Objective Size Indecision

[Excessexpress]

In your circumstance, for the hunting you are doing, I would suggest the 5HD in 2-10x42. I had one of these and it was fantastic.

Low light won’t be an issue, it’s an excellent, lightweight scope that will do everything bar the most specialised tasks.

 

[TheWhitetailNut]

Exit pupil on VX6 3-18x50 is 2.77777, 3-15x44 is 2.93. you gain nothing on the bigger scope except weight and you lose cheek weld.

I have used a Swarovski Z5 3.5-18x44 for everything from all manner of PG and most critters this side of the planet on my .300 Win. Mag. I love it, mounts very low and only 16 oz. There is a great deal of dissent here on higher magnification scopes, I'm not among them. They are better for me for everything but Steinbok which always appear @20 yards.

I will say I have a couple of 50mm scopes (VX-3 euro, Z3, Z6, Z8) they are all clubby and ungainly in comparison.

 

[TheWhitetailNut]

I mistakenly put an x instead of a -, but im sure u knew what I meant.
To elaborate. U said u were gonna use it in the states on deer and elk also. So my way of thinking was having those extra 3 clicks could be worth their weight in gold at 300 to 400 yrds looking at at a trophy bull, with alittle fog,heat waves or haze in the air.
Acouple years ago there was talk about leupold adding those 3 clicks to the 5. I havent seen one, but sounds nice. I dont care for illuminated scopes. And would be at a better price point.
Bigsupplyshop had these scopes awhile back at 25% less than anyone else. Might wanna give them a look.

I'm not sure what you mean here? Elevation clicks? If that is the case it's totally irrelevant at 300-400yds.

 

[Ike85123]

I'm not sure what you mean here? Elevation clicks? If that is the case it's totally irrelevant at 300-400yds.

I was referring to the extra magnification.

 

[rookhawk]

For the hunting that I do, which includes everything from Texas to British Columbia to Europe to Africa (especially Africa) I have no use for a 50mm objective. That extra 6mm seems to turn almost any well balanced rifle into something far less so. Maybe a "platform" rather than a hunting rifle? A quality scope will give plenty of light transmission and clarity with a 44mm objective lens.

I agree with Redleg but might even take it further. The 44mm is way too big too, at least for the hunting I’ve done on 7 safaris and throughout the US and Canada. I don’t take shots over 350 yards and even in shots over 250 yards, I’ve taken a handful in my lifetime. I want fast target acquisition and good field of view with excellent glass quality. I think I have 6 or so 1-6x24mm scopes, a 2-7x33mm, and my son uses a 3-9x36mm on his long range 7mm. In all cases in ultra low rings to get good fit from face to the stock.

If you were going to do a lot of night hunting and needed the light gathering, maybe a 1-6x42mm Schmidt & Bender would be the thing for running boar in twilight, but typically 40mm is absolutely the max size one would need, usually that is way too much. As to magnification, 10x is for 600m-1000m shots, at least according to the military. I’ve never need more than 6 or 7x for what I’m doing and for normal hunting its turned down to 4x so I can acquire and shoot my target quickly at 150 yards or less.

 

[mark-hunter]

50, 56, or even 60mm, are for Euroepan style of hunting, two hours after sunset.
So, in my view, you will be quite ok with quality glass 40-44 mm.

 

[HookMeUpII]

First, the input in this thread is second to none.

Second, I definitely feel like less of an idiot when it comes to optics selection.

Today I am actually do to pick up the rifle from my FFL. I have somewhat approached it like this: Now that I have the rifle I can shoulder it without an optic and take some measurements. I am very much leaning towards a 40-42mm objective as a 44mm or bigger is going to necessitate high rings. As a lot have said, the balance of the rifle could be thrown way off.

Without sidetracking, how does everyone feel about Vortex?

I was previously only considering Leupold and maybe Swaro (out of my budget, at the moment). However, I'd like to throw another player in the game for options.

 

[Hogpatrol]

 

[sgt_zim]

First, the input in this thread is second to none.

Second, I definitely feel like less of an idiot when it comes to optics selection.

Today I am actually do to pick up the rifle from my FFL. I have somewhat approached it like this: Now that I have the rifle I can shoulder it without an optic and take some measurements. I am very much leaning towards a 40-42mm objective as a 44mm or bigger is going to necessitate high rings. As a lot have said, the balance of the rifle could be thrown way off.

Without sidetracking, how does everyone feel about Vortex?

I was previously only considering Leupold and maybe Swaro (out of my budget, at the moment). However, I'd like to throw another player in the game for options.

I like Vortex glass. But. If you're not one to fiddle around with elevation/windage, they're kinda busy. All of their scopes, AFAIK, are more in the tactical family than they are the hunting family.

 

[WAB]

I like Vortex glass. But. If you're not one to fiddle around with elevation/windage, they're kinda busy. All of their scopes, AFAIK, are more in the tactical family than they are the hunting family.

Agreed, keep it simple.

 

[HookMeUpII]

Agreed, I somewhat realized that while looking at their offerings today. Additionally, unless I am missing something, they don't really have good offerings in the 40-42mm range.

Back to Leupold and Swarovski (maybe).

 

[Hogpatrol]

Check out Sightron's and Trijicon's line of scopes, a lot of bang for the buck.

 

[Ike85123]

The leupold vx6hd is around 1800. So a swaro isnt much of a reach past it. Ive gotten away from larger scopes. Great for the range, but I prefer a small mm and not much power. I use a 300wm myself and found its all I need unless im at the range or hunting in very low light.
Not pushing it, but I would rather go with this swaro for the 300. Not much more than the leupold.
The Nikon is also a worthy scope. So if a bigger mm bell is what you want.

My son has a few and loves them. Nikon is sadly stoppong production of scopes, due to pressure of anti hunting groups. So get one while u can, if you want one.

 

[Aaron N]

Agreed, I somewhat realized that while looking at their offerings today. Additionally, unless I am missing something, they don't really have good offerings in the 40-42mm range.

Back to Leupold and Swarovski (maybe).

You could take a look at Meopta, everything I’ve heard about them seems to be that they are a great scope for the price. Once I have the funds, a 1.7x10 will be going on my Super 30.

 

[Nevada Mike]

I trust Leupold, Swarovski, Schmidt und Bender. Most of my rifles wear a Leupold (1.5-5X, 2-7X, 1-6X, or M8.

 

[sgt_zim]

Agreed, I somewhat realized that while looking at their offerings today. Additionally, unless I am missing something, they don't really have good offerings in the 40-42mm range.

Back to Leupold and Swarovski (maybe).

I have a vortex diamondback (one of their lower end), and I do like it quite a lot for what it is.