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scout14
Optics GrassHopper Joined: February/14/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 6 |
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Posted: November/16/2009 at 08:29 |
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Does a tactical scope make a good hunting scope? And if so what are the good cross over qualities? Specifics i need to know are FFP or SFP, mildot or something else, illumination? I enjoy long range shooting at steel and paper, but i am primarily a hunter. This will not be a dangerous game type scope. I have very accurate rifle and i am looking for the set up to help me reach out there with it. I feel i can master any of the ranging reticles but will primarily use a range finder. I currently have a Zeiss with the RZ800 but want to explore other options, kind of the Huskemaw set up optimized, and yes i know about Kenton Ind..
Thanks in advance for your help. t |
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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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Huskemaw is generally accepted to be a not-great scope at a very high price, I wouldn't call it a good optic, for hunting or otherwise.
The primary "difference" between most hunting scopes and most tactical scopes is weight and size: hunters are generally smaller, fewer protruding parts (to snag brush and tree limbs), and less weight. In contract, tactical scopes are usually heavier (since going on a heavy gun, no need to save ounces), protruding knobs that are easy to get to and adjust, some features specific to their unique task. Most hunting scopes are SFP, but some are FFP. The trick to FFP is having a zoom range where the reticle doesn't disappear at the bottom or overwhelm at the top - and that is a tricky proposition. The primary advantages to FFP are the capacity to range at any power and the capacity to adjust fire based on the reticle (be advised: to do this quickly and well, you need a reticle that matches the turrets: mil/mil or MOA/MOA.) In terms of glass quality and reliability, there is no difference. The best optics companies usually offer both hunting and tactical scopes. If putting together an 8-pound stalking gun, you don't want a 2.5-pound scope that throws off balance and overwhelms the rifle. Likewise, if setting up a 12-pound tactical gun, you don't usually want capped turrets and you don't care about mounting a scope that throws off balance. Hope that helps, |
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scout14
Optics GrassHopper Joined: February/14/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 6 |
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Well that is good info, but I'd really like to know which specific scopes you believe cross over well. I do realize tactical scopes are heavy 30 to 32oz. versus 19 oz for a hunting scope. I can deal with that. I agree on the Huskemaw opinon, i have seen it on the range and agree, thats why i am looking for a better option.
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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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Any tactical scope can be a great hunting scope, depending on what is required.
I went elk hunting last week with a Premier 3-15 on a tactical 300WM and could not ahve been better served. The biggest delineation is weight and size: a heavy scope can throw off the balance and handling of a small rifle. Additionally, target knobs can be bad if you are moving through heavy brush as they extend out and can hang on things. The same is true of some illumination knobs. Let me know what rifle it will be going on and I can help. Also, let me know what is needed and why. I hunted for many years with big, clunky Nightforce scopes and was very, very happy with the results, but it was box or blind hunting, not stalking. I stalk more now and use a very different setup. Conditions and environment will dictate what works best. Give some details and I will help if I can. |
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Freedom is something you take.
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John Barsness
Optics Optimist Joined: January/27/2009 Status: Offline Points: 785 |
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One thing I am sure Rancid would agree with is that there's getting to be a lot more cross-over now with scopes. Not only is every hunting-scope manufacturer starting to offer a "tactical" model of some of their hunting scopes (with features like easily-adjustable turrets, 30mm tubes and speciality reticles) but many of the tactical-scaope manufacturers are making more hunting-friendly scopes that are lighter, among other things. So the line between hunting and tactical scopes is blurring....
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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This one is a good example of what John is talking about. http://nightforceoptics.com/SCOPES_OVERVIEW/COMPACT_NXS_MODELS_/compact2_5-10x32nxs_/compact2_5-10x32nxs_.html
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jonoMT
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: November/13/2008 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 4853 |
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I hunt with the 2.5-10x32 all the time on my mountain rifle and it is a great scope. The knobs don't stick out that far and have never caught on anything. It's only 12" and while the 19 oz. may seem heavy compared to most hunting scopes, it tracks great and is built solid. The glass is not the best but it is very good. Given that 10X is the upper end, it really doesn't matter that this is an SFP scope because I've never really felt like ranging at any lower magnification. There's really little need to below 300 yards. (And, BTW, I range animals with it just to see how close I can come to my LRF, but I've never taken a shot at one based on the reticle). I do wish I had gotten it with zero-stop because there is no indication that you've taken it past one turn.
I also have the Premier 3-15X50 and that is really more for target shooting and open land hunting. It's also on a heavier rifle. According to pg. 3 of this article (http://winva.com/pdf/websiteArticles/2009.8_PremierReticles.pdf), Premier is supposedly going to offer a hunting scope next year for "half the price." Not sure that would mean half the weight though! |
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Reaction time is a factor...
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scout14
Optics GrassHopper Joined: February/14/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 6 |
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I plan on useing this scope on my Blaser rifle in both 6.5x55 and 300 win mag. I have the match versions of these barrels, both are extremely accurate. I have another rifle(264 win mag) that would go as my mountain rifle, but that is not to say weight it is of no concern. This rifle is now at 9.3 pounds w/ the Zeiss on top, so, for a bean field rifle it is very manageable,and way lighter than an AI tactical rifle.
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338LAPUASLAP
Optics Master Scope Swapper Joined: October/17/2009 Status: Offline Points: 2596 |
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Have you seen the Kahles Multizero?
Could use same scope for different weight bullets...
Edited by 338LAPUASLAP - November/16/2009 at 12:55 |
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No one
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338LAPUASLAP
Optics Master Scope Swapper Joined: October/17/2009 Status: Offline Points: 2596 |
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http://swfa.com/Trijicon-3-9x40-Accu-Point-Rifle-Scope-P12874.aspx vs. http://swfa.com/SWFA-SS-3-9x42-Tactical-Riflescope-P41044.aspx
2x on sundays
if not enough mag. for your liking then
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No one
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jonoMT
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: November/13/2008 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 4853 |
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I thought these were really cool and considered getting one last year. But with Kahles gone from the U.S. market and nobody to really back their scopes up, it seemed too risky. |
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Reaction time is a factor...
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338LAPUASLAP
Optics Master Scope Swapper Joined: October/17/2009 Status: Offline Points: 2596 |
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FOR THE PRICE YOU COULD BUY TWO...
I keep on hearing about having problems but I have never talked to anyone who has had problems...
I have put Kahles on 50's 338's 458's and never had any issues...
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No one
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pyro6999
Optics Retard OT TITAN Joined: December/22/2006 Location: North Dakota Status: Offline Points: 22034 |
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the chances are that you probably wont find more than two people who have actually had issues with kahles scopes. its shame that somebody like bushnell wouldnt pick them up, course then your running into the same issue that they had with swaro. |
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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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JF4545
Optics Master Joined: March/31/2009 Location: Washington Status: Offline Points: 2753 |
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I would love to buy a Kahles MultiZero and still might. But I own a VX-3 4.5x14x40 Long Range,which means 30mm and it has the (CDS) Custom Dial System. So it does the same thing as the Huskemaw , actually both these scopes do the same thing as the Huskemaw. As far as Im concerned I would buy either over the Huskemaw as well...Thats just what I would do......I have to admit the BOTW crew has left a very bad taste in my mouth now..
Edited by JF4545 - November/16/2009 at 23:59 |
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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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scout14
Optics GrassHopper Joined: February/14/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 6 |
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Why would anyone one want a target dot as a big game scope?
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boondocker
Optics GrassHopper Joined: November/28/2009 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 10 |
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I tried to use a 2-7x32 NcSTAR sniper scope last week on a M1A hunting in Missouri. At 40 yards I could not see the small 4 point antlers on a buck. Thinking it was a doe I took the shot and then chased the darn thing several hunderd yards through the puck-a-brush. It was a legal take down but I blew my deer tag on a retarded buck. The rack looks like something off a "Jackalope".
So, IMHO, I'd not use that scope again un less I'm just punching paper for the fun of it.
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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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"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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sakomato
Optics Master Joined: February/28/2008 Location: Houston Status: Offline Points: 1166 |
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If you have a chance to pick up a Kahles MZ, do it. I have 2 of the 4x12x52's, one on a 338RUM and one on a 280AI. When at the range today I was shooting both the Kahles, a Swarovski 4x16x50 Habicht and a 4.5x14x44 Conquest. Everytime I used one of the Kahles the thought came into my head without thinking about it that they were amazingly bright, much more so than the Swarovski or the Conquest. The clarity and resolution was best on the Conquest however but marginally so over the Kahles.
The Swarovski was last all the way around, especially with the objective parallax adjustment. PITA now to reach up to the front of the scope and try to maintain a sight picture and adjust the picture (shooting at 200 and 300 yards). Kinda glad it is not mine.
I guess you could call the MultiZeros a crossover since you adjust the turrets for long range but they are definitely a hunting scope. The one on the 338RUM seems to be taking the punishment well. No problems with either so far.
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Guns only have 2 enemies, rust and politicians
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Dale Clifford
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: July/04/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5087 |
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just depends on how much you like sleek and racy (hunting rifle) or big and bulky (tactical rifle). any scope trying to do both usually ends up towards the back of the pack when compared to the specialty each has to offer. A good tactical rifle (with true tactical scope) can certainly go hunting, but its not very fair to the game. On the other hand a tactical scope doesn't fit into the light and responsive group either.
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