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Light weight illuminated scope for european huntin |
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Mannheim Bob
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/01/2009 Status: Offline Points: 23 |
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Posted: September/01/2009 at 16:21 |
Hello all.
There are a lot of great posts on this forum, and a lot of wisdom and experience out there. I am a Texan stationed in Germany. I have a CZ 550FS (full-length stock) in 9.3x62. I like the weight and fast handling action of the rifle. I don't want to burden it with a heavy scope. For testing I put a spare Weaver Extreme 25-10x56 (25 ounces!!!) on it and it killed the feel of the rifle. We hunt in full darkness for fox and pigs, so an illuminated reticle is necessary to see what you are using to aim. I have had to pass on shots where I could plainly see the animal but not the crosshairs on the otherwise exceptional Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16x50. Most hunting in Europe is 100m or less. On a drive hunt you may be shooting at 25m. On a field you may shoot 250m. Therefore a power range of near unity to around 6 power is about right. I frequently use my Bushnell Elite mounted on a Savage 116 .30-06 set at 6-8 power. I know these are conflicting aims, but is there a good, clear scope with an illuminated (preferably #4) reticle out there that keeps the weight down? I think the 17-25 ouncers are way too heavy. I would prefer 8-12 ounces. I realize this is a tall order, but I am really looking to y'alls experience. Thanks in advance, Robert aka Mannheim Bob |
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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This one might be the ticket for you. It is 7x and weights 19 ozs but Meostar glass is fantastic and it is illuminated. http://www.meoptasportsoptics.com/prod.php?prod=308&nav1=2&nav2=3
Edited by supertool73 - September/01/2009 at 16:32 |
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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You could always go with a 3-9x Trijicon accupoint. The illumination is pretty much the best you can get, not batteries required. It weighs about 13.5 oz
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Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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The Trijicon Accupoint 3-9X40 (TR20) is only slightly heavier than your stated upper weight limit, and it's an exceptional low light scope. I have one, and I use mine for nighttime hog and predator hunting.
Besides the original BAC triangle post reticle, it's also available with duplex and mil dot reticles with illuminated center dots, in amber, red, and green.
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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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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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Sorry to repeat you, ST. You and I were posting at the same time.
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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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Mannheim Bob
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/01/2009 Status: Offline Points: 23 |
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Thanks for the nod on Trijicon, I think they are splendid scopes. I am
on the fence with a 3x9, however. I do have a concern with them,
though: 3"" eye relief. A 9.3x62 kicks pretty hard with 286 grain
slugs at 2500 fps. I like to say "I am hitting with a .30-06, AND a
.270..." I have avoided scope eyebrow up til now...
I prefer lower level for close in shooting, they make a 1.25-4. It has 4" of eye relief. That is nice, but 4x is pushing it. I took a Kudu at 240m in ZA with my Marlin 1895XLR in .45-70 with 325 grain Hornady FTX. That was about my limit using the Weaver Extreme 1.5-4.5x24. Nice scope, illuminated #4, but heavy. Affects the balance of the rifle. In the end, I would rather it went up to 6x... Thus my quandry... Leupold makes a nice 2-7x28, 8oz, but no illumination... and on it goes. Thanks! |
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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Trijicon Accupoints have the best illuminated reticle in the business, so I would seriously look at one of those.
Aside from Trijicon, generally the conditions you describe make me think of 1.5-6x42 as an ideal configuration for your needs. There are not all that many options out there. Here are some that I can think of: Burris Euro Diamond 1.5-6x40 with illuminated #4 for about $630 S&B Zenith 1.5-6x42 for about $2400 Zeiss 1.5-6x42 Victory Varipint for about $2200 Personally, I would probably get a Trijicon Accupoint and never look back. Unofrtunately they do not make one in 1.5-6x42, so 3-9x40 is the way to go. ILya
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Mannheim Bob
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/01/2009 Status: Offline Points: 23 |
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I do like the Trijicon.
The Burris 30mm 1.5-6x42 has been at or near the top of my list for a while now. The only drawback is that it weighs 17 oz. I suppose I can tell myself the extra weight will help with the recoil . I do like the idea of the Trijicon. Maybe I'll try the 1-4 and see how it works. if it is not enough magnification I can always move it to the .416 Rigby when I get it. Thanks for the suggestions. Please keep them coming! |
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Mannheim Bob
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/01/2009 Status: Offline Points: 23 |
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Also high on my list is the Leupold VX-3 1.5-5 with an illuminated #4 reticle. At 13 ounces, it works within my weight limits.
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Mannheim Bob
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/01/2009 Status: Offline Points: 23 |
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Thank you for the suggestion. I agree that Meopta makes good glass. It would keep in the Czech theme for the rifle as well! Fixed 7 power is not so good for running game at close range, but would be just the ticket in the stand. Again, 19 oz is too heavy. Their 1.5-6 is a good choice for magnification and is lower in weight, but no illumination yet weighs more than the same magnification illuminated Burris (no lightweight at 17 oz). They make a nice illuminated 1-4 that suffers the same issue that others have: 4 power is good for aiming, but may not be enough to look at the antlers on a reh deer (Roebuck in other countries). When you have antlered vs antlerless season, and the antlers may only be 3" long, magnification helps. You may not have time to flick back and forth between binos and the scope. 6x is better in that regard. Thanks for the suggestion! |
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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How about this one. http://swfa.com/Zeiss-15-6x42-Victory-Varipoint-30mm-Rifle-Scope-P12851.aspx
Edited by supertool73 - September/02/2009 at 09:24 |
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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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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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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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ccoker
Optics Master Joined: February/13/2008 Location: Austin, TX Status: Offline Points: 2041 |
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I had the Burris Eurodiamond 1.5-6x40, ill ret failed on me twice
had a bunch of different ill ret scopes and have settled on the Accupoint 1-4x30 with the green dot german #4 for my 6.8 SPC AR it's primary role is hog hunting and at night too in Texas we can use lights for hogs so it's no problem for 100 yard shots at night will be really testing it this weekend! |
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Mannheim Bob
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/01/2009 Status: Offline Points: 23 |
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How did the Burris Eurodiamond fail you?
I think the Trijicon is a good one if I use the rifle for driven game or I have time so glass with binoculars first. 4x is kinda at the lower limit for game identification. |
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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I guess I don't understand your objection to the Trijicon Accupoint 3-9X40. It has 3.2 - 3.6" eye relief, which should be plenty, since unless you have magnification turned all the way up to 9X, you're getting around 3.5". On paper, it has a little more eye relief than the 1-4X24. I just don't see a better option in a fairly lightweight illuminated scope with reasonably high magnification. Even the Burris Sig 1.5-6X40 Electro Dot is about 2 oz heavier than the 3-9X Accupoint. |
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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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ccoker
Optics Master Joined: February/13/2008 Location: Austin, TX Status: Offline Points: 2041 |
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here's another option:
http://swfa.com/Zeiss-15-6x42-Victory-Varipoint-30mm-Rifle-Scope-P12851.aspx I would LOVE to see one of these in person and test it out at night |
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Mannheim Bob
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/01/2009 Status: Offline Points: 23 |
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I would love one too, but $2199 is a bit too much (3-4x) for my budget.
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Mannheim Bob
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/01/2009 Status: Offline Points: 23 |
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As stated, my objection would be the 3x power on the low end. Running pigs demand a 1.5 power lower end. Other than that its great. If they make a 6x magnification range scope from 1.5-9x then I would be right on.
Thanks for the suggestions. |
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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I am thinking the ill Leupold 1.5-5x is going to be your best choice. We know they are tuff, and it is very close to the power range you want and it is barely over your weight requirement. http://swfa.com/Leupold-15-5x20-VX-3-30mm-Riflescope-P12637.aspx
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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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Mannheim Bob
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/01/2009 Status: Offline Points: 23 |
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Will their custom shop customize a reticle for the illuminated one? When I select a scope in the custom shop, the VX3 1.5-5 is there, but no mention of the illuminated model. It would be nice to zero at 100m (normal hunting range here in Germany) and then have a 200m and a 300m holdover line for the 286 grain SP at 2400 fps.
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