Visit the SWFA.com site to check out our current specials. |
Is 10 power enough for 500 yard big game rifle?? |
Post Reply |
Author | ||||||||||||
billiam13
Optics Apprentice Joined: April/11/2005 Status: Offline Points: 113 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Posted: October/02/2013 at 20:04 |
|||||||||||
Ok folks, I am building a new mountain
rifle for mule deer and will be using it here in the badlands as well. I was
wanting something FAIRLY light, without being uncontrollably light. I have
settled on 140 grain pills pushed from a tikka t3 lite stainless 7mm-08 mounted
in a bell and Carlson medalist stock. As for a scope, that's where I'm hung up.
I want the best glass for the money, and would rather not spend more than a
grand. I think the Sightron SIII 3.5-10X44 illuminated is a good fit, but am
worried if 10 max power is enough for 500 yards. I think the glass will be hard
to beat for the $750.00 dollar mark. I also like the illumination and trust the
repeatability of this scope. Consistent tracking is a must, as I will be
cranking on this bad boy daily! I plan on shooting this rifle a ton throughout
the year between hunting and punching paper so that I remain efficient with this
set up. I really don't plan on shooting past 500 with this setup. I guess I am
just worried that I will wish I had went with more magnification. What say
you??????Thanks
|
||||||||||||
Hondo64d
Optics GrassHopper Joined: October/27/2012 Status: Offline Points: 25 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||
10x is plenty for 500. I can consistently hit my 8" steel plate at 600m with my 6x Zeiss.
John |
||||||||||||
JGRaider
Optics Master Joined: February/06/2008 Status: Offline Points: 1540 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||
I have that same rifle, a T3 that sits in a B&C stock, talley lightweights, wearing a VX3 2.5-8x36. It looks and feels just right. It also consistently shoots around .5 MOA with 140 Accubond's and Ramshot Big Game. I think a big belled 44mm scope would look awkward on that T3 personally. 8x is plenty for 500 yds also.
|
||||||||||||
billiam13
Optics Apprentice Joined: April/11/2005 Status: Offline Points: 113 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||
Feel free to throw other options at me scope wise. I am liking the idea of getting some better glass buy getting a slightly used or demo scope off of the SAMPLE LIST. I don't really have a price limit, but obviously I would like to spend as little as possible. Thanks for any and all opinions.
|
||||||||||||
canoetrpr
Optics GrassHopper Joined: October/02/2013 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 4 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||
I'm in the exact same boat as you; looking to shoot up to 500 yards. However, I'd like to practice to 1000 yards and even on the 300 yard range, I prefer more magnification at range time. Really would like a 4-16x.
However, I haven't found a scope for around the $1k mark that seems to provide the value that the Sightron SIII 3.5-10x does. The Vortex Viper PST 4-16x seems to be a good deal and has lots of features for the price but seems to be picking up a reputation for breaking which isn't thrilling. I'd really like turrets but would like to hold over for wind. |
||||||||||||
3_tens
Optics Jedi Master Joined: January/08/2007 Location: Oklahoma Status: Offline Points: 7853 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
Folks ain't got a sense of humor no more. They don't laugh they just get sore.
Need to follow the rules. Just hard to determine which set of rules to follow Now the rules have changed again. |
||||||||||||
Sparky
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: July/15/2007 Location: SD Status: Offline Points: 4569 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||
10X is more than enough for 500yds. A 10x magnification at 500yds is similar to 50yds without any magnification.
On my Sako I have the predecessor to this scope on it. http://swfa.com/Swarovski-3-10x42-Z3-Riflescope-P40815.aspx |
||||||||||||
billiam13
Optics Apprentice Joined: April/11/2005 Status: Offline Points: 113 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||
I was looking at the Duralyt but it doesn't have an exposed top turret does it? It would be a major pain removing the scope cap everytime I wanted to dial up or down for different ranges.
|
||||||||||||
ccoker
Optics Master Joined: February/13/2008 Location: Austin, TX Status: Offline Points: 2041 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||
With decent glass it's plenty of magnification.
If you hunt the same elevation and have fairly consistent environmentals and run one load you could go with say a Leupold with CDS dials. here's two other options: I wish the offered the 2-10 with the locking turret. |
||||||||||||
www.TacticalGunReview.com
Pro Staff - Silencer Shop http://tacticalgunreview.com |
||||||||||||
koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13181 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||
For that money, Sightron S3 3.5-10x44 is hard to beat in terms of optics and ease of use.
If you like the configuration and want to crank turrets, it is an excellent option. That having been said, within 500 yards with a fairly flat shooting rifle like yours, it may be worthwhile to work out the holdovers with the reticle, rather than rely exclusively on the turrets. If you do that, a scope with FFP reticle is a good idea. In you price range, SWFA SS 3-15x42 and 3-9x42 are both good options. The Mil-quad reticle gives you good versatility. Lastly, although it costs a little more and looks a little odd, take a look at Burris Eliminator scopes. I have been messing with one for a bit, and although I started out very skeptical about it, now I am a fan. It looked gadgety at first, but it works and works remarkably consistently. I have a lot of mileage with Eliminator II, but Eliminator III is notably better. ILya |
||||||||||||
jonoMT
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: November/13/2008 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 4853 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||
10X is certainly enough for that distance. I've been in the same boat trying to get a rifle light and still meet all those other requirements. It always involves some compromise. At this point, I'm going with the SS 3-15, which is just a great scope for the money and, well, pretty a great scope period. However, I don't plan on shooting anything over 400 yards...been there, done that and there's no point in doing so on big game. If you can't get within 400 yards of an antelope or 300 of a deer or elk, you're risking a bad shot from either the animal moving during TOF (time of flight) and/or environmental conditions you can't sense, e.g. cross wind in a valley when you're shooting at an animal across from you.
I'll hunt with this scope this year, but am seriously considering retrofitting that particular rifle with a 12-oz. Swaro, cutting the barrel down 5.5" and dial in a max. PBR zero good between 0-300 yards. It will limit the rifle in some respects, but will make 90% of my possible shots easier.
|
||||||||||||
Reaction time is a factor...
|
||||||||||||
ccoker
Optics Master Joined: February/13/2008 Location: Austin, TX Status: Offline Points: 2041 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||
Something like the 2-10 Conquest HD with a Z600 reticle if you can make the reticle work for your load data. Or you can run a Z3 3-10 with the BRH which has .5 mil holds.
|
||||||||||||
www.TacticalGunReview.com
Pro Staff - Silencer Shop http://tacticalgunreview.com |
||||||||||||
billiam13
Optics Apprentice Joined: April/11/2005 Status: Offline Points: 113 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||
Well, now you've done it.......Im as confused as an infant in a boobie bar! I need to try a lot of different scopes out to see hwat I like best. I wish I could get the sightron in a 14 or 15 power. I love the pricepoint. On paper I LOVE everything about it but the max power.
As for the duralyst is the elevation turret exposed or capped? How does the glass compare in the SS scope? I like the power range on it for sure. I can get a real good deal on a PST, but I have to buy it unseen. I have read a lot of bad reviews about the optical clarity of these scopes, but have NO actual knowledge of them.
|
||||||||||||
billiam13
Optics Apprentice Joined: April/11/2005 Status: Offline Points: 113 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||
[QUOTE=ccoker]With decent glass it's plenty of magnification.
If you hunt the same elevation and have fairly consistent environmentals and run one load you could go with say a Leupold with CDS dials. here's two other options: I wish the offered the 2-10 with the locking turret. Thanks you sir!!! These look like EXCELENT choices for sure. Which of the two do you like better and why? I have a couple zeiss conquests, but never owned a Swarovski. Also which is more repeatable, as it will be cranked on a lot while punching paper. THANKS AGAIN
|
||||||||||||
Post Reply | |
Tweet
|
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |