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Scope suggestions for 300 mag. |
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jjoyen
Optics GrassHopper Joined: December/06/2010 Status: Offline Points: 1 |
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Posted: December/06/2010 at 23:02 |
I'm looking for a new scope for my T/C Icon 300 win. mag. Will mostly be used for deer hunting in WI but plan on making a few trips out west in the upcoming years. Current budget is around $800 and want something with good low light performance and good glass. I have been looking at the zeiss conquest and am kinda leaning that direction. Next question is what power should I get as the farthest shot around here is going to be about 300 yards. Was looking at the 4.5x14 but not sure if I really need it. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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tman1965
Optics Master Joined: July/20/2010 Location: South Georgia Status: Offline Points: 1456 |
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Welcome to OT!.... the conquest is gonna be a hard one to beat for what you want! http://swfa.com/Zeiss-3-9x40-Conquest-Rifle-Scope-P608.aspx
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14964 |
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The Conquest with the Z800 reticle would be a good choice.
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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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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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That reticle in the 4.5-14 you mentioned would be a great selection. Hard to beat a Zeiss.
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trigger29
Optics Master Extraordinaire X = 180 Y = 90 (X+Pyro)+(Y-Pyro) = ? Joined: September/29/2007 Location: South Dakota Status: Offline Points: 4353 |
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+2
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"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." |
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lucytuma
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: November/25/2007 Location: Wisconsin Status: Offline Points: 5389 |
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Some of the scopes I'd look at per your requests.
All of these are within your budget and all of them are great performers, though given a choice I like the Zeiss, Meopta and the Minox offerings the best.
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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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trigger29
Optics Master Extraordinaire X = 180 Y = 90 (X+Pyro)+(Y-Pyro) = ? Joined: September/29/2007 Location: South Dakota Status: Offline Points: 4353 |
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Farthest shot in WI may be 300 yards, but on the trips out west, it may be a different story. On the other hand, you don't NEED a 14x scope to make shots at ethical "out west" ranges either. I have the Zeiss Conquest with the Z-800 reticle, and tailored a load to make it work on 10.5x. It's worked for all my long shots, but I limit myself on game to 500 yards. Targets are fair game out to 800 though, and I use the same load and magnification. I think that 4.5x on the low end is low enough, but some here don't. It depends on your hunting conditions. There are places in SD where it looks like you could spit 100 yards, so the 4.5-14 doesn't bother me, but I understand that there are places you'd love to be able to see 100 yards as well. You just have to decide what you think your conditions are going to be, and how much the scope will be used in WI conditions, and how much for "out west" conditions, and pick the scope that fits the most common set of conditions.
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"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." |
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270XBolt
Optics Apprentice Joined: March/30/2010 Status: Offline Points: 57 |
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Have you shot that Icon yet? I have one in 308 Winchester and am very pleased with it!
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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 think that a 3-9x40 makes a great all around scope for many of the standard big game magnums. I like lucytuma's list and I would lean towards the Meopta and the Zeiss offerings. They are great scopes for your budget. The Leo is always a good choice, too.
I don't regularly discuss tactical type optics around here because of my limited experience. But the SS 3-9x42 warrants a close look. I am thoroughly impressed with it for use on a hunting gun. My experience has been very positive. My impressions are attached below. http://opticstalk.com/39x42-ss-a-hunters-perspective_topic24725.html Good luck and welcome to O.T. |
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Doug
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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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Get a Trijicon.....
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dhdoyle
Optics GrassHopper Joined: February/22/2010 Location: Western Wyoming Status: Offline Points: 44 |
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I have a Leupold 2.5-8 x 36 on my 300 Win Mag. Here in western Wyoming, you will have to at least cross thick timber or likely hunt in it. A compact scope like this (with low mounts) is much handier on horseback, and won't hang up on brush nearly as much while walking. Elk hunters might grumble about a long, heavy rifle, but you'll find lots of them wondering why they mounted a bigger scope than necessary.
Unless you are unusually good at estimating range, 300 yards is a good maximum for big game hunting, although a 300 Win Mag will be more forgiving of a bad estimate. I've never felt the need for a ranging reticle. |
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billyburl2
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/08/2009 Location: Cottonwood, AZ Status: Offline Points: 4015 |
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If it is tourist season, why can't we shoot them?
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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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Mr Doyle brings up a good point about compactness and horses. The high turrets of tactical scopes might create a problem with gun scabbards on horseback. There are a few others here who hunt out west with these types of scopes that might catch this thread.
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Doug
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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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I suppose unlike most people here, I am not a fan of the Rapid-Z reticle (or really of any holdover reticle in the second focal plane).
Within 300yards, there is no need for it anyway. Zeiss Conquest is a very good choice although I would lean toward the one with a #4 reticle for better low light visibility. As far as configuration goes, since you are not planning to shoot at particularly small targets, 3-9x40 is all you need. Besides, it has the longest eyerelief in the Conquest line, which can come in handy if you 300WM is fairly light. I would also check out Minox ZA-3 3-9x40. If you set on extending your range further, then I really think that FFP scope makes for a better option since holdover is easy at any magnification. In that case, variable Super Sniper 3-9x42 is hard to beat. For 300WM with 180gr bullet, for example, you can sight in at 100yards. At 200yards, you can still aim essentially dead on. At 300yards, use the first mil-dot down. At 400yards, use the top of the second Mil-Dot down. ILya
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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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me, too. If it looks far.....it's too far.....
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