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Scope for antelope hunting |
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bobrammer
Optics GrassHopper Joined: January/08/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3 |
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Posted: January/08/2007 at 09:04 |
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Hi: I'm new to the forum and need some guidance. I'm currently putting together a rig for antelope hunting in New Mexico. I have a Browning B-78 single shot in 25-06. I'm thinking in the 4.5 - 14 power range. Would prefer to stay with a 40 - 42 lense. Must be a 1" tube. I've been looking at Burris and Nikon. I would also consider a Leupold, but they don't offer a scope with a gloss finish. Any suggestions? Many thanks! Bob
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BNagel
Optics GrassHopper Joined: January/06/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 25 |
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What kind of $$ are you looking at? The folks here will gladly spend it for you iffin you want and get you 1 NICE scope!
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pyro6999
Optics Retard OT TITAN Joined: December/22/2006 Location: North Dakota Status: Offline Points: 22034 |
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i wouldnt argue with the burris or the nikon, look at the bushnell elite 4200 also a good scope. welcome to the group!
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They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead" 343 we will never forget God Bless Chris Ledoux "good ride cowboy" |
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bobrammer
Optics GrassHopper Joined: January/08/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3 |
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I don't really have a budget in mind. I must say I find it hard to imagine the Swarovski stuff is worth the money! I'd rather pay a little more and get a quality product that will deliver when I need it. Bob
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pyro6999
Optics Retard OT TITAN Joined: December/22/2006 Location: North Dakota Status: Offline Points: 22034 |
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im not much for dropping a ton of money on a scope either, i use nikon monarchs and burris ff2 and nikon buckmasters and they have done everything i have ever asked of them and they work in foul weather on both ends of the spectrum, but im sure some of the other members will talk about the higher end stuff.
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They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead" 343 we will never forget God Bless Chris Ledoux "good ride cowboy" |
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jonbravado
Optics Master Joined: October/05/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1131 |
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try the 4200's - they are excellent -
if you can swing it, try the meostar by meopta - they are swaro/zeiss quality for less.
good luck and let us know what you decide.
thanks
Welcome to the OT
J |
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rootmanslim
Optics Professional Joined: June/04/2006 Location: Pinedale, WY Status: Offline Points: 557 |
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Having a 1885 WY commemorative in 25-06 (same as your B78 but more "period") and having shot Antelope with it, I'd say that a fixed 6 or 8 power would work well or variable. Since the Browning rings are 1", a Monarch or Leupold will do well. You are right about objective size... the smaller the better as low light isn't really an issue in the high plains. One thing to remember before you go to super high power, is that lots of "lopes" are shot at under 100 yards... probably more than at 300 yards. If you are hunting private land, water holes or other places where the truck & ATV "hunters" are not chasing them from dawn to dusk it is not to difficult to set up a blind or ambush hide and get quite close.If you handload the 100 gr barnes TSX with 4831 or 7828 should produce a sub 1" load that is deadly. Antelope are excellent eating IF you get them skinned and cooled ASAP. Many folks where I live (WY) call them "goats" because they throw them in a pickup, skin on and ride around all day showing them off in 75 degree weather.
One last thought is buy a good laser rangefinder as that clear air and flat country can fool the best hunter.GOOD HUNTING! |
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silver
Optics Master Joined: November/04/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2291 |
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Kahles has a couple of fixed power scopes that might fit well for you also. Thier field of view is great than other makes, but you give up some eye relief. |
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"If we weren't all crazy we, We would go insane." Jimmie Buffet
WWW.formitch.com |
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seattlesetters
Optics Apprentice Joined: November/20/2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 151 |
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This would be a nice compliment to your beautiful rifle....and it won't break the bank with the new sale price.
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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Welcome to The OT!!
Why do you prefer the gloss finish? |
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pyro6999
Optics Retard OT TITAN Joined: December/22/2006 Location: North Dakota Status: Offline Points: 22034 |
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i have shot a lot of critters and a lot of paper and glass targets and i have always noticed one thing about a fixed power scope, imo i cant ever have the perfect power, you always end up being either A. in a situation when you need more power to help accuracy. or B. you have to much power and cant aquire the target easily, so i vote for a variable power scope.
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They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead" 343 we will never forget God Bless Chris Ledoux "good ride cowboy" |
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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pyro:
I too am considering hunting "speed goats" this year. In your opinion, what's the ideal power range for those critters?
What part of NM are you considering hunting, bobrammer? |
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pyro6999
Optics Retard OT TITAN Joined: December/22/2006 Location: North Dakota Status: Offline Points: 22034 |
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i dont consider myself an expert in the optics field i am just going by personal experiences and i cant see any reason to use any scope bigger than 4.5x14 or 4x16 i like to get within a 100 yds if i can and at that range you dont need more mag. than that, i do consider myself more of a gun expert than optics so i depend on people like you to tell me about the stuff i cant afford, which is most likely stuff i wouldnt buy anyways because if my scope is twice the price of my rifle i start to question the true value of the product, how much name am i really buying, also where are you looking to hunt goats??
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They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead" 343 we will never forget God Bless Chris Ledoux "good ride cowboy" |
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rootmanslim
Optics Professional Joined: June/04/2006 Location: Pinedale, WY Status: Offline Points: 557 |
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Variables are nice BUT nowhere as durable as a good fixed power. A good 6X will kill any Antelope that is in a responsible range to shoot at. I have shot them with a Leupold Alaskan 4X (215 yds), 6.5-20x Leupold (320 yards) a 4-16 Schmidt & Bender (120 and 250 yards) and a 6X M8 Leupold (215 yards). the ones with the 4X & 6X were the most simple as I was not twisting rings and fooling with the objective.Also generally lighter and smaller and you can upgrade brand wise with a fixed vs a variable. JUST FYI there are a lot more "lopes" in WY than NM and the season is longer. The best trophies are in AZ but it takes a long time to draw. Good hunting
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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I'd like to try NM for pronghorns, but I'm not particular if your inviting me to your place.....
I lived in E. New Mexico. Didn't hunt there, but saw some nice bucks running around.
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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Player....please....... |
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seattlesetters
Optics Apprentice Joined: November/20/2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 151 |
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Cheap - I've taken a few speed goats in my days, mostly in Montana and at ranges from 100 yards or so to 400. I'd say for a combo deer/antelope rifle, a 3-10x would be nice. For a dedicated antelope gun, 4-12x or 4.5-14x is plenty sufficient. In fact, my longest shot was taken at 12x magnification, and that was more than adequate. |
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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Thanks Setter.
I would "think" that anything more than 14x would get you some wicked mirage issues out there over the prarie.
Standard duplex reticles or some kind of ranging reticle do you "goat killers" prefer?
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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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pyro6999
Optics Retard OT TITAN Joined: December/22/2006 Location: North Dakota Status: Offline Points: 22034 |
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it really pissed me off that as a resident you had to draw out for antelope in the great state of wyoming, i am still befuddled today, they are all over the state and yet anyone can get a deer or elk tag, for god sake they will run along your truck, thats a dumb critter! somewhat tasty though
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They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead" 343 we will never forget God Bless Chris Ledoux "good ride cowboy" |
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jonbravado
Optics Master Joined: October/05/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1131 |
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if you want fixed, i would reccomend the 6x42 monarch, or the 6x42 IOR -
if you want a good variable, try the buckmaster 40mm w/ the side focus for a budget piece - that will solve the parallax issues at longer ranges. if you have a little bit more money, try a 4200 elite.
i like fixed scopes, myself. but i am a simple man.
J |
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