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stilhuntin
Optics Apprentice Joined: March/21/2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 81 |
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Posted: May/05/2013 at 17:22 |
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Can't make up my mind. How would you rate the following for deer hunting 200-300 yards in low light (30 minutes past sun down)? The more research I do the less I see a clear winner!
All are in the same price range and 30 mm or 1 inch doesn't matter to me. I will be hunting from a stand most of the time. I know the Leica has a smaller objective lens, but I have heard many good things about them and the others as well. Zeiss 3-12x56 Victory Diavari 30mm Kahles-3-12x56-Helia-C-30mm Kahles-3.5-10x50-Helia-KXi. Don't know much about an illuminated scope. Never had one. Leica-2.5-10x42-ER-30mm Hope you guys don't mind all the questions and posts, but this the most knowledgable and friendly group I have seen. |
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300S&W
Optics God Joined: January/27/2008 Location: Burlington,WV Status: Offline Points: 10592 |
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Questions and posts don't cost a thing so ask away.
Most knowledgable and friendly group? Yep. Takes patience of Job sometimes but it worth it.
SORRY I can't help with your scope inquiries but you'll get the help your looking for I'm sure.
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"I ain't got time to bleed!"
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idahotrophyhunter
Optics GrassHopper Joined: April/21/2013 Location: Boise Status: Offline Points: 8 |
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I would rate ALL them below a Schmidt & Bender Zenith 2.5-10x56
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Oldtrader3
Optics Journeyman Joined: May/16/2009 Location: WA (state) Status: Offline Points: 445 |
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I would rate all of these scopes as essentially even in optical performance and reliability for my personal experience with these makes and models of scopes. In terms of brightness, the scope with 56 mm objective lenses, should yield the brightest fields in low light just because of their objective lens sizes. This based on all of thee scopes being pretty equal in performance in low light, reputation and cost.
Edited by Oldtrader3 - May/05/2013 at 23:48 |
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CDR3
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De_Tomaso
Optics Apprentice Joined: January/01/2010 Location: Slovenia Status: Offline Points: 65 |
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From this scopes listed I would choose either Helia C 3-12x56 or Victory 3-12x56. Both are optically great scopes and you will not go wrong with either one of them. |
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seawolf
Optics Apprentice Joined: February/11/2008 Location: Norway Status: Offline Points: 109 |
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Of the scopes listed the Zeiss Victory Diavari 3-12x56 is the clear winner.
Kahles make good sopes, but take a back seat to the high end Zeiss in this case.
The Leica 2,5-6x42 is a dark horse with very good optics, but as a low light scope it will be a tiny bit handicapped by the x42 objective lens. I use the big Zeiss 3-12 x56 for low light and night hunting, and where I live it is regarded as the top of the line anything else is compared against.
Another thing to concider is the reticle.
If you are young and have good eye sight, almost anything will do, but there is no accident that European low light/ night hunters prefere the #4 and #1 reticle. The #4 A as in the Leica might be a bith to "thin" and open for low light use, but still work fine for most guys.
So my pick will without a doubt be the Zeiss Victory.
By the way, this is my "low light" deer and pig rifle.
A Ruger M77 in 35 Whelen with the Zeiss Victory 3-12x56 and illuminated #40 reticle.
Loaded with 250 gr Woodleigh it is a deadly combination Edited by seawolf - May/06/2013 at 05:06 |
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Seawolf
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coyote95
Optics Master Joined: January/24/2009 Location: michigan Status: Offline Points: 1196 |
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How would i rate these ? ans Tops. How could you go wrong with any of these?
Seawolf thats a real nice hunting rig
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"Life is like riding a bicycle . To keep balance you must keep moving" Albert Einstein
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stickbow46
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/07/2009 Location: Benton, Pa Status: Offline Points: 4678 |
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To stir the pot a little,have you taken a look at the Premier Heritage illum hunter?Side by side it beat out my S&B Zenith,my Leica but not my Hensoldt that was too close to call.I'm only talking about glass resolution in this situation.Also have you taken a look at the Zeiss Victory HT,I haven't had a chance to look at one yet but I hear fantastic things about that scope.
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Pearls of Wisdom are Heard not Spoken
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bugsNbows
Optics God bowsNbugs Joined: March/10/2008 Location: North Georgia Status: Offline Points: 11201 |
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+1 on the thoughts of the fine gentleman from Norway. It's fine to render and opinion, but actual field usage says it all. |
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If we're not suppose to eat animals...how come they're made of meat?
Anomymous |
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seawolf
Optics Apprentice Joined: February/11/2008 Location: Norway Status: Offline Points: 109 |
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Thank you bugs...you made this old man blush.....
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Seawolf
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cbm
Optics Journeyman Joined: January/11/2008 Location: SC Status: Offline Points: 580 |
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Kahles are awesome ! I think my 3-12x56 was every bit as good as my buddy's Diavari 3-12x56 in low light.....with the exception of the reticle. The Diavari #4 is a very bold reticle. I don't like it for target shooting, to be honest I don't like it any time but at dark. In pitch black dark there is no doubt that the Zeiss #4 is about as good of a non illuminated reticle as your going to find. I had a 4a on my Kahles and it was tough to see after dark. Looks like Leica is coming out with a 3-12x50 illuminated reticle.Might want to throw that in the mix.
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stickbow46
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/07/2009 Location: Benton, Pa Status: Offline Points: 4678 |
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Leica has had illum scopes[called Magnus] out in Europe for quite some time but were not allowed to bring them into the USA.I beleive the reason was an ongoing court battle with Swaro about the illumination similarities .I realy hope this case has been settled,I think their glass is in the top 5 & I would love a 4A illum.
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Pearls of Wisdom are Heard not Spoken
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cbm
Optics Journeyman Joined: January/11/2008 Location: SC Status: Offline Points: 580 |
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Yeh, their website has two models of a scope called ERi and the illumination is on the side now like a Zeiss instead of how they were originally done like a Swarovski.
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stickbow46
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/07/2009 Location: Benton, Pa Status: Offline Points: 4678 |
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CBM, have you heard any info on a release date & price ?
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Pearls of Wisdom are Heard not Spoken
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cbm
Optics Journeyman Joined: January/11/2008 Location: SC Status: Offline Points: 580 |
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No I just happened to look at their website this morning ! I was hoping to scroll down and see a 2-12x44 or something ......but the 3-12x50 has my interest up !
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stickbow46
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/07/2009 Location: Benton, Pa Status: Offline Points: 4678 |
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Got a return call from them,I was told they have no info on the new scopes as to the delivery time but the prices will be $1650-$2350 sugessted price.
Sorry for hi-jacking the original subject.
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Pearls of Wisdom are Heard not Spoken
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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I saw the new Leica ERi illuminated scopes this weekend at the NRA show in Houston, and I thought they were VERY impressive. Illumination is an amber-orange color. I liked the illumination control very much. Other than the addition of illumination and the associated control knob on the saddle opposite the windage turret, they're exactly the same as the non-illuminated Leica ER, which is to say outstanding!
It's hard to argue against any of the scopes in the OP's list, and I like each for different reasons. If low light performance is the highest priority, the 56mm Zeiss wins out. But, for an all-around hunting scope, I like the Leica ER just a touch better. It has equivalent resolution to the Zeiss, but to my eye, its image has a bit higher contrast and more vibrant colors, and it seems to control flare better. Plus, I don't personally like huge objective bells. My own self-imposed max objective size is 50mm, which also gives you more than adequate low light performance on a high end scope. I might have a different opinion if I lived somewhere that allowed big game hunting at night, but I do hog hunt at night, which is legal where I live. I've found if I have sufficient moonlight to see my target through my better scopes, I haven't seen a significant enough difference between my Zeiss Victory 2.5-10X50 and my buddy's Zeiss Victory 3-12X56 to warrant the tradeoff in scope bulk for me. You will never make a bad choice between the brands mentioned. It's like choosing between a Ferrari and a Lamborghini. |
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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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stickbow46
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/07/2009 Location: Benton, Pa Status: Offline Points: 4678 |
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Thanks for the updated info RD Ted.
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Pearls of Wisdom are Heard not Spoken
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stilhuntin
Optics Apprentice Joined: March/21/2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 81 |
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Thanks for all the comments and I had not researched the new Leica illuminated scopes, but they look awesome. The 4A reticle would be just about perfect. The scope will go on a new rifle and the Leica in 42mm or 50mm would seem like a great fit. A big plus is the great optics and no one I hunt with has a Leica. I think 56mm may be too large for the rifle. Now to wait for them to come to SWFA. |
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14964 |
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[QUOTE=stilhuntin]
Zeiss 3-12x56 Victory Diavari 30mm 1 Kahles-3-12x56-Helia-C-30mm 2 Kahles-3.5-10x50-Helia-KXi. Don't know much about an illuminated scope. Never had one. Leica-2.5-10x42-ER-30mm QUOTE] Until you factor in illumination the 56mm objectve is the one feature that makes those two brightest in low light. The problem then becomes is a 56mm objective larger than desirable does it make it too big and clunky? The Kahles 3.5-10x50 KXi actually might be the best choice primarily due to its illuminated reticle and the fact that 50 mm is a lot less bulky than 56mm but the down side is that you also loose somethin on power range not just on the high end but also on the low end. Note with 56mm objective anything 8x or lower will be bright as it gets and with 50 mm anything 7x or lower will be bright as it gets. It is more of a tragedy to step up from 3x on the low end to 3.5x on the low end and even a 2.5x or 2x on the low end would be greatly desirable in low light or at night because when it gets dark you are usually working much closer. Personally I can stand to give up something on the low end but if I do I sure better be getting a lot on the high end like a 4-16 or a 5-20 for low light what do you think of these:
Edited by Urimaginaryfrnd - May/07/2013 at 20:43 |
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