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Need some help pulling the trigger.

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Toy4Two View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Toy4Two Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Need some help pulling the trigger.
    Posted: July/19/2010 at 18:22
I'm trying to buy a new scope for my .243 WSSM  Model 70 but I can't pull the trigger.  I currently have a Sightron S1 2.5-10x44 and I'm happy with it but I want something better. 

Rifle will be used for Deer hunting in the sandhills of Nebraska.   Shots can range from 10-300 yards.   
See the picture for the landscape, it's not prettyBig Smile
Here's what I'm looking at.

Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40       Is 9x going to be enough for those 300 yard shots?
Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14x40  Is 4.5 going to be to close for the rare 10 yard shot?
Bushnell 6500 2.5-16x42     Sounds perfect but was I spoiled by looking through a Conquest?
Conquest 1-20x44 my dream scopeWhacko

Last week I looked through the Conquest, Leupold VX2, Monarch, Scheels brands and my Sightron and the Conquest made the others look bad.

So, if you had $4-600 bucks to spend on a scope what would you buy?

And please keep your .243 comments to yourselfBig Grin I really like this gun and it's very accurate.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lucytuma Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/19/2010 at 18:32
"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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Toy4Two Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/19/2010 at 18:38
I haven't had the chance to look through one.  It's a 2 hour drive for me to go scope shopping so I'm hoping to get some help here.  I really really like the zeiss 3-9x40 and the prices is right but I can't get over how a 4.5-14 would help me identify a good buck that's standing hundreds of yards away.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote neilbilly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/19/2010 at 18:56

Welcome


Were it me, I'd take this one.


http://swfa.com/Zeiss-35-10x44-Conquest-Rifle-Scope-P2498.aspx


Good glass at 10x should be plenty out to 300 yards. You could likely get away with the 3-9 and make the same shot so if your budget better fits that one, I'm pretty sure you'd not regret it. 



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote shooter07 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/19/2010 at 19:03
http://www.opticstalk.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15017

Great write up by one of the most knowledgeable people on here. This is the Bushnell 2.5-16x42 with Mil Dot.

 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Toy4Two Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/19/2010 at 19:14
On the Elite 6500, how is the image at x16, is it still clear??  I've never looked through an Elite 4200, do they compare to the Conquest or even close??
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 300S&W Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/19/2010 at 19:19
  Hey T4T,WELCOME to OT.
 
  I'd not worry about not being able to take a 10yd shot at 4.5X if needed.  Fov is 25' at 100yds on 4.5X and my 4X Conquest is 26'. I'd have no problems at 10yds at all.
 
  By the way,NICE BUCK!!!!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote shooter07 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/19/2010 at 19:24
I've not yet looked through that particular scope but i read enough on here and other places to purchase that for my latest custom Remington700 build. I have a lot of faith in the guys on here to give no bs reviews.

The 6500 4.5-30x (larger version) had some slight problems in the low 20's to 30 power, but like that review i posted above reports that there is really nothing to complain about with the 2.5-16x scope. It's got more versatility than most scopes out there and the Japanese glass is top notch. Those Elite line scopes are arguably the most durable out there (again reviews that are abundant) and you won't break the bank either.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Toy4Two Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/19/2010 at 19:25
Thanks, you just pushed me towards the 4.5-14 conquests.  Love the clarity of the Conquest compared to the others I looked at.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Toy4Two Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/19/2010 at 19:38
Has anyone traded with SWFA?  How smooth does it go?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote WYcoyote Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/19/2010 at 21:42
I'd go with the 3x9 Conquest and don't look back.
9x is plenty of power with a scope of that clarity.
Like you said the 4.5x might be too much at close range.
I shot a nice whitetail at 280 lasered yards this fall with my .243 Win. and a 3x9 Conquest without a problem.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/19/2010 at 21:43
Originally posted by Toy4Two Toy4Two wrote:

I'm trying to buy a new scope for my .243 WSSM  Model 70 but I can't pull the trigger.  I currently have a Sightron S1 2.5-10x44 and I'm happy with it but I want something better. 

Rifle will be used for Deer hunting in the sandhills of Nebraska.   Shots can range from 10-300 yards.   
See the picture for the landscape, it's not prettyBig Smile
Here's what I'm looking at.

Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40       Is 9x going to be enough for those 300 yard shots?
Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14x40  Is 4.5 going to be to close for the rare 10 yard shot?
Bushnell 6500 2.5-16x42     Sounds perfect but was I spoiled by looking through a Conquest?
Conquest 1-20x44 my dream scopeWhacko

Last week I looked through the Conquest, Leupold VX2, Monarch, Scheels brands and my Sightron and the Conquest made the others look bad.

So, if you had $4-600 bucks to spend on a scope what would you buy?

And please keep your .243 comments to yourselfBig Grin I really like this gun and it's very accurate.

i love the .243, its great for coyotes.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote stickbow46 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/19/2010 at 21:54
I have the Elite 6500 2.5-16x42,Conquest 3-9x40 & Conquest 3.5-10x50.The conquest glass is better & I prefer the 3.5-10 [#4 ret] over the 3-9 for hunting.The one thing I wish the Conquest had is the rain guard of the Bushnell.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/19/2010 at 23:24
Some of what scope is right depends on how you hunt. If you will have a solid rest you can take advantage of higher power.  However  in low light a 6x42 scope is ideal or a scope that has a 42mm objective and can be dialed down to 6x or lower.  If the scope has a 50 mm objective to get maximum brightness you dial down to 7 x or lower.  Note balistic reticles only work at the highest power and dialing in correction with tacticl / target knobs works at all powers.  I have purchased the following scopes in the last year or two for similar use.  3-9x42 Super Sniper - (awesome what a bargain $599.95) this has features nothing else has for under a grand,  4-16x40 Bushnell 4200 ( second one I have bought the new model is even better than last years model - lots of magnification)  6x42 Leupold VX3  I have the heavy duplex but the long range duplex is a better choice with its balistic reticle that is ideal for low light very good choice. Super Sniper 6x42 with tactical / Target knobs  This is the bargain best bang for the bucks as you can dial in correction and be dead on for only $299.95 , note I also have a couple of 10x Super Snipers as well but for hunting I find 6x more user friendly as its hard to get 10x onto something under 100 yds.  As for how to select you have to begin with asking yourself if you need  higher power to look at animals and compare them to select which one to shoot if so the 4-16x40 Bushnell is a winner you give up one power on the low end to get seven more on the high end.  If you can live with tall tactical knobs on a hunting rifle and not everyone can the my first choice would be the 3-9 Super Sniper.  If you cant live with tactical knobs I'd look seriously at the Zeiss 3-9x42 and the Leupold FX3 6x42 with long range duplex it will get you on target with its balistic reticle where the Zeiss will have only the center crosshair and you will guess hold over afte sighting at 200 yds.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JeffO Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/20/2010 at 14:13
.243 for DEER?!  Have you lost your frikkin' mind? 
 
<BSEG>
 
I just wanted to say, in no way shape or form is a Conquest inadequate for 300-yd shots (I think that's what you said).  I run Leupold 2.5-8's and Conquest 3-9's out to 600 yards all the time and while I will concede that for a shot that long I PREFER my Conq 6.5-20, I can donk my steel plates just fine with the 3-9.  That's at 600 yds.  At 300 yards, sheesh, a 3-9 is PLENTY of scope. 
 
Our hunting situations are about as different as can be; I am often in very thick stuff.  So my scopes pretty much must have a nice low-end power setting.  A 4.5-14 would be too much scope for me on a general-purpose rifle.  If, however, I was routinely taking the 300-yd shot and never taking 10-yard shots I'd look real hard at it.  The Conq 4.5-14 is a very nice scope from what I've seen in the shops.
 
(it's the other way around for me- I routinely take 10-30 yard shots and my furthest shot on game is a Colorado elk at 280, and other than that I only have one deer over 100 yards and that was with a .358 and open sights so... you can see that the low end of a scope is extra-important to me!)
 
In your situation I'd stick a 3-9 Conquest on that varmint rifle (couldn't resist, grin) and go hunting.  Those are great scopes for $400.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SD Dog Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/20/2010 at 14:19
3x9 will serve you well.  Plenty of magnification for 300yds.  Shot a deer last year at 330yds and magnification was at 6x I believe.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gunshow75 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/20/2010 at 19:23
Originally posted by Toy4Two Toy4Two wrote:

Has anyone traded with SWFA?  How smooth does it go?
 
I just bought a scope and Game Reaper bases from SWFA.  They were excellent to deal with. 


Tom



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bitterroot Bulls Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/20/2010 at 21:28

You can shoot a long ways with a little 3-9 the quality of that Zeiss...

-Matt
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote biggreen747 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/21/2010 at 08:54
While all of the above posters are correct that a 3-9 is sufficent for 300yd shots on game I guess if I were looking for a new scope in the $400-$600 range for your situation I would probably go with an upper end of 12x-16x. I have found 16x to really be the upper limit due to mirrage. IMO there is just more versatility with these scopes than there is with a 3-9. The 4.5-14 Zeiss would be an excellent choice but does exceed $600.00. If that is not an issue go for it. If the money is an issue the Elite 4200 would be my first choice due to the rainguard coating. By going this route you now have not only a great little deer and antelope gun but a fantastic coyote / gopher gun that you can take out and test your abilities at longer ranges. I've never spent too much time with the .243 but I picked up my first one the other day (a Marlin XS7Y) for my wife to hunt deer and pronghorn in NE and SD. I had a 3-12x42 Nikon Monarch on the shelf that went on top of it. My 25-06 that I use for most of my hunting in NE and SD now wears a 4-16x42 Nikon Monarch which will get put to the test this fall. It replaced a 3-9x40 FullfieldII that I used on that rifle for a number of years.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote biggreen747 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/21/2010 at 15:18
If your willing to dish out the almost $800 for a Conquest you may want to think long and hard about one of these. IMO this is a another step above the Conquest. Im trying to figure out how to explain one of these to the wife right now.




Edited by biggreen747 - July/21/2010 at 15:20
We measure it with a micrometer, mark it with a crayon, and cut it with a chainsaw.
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