QuoteReplyTopic: Leupold 4.5-14x40 Posted: September/12/2010 at 12:57
So I scrounged up all the cash I can...I can afford this, but is it the best choice out there for the money....would the Bushnell 2.5-16 6500 be better, anyone have both of these scopes....Having this amount of money to spend on a scope will not happen again for some time and I would like to do it right...here is the one I am looking at http://swfa.com/Leupold-45-14x40-Mark-4-LRT-30mm-Riflescope-P2549.aspx
I want this power range, or close to it...mill dot, and adjustment range. Any input, and advice would be much appreciated/
Ummm.... Neither? For that kind of money, why buy a second-focal plane scope with non-matching reticle and turrets. In that price range, my first choice would be the Vortex PST, but it is not out yet. And the limited numbers that were released had problems. So by default I give you this one. But Bushy reputation for customer service is scetchy at best.
Yep...I was really hoping for the FFP PST, but Scott said it might be a bit, and I would like to get set up before hunting season....maybe I will pre order it and shoot the setup that I have now....I was not aware of the 4200 FFP, worth a look, do you know how much adjustment it has? I live in Oregon and so it only takes 1 day to get something shipped to Leopold if there is a problem, one thing that I like + I know it will get taken care of...Bushnell sounds scetchy as of late...
According to some reviews, about 22 mils. For a hunting scope why not the 3x9 S.S.? IT is bullet proof. Rock solid, with great glass, and fantastic knobs. Plus it is $250 less than all the scopes mentioned so far. At most hunting ranges 9x has been more than enough, at least in my experience.
I would love a S.S. but this is a dual purpose rifle..target and hunting....can't afford just a target rifle right now. Up here in the mountains of Oregon we have extended ranges that we can shoot all day long and we don't have to pay anything for it..we normally have gongs and targets set up around 600 to 800 yards, then we will swing the bench around and have stumps and rocks on cut banks ranging out to 1500 yards....not saying that I shoot that far, because I don't, but I would like to get there some day, and I'm tired of being the guy on the spotting scope while everyone else is making hits (of coarse these guys are shooting .338 and .338Rum, vs my 7mag, but you get the idea). Thanks for the suggestions BB keep em coming.
Dont be shy about "only" having a 7mm rem mag, it'll reach out there no problem.
Beware the man with just one rifle; he probably knows how to use it. I've gone to 1 centerfire rifle, 1 rimfire rifle, 1 shotgun and 1 pistol. I have other firearms, but I simply wipe them down once a month, and use them for loaners to friends (very good friends) and family.
The Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16x42 and the Elite 6500 2.5-16x50 are better scopes for the $$$ than the Leupold 4.5-14x40.
You guys are leading him down the wrong path if he is going to shoot long range he needs to be concerned about how much internal adjustment the scope has. The 4.5-14 Leupold Mk4 models all have 100 moa of internal adjustment and are quite suitable for long range. The Super Sniper 3-9x42 is a better tougher scope with better adjustment knobs in mil mil and FFP but if the power range of the scope is important the answer is Sightron SIII because their line of scopes has lots of internal adjustment just like the Leupold. What you have to figure out is how important is having lots of internal adjustment and what is enough. The 5-20x50 Trijicon has 50 moa of internal adjustment which is possibly enough if you use a plus 20 moa base or if you use a flat base and are not getting out past about 600 yds. Run a balistic chart for your bullet and elevation
Zeiss makes up for not having lots of adjustment by having a good balistic reticle and their website will calculate what power to place the scope on to make it close to your balistics. From there it takes practice.
I have several Leupold Mark 4 scopes and they have worked just fine so do not buy a scope with very little internal adjustment when you need that factor. The glass is very nice in the Bushnell 4200 but it does not have the adjustment range to be a long range scope and many others dont either. In a true tactical scope the IOR scopes do have the internal adjustment range and better glass than any of these but their customer service has been questioned still the glass makes up for a lot.
Dont be shy about "only" having a 7mm rem mag, it'll reach out there no problem.
Beware the man with just one rifle; he probably knows how to use it. I've gone to 1 centerfire rifle, 1 rimfire rifle, 1 shotgun and 1 pistol. I have other firearms, but I simply wipe them down once a month, and use them for loaners to friends (very good friends) and family.
The Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16x42 and the Elite 6500 2.5-16x50 are better scopes for the $$$ than the Leupold 4.5-14x40.
i would agree with the 6500.
They call me "Boots" 375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead"
I'd shy away from the 4.5-30 Bushy; the view gets fuzzy when you try and use the upper limits of the magnification. The 2.50-16 doesn't have that problem.
With a 50 moa scope half of that elevation up half below the zero which may not be the case because all rifles are a tad different in theory that gives you 25 moa up or 25 inches up at 100
At 500 yds one moa is 5 inches so 25x5 = 125 inches on the 500 yd target of which you only need 39.3 so at 500 yds you have plenty but that changes as you go out further. At 1000 yds that same 25 moa will be 250 inches and you will need about 363 inches or 34.7 MOA of adjustment up
800 yds would be about 22.5 moa which you could do in theory but what if to set the zero you have to use some of that 25 moa that should be above. You can change the angle of the scope by using a plus MOA base allowing you to use a scope with less internal adjustment.
Just realize that you can use a 20 moa base but not a 30 moa base with a 50 moa scope and even with a 20 moa base you are pressing your luck as you may be working close to the limits of adjustment within the scope which is hard on it. Burris signature rings with inserts in them is another way to adjust the angle of the scope.
The 2.5-16 Bushnell 6500 has 78 inches of internal adjustment so it should have enough but you should look at the style of knobs to see if that works for you as you started with a Mk4 which has very nice tactical knobs but ones that are a bit taller than I like still I liked the one I had.
Edited by Urimaginaryfrnd - September/12/2010 at 18:44
"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do". Bobby Paul Doherty Texas Ranger
Thanks for the input guys...Uri there is a second 2.5-16 Bushy that has larger target knobs similar to the SS brand, but I think I would be fine with the cheaper model and the low pro caps with covers, because of hunting brush....adjustment is important, I already have a 40moa Burris fullfield II tactical that with 10moa inserts I have 26moa up and 9 moa down....math says it is not a 40 moa, more like 35moa (with the scope not mounted adjustment range is the same) scope and that is what I worry about with a 50moa scope and 20moa base....still on the fence....alot of money for me to spend, still hoping someone will chime in with some first hand knowledge of some of these scopes and give me the down and dirty, really can't afford more than 850, but last week I didn't know if I could afford 500 either lol
Magdude, copy that on the high mag bushy, one reason it never entered the equation...I don't want to pay for the extra mag if it isn't at all usable.
Pyro, Have you used this 6500, if so did you find any draw backs at high magnification,or inconcistency in the turrets?
The 4200 I recommended has 22 mils of travel. Pretty much the same as 2.5-16 6500, and it is ffp and matching turrets and reticle. Yes the lueppy has more internal adjustment, and the 6500 has more zoom range, but for the same money FFP and mil turrets wins every time
BB I am really considering the ffp you mentioned, but so far the reviews that I have read are mixed when talking about the illuminated reticle washing the scope out...sounds like hit or miss, I also haven't used a ffp scope, is the reticle etched, do you need illumination in the late morning huntiong brush. 12 power would probly be enough mag for me since I will mainly be target shooting from 6-8 hundred yards for the long shots......need more info thanks again everyone.
I have also heard that the ilum. was hit or miss. I must say I haven't used the scope. But it is a switch. Either on or off. None of the other scopes being debated even offer an illuminated reticle, except for the Vortex, and it has not been released yet. The Sightron is a good choice, but for the money being spent, FFP and MIL adjustments gets my money every time.
As a side note, I would buy the S.S. and more reloading supplies! But thats just me.
I have no doubt that the S.S. would work for me out to 600 and for allot of other people out to 1000, but after reading Mike Miller's review about the lack of paralax adjustment and sight picture being hard to achieve, I don't know if the S.S. is right for me on this application.....would love to put one on my 25-06 for deer and target shooting to 600 though....I have shot allot, most of it not having a clue and just burning through ammo, I have been slowly trying to overcome allot of bad habits..so far so good, with a long way to go.
I know I'm a little scatterbrained and it might be hard to follow what I type, gut thanks for hangin with me guys.
Side note...I have more than one rifle, but my 7mag is my largest caliber and will still be used for elk hunting, and hopefully moose in two years.
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