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Big Game Hunting Scopes |
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John Barsness
Optics Optimist Joined: January/27/2009 Status: Offline Points: 785 |
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Posted: February/08/2009 at 16:59 |
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This is the first of a series of monthly columns on hunting optics that John Barsness will be writing for OpticsTalk.com. BIG GAME HUNTING SCOPES These days many shooters judge rifle scopes almost totally by optical quality. This makes sense with target scopes. Not only do target shooters have to see the target itself clearly, but since they’re looking through the scope for long periods, even slight optical flaws can cause eyestrain. Also a good scope can help pick up subtle wind shifts through the heat waves commonly called “mirage.” Optics are also obviously important to the hunter, but in different ways. Optically, the most demanding hunting takes place in near darkness, whether in a dim whitetail forest at the limits of legal shooting hours, or in a European hochsitz (German tree stand) overlooking a midnight field where wild boar might come to feed. Here very bright optics help a lot, along with a large exit pupil, allowing all the light possible to reach the hunter’s eye--and relatively high magnification to increase twilight factor. Either type of hunting places a premium on optics, and less on other factors. I have done both, and a big, bright scope doesn‘t just help, it can make the difference between success and failure. The same type of scope, however, can be a handicap in other types of hunting. Big, large-objective scopes are not the best choice, for instance, when going on a horseback trip for elk. A saddle scabbard puts stresses on both ends of a scope. I have actually seen the 50mm end of a big scope bent visibly downward after a day on the trail. Plus, elk are big targets. While they are often hunted in thick “black” timber, there they’ll usually be quite close, so lots of magnification is not only not necessary, it may restrict field of view so much that an excited “dude” can’t find the elk. I have seen this more than once too. The same sorts of things affect scope choice for African hunting. While you won’t be riding horses, a safari car bouncing off and on rough roads can shake a scope out of zero in a few days time. In fact, I have actually seen as many scopes fail in various ways in Africa than in North America, despite the fact that I’ve hunted 100 times as much in A Toyota Land Cruiser is not a scope’s friend, and neither is the super-magnum many Americans feel compelled to buy before heading to The reality is that on both the elk hunt and the kudu hunt, the biggest factor in a rifle scope is not sheer optical quality, but reliability. We want a scope that will stay sighted in for a week or more, under tough conditions, so that when the fleeting chance comes we know the bullet will land in the place the reticle rests. The finest optics in the world won’t help if it doesn’t. Also, unlike a target shooter—or even a prairie shooter--we aren’t going to be looking through the scope for hours and maybe days on end. Instead we use binoculars for that chore. Our scope will probably only be looked through for a few seconds on an elk hunt, and maybe a few minutes total on a 10-day safari for several animals. Even then we’ll be looking through the center of the scope. So what if the very edges of the scope’s field are a little blurry? That’s not where the crosshairs are. In fact, I have hunted a lot of places, with a lot of money at stake, with highly unfashionable fixed-power scopes—sometimes (gasp!) even a 2.5x or 3x, though more often a 4x or 6x. Why? Despite the reliability of modern scopes, ALL the hunting scopes that I’ve seen fail in the field have been variables. Yeah, you should take along a spare scope (and I always do), but that doesn’t do much good until after the primary scope has already gone belly-up. This is often discovered after shooting at a trophy animal. Then you have to switch scopes, and shoot a few rounds to make sure the backup is still sighted-in. In the meantime you have missed or wounded the animal you traveled so far (and expensively) to hunt, and may have to spend a day looking for it, not always successfully. I much prefer making the first shot count. As the old Another modern hunting trend is using the adjustment turrets in the field. This can really help for some hunting, such as pronghorns on the high plains, but one of the elk guide’s modern nightmares is the guy who shows up with a 6-20x scope with 2” turrets. For one thing, not many saddle scabbards fit around such a scope, and even if they do, the turrets are just one more thing that can get bent or whacked.
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300S&W
Optics God Joined: January/27/2008 Location: Burlington,WV Status: Offline Points: 10592 |
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Makes sense to me. And you know it's not only the new hunters (young or old) that are going to the bigger scopes. Had a friend I've hunted with for over 20yrs show up the season before last with a new 6X-18X scope. I warned him but to no avail and it cost him a shot at a decent buck. Deer was too close,moving too fast through a thick cut over area and even though the scope was at its lowest power he just couldn't pull off a shot. For some I guess it's the only way to learn.
Anyways,per usual from you,GOOD READ and I look forward to more.
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Monster
Optics Master Joined: December/16/2008 Location: So. Cal Status: Offline Points: 2031 |
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Thanks for the column John. I'm looking forward to reading your column every month
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"Get Busy Livin' or get busy dyin'" -Red (Shawshank Redemption)
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rifle looney
Optics Master Joined: November/21/2008 Status: Offline Points: 2553 |
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Thank you. John for writing, this is very good information and good reading as well. I've enjoyed it.
Edited by rifle looney - February/08/2009 at 18:13 |
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mike650
Optics God Joined: May/14/2006 Location: West of Rockies Status: Offline Points: 14560 |
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“A hunt based only on trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.” – Fred Bear
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tahqua
MODERATOR Have You Driven A Ford Lately? Joined: March/27/2006 Location: Michigan, USA Status: Offline Points: 9042 |
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Good column and thanks, John.
I find my own experience is pretty close to what you have said. It took me some time, money and missed opportunities to get to this point. I am sure more of the same is yet to come, too. Doug |
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lucytuma
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: November/25/2007 Location: Wisconsin Status: Offline Points: 5389 |
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Good article Mr Barsness, as a hunter I enjoy reading other hunters points of view, any thing I can learn or re-evaluate to make my hunt more successfull and enjoyable is always welcome. |
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"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." - Thomas Jefferson
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Roy Finn
MODERATOR Steiner Junkie Joined: April/05/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4856 |
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John, good stuff as always. Now that we know the attributes that you look for in a scope, perhaps we could get a list of some of your favorites that have proven themselves in the field.
Roy |
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helo18
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: December/02/2006 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 5620 |
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+1 Thanks for the great article. Which scopes would you recommend? |
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To be prepared for War is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.
GEORGE WASHINGTON |
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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Good post, John! I look forward to reading more of your monthly columns!
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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martin3175
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/19/2005 Location: Maryland Status: Offline Points: 3773 |
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As always- a great read ...and excellent points made-thanks |
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huntingaddict
Optics Apprentice Joined: January/01/2009 Location: Bethlehem, GA Status: Offline Points: 70 |
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Thanks for the info. Sounds like a very common sense approach from someone with experience to know. It couldn't come at a better time for me either. I've been battling with which scope to buy myself. I would love to know which ones you do recommend. The part of holding a zero is the key for me. I want one that I zero once and check it and it stays there. I don't know if the Sightrons, Leupolds, Elite 4200's, Burris signature w/ posi lock, Zeiss Conquest, etc. would be the most reliable. I am starting to see that long time hunters seem to recommend a great pair of binos along with a reliable scope to AIM with.
I'm sure there are a lot of us here that would love to hear your recommendations. Thanks again, Tom |
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Tip69
Optics Master Extraordinaire Tip Stick Joined: September/27/2005 Location: Nebraska Status: Offline Points: 4155 |
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Nothing like experience from the field! Look forward to next months article. Thanks John, glad you decided to come over and join the OT.
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take em!
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13181 |
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Very well put, John.
I would probably add that in the world of modern manufacturing we should be demanding both mechanical and optical excellence from the scopes we buy. I made this thread a sticky, so it stays at the top of the page. ILya |
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bugsNbows
Optics God bowsNbugs Joined: March/10/2008 Location: North Georgia Status: Offline Points: 11196 |
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Very interesting, informative and "right on". Thank you Sir.
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If we're not suppose to eat animals...how come they're made of meat?
Anomymous |
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SamC
Optics Professional Joined: October/01/2007 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 902 |
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John thanks for reminding us to keep the issue of “hunting optics” in its proper prospective, BTW, I love reading your stuff! Sam |
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Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. Winston Churchill |
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Ed Connelly
Optics Retard God of no Chihuahua Joined: December/16/2007 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 24225 |
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I like reading John's stuff, too. I have been a John Barsness fan, I guess, since the mid-eighties.
I like the bright European Wonder Scopes as much as the next fellow, but I have never been able to afford one. I have always simply used very run-of-the-mill normal-type scopes like Weaver, and Leupold, and Redfield, etc. I even use old second-hand ones!! For hunting purposes any decent scope that allows you to shoot where you're lookin' will work. [ try not to fall off any real high cliffs.....]
.....but I do appreciate the newer, brighter scopes. Someday I will get a real FANCY Foreign Model
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mwyates
Optics Master Joined: June/15/2004 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 1196 |
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Amen, John. We had a poll here a while back concerning what's most important in a scope. I voted durability, or whatever it was called, but optical quality was the clear winner, if I remember correctly. I've always maintained that a scope is an aiming device; if it lets you put the bullet where you want consistently, it's done it's job.
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No man on his deathbed ever said "I wish I'd made more money".
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13181 |
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Why is it an "either / or" choice? why can't we have scopes that both hold together and have good glass? ILya Edited by koshkin - February/10/2009 at 21:00 |
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lucytuma
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: November/25/2007 Location: Wisconsin Status: Offline Points: 5389 |
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At the $500.00 price point I expect both. (durability & optical quality).
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"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." - Thomas Jefferson
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