Help me choose a rifle scope

[johnsd16]

Here's my situation. I am going to be new to western hunting and am planning all the gear I think I need. One of the most fun things for me is going to be planning and setting up some rifles for trips. I am currently a whitetail hunter here in MN and WI and have some rifles. I know I will need tons of other gear but I have a few loose ends to tie up on guns/scopes. I'm new to some of the higher end optics and am wanting some opinions from folks in the know. I used to work at a gun shop and we sold mostly pentax, burris, simmons, swift, bushnell, and other middle of the road stuff. I currently own stuff in the category of Pentax lightseeker, burris signature, and the like, $400-$800 range. I have not bought a gun or optics in a few years, and I plan on doing a pronghorn hunt in the next couple of years, followed by deer primarily thereafter and an elk hunt or two down the road in quite a few years. I foresee working up to shooting longer ranges but only talking to max 400-500 yds, so not planning on true long range hunting or need for advanced reticle/turret systems for this next scope. I will outline what I currently have below.

Sako 75 25-06 - no scope (had a Burris Eurodiamond on it but didn't like it and its been un-scoped in the safe for years)

Winchester 70 270 WSM with a Burris signature 4-16x (I am inclined to leave this alone to deer hunt with at home)

Ruger M77 25-06 old style with tang safety and semi heavy barrel and Pentax lightseeker 2-8x
- this needs some stock work to free float the barrel and I have a timney trigger for it I have been sitting on for years since it is sort of my "loaner" deer rifle that I have for guests, kind of going to leave this alone for now too

I also have a Remington 700 ADL 22-250, and a 740 30-06 that I am also planning to leave alone and never take out west unless we develop somewhere where we drive deer or something weird.

So, I figure the Sako 25-06 would make a decent pronghorn gun so I want a scope for it before I do much else. I've been shopping around the web and have found a couple options right around $1000, they are.....

A.) Swarovski Z3 4-12x50 (demo for around $850 or new for basically $1k)
B.) Zeiss HD5 3-15x50 (right around $1K)

Any thoughts on these two compared to each other. I know little to nothing about Nightforce or the upper end Vortex stuff other than that Vortex seems to have great customer service and products overall. Any other recommendations based on what I have and plan on doing?

I have also planned on building a semi-custom 7mm rem mag for deer. I am looking for a Sako L61, 691 or AV to build on - keep the barrel if it shoots well, get a stock from Accuflight, and have all but settled on putting a Swaro Z5 3.5-18x44 on it.

I also do plan to pick up a 338 at some point in the next couple of years to get set up for heavy option. I figure I will probably use the 7mm for most everything if I really get it polished but I feel that a lineup of 25-06, 7mm and 338 will take care of most hunting scenarios.

Also, any insights on the best places to look for decent pricing on higher end mass production optics like Swaro, Leica Zeiss? I am in no big rush so can wait for annual sales, demo turnover, whatever.

I think I'm already addicted to planning for hunting. I have been shopping packs, tents, spotters, binos, clothing, all of it. I can't imagine what it will feel like when I have a tag.

 

[Musket Man]

All the scopes you have mentioned are good quality scopes. I would go to a store that has them and look through all of them you can and see what you like or dont like about each.

 

[AKaviator]

Ditto what Musket Man said. The search for the "perfect scope" is fun and really involves you putting your hands and eyes on as many scopes in your price range as you can. Pick what you like the best.
Personally, I tend to like them simple; standard cross hair or duplex, 3X9 or there abouts. I have Zeiss, Leupold, Burris and Vortex and all work good.

 

[2nasty4u]

I bought a leupold mark iv two years ago 6.5-20x with the elevation turrets. I really like it. I shoot much better when I can dial the scope in and aim where I want to hit rather than holding over. another thing that I like about my scope is the mil reticles, they can be very useful for measuring up antelope, or any animal for that matter, when you have a known distance. I did consider the swaro z3, I think it was the z3, before I bought my leupold. i just think i can do a lot more with my leupold than i could with the swaro. also, once you start shooting 400-500 yards, you'll probably want to start shooting further, probably not necessarily in hunting situations but it is fun to just see what you can do.

 

[Montana]

When you spend that kind of money on optics you will typically walk away happy.. tough to go wrong on either.

 

[Muleys 24/7]

Like every one said, all good scopes you mentioned. From that point it all comes down to preference. Good luck. I have a 3.5 x 10 variable on my rifle but would like to get a 4 x 16. I personally like 50 mm objective lenses for lowlight conditions.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I have 2 Leuplod VXlll 4x14, 2 VXlll 3 x10 and a VXlll 6x20. They all have their place. I personal don't like the 50 mm as it sits too high on the rifle for my taste. I really like the 4x14s and if I had it to do all over the 3x10s would be the 4x14, but they were bought before the 14s came out. All are great scopes and serve me well.

 

[swampokie]

Leupold is the golden standard in american scopes. I own several of them and the performance is unquestionable and customer service is second to none. The vx-l may be an option for a lower mount with a 50mm

 

[Topgun 30-06]

Ditto that Swampokie! All my "go to" rifles have Leupolds on them.

 

[CrossCreeks]

I have a lot scopes and I have tried many more, I do not think you can go wrong with a Leupold ! I have VX-II and VX- III and love them !

 

[Hilltop]

John,

I wouldn't hesitate use any of the scopes you mention but my favorite is the Leupold 4.5-14 VXIII. It will last you forever...period.

I personally would mount it on your 270. You would have a setup, (with proper bullets) that would take any animal in the lower 48 cleanly out to 500 yards. A quality 270 with good glass is hard to beat out west.

I would put your Burris on your 25-06 and use it for anything from coyotes through deer... Just my 2 cents.

 

[johnsd16]

Thanks for all the help so far. More Leupold votes than anything. The VXIII 4-14x is not to bad on the wallet either.

I also have a Remington 700 BDL DM 7mm rem mag that was made in the 2000s when they put that stupid lock in the bolt (the one a green key is used to operate), that is also ported, looks like factory but I'm not sure. It's new unfired, and I had that shiny BDL stock.

I may try a VX-III 4-14 on that and put an HS stock on it and have it for my dad or whoever for home or out west trips, and go with the swaro z3 on the 25-06.

I like having standardized equipment but I'm so tempted by all these different optics. I think there is some value in having equipment that has the same controls/operating mechanisms.

 

[swampokie]

If I could only have one scope I would only have a leupold vxIII 4-14x. Not bad on the wallet if your looking at swaro I guess!

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I agree. The one I have on my Ruger M77 25-06 is my primary Deer and Antelope gun and I use one load that is just fantastic. Having said that, I sent the scope and all my load data to Leupold and had a ballistic turret made for it. It shoots sub moa out to 500 yds (that's the farthest out I'll shoot it). Couldn't ask for a better combo.

 

[LaHunter]

The two options you mentioned are very good scopes. No wrong choice there.
I personally have used Leupold scopes for about 25+ years and I have been happy with them. I currently have a VX3 4.5-14 X 50 mm Long Range on my 7 mm rem mag. I had the custom shop install an M1 dial for elevation. I have been very happy with this setup. Very good resolution and very good low light performance, in my opinion.

Good Luck

 

[7stwluver]

Of the ones you mentioned either would be fantastic. I prefer kahles or zeiss myself. I have a couple 3.5-10x44 zeiss conquests with z600 reticles and they seem nearly perfect for Oklahoma and out west. Used one atop a .300 win mag to take my elk at 397yds the kahles I have are 3-9x50 with their cl dials. Great optics. The .270 wsm you already have would suit your needs well I would think though. But I'll never tell anyone they don't need another scope !


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[BrettKoenecke]

Interesting posts.

Can't go wrong with Leupold, most of my rifles wear them, but I just bought a Zeiss Conquest and have been enjoying it as well.
I never found a Burris that I could mount and have it make sense. Something was always troubling with the way they were set up.

Don't forget that the latest and greatest is the VX-3, and that VX-III is older technology. Vari-X-III is older yet. Still serviceable but not all the same thing.

 

[chasingAZelk]

I love the Leupold on our 270. Another scope just to look at is Nikon. I have one on the muzzleloader and it hasn't skipped a beat. The scope has multiple "dots" each dot refers to a certain yardage...makes it easier to aim compared to the typical cross hair of a scope where your guess how high to hold the cross hairs.

 

[johnsd16]

Interesting posts.

Can't go wrong with Leupold, most of my rifles wear them, but I just bought a Zeiss Conquest and have been enjoying it as well.
I never found a Burris that I could mount and have it make sense. Something was always troubling with the way they were set up.

Don't forget that the latest and greatest is the VX-3, and that VX-III is older technology. Vari-X-III is older yet. Still serviceable but not all the same thing.

Good to know about the nomenclature on the leupolds. I didn't know that. I got rid of that Burris because it just wasn't right to look through. I moved it around for all kinds of eye relief distances but it just never seemed right.

 

[swampokie]

I know a lot of people out there love Nikon and no offense to them but I had a bad experience with their customer service dept. Just something to think about. O yeah and the fact that leupold is made here should break any ties.

I love the Leupold on our 270. Another scope just to look at is Nikon. I have one on the muzzleloader and it hasn't skipped a beat. The scope has multiple "dots" each dot refers to a certain yardage...makes it easier to aim compared to the typical cross hair of a scope where your guess how high to hold the cross hairs.