scope choice for NL moose hunt

[pa_mountain_guy]

I have a Newfoundland moose hunt booked for late september 2026. Coming to rokslide to help me decide on the last piece of the puzzle: what scope do i top my rifle with?

Rifle: 1981 winchester model 70 sporter xtra in 338 win mag
- beautiful walnut stock fixed iron sites with the front hood nice old fashioned rifle 9.9/10 condition.

ammo: handloaded 210gr nosler partitions over imr 4350

scope choices:
leupold vxii 2-7x33
leupold vari x II 3-9x40
leupold vari x II 4-12x40
leupold vx3 hd 2.5-10x44
vortex viper 3-15x44

these are the scopes i have that i am considering. Every-time i decide on which one i am going to keep mounted and get used to for next season i change my mind. the older vari x II’s are more time correct for the age of the rifle - and realistically aesthetics are probably weighted more then they should be currently.

i realize all the above scopes will work fine - asking for your opinion as to which you would choose and why.
- moose are big critters and anticipating shots to all be inside 250 yards with higher likelihood of being around 100 yards.

choosing to take this rifle/ammo combo somewhat for the nostalgia and also because i don’t get to take it out of the safe as often as id like.

 

[ChasnDreams]

Tough decision, and can respect the desire to have the scope age match the rifle. Thinking 3 power would be as high as you would want to go, for the chance of close quarter situations. All that said, I have a moose hunt booked for the same time frame next year and will be using a Vortex Viper HD 3-15×44. Hope I made the right choice myself.

 

[OftenOutdoors]

I’m heading up there in 2027. I’ve never hunted moose before but I am most likely using a 280ai with a Zeiss V4 3-12.

 

[PA Hunter]

I have been Newfoundland bunch for moose any will be fine,sometimes you can see them 1000 yds away other times 50 yds. I am partial to 4-16 most of the time you can call them in close. My furthest shot still has only been little over 100 yds closest maybe 20 yds. Rangefinder and goid binos are nice dont expect your guide to have a rangefinder. If you are driving up book a room on the ferry as soon as you can they dont last long.