OpticsTalk by SWFA, Inc. Homepage SWFA     SampleList.com
Forum Home Forum Home > Scopes > Rifle Scopes
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Best scope for varmints and big game?
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Visit the SWFA.com site to check out our current specials.

Best scope for varmints and big game?

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
boliodogs View Drop Down
Optics Apprentice
Optics Apprentice
Avatar

Joined: June/20/2009
Status: Offline
Points: 212
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote boliodogs Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Best scope for varmints and big game?
    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?                     
Back to Top
RONK View Drop Down
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Avatar

Joined: April/05/2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3199
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RONK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/06/2009 at 23:13
 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.
 
Back to Top
boliodogs View Drop Down
Optics Apprentice
Optics Apprentice
Avatar

Joined: June/20/2009
Status: Offline
Points: 212
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote boliodogs Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/07/2009 at 00:04
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.
Back to Top
koshkin View Drop Down
MODERATOR
MODERATOR
Avatar
Dark Lord of Optics

Joined: June/15/2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 13181
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/07/2009 at 01:04
I am with Ron on this one.  Elite 6500 would be the most versatile choice.

ILya
Back to Top
boliodogs View Drop Down
Optics Apprentice
Optics Apprentice
Avatar

Joined: June/20/2009
Status: Offline
Points: 212
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote boliodogs Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/07/2009 at 17:14
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?                        
Back to Top
RONK View Drop Down
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Avatar

Joined: April/05/2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3199
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RONK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/07/2009 at 20:32

 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.
 
Back to Top
Urimaginaryfrnd View Drop Down
MODERATOR
MODERATOR
Avatar
Resident Redneck

Joined: June/20/2005
Location: Iowa
Status: Offline
Points: 14962
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/08/2009 at 02:27
Leupold 6x42 FX-3 Riflescope Long Range Duplex Leupold 6x42 FX-3 Riflescope
Stock # - LEU66820
  • Matte
  • Long Range Duplex
  • 1"
  • Xtended Twilight Lens System
$409.95 
Add Leupold 6x42 FX-3 Riflescope to Cart 
Must have 14 x -----   WHY?   6x at 600 yds is like open sights at 100 yds
                                               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:
  Long Range
Load No
Caliber
50 Y
100 Y
200 Y
300 Y
400 Y
500 Y
P300WK
300 Win. Magnum
0.5
1.5
-6.6
-19.4
-39.5
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.
Trijicon 2.5-10x56 Accu-Point 30mm Rifle Scope Amber Triangle Trijicon 2.5-10x56 Accu-Point 30mm Rifle Scope
Stock # - TR22
  • Matte
  • Amber Triangle
  • 30mm
$806.95 
Add Trijicon 2.5-10x56 Accu-Point 30mm Rifle Scope to Cart 
What other options are there to accurately engage targets at multiple distances out to 400 yds  well there are tactical and target type knobs that can be used to dial in correction.  Leupold has a new model of VX3 out with  "CDS"  Custom Dial System.  Knobs  for many different scopes can be engraved with known balistic information to dial in correction.

"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do".
Bobby Paul Doherty
Texas Ranger
Back to Top
Urimaginaryfrnd View Drop Down
MODERATOR
MODERATOR
Avatar
Resident Redneck

Joined: June/20/2005
Location: Iowa
Status: Offline
Points: 14962
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/08/2009 at 02:29
Leupold 4.5-14x40 VX-3 Riflescope Duplex Leupold 4.5-14x40 VX-3 Riflescope
Stock # - LEU59270
  • Matte
  • Duplex
  • 1"
  • Custom Dial System
  • Xtended Twilight Lens System
$639.95 
Add Leupold 4.5-14x40 VX-3 Riflescope to Cart 

"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do".
Bobby Paul Doherty
Texas Ranger
Back to Top
green-grizzly View Drop Down
Optics GrassHopper
Optics GrassHopper


Joined: May/02/2006
Status: Offline
Points: 30
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote green-grizzly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/08/2009 at 09:52
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.
Back to Top
Mannheim Bob View Drop Down
Optics GrassHopper
Optics GrassHopper


Joined: September/01/2009
Status: Offline
Points: 23
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mannheim Bob Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/08/2009 at 11:54
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.
Back to Top
boliodogs View Drop Down
Optics Apprentice
Optics Apprentice
Avatar

Joined: June/20/2009
Status: Offline
Points: 212
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote boliodogs Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/08/2009 at 17:28
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.      
Back to Top
boliodogs View Drop Down
Optics Apprentice
Optics Apprentice
Avatar

Joined: June/20/2009
Status: Offline
Points: 212
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote boliodogs Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/08/2009 at 18:29
green-grizzly, Mannheim Bob, thank you for the feedback on the 6500 2.5-16x50.It sounds like a wonderful scope.
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.01
Copyright ©2001-2018 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.782 seconds.