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Advice for night hunting scope needed

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Cypress View Drop Down
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    Posted: August/02/2008 at 19:46

Hello all. New here and desperately needing some advice based on actual experience. I am looking for a new scope to put on a new rifle in 300WSM. The rifle will be used for most of my hunting needs so the magnification needs to be at least in the 14 or 16 power range. More importantly is light transmission. I mostly hog hunt at night with moonlight only. I have no experience with any scopes better than the Bushnell Banners(6-18X50mm) and a Bushnell Trophy (6-18X40mm) so I don't know how much better it can get. I was considering a Burris Fullfield,Nikon Buckmaster, or Bushnell 3200 so you can assume my price range. How would these scopes compare to what I am using and what recommendations can you make?

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/02/2008 at 20:05
What is your budget?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/02/2008 at 20:08
i will tell you that moonlight and high magnification with cheap glass equals dark picture
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote silver Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/02/2008 at 20:58
Dark and high magnification do not go well together.  Think Bushnell 4200 series 3x9
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Cypress View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cypress Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/02/2008 at 21:17
I always turn my 6-18X50 down to 6 power and have made some 100 yd shots with full moonlight. I must have the higher mag for daytime hunting at extended ranges. I'm mainly wondering how much better the $300 range scopes will be than the Banner and which of these you would choose if its worth upgrading.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/02/2008 at 21:19
yes the $300 class is worth it over the other scopes you mentioned, to be real effective at the times of night you want to shoot in, you need to spend more like $600-1000 and get some higher quality glass and make your life a whole lot easier. i can compare my bushnell trophy and my bushnell 4200 and the 4200 kicks the trophy's ass with ease so yeah its worth it.


Edited by pyro6999 - August/02/2008 at 21:24
They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead"

343 we will never forget

God Bless Chris Ledoux
"good ride cowboy"
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/02/2008 at 21:29
14x-16x  low light optics would have to have   (98mm objective for 14x or a 112 mm objective for the 16x to be at its maximum brightness) .  On the other hand a 6x scope with a 42mm objective is at its maximum brightness. So here is my suggestion. Buy a variable and dial the power down to 4 to 6x when it gets dark and in bright light dial it up to 14 or 6x.  Next issue - price range - you will need to add money and the lowest priced decent glass scope that will do what you are talking about is the Bushnell 4200 4-16x40. For more money you can get the 50mm objective and be brighter at night at one or two power higher ( 7x may be 8x).   Your other likely optic whichby the way has more eye relief is :
8422 Nikon%204-16x42%20Monarch%20Riflescope%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20 Nikon 4-16x42 Monarch Riflescope
  • Matte
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  • 1"
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SWFA: $449.95
More%20Info... Buy%20Now

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cypress Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/03/2008 at 00:58
I think I could manage to scrounge enough $$ for the 4200 or Monarch. Which is better or are they pretty close?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/03/2008 at 07:49
there is two advantages with bushnell, there cs dept is way better than nikons and also the 4200 has rainguard which the nikons doesnt,  the 4200 costs more than the team primos though.
They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead"

343 we will never forget

God Bless Chris Ledoux
"good ride cowboy"
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Big Squeeze Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/03/2008 at 11:50
Originally posted by Cypress Cypress wrote:

Hello all. New here and desperately needing some advice based on actual experience. I am looking for a new scope to put on a new rifle in 300WSM. The rifle will be used for most of my hunting needs so the magnification needs to be at least in the 14 or 16 power range. More importantly is light transmission. I mostly hog hunt at night with moonlight only. I have no experience with any scopes better than the Bushnell Banners(6-18X50mm) and a Bushnell Trophy (6-18X40mm) so I don't know how much better it can get. I was considering a Burris Fullfield,Nikon Buckmaster, or Bushnell 3200 so you can assume my price range. How would these scopes compare to what I am using and what recommendations can you make?

................Question!........Out of curiosity, why do you believe that a variable scope, max`d up to 14x to 16x, will suit your needs the best? 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cypress Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/03/2008 at 16:42

Daytime ranges can exceed 500 yds here. I don't take shots at these ranges but it is often necessary to have more magnification to identify potential boars in a group and to tell if sows are nursing. If I can tell that it is a nursing pack at 500 yards I don't have to spend 2 hours closing the gap for nothing. I know binoculars would solve this problem but I am often moving through thick brush and they tend to get hung up and make moving through fences difficult. Having a scope with enough mag just makes things a little easier on me. Anyone know who has the best prices on the 4200's?

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/03/2008 at 17:23
dont get much better than this.


Edited by pyro6999 - August/03/2008 at 17:24
They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead"

343 we will never forget

God Bless Chris Ledoux
"good ride cowboy"
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