Visit the SWFA.com site to check out our current specials. |
Best scope for varmints and big game? |
Post Reply |
Author | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
boliodogs
Optics Apprentice Joined: June/20/2009 Status: Offline Points: 212 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Posted: September/06/2009 at 22:49 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I want to buy a scope that could be used on black bear and coyote up to 400 yards. The scope will go on a Remington SPS in 300 Winchester magnum with a 26 inch barrel. The ammo is the 165 grain accubond bullet at 3200 fps. The scope must go up to at least 14 power and be very clear at top power. It must have enough field of view to be practical on black bear at close range. Optics are important but so is reliability and durability. The scopes I am considering are the Leupold vx3 4.5-14x40, the Conquest 4.5-14x44, the 4200 4-16x40 and the 6500 2.5-16x42. Cost aside how do these scopes rate against each other? The 6500 is a little lighter and shorter than the 4200 in this power range and the 6500 has a lower power and more fov. at the low end. Is the 4200 4-16x40 better than the 6500 2.5-16x42 in any way? Which one of these four scopes is the best?
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RONK
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: April/05/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3199 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
You are asking a lot of a single scope, but the 6500 will do it for you, and probably better than any of the others, simply for the feature of the lowest low-end magnification.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
boliodogs
Optics Apprentice Joined: June/20/2009 Status: Offline Points: 212 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ronk, thanks. I do not have a varmit rifle like a 22-250 or a 25-06. A 308 and a 270 are my least powerful rifles so I want them all to be ready for black bear. I quess this rifle will be mostly for open country but I still wanted enough fov. for a close shot so yes, the scope would be a compromise. The long range performance is more important than the close range on this scope since I own low and midrange scopes but this will be my only over 10 power scope.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13181 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I am with Ron on this one. Elite 6500 would be the most versatile choice.
ILya
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
boliodogs
Optics Apprentice Joined: June/20/2009 Status: Offline Points: 212 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
koshkin, thanks. The 6500 seems like the best one for what I asked for. I got the Zeiss at auction for a good price. I quess I am nervous about the 6500 being to good to be true with the amazing 2.5-16 power spread and perhaps having problems. The Zeiss has such a good track record. The Zeiss has a 25 foot fov. at 4.5 which is where I would set it on for black bear. The Zeiss 4 power Conquest has a fov. of 26 feet and I have seen the 4 power Zeiss recommended for big game at all ranges. True the 41 foot fov. of the 6500 is better. Ronk, koshkin, do you think the 6500 is just as reliable as the v3, 4200 and Conquest? If you do then I will give one a try. Which would be the best reticle to get with the 2.5-16 x42 6500?
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RONK
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: April/05/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3199 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It's such a new model that it really doesn't have much of a track record for reliability, but if I understand correctly, it should be quite comparable to the 4200 in that respect. I have seen a 4200 survive the worst pounding I've ever seen a scope take and remain in one piece. It held zero and suffered no internal damage or loss of function in any way.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14962 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6x at 300 yds is like open sights at 50 yds
Ok we know that the path of a bullet when it leaves the barrel is going to drop significantly as it travels and that the trajectory has to be compensated for. Example 165 gr Federal factory Nosler Partition balistics:
So how you going to compensate for that bullet drop? Well there are several options. Lots of guys get a balistic reticle like a 4.5-14 x40 with Boone & Crocket reticle. At 14 x in bright daylight off a bench rest - were golden. But what happens in the field when the game starts to come out just before sunset. Oh My we have to dial the power ring back to about 6x for a 42mm objective to brighten it up to a 7mm exit eye pupil -- (bright as it gets). Or how about here we go tromp tromp tromp through the woods -- What power do we have the scope on to be able to shoot from a standing position --- Duh 4.5 to 6x max and lower if we hav it. Now if the high power variables with balistic reticles only work at the highest power how about a fixed power 6x42 with a balistic reticle -- WOW its fixed so its always the same --- same hold over - same 7mm bright exit eye pupil - same hand holdable power for hunting. And the big perk really tough because of less moving parts.
Are there other options - yes take a scope like a 2.5-10x56 Trijicon and that 56mm objective will give you a 5.6mm exit eye pupil -- relatively bright at the full 10 x in low light plus the added advantage of an illuminated reticle that helps get you on target quickly, but no built in system for known hold over.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do". Bobby Paul Doherty Texas Ranger |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14962 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do". Bobby Paul Doherty Texas Ranger |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
green-grizzly
Optics GrassHopper Joined: May/02/2006 Status: Offline Points: 30 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I have the 6500 2.5-16x50 and am very impressed. I never thought I would need that much magnification, but it has proven useful in a number of different ways.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mannheim Bob
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/01/2009 Status: Offline Points: 23 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I have used my 6500 2.5-16x50 for close in shots on running game (wild boar), taking reh deer (20kg size) at medium range and for African plains game out to 200+ against Blesbok (whitetail sized) critters and I feel it does it all well, AND at 100m sighting it in, I don't have to bring a spotting scope! I just wish it was illuminated, for night shooting (legal in Germany). The wide magnification range is why I bought it. It is a bit heavy, but great glass.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
boliodogs
Optics Apprentice Joined: June/20/2009 Status: Offline Points: 212 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Urimaginaryfrnd, thanks for your help. You are right of course, I do not need more than 6 power to shoot coyote out to 400 yards and I already own scopes that go to 10 power. Any scope I get that goes over 10 is more of an " I want " scope than a scope I really need. I would sight my rifle in for 250 yards or 300 yards if I use the 130 grain barnes tipped bullet at 3600 fps. I would hold high for real long shots. I checked out the 2.5-10x56 specs and for me the 3-9x40 Trijicon is better, More eye relief, less money, 8 ounces less weight and easier to mount. At age 65 I do not think my eyes would get the full value of the 56mm objective.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
boliodogs
Optics Apprentice Joined: June/20/2009 Status: Offline Points: 212 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
green-grizzly, Mannheim Bob, thank you for the feedback on the 6500 2.5-16x50.It sounds like a wonderful scope.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Post Reply | |
Tweet
|
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |