold with the Boone and Crockett on all of my long range rifles. If you pick a premium brand of ammo and send the ballistics from the box and your scope to Leopold's custom shop they will add a drop turret to your scope with the exact compensation to the turret so all you have to do is range, dial the turret to the range and fire. Also they will ask for your elevation and approximate temp that you will be hunting in. Then you will have the quick reticle in the scope and the turret for when you have time to set up for the longer ranges. Ive shot coyotes at 570 yards with the turret and a deer at 600 with just the reticle. my guns are very accurate out to 800 yards with the turret and 600 with the reticle. But you have to practice ALOT. I'm very confident in my guns and I practice every time I can, all year in the heat of the summer and the cold of the winter, high wind and no wind. All will change the trajectory of the bullet. I shoot a Savage 7mm wsm and a Custom 338 ultra mag.

 

[THEBUGLER]

If you dont mind spending the money, then you should check out the NXS3.5-15x50 built by Nightforce Optics. Hands down the toughest scope on the market. Nightforce holds many world records and is very popular in the "long distance shooting" world, and used by Navy Seal teams around the globe. Not only do they have tactical style turrets, they just came out with their new "Velocity Reticle" which has hash marks out to 1000 yards and is spot on in five velocity choices.

 

[go4steelhd]

I think your on the right track with a 4.5-14 power Zeiss. Go to your local sporting goods store and look throu the zeiss conquest and any leopold. Get them to let you take it to the parking lot to look longer range preferably as light is fading I think this will help make your choice. I have both brands in different grades, and I will never buy another leopold scope. They have a great warranty but the clarity is low in my opinion.

 

[arrowslinger21]

I shoot leupold scopes on all my rifles. They are absolutely bulletproof from everything I have experienced with them. I hunt some rough country and my scope have dinged up and bashed and they have never budged or slipped and have held up in the rainiest and foggiest weather conditions of oregon. I would recommend a leupold no matter what model of scope.

 

[Elkoholic307]

I have the Conquest 4.5-14x44 Rapid-Z 800 on a 300WM. First of all, it's up to you whether you want to dial for yardage or hold over with a reticle. If you want to use the reticle for longer shots, then I highly recommend this scope. I have and use both systems and am a big Leupold fan but to be honest, this Zeiss scope makes Leupold look silly.

If you get the Z-600 or Z-800 and want to shoot accurately at these ranges then you will need to use the Rapid-Z Calculator on the Zeiss website. More importantly, you'll need a load that shoots sub moa (preferably 1/2" or better at 100 yards), out of your 7 mag consistently. After you get that nailed down, plug your info into the calculator and it will give you the optimum power for your scope. The info you'll need is the weight of your bullet, ballistic coefficient of that bullet, sight height, muzzle velocity, sight-in distance, altitude and the temperature.

 

[jhpam3117]

Looking to put a new scope on my 7mm mag this year. I was thinking of getting either a zeiss 4.5-14 or leupold of the same power with the z-600 reticle that has the cheater hashes going down for farther out ranges.

I have never used this type of system before I was thinking it might help for a 4-500 yard shot but not be as complicated as an actual tactical scope. Anyone have any experience with this type of system?

I will say this about the Z-series from Zeiss. They work well with the calculator with the proper information input. However, in my experience I had the conquest 4.5 rapid z 800 on my .300RUM, and hunting various elevations during the season requires multiple sight in sessions and that can add up $$$ especially if you purchase ammo. I live in La Crosse and gun hunt here and in the big horns of WY. That ranges from 800-8500 feet in elevation (elk at 8000+, antelope 5000, and whitetail in WI at 800). I ended up sending the scope in to get tactical turrets put on and changed the rapid z to z plex and got kenton custom turrets on. This system is more practical as the custom turrets can cover a wider range and be more accurate. It is not as quick as the rapid z. My turrets are for 7000 ft. altitude and that will cover a range from 5000-9000 ft. above sea level given my ammo, temp, and caliber. Since the turrets are custom engraved for a set altitude if I zero it her in WI (which is hard to get a shot over 100 yards let alone 200) I only have to zero when I get to WY to be accurate.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Booner]

I have a leupold VXIII with the B&C mounted on my 264 win mag. After experimenting with various zero ranges, this scope ended up very accurate within 3 inches high or low on each line. I ended up zeroing it at 300 yds. that only makes it 3.7 inches high at 100 and the long hash line was almost perfectly dead on at 500.

 

[mcseal2]

I agree with packer. I also use Leopold with the Boone and Crockett on all of my long range rifles. If you pick a premium brand of ammo and send the ballistics from the box and your scope to Leopold's custom shop they will add a drop turret to your scope with the exact compensation to the turret so all you have to do is range, dial the turret to the range and fire. Also they will ask for your elevation and approximate temp that you will be hunting in. Then you will have the quick reticle in the scope and the turret for when you have time to set up for the longer ranges. Ive shot coyotes at 570 yards with the turret and a deer at 600 with just the reticle. my guns are very accurate out to 800 yards with the turret and 600 with the reticle. But you have to practice ALOT. I'm very confident in my guns and I practice every time I can, all year in the heat of the summer and the cold of the winter, high wind and no wind. All will change the trajectory of the bullet. I shoot a Savage 7mm wsm and a Custom 338 ultra mag.

I use the same set-up with the varmint hunter reticle and CDS on my scopes, works great.

 

[xtreme]

My next scope will be Zeiss. I have a Leupold VX 7L 4.5 x 18 56mm, a Z5 Swarovski 5 x 25, and a Nikon Monarch. My rangefinder is a Leupold RX IV with B & C. It has the True Ballistic Range which I like and use. It won't range very far, I wish I had bought the Leica range finder. My Leupold spotting scope is the Sequoia 15x45 and is only good enough to use on 15 power. Getting the glass right has been tough since I bought the cheap stuff first.
What rangefinder is used for the long range shots on The Best of the West?