What one scope could you hunt anything with….

[uplander01]

Tough question really, for Africa, with the exception of longer shots on tiny's, there is no situation that I couldn't cover with a 416 rigby and a swaro 1-6. That being said, if a guy could only have 1 rifle for everything in the world (all continents) it would be a 375 with a 2.5-8x36 leupold vx-3 or 3-9x36 swaro Z3. I have pondered this question a lot lately simply due to the fact I somehow ended up with a GH 375 that will shoot 1" groups or under at 100 yrds with literally every weight bullet from 250gr at over 2800 fps, to 350gr at 2240fps. Currently wearing the swaro 3-9, and the GH QR scope mounts slides right over a Lyman 48 peep

 

[Safari Dave]

For DG, I would like to have a high quality 1-8x or at least an older Leupold 1.5-5x.


For a PG rifle, I'd go with this:

The GOAT Scope | Field Ethos

By Mr. Pink Any title that says GOAT, greatest or best is obviously some schmuck’s opinion, and today…

fieldethos.com

 

[Safari Dave]

OK.

I'm willing to get "uphill" for this, but I'll take it...


Swarovski has the best glass that I've ever looked through, but, I think their scopes are too delicate.

I can't comprehend who would even want a currently manufactured scope.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

This isn’t about brand so much as specs. 1.5-9, 2-10, 3-9, illuminated reticle, 32mm, 40mm, 44mm?

I’m thinking about a 2 rifle battery to hunt the world….first rifle is a .375 and using some @Philip Glass logic I opted for a broader magnification range and did a 1-8x24…one rifle to do it all if need be. Good advice thanks Phillip.

The 2nd rifle is a 280ai (yes I already know it’s not a common caliber)….it currently wears a 3-9x40 non illuminated. After putting the 1-8 on the 375 I think I like the illumination. Is it needed on plains game, red stag, white tail, boar, pronghorn, caribou? Can’t hurt right?

So if I’m going to replace what is the perfect magnification for a stalking rifle that could be used from say 350 yards in? This isn’t for 1000 yard hunting.

I’ve spotted a light weight 1.5x9x32 but I’m thinking with modern optics why not higher top end magnification? I understand exit pupil, etc, but modern good glass, I don’t find the objective diameter to be critical.

Also, I don’t want to go over medium rings….I don’t want a huge objective or adjustable turrets…it needs to fit on a blue walnut rifle.

So, give me your opinions….

@CBeck
I don't own a 375 so can't comment on that.
My hunting rifles have 3.5-10 x44 meopta glass in them and my Whelen has a 3-9 x40 Zeiss .
All have basic duplex reticles. I find these scopes allow me to hunt anything at any dista from up close to as far as I care to shoot.
I like to keep things simple

If'n I did own a 375 I would go with your choice of 1-8 power for versatility.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I have an ancient Leopold 2-7X that is just solid. Nothing fancy. No turrets. No illumination. It has helped me kill a ton of game.

Unless you are building a rig dedicated to long range hunting and shooting, I’d stick with something that is in the 2-12X range. There’s nothing so horrible as accidentally being set to 20X and missing an opportunity on something up close while you’re fiddling with the scope. Ask me how I know.

@BryceM
A man after my own heart.
I like simple.
No dial up turrets, they can be moved accidentally.
No parallax adjustment for long range, has to be continually focused.
No CDS, I sight in for maximum point blank range if'n I need to dial in my shot it's to far for my capabilities. I'm fine out to 400 without it.
No Christmas tree ranging, windage hold off points etc. if'n I want a Christmas tree I will wait until Christmas.
Illuminated dot can be advantageous until you forget to change the battery and you go to use it and have a flat battery

I tried one of those scopes with all the bells and whistles but it wasn't for me.
I got one animal with it and didn't even fire a shot. By the time I dialled it in, set the focus, found it in the Christmas tress reticle, made sure the rifle was level with the built in bubble level then chose the right level of illumination for the centre dot etc the animal HAD DIED IF OLD AGE.
I love simple
Carry rifle with scope set on the lowest power, if needed and time allows I can wind the power up. Put the simple duplex reticle on the game, pull trigger and if'n all goes well go collect said game.
SIMPLICITY at its finest.
The more buttons and dials the more Mr Murphy can come for a visit.
Bob

 

[ldmay375]

This isn’t about brand so much as specs. 1.5-9, 2-10, 3-9, illuminated reticle, 32mm, 40mm, 44mm?

I’m thinking about a 2 rifle battery to hunt the world….first rifle is a .375 and using some @Philip Glass logic I opted for a broader magnification range and did a 1-8x24…one rifle to do it all if need be. Good advice thanks Phillip.

The 2nd rifle is a 280ai (yes I already know it’s not a common caliber)….it currently wears a 3-9x40 non illuminated. After putting the 1-8 on the 375 I think I like the illumination. Is it needed on plains game, red stag, white tail, boar, pronghorn, caribou? Can’t hurt right?

So if I’m going to replace what is the perfect magnification for a stalking rifle that could be used from say 350 yards in? This isn’t for 1000 yard hunting.

I’ve spotted a light weight 1.5x9x32 but I’m thinking with modern optics why not higher top end magnification? I understand exit pupil, etc, but modern good glass, I don’t find the objective diameter to be critical.

Also, I don’t want to go over medium rings….I don’t want a huge objective or adjustable turrets…it needs to fit on a blue walnut rifle.

So, give me your opinions….

My favorite "big" scopes top out at 10x with a 42mm objective. I do have a couple with 50mm objectives, but for my use any advantage goes mostly unseen. Everyone has their own hunting style, terrain, etc.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Well if I may be so bold as to suggest this one from the classifieds

Seriously, though, for a hunting scope you don't need more than

• 2x, 2.5x, or 3x on the low end
• 8x, 9x, or 10x at the top end
• slim profile, covered turrets
• duplex, post, or German #4 reticle

So a vintage 2-7x33 or a classic 3-9x40 or a brand new 2-10x42 or something similar from a reputable builder can cover everything for your 280AI from 4 yards out to 400 yards. Inside that range, know your rifle, know your trajectory, and be a rifleman. Outside that distance be a hunter, not a sniper, and get closer.

@dneaster3
I like your thinking, exactly the same as mine
With all the new fangled gear with 34mm main tubes and more dials than a than a shop full of watches is getting to complicated for this old fart.
Dang even snipers in the past only had a 10 power scope. Once you start getting much over that heat and mirage come in to play. No use having a 16-24 power scope if'n you only have to wind it back to 9 or ten on a hot day.
To me these new scopes are LOOK AT ME things. I can do all this stuff but you won't need 90% of it in the field.
Bob

 

[rookhawk]

@Bob Nelson 35Whelen amen to this.

Before people played GI Joe for fun, there were real snipers. I remember reading Carlos Hathcock and Major John Plaster's books and there scopes were far simpler than anything I own.

For those of you not familiar: They were using UNERTL fixed 10x scopes for shots with .308 out to 1000 meters. No zoom. No adjustment. Mildot reticles, they'd just get out their dope charts and make the shots.

Obviously times have changed, now that we have have 4 billion men thinking they are super snipers versus the 100 actual active duty snipers in the US military (all branches) in the times of yore. It's all fine, people can buy what they want, but why do they think their technology without training justifies shooting (missing and wounding) game animals at insane distances?

I dunno. But we are encouraging stupid scopes to do stupid things and people are still missing shots at 85 yards.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

What ever you decide, make sure you have an illuminated reticle.

@coreydb
Until you forget to change the battery or it goes flat and you have a non illuminated again.
It does and has happened.
I was hunting with my bolt action shotgun using solids and a nice red dot. Went to turn it on and realised I had forgotten to turn it off after checking it prior to the hunt. No dot no spare battery. I now carry a spare battery.
Bob

 

[rookhawk]

@coreydb
Until you forget to change the battery or it goes flat and you have a non illuminated again.
It does and has happened.
I was hunting with my bolt action shotgun using solids and a nice red dot. Went to turn it on and realised I had forgotten to turn it off after checking it prior to the hunt. No dot no spare battery. I now carry a spare battery.
Bob

I'm not a red-dot guy at all. The RMR sites I like have a backup fiber optic sight that doesn't require a battery. The scopes that are illuminated still work without battery and they have a backup battery stored in the scope caps.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I thought this thread would make things easier….it hasn’t. lol

On one had I could do a Hawke 1-10x24 on the 280 and have two identical rifles, Hawkeye Africans. A 375 with 1-8x24 and a 280 with 1-10x24. Functionally identical in shape, form, operation.

Or I like a 2-12x40 but then, if you do that, why not the 3-18x44…..dammitman! where does it stop?

@CBeck
You are over thinking it.
K .I .S.S. mate
From memory there are only one or two scopes in the 2-12 range that don't have parralax adjustments. The rest are either ocular or saddle focus. More shit to go wrong
Bob