mcseal2
WKR
- Joined
- May 8, 2014
- Messages
- 2,674
I'd personally go with the VX3 2.5-8x. I have an older VXIII version on a 308 and it is a great fit. The duplex is finer than the one in the VX-2 2-7x33 I have and I like that.
Thanks for the insight guys. Sounds like the majority would say 2-7 or 2.5-8 is the way to go. And I agree, any weight savings with a fixed power would be small, I guess part of my attraction to that is just the simplicity of no adjustments, constant eye relief, and more foolproof field use. I have embarrassingly missed stuff (targets, not animals) by having a second focal plane on the wrong power before.
Consensus also seems to be durability and quality is more than adequate on variables these days. I haven't used a variable on a hunting rifle since I was a kid, and it was very cheap. Zero wandered as you changed the power setting. The only variables I have used as an adult have been S&B scopes and Vortex Razors, can't afford anything near that quality. Those were issued items.
Anything else I should be considering?
Any other fixed 4x fans out there that feel there is no disadvantage in using that type of scope? Or any other practical advantages to it over a variable?
My hunting partner has a 3.5-14 3i. It's been in the shop twice......
for what ?
First time wouldn't hold zero on a 300 mag when brand new. Had bought a new rifle, chased bullet holes all over thinking it was the rifle. Tried every bullet and powder available. Finally changed scopes, shot great. Sent in, replaced a lot of technical stuff I can't recall the names of. Got back, few rounds and same issue. Sent back in and replaced more internal parts. Seems to be ok but he doesn't trust it and is considering selling.
This doesn't include that the parallax adjustment was glued in placed when he received it. They said it was due to to much glue at installation.
I hope their quality is not dropping, I have used vx2 3-9 as far back as I can remember, zero failures.
I like your style!!! I have a model 7 in 308 that wears a 3-9X33 ultralight Leupold as well as a 18" barrel 325 WSM Browning TI I gave to my dad to use now that goes 5.8 pounds scoped with a 2-7X28 ultralight leupold.
I used the 2-7X28 on the browning TI to kill sheep and goats both just beyond 250 yards with it. Also shot a grizzly bear at 330 yards with it. I don't find 7X to be limting giving what you are wanting to do.
Heres the video of that grizzly hunt:
[video=vimeo;68429410]https://vimeo.com/68429410[/video]
Hiking Trip/Grizz Hunt on Vimeo
I also killed sheep, goats, grizzly bear, black bear, moose, caribou, and deer with a couple Kimber 308s, and the Model 7 .308 with both the 3-9X33 ultralight and 3-9X40 VX-2.
All of them work. Obviously the 3-9X40 is 33% heavier that the 2-7X28 but I haven't found either limiting by daylight and small objectives, but I primarily hunt open country and not thick timber so maybe thats why.
My currently uber light rifle wears a 2-7X28 Leupold ultralight as well. For the distances you speicify I think it'll work just fine for ya if you are trying to keep weight to a minimum and no really interest shooting beyond 400 yards.
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Yes Luke. Older Leupold Mark 4 with second focal plane mil dot reticle. MOA turrets, to help confuse things further. Had the experience at least once or twice with that scope at different training events.
Powered down for multiple close targets and left it at like 7 or 8x for some longer shots using a Mil hold. Doesn't work of course. Of course training and knowing your equipment could solve that. But so can a Mil/Mil or MOA/MOA turret/reticle along with first focal plane optics.
So I was just thinking, I'd hate to have the same brain fart looking at an Elk at 400 yards, ...lining up the 400 yard hash mark, then seeing the power is on 5 when the reticle is calibrated at 7x only.
Just one of those things I'd like to simplify and eliminate.
Luke,
I know you put your rifles to work a lot harder than most, have you ever had any issues with your Leupolds? I'm putting together a super lightweight rifle too and have been thinking about light scope.
Keep in mind my rifles are carried A LOT more than shot. In a given year my ultralights once I have a load worked up with them might see 50-75 shots a year on them.
One year, I hunted with a 2x7x28 UL Leupold on my 270. At first light, there were elk in a field, but I could not see my crosshairs. The fellow with me, shooting an old Springfield 30-06 with a $39 Bushnell 3-9 scope, could see his crosshairs. So, I'd start at the 2.5x8x36, as my floor, and mostly go 3x90x40. Elk are hard to find. When I find one, I want to be able to shoot at it.
Model 7 308 SS, HS Precision stock, 4 rounds in the magazine. Less than $1000 total. Could get lighter but shoots great. I shot 150 gr for years because I wanted a little extra speed, got a free box of 180 Partitions and shot them just so I could reload