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Help with scopes for elk gun Tikka T3 |
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KSTRX450R
Optics GrassHopper Joined: May/29/2009 Status: Offline Points: 3 |
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Posted: May/29/2009 at 08:54 |
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I recently bought a Tikka T3 lite stainless steel in 300 win mag for elk hunting and need opinions on what scope to put on it. I am leaning toward a Leupold VX-III in 3.5-10X50 B&C reticle or a VX-II 4-12X50 Long Range reticle or a Burris Signature in 3-12X44 Ballistic plex reticle. I want a scope with the B&C reticle or a ballistic plex reticle, also I want a 50mm objective. Should I put a silver scope on this gun to go along with the stainless steel barrel or should I go with black with silver rings or just all black. I would just like to hear your experiences and opinions. Thanks
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mike650
Optics God Joined: May/14/2006 Location: West of Rockies Status: Offline Points: 14569 |
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Swaro AV 4-12x50 with BR reticle.
http://www.swfa.com/pc-8617-278-swarovski-4-12x50-american-riflescope.aspx |
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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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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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One thing to be aware of is those ballistic reticles will only work properly on a specific magnification range. (unless you gather the bullet drops for multiple mag ranges and measure the different marks on the reticle at those magnifications) Meaning if you find all your data for a round on 10x then you can only use it on 10x. If you put the scope on 6x then they will not work the same as on 10x and you point of impact will change.
Those reticles really are not all they are cracked up to be in my opinion. A guy can certainly learn to use them and use them well, but they are not as simple as the manufactures make them out to be. |
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Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.
"A Liberal is a person who will give away everything they don't own." |
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brodeur272
Optics Journeyman Joined: September/23/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 609 |
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Kahles 3-10x50 or 4-12x52 from the Sample List...
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Dshusker
Optics Apprentice Joined: November/09/2008 Status: Offline Points: 103 |
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Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16X42 would work well on a 300 Win cannon.
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amk204
Optics Apprentice Joined: December/27/2007 Status: Offline Points: 75 |
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bushnell 4200 with the doa ret. i have the 2.5-10x40 one a .300 wsm. 40mm is plenty good for low light + its less likely to get hung up on brush or scaberd.
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Life is to short to shoot an ugly gun
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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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+1 My woods gun is a Tikka with a Swaro (BR reticle) and I couldn't be happier. Take the rings that came with the rifle and throw them away, they are pure crap, can't handle the recoil. I recommend Talleys. |
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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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I have both the 3.5-10x50 Leo and the 3-12x44 Signature. I would take either over the VX-II, the glass is a step up with both. I think between the VX-III and the Signature, it's a toss up. Both have been reliable and solid performers for several years now.
I have matte scopes on all of my stainless rifles. It is easy on the eyes for me. Some SS finished scopes don't match up with the finishes on some rifles. I also use matte rings.
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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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Does it look anything like this? And what Tahqua said about stainless is good advice, matching a scope's stainless to a rifle's stainless is tough - and usually results in something less than ideal. It is a great gun! And if you want a brake that really works on it, I gotta guy... |
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Freedom is something you take.
Respect is something you earn. Equality is something you whine about not being given. |
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Oldtrader3
Optics Journeyman Joined: May/16/2009 Location: WA (state) Status: Offline Points: 445 |
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For elk, a 3.5-10x40 VX-3 or the Kahles 3.5-10x42 should be a good range and quality scope. That is unless you are hunting Roosevelt elk in the rainforest. In which case, a 1.8-5.5-40 Zeiss Conquest might be the ticket.
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CDR3
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sholling
Optics Professional Joined: May/24/2008 Location: Hemet CA Status: Offline Points: 944 |
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I have a T3 Lite in 300WM and from experience your first priority (after installing a Limbsaver) should be eye relief. 300WM from a 6.3lb rifle is a whole new world of recoil. At no point would I want to be less than 3-1/2 inches from the scope, and it doesn't look like the Burris 3-12x44 SS gives you quite that much. I have a Burris Signature Select 3-10x40 on mine and I'm very happy with it - but it has better eye relief than the 3-12x44. FWIW my Burris is sitting in a DedNutz low mount. In my opinion the factory rings just suck way to much for use with a heavy recoiling rifle.
Edited by sholling - May/29/2009 at 13:22 |
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Member Madison Society & Revolutionary War Veteran Association (Project Appleseed) Old age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill. ;) |
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mike650
Optics God Joined: May/14/2006 Location: West of Rockies Status: Offline Points: 14569 |
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The DedNutz setup looks sweet!!
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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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chuck danger
Optics GrassHopper Joined: May/25/2009 Status: Offline Points: 23 |
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I had a Burris Signature Select 3-12x44 Ballistic Reticle mounted on my .270. I thought it was an excellent scope although I did notice it seemed to have issues with a little bit of lens flare when the sun was low. It was a rock solid piece of equipment though. I have another one mounted on a .22-250 and it is also working quite well.
All that being said, I recently traded it in for a Kahles CS 2.5-10x50MZ on the samplelist and I am not sorry I did so. I was impressed enough with the Kahles that I bought a second one for my 7mm Remington. All of THAT being said, I probably would not hesitate to buy that Burris again if I wanted a quality scope for a reasonable price. |
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chuck danger
Optics GrassHopper Joined: May/25/2009 Status: Offline Points: 23 |
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BTW, black scope on a SS action- no question. I'm not a fan (aesthetically) of silver scope on SS rifles.
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sholling
Optics Professional Joined: May/24/2008 Location: Hemet CA Status: Offline Points: 944 |
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I almost forgot, in my opinion a black scope with black rings on looks better on a stainless rifle than three mismatched shades of silver.
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NRA, SAF, & CRPA life member
Member Madison Society & Revolutionary War Veteran Association (Project Appleseed) Old age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill. ;) |
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lucytuma
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: November/25/2007 Location: Wisconsin Status: Offline Points: 5389 |
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+1 for black scope and rings, also think a 40mm scope is plenty for light gathering. I also believe any of the scopes in the $400-$600 range will provide you with a very satisfing sight picture.
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14964 |
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14964 |
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The only thing you gain by going from 40mm to 50mm is that it is brighter one power higher in low light so it's not a big advantage and the 40 mm usually gives a better cheek weld. Edited by Urimaginaryfrnd - May/29/2009 at 16:11 |
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"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do". Bobby Paul Doherty Texas Ranger |
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John Barsness
Optics Optimist Joined: January/27/2009 Status: Offline Points: 785 |
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My own preference would be the fixed 6x42, for exactly the same reasons Urimaginaryfriend stated---lus the fact that I have killed big game with various versions of that scope from very close to pretty far.
But I also realize most people want a variable these days. On that light a rifle I would choose whichever scope has the longest eye relief. By the way, the eye relief on the new Leupold 3.5-10x VX-3 doesn't vary much at all. I have tested it on two of them and only found .4 inch between 3.5x and 10x, which is as good as on most scopes that advertise "non-varying" eye relief.
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