New Rifle Scope Help

Retterath · Jan 19, 2015

im buying a shv for my wifes gun and have looked through them and played around with them and really like it. Remember that the shv's turret is capped if that matters to u.

Tim McCoy · Jan 19, 2015

I recently went through a similar search. Decided to extend my range while hunting. With my regular scopes, for example a 3x9x40 Leupold with a regular duplex reticle, I became very good to a little over 400, just knowing my target and load, using 5-6 power. Decided to extend my range to 600ish, 12 power should be enough. I don't do anything but shoot to prepare for hunting situations. No matches or uber long range stuff. What I stumbled across was the Vortex Viper HS LR, $380 out the door at Cabelas. They had a sale for 399 just before X-mas, added my coupon and could not turn it down for that price. They also make the HS - T with exposed windage knob. I chose the 4x16x44 HS LR, which only has exposed elevation.

Since I was getting a new rifle built, I of course had to go with a new scope. If you want to save $, you may have an existing scope
you can add a custom dial to. It works well for hunting situations at the ranges we are talking about.

http://kentonindustries.com/category/custom-turrets.

Leupold will make you one for around $60 I think.

Lots of good choices out there in scopes. With a factory rifle, I might shoot it a bunch first with an existing scope. If you can get the accuracy you need to 500+, then pick a scope accordingly, the more accurate, the higher my cost tolerance would go. Both my Tikka T3 Lite rifles hold 3/4 moa or better to 300 with factory ammo they like. With the right scope/load, I am sure either would be accurate enough to 600. With a Tikka, I might suggest one of the one piece rails vs the factory set up, especially with scopes the size you are considering.

woodtick · Jan 19, 2015

Go with the SHV or Leupold Mark 4. I'll probably get my butt reamed by some guys on here, but the vortex scopes are not on par with their other optics as far as clarity. I had a PST and an HST both of those are now gone and have been replaced with an HSV and a Leupold Mark 4. Each to his own just stating what I feel, but I think you can do a lot better for just a few more dollars!

Tim McCoy · Jan 19, 2015

Woodtick:
...I'll probably get my butt reamed by some guys on here, but the vortex scopes are not on par with their other optics as far as clarity. I had a PST and an HST both of those are now gone and have been replaced with an HSV and a Leupold Mark 4...

I'd hope not, as from solely an optical perspective, I'd say you are right based on most reviews I have seen. The Vortex had the features I wanted, killer price and enough optical quality for my intended use. But then again my bino's and spotters are not big 3 Euro stuff either, but good enough, lol. I am sure NABE07 will make the right choice for him, none are really bad scopes, but it would be hard to say no to Nightforce with the budget he has set.

missjordan · Jan 19, 2015

We have the vortex pst on one of our rifle set ups and I'd highly recommend it. Just because vortex warranty is. We went with the mrad reticle instead of Moa which for a hunting situation works great. To dial up is a lot quicker with the mrad than moa. I'd highly recommend it.

packmule · Jan 19, 2015

4.5-14x40 VX3L CDS will run about that ($1k). Have that on quite a few rifles I can stretch out past 500.

WapitiBob · Jan 19, 2015

I got tired of sending my Leupold 4.5 x 14 vx3 to Portland. Not as bad as my Kimber Montana but i'll never own either of those brands as long as I'm above ground.
Save a little money and buy a Nightforce nxs. You can get them for $1600. Any doubts, go to their website and watch their torture test video.

Hilltop · Jan 20, 2015

I use a VX3 4.5-14x40. That is plenty of magnification for 500+ yards. I limit to 500 and use the B&C reticle. If mounted properly, it is very accurate at long range. This takes the turret adjustment out of the equation. I zero my second crosshair at 300 yards and then shoot 2,3,4,5, and 6 hundred yards to fine tune. I am very comfortable with shots to 500 yards- my personal limit due to my beliefs on my rifles killing power.

Work2hunt · Jan 20, 2015

I was in a similar predicament 2 years ago. Asking which scope to use......you'll get a lot of opinions. But, I will recommend looking though your top candidates in all natural light situations. When I was finalizing my decision I purchased 12 scopes ranging from $400 to $1600 (I verified Cabelas was ok with this before I did it so I could return the 11 I didn't want). Yes 12 rifle scopes. I brought them home and compared 2 at a time by reading an eye chart at 100 and 500 yds in different weather conditions (sunny, early morning, late evening, cloudy, rainy, etc). I finally made my decision and am extremely happy with my choice and it wasn't even the most expensive scope that I ended up going with.

With my eyes this scope suits me perfectly. Everyone's eyes are different and therefore you may not like the scope I chose. Just try out several scopes and choose the one that best fits your eyes.

xphunter · Jan 20, 2015

The NF and the Vortex of the two mentioned.
I would add the Sightron S-III 6-24 as well-Solid scope. Better glass than Vortex and reliable turrets. I have done a lot of competing and hunting with the Sightron S-III

laxwyo · Jan 20, 2015

I have put sightron on all my rifles lately. Would like to swap some old ones out too

xphunter · Jan 20, 2015

I had some of the original ones and then replaced those when they came out with the MOA reticle.

stevevan · Jan 20, 2015

I'm sending you a PM

SansSouci · Jan 30, 2015

NABE07,

I always hunt and almost always shoot with my scopes set on lowest power. It might just be the 3.5x might be of far more use to you than 10x.

I'd go with I believe to be the industry standard: Leopold VX-2 3 x 9 x 40. I might be wrong, but I do see a lot of 'em on hunters' rifles.

I just bought another VX-3 2.5 x 8 x 36 for a .270 Win. I don't like large objectives because I like my scopes to mount as low as possible to my rifles' barrels.

One of the longest shots I've made was a long shot & we'll let it go at that. I shot a buck antelope with a Model 700 .270 Win with a Redfield Ranger 2 x 7 scope. I still have that scope. I bought it some 40 years ago. It works as good today as it did when I bought it. It has never failed me. It was made in America. BTW, I killed that buck with a single 130 GameKing. He dropped where he stood. I'd of tried to close distance except he was staring right at me.

I'd always recommend buying the best scope you can afford. But there comes a point where you'll reach diminishing returns. In other words, would you receive $1,500 in value, the price differential of a Leopold VX-3 2.5 x 8 & a 2K German scope? I don't know the answer. But I will tell you that I've always had positive experience with Leupold scopes. Keep in mind that except for sighting in, you might look through your scope for a fews seconds a day, certainly under a minute. So you whether you'll need the finest German optics on a rifle scope would be a personal decision. BTW, I do own a pair of Zeiss binos. It is hard to beat German glass. But then again, I might glass for many minutes at a time, maybe over an hour a day. I might look though my scope for seconds at a time.

WapitiBob · Jan 30, 2015

The difference is in how they're assembled and the parts in those assemblies. When you shoot a cpl hundred rounds/month, cranking knobs, you find out who makes the inferior stuff.

Elkhunter96 · Jan 30, 2015

I am really a big fan of the Zeiss Conquest scopes. I have them on two of my favorite rifles. I like them a lot better than the Vortex optics Ive owned. I currently own the HD5-25 Z-800 and its my favorite scope. But, thats what I like and others may have a different opinion.

CameralandNY has open box Zeiss scopes at much lower prices...just saying.

xphunter · Jan 30, 2015

FWIW - I have used a SHV on a 7mm Dakota custom rig and it did real good past the 500 yard mark on small targets.

NABE07 said:
I'm getting a new setup soon and I've been reading for a few weeks about different scopes and wanted a few opinions from you guys.
This gun will be my western gun for antelope, muley, whitetail, and elk shooting at ranges up to 500+ yards.
Also wanting to keep it under 1500 but closer to 1k is even better.

Pretty much set on the tikka t3 lite in 300. Now I need to top it with something. So far I Really like the following-

Vortex pst 6x24
Nightforce SHV 5x20
Zeiss conquest hd5 5x25

Thoughts?

Bonecollector · Jan 31, 2015

What about the Huskamaw scopes? I dont' own one, but they appear nice....

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