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Carolina_N_Utah
Optics GrassHopper Joined: December/26/2011 Location: Utah Status: Offline Points: 8 |
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Posted: December/26/2011 at 22:31 |
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I recently moved to Southern Utah from Georgia and shoot a TC 308. I'm looking to spend about $250 on a longer range scope. I would prefer a side focus and not to sure on the reticle. Any ideas out there, thanks.
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biggreen747
Optics Journeyman Joined: October/16/2009 Location: Colorado Status: Offline Points: 470 |
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What power range are you looking for? A 3-9 is generally sufficient for most western hunting and you can find some good scopes in your price range. If you are looking for more power than that you will either need to increase your budget or go for something on the Sample List like the following.
http://www.samplelist.com/Nikon-45-14x40-Buckmaster-Rifle-Scope-DEMO-B-P3207.aspx |
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We measure it with a micrometer, mark it with a crayon, and cut it with a chainsaw.
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14964 |
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Edited by Urimaginaryfrnd - December/26/2011 at 23:15 |
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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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Carolina_N_Utah
Optics GrassHopper Joined: December/26/2011 Location: Utah Status: Offline Points: 8 |
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Most of what I am hearing from the locals and old timers is that the old 3 by 9 I brought with me just wont hack it. I guess I'm looking to shoot no more than 500 yards, while hunting, and like 42, 44 objective lens. I would be okay with a fixed variable or adjustable like a 6-18. What do you think?
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biggreen747
Optics Journeyman Joined: October/16/2009 Location: Colorado Status: Offline Points: 470 |
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http://swfa.com/Redfield-4-12x40-Revolution-Rifle-Scope-P44473.aspx
I wouldn't go much higher than 14-16 on the upper end for a big game scope. |
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We measure it with a micrometer, mark it with a crayon, and cut it with a chainsaw.
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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I have hunted and lived in Utah my whole life. All I have ever hunted with are 3-9x and similar. Never had a need for more. I have hunted quite a bit with fixed 4x and got by just fine.
For your budget, I would definitely stick with a 3-9x. Getting a high mag scope at a cheap price will really lower the overall quality of the optic. I would consider a Bushnell elite 3-9x. |
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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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Bitterroot Bulls
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: May/07/2009 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 3416 |
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I could not agree more with the other posters. If you like your 3-9, just use it.
The idea that high magnification is necessary, or even preferable, for Western hunting is ridiculous. |
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-Matt
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EAGLE
Optics Journeyman Joined: August/08/2011 Status: Offline Points: 346 |
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4200 or Elite is my vote in 3-9x 40.
You will be hard pressed to beat either for the money.
Eagle
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31 bertram
Optics Apprentice Joined: January/15/2011 Location: Gulf Shores, Al Status: Offline Points: 57 |
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If you can't hit it with 9x, you can't hit it with any weapon you can hold with your shoulder.
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31 bertram
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Carolina_N_Utah
Optics GrassHopper Joined: December/26/2011 Location: Utah Status: Offline Points: 8 |
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Thanks for all the information, I will take all of the suggestions into consideration. Careful 31 bertram, you don't know me from adam.
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31 bertram
Optics Apprentice Joined: January/15/2011 Location: Gulf Shores, Al Status: Offline Points: 57 |
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If it's too far for 9x, it's too far for anything you can hold with your shoulder. Nothing wrong with a good 3x9 scope with good glass. And several good ones in your price range. If I was'nt scope poor I would have jumped on those 3x9 4200's on closeout.
I have a 3x9x40 Burris FF II on my 257 wby and it goes together like peas and carrots. Picked up another one in gloss on a closeout here at SWFA this year for $119.95. This is my third scope I have bought from these folks and they have treated me well. Also lots of knowlegable and courteous folks on this Forum, unlike some forums I have seen. Good luck and good hunting.
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31 bertram
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rustic
Optics Master Joined: September/30/2011 Status: Offline Points: 1461 |
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I am not disagreeing with others here. I have used 3x9 alot for western highplains/mountain hunting and 3x9's worked just fine but, I like my 14 power VX-3 much more. Do not think I will go back to a 3x9 after using a 14.
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Bitterroot Bulls
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: May/07/2009 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 3416 |
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I really like the 3-12 and 4-14 magnification ranges for western hunting, but the 6-20 stuff is too much, IMO. Too little field of view on the low end, and the form factor is getting pretty big on those scopes. The higher end does help when doing load development and sighting in. The new high-ratio scopes seem like they will be really usefull, if they are reasonably compact. The VX-3 4.5-14 scopes have a nice magnification range in a nice package.
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-Matt
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14964 |
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Consider a scope you can dial in correction with tactical knobs.
Edited by Urimaginaryfrnd - December/29/2011 at 21:12 |
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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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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14964 |
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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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billyburl2
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/08/2009 Location: Cottonwood, AZ Status: Offline Points: 4015 |
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I agree to a point. But in my humble opinion, high mag, and cheap scopes just make for a headache. But a reasonably priced scope or even a cheap scope that is not jammed full of features allows the manufacture to make a scope that is dependable and have decent glass. Your VX3 cost between $500 and $900, depending on what model you got... That is a long way from the $250 the OP listed as his budget. Does more mag make things easier? Sure, as long as the scope has the resolution to support the more X's. Most common 3-9's in the $150-$200 dollar range have at least serviceable center of field view. I have a Burris FFL-II 3-9x40 that was mounted on my rifle to take my elk here in AZ and my buffalo in Colorado. It is a good scope, it holds zero, but after awhile the haze on the outer rim drove me crazy...
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If it is tourist season, why can't we shoot them?
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rustic
Optics Master Joined: September/30/2011 Status: Offline Points: 1461 |
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The older I get the higher power I want I guess. I have a friend that has a vortex viper I believe it is 6X20??. To me it seems like it has a bit too much tunnel vision to it.
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Carolina_N_Utah
Optics GrassHopper Joined: December/26/2011 Location: Utah Status: Offline Points: 8 |
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31 Bertram, thank-you for the clarification. I will work on getting the best glass I can, cause I am poor as well.
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31 bertram
Optics Apprentice Joined: January/15/2011 Location: Gulf Shores, Al Status: Offline Points: 57 |
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A few years back when I first got my 257 wby. I was wanting to get the most out of that rifle that I could. I have several scopes including a 4x12x40 AO which I considered but I just liked my old 3x9x40 standard plex. So I posted asking if I should go with a higher mag and John Barsness aka Muledeer answered with the very same thing I replied to you about the "9x and shoulder thing". I have and have used the higher mag scopes and I've came back full circle. Is a higher mag scope worse? Of course not. And if you have more confidence in it and know your weapon well, it certainly won't hurt. I feel that as the magnification goes up you will need the quality of the glass to go up as well and thus the $$$.
Another thing you will need to look at once you start getting over 9 or 10x is AO. I'm just not a big fan of them either. Just something else for me to tinker with, and I'm a little slow uncoordinated, he he
I went with the advice of Muledeer and never looked back. I feel he steered me in the right direction. Simplicity works for me.
A lower magnification higher quality glass will almost always trump a lower quality higher magnification.
Your milage may vary. Hope I am not fanning the fames here.
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31 bertram
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