.300 Win Mag scope suggestions

[curtism1234]

I would look at Vortex

As much as the vx3 2.5-8x36 has a nice look, I have found the zero occasionally moves and adjustments are mushy and adventure at the range. For hunting locally, I think it's fine for short to mid distance. I wouldn't take mine halfway across the US.

Vortex on the other hand is about as solid as it gets

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Members, not to hi-jack this thread: I think this question is relevant taking in account the question is in regards to a .300 caliber rifle...may I then ask if I look at a equivalent of a .300 caliber the 8x68S would a Weaver 5-20 x 50 be a overkill for shooting small groups at 300 meters????

 

[Eric Anderson]

Members, not to hi-jack this thread: I think this question is relevant taking in account the question is in regards to a .300 caliber rifle...may I then ask if I look at a equivalent of a .300 caliber the 8x68S would a Weaver 5-20 x 50 be a overkill for shooting small groups at 300 meters????

I have never gone above 8x shooting paper at 200. I really don’t think I would have needed above that at 300 even. That is shooting for score as well.
I don’t varmit hunt, so you might need that kind of magnification trying to pick out rodents at 300 yards. I don’t know, never done it.

The only time I have ever gone up to 12x magnification was to watch some Giraffes we were not hunting about 1k away in a valley while I was on a ridge line. That or looking for bullet holes in a target. A spotting scope works better in both cases though.

If I was in your shoes, and I already had the scope I would mount it. If I were buying a scope though, I would get a 3x12 scope and just get better glass for the same price as a 5x20x 50 scope.

 

[rookhawk]

There are some Leica ER5 scopes that just showed up on scopelist and eurooptic. About 50% off.

Me and my cronies gobbled up most of them but that’s your best bet.

There are some 2-10x50 and 3-15x50 left over.

For $500-$700, you’ll not find their equal.

I can’t abide the vortex recommendations. The sheer volume of refurbs I’ve seen indicates high failure rates. I’ve owned two and they were bad and RMA’d. Horrible eye relief (or intolerance to where you’d have to position your eye), one had the crosshairs off by 5 plus degrees. $500 scopes made in China with no quality control? Even the Wisconsin vortex scopes are not as good as Leica and Swaro which you can find for equal or less money if you shop.

 

[MISportsman]

I would look at Vortex

As much as the vx3 2.5-8x36 has a nice look, I have found the zero occasionally moves and adjustments are mushy and adventure at the range. For hunting locally, I think it's fine for short to mid distance. I wouldn't take mine halfway across the US.

Vortex on the other hand is about as solid as it gets

Really? I was alwasy told the opposite. Everything I have read and been told said the vx-3i if nothing else holds it's zero. I have sofar not had any issues with the one I have on another rifle, however I have only made a couple of trips to the range with it.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Members, not to hi-jack this thread: I think this question is relevant taking in account the question is in regards to a .300 caliber rifle...may I then ask if I look at a equivalent of a .300 caliber the 8x68S would a Weaver 5-20 x 50 be a overkill for shooting small groups at 300 meters????

If you have good eyesight, one MOA can be held at 300 meters with a high quality 3-9x40 or larger objective scope.

 

[TTundra]

Really? I was alwasy told the opposite. Everything I have read and been told said the vx-3i if nothing else holds it's zero. I have sofar not had any issues with the one I have on another rifle, however I have only made a couple of trips to the range with it.

Not that I have the most experience, but in my time at Opticsplanet (which is why I know they will give you the best price if you call) where we sold both Vortex and Leupold among the many other brands, the vortex returns outnumbered the Leupold returns substantially with very comparable units sold of each. In fact, every Leupold return I saw that we sent back to Leupold was verified on their test range/ machine and the pass rate was 99%+...that just meant that it was shooter error, mounts, etc. Nothing against Vortex, but I've personally seen more returned scopes bearing that name for easily visible or determinable defects.

 

[WAB]

Really? I was alwasy told the opposite. Everything I have read and been told said the vx-3i if nothing else holds it's zero. I have sofar not had any issues with the one I have on another rifle, however I have only made a couple of trips to the range with it.

I bought my first VX3 2.5-8x sometime in the ‘90’s. I have owned 3 or 4 of them and used them extensively in WY, AK and Africa. Although I am now using newer generation optics, I have never had anything but great performance out of these scopes. I have never had one lose zero on any rifle from .243 to .375.

 

[curtism1234]

Really? I was alwasy told the opposite. Everything I have read and been told said the vx-3i if nothing else holds it's zero. I have sofar not had any issues with the one I have on another rifle, however I have only made a couple of trips to the range with it.

Every year I have to make an inch or two adjustment even when using the same box of ammo from last year and not touching the bore. I use good steel Talley rings and mounts. I'm not hard on it - take it hunting 3-4 days a year and minimal gravel roads. I wouldn't call that unusual though, it seems many rifles shift just a bit.

I'm more concerned about the adjustments.

Adjustments at the range are fun. The adjustments are so mushy you don't hear or feel many of the clicks so sometimes it takes a while box of ammo to make an initial adjustment of 1" elevation and windage.

I have a glossy blued compact rifle so I put up with its faults

 

[MISportsman]

Every year I have to make an inch or two adjustment even when using the same box of ammo from last year and not touching the bore. I use good steel Talley rings and mounts. I'm not hard on it - take it hunting 3-4 days a year and minimal gravel roads. I wouldn't call that unusual though, it seems many rifles shift just a bit.

I'm more concerned about the adjustments.

Adjustments at the range are fun. The adjustments are so mushy you don't hear or feel many of the clicks so sometimes it takes a while box of ammo to make an initial adjustment of 1" elevation and windage.

I have a glossy blued compact rifle so I put up with its faults

I would send it in to leupold. They have a lifetime warranty on all of their scopes. It may be a defect in your scope that can be fixed or they may send you a new one.

 

[WAB]

I would send it in to leupold. They have a lifetime warranty on all of their scopes. It may be a defect in your scope that can be fixed or they may send you a new one.

Agreed, this is not typical of this scope.

 

[Ed Lally]

You can't beat Leupold for price, selection and especially service. I have have 8, of all ages and magnifications, plus some Zeiss. One Leupold was quite old and beat up on an Elk hunt where I took a bad fall. I sent it to Leupold and they called me to offer a brand new scope with a slight up-grade as they no longer made that specific model. I asked if I could get a further upgrade and, for a slight charge, they gave me the scope I really wanted and shipped it for free. Years later, I sent them a 30 year old Leupold in perfect condition to them for installation of a throw-lever to control magnification and they called and said that, because of changes in manufacture, they could not modify my scope with a throw-lever and offered to replace it, no charge, with a similar but better scope with a throw-lever installed for the cost of the throw lever. Again, I was allowed to up grade to a really great scope for a reasonable (less than retail) up-charge. Love my Zeiss scopes but, for value and features, you can't beat Leupold.

 

[BobT]

Really? I was alwasy told the opposite. Everything I have read and been told said the vx-3i if nothing else holds it's zero. I have sofar not had any issues with the one I have on another rifle, however I have only made a couple of trips to the range with it.

I have a couple of 2.5-8x VX3i Leupolds as well as several other Vari-X and Compacts and a few of their pistol scopes as well, the VX3i scopes have both stood up to hundreds of rounds of .375 H&H, I have removed and re-mounted them numerous times with the Leupold QD mounts and have never had to touch the adjustments other than when adjusting for a different bullet weight.

 

[CBH Australia]

The vx-3i is a quality scope isn't it? Or should I be looking else where?

I think you were settled on a Leupold Vx3i before you started. You just need to read enough positive stuff to be satisfied you are doing the right thing.im not an expert but I invest a lot of time reading before I drop $400 on anything. Those scopes are going to be $600 in Australia.
Mostly they are getting good reviews for the rest there is a lifetime warranty if it fails.
The reviews are quoting improved lowlight performance. That’s a plus and something that generally comes at a cost.
.i have various brands of scopes and it took a long time to accumulate these on my average wage but look for the specials once you settle on what YOU want.
For the money the Leupold Vx3i is good value. Buy better if you can afford it, I agree with all the sentiment about not ruining a once in a lifetime hunt but I believe the Vx3i is reliable and capable, not to mention affordable. And that is affordable you you at this point!
I have a Zeiss Diavari, a Kahles Hehlia , a Schmidt and Bender a few Leupold and would really like to Buy a Swarovski. For each of these I want them for different purpose and settled on them on sale or clearance. A Swarovski is unlikely to come on sale or clearance From what I’ve seen. The new 2.4-12 x50 would be great for your .300wm but that’s $1600 in Australia
You may find the actual magnification in the specs part of a scope listing. They are usually rounded to whole numbers on the scope.
The 3.5x May be a little high for scrub or brush. Personal prefernace but how close are you to a potential target? If it’s gonna bite, fight or maul you back get the lower Power and a bigger calibre. Some would use a fixed 4x. I shot a small pig running at me with a .300 wm and an old 4-12 weaver, not my best scope. I didn’t expect to take a shot under 5m. But I hit it. The muzzle blast would have scared it if I didn’t.
Worst case you could resell a Leupold if it doesn’t suit.

 

[Bhfs300]

I have a 300 WM in Ruger #1. For that caliber I would say you need at least a 14+ power scope.

I have a Nikon here is my 16 power BDC with the Ammo I shoot.
This is what all my posts are zero at 200 yd.
I might go bigger than 16 it is a very flat shooting rifle.

 

[Ed Lally]

I said it once so excuse the repeat. There are a lot if great scopes out there a a bunch of junk. I have been buying and using scopes from several manufacturers for 55 years and I love Leupolds. My favorite for the money is a Leupold VX3 or a VX5HD. Get a 30mm tube and an illuminated reticle. Pricey at first but the first time you can't pick out your crosshairs on a really nice buck or bull in deep shadows at the end of shooting light, you would, at that moment, pay double or triple for that feature. Your stated power choice is a good one.

 

[flatwater bill]

I have upgraded several Leupold 2X7 VX 2 scopes to 2.5X8 VX3 and can easily see the difference in clarity
I have upgraded several Leupold 3X9 VX 2 scopes to 3.5 X10 and can easily see the improvement.
The 2.5X8 is my favorite inexpensive scope. But it is small physically with a 36mm bell. It looks best on a small rifle. Some of the scopes recommended are out of your price limit as listed. The Leupold 3.5X10 is a great scope for western elk hunting................FWB