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Low/no light scope options for 30-06

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oyster View Drop Down
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    Posted: October/07/2013 at 05:45
Firstly there some great info in this forumThunbs Up,  and I'm sure my topic has been covered before but any input will be greatly appreciated.
Just a bit of info, I live in Australia,own a property here, I had a few Sambar( deer bout 400-500pd) turning up on my place.I have a 222 wearing a kahles heila 6x for culling roo's ,wid dogs etc but its going to take a bit more to stop a samber so I've brought 30-06 weatherby  , and now I need a scope.
I'm looking for a good low light performer (most people are).Most of my hunting/shooting is done in the first/ last light of the day, a little bit of moonlight and sometimes spotlighting when culling roo's.
A mate came out for a shoot the other day, he had a VX3L 50mm. it looked pretty big to me, So I probably won't go bigger than 50mm ,40-44mm would be better.
 
Budget $500-1000.
Range inside 300m(99%) but would like to go to 400m if needed.
Is a illuminated reticle worth the extra $200-300 or would thicker reticle do the job? 
 
Scopes I've been looking at;
trijicon accupoint 3-9x40 green dot
zeiss duralyt illuminated
VX-R
zeiss conquest mc 3.5-10x50
zeiss conquest HD5(the latest lens coatings compared to the old conquests)
meopta
 
As you can see I'm still pretty undecided, if you can shorten my list or add something else worth looking at would be good.
 
regards,
 oyster
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bugsNbows Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/07/2013 at 08:02
IMO, the Trijicon Accupoint 3-9 X 40 with the green dot (or triangle) would be a great choice.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/07/2013 at 13:17
This sounds like a pretty dedicated low light set-up so there is little downside with going for the largest objective scope you willing to put up with.

If 50mm is the most you are willing to do, go with that.

Illuminated reticle can be very helpful if it is truly dark, although I would not sacrifice a nice bold reticle for that.  Get both, just to be sure.  If you run out of funds, get the better scope even if it lacks reticle illumination.

Out of the scopes on your list, I would be taking a long hard look at Meopta Meostar.  Their ultimate low light scope is the 3-12x56, but the 3-10x50 is not slouch either.

I have not really looked at Conquest HD5 too much, although I have heard good things about it.  THe original Conquest is a nice scope, but in low light I slightly prefer the Meopta.

Zeiss Duralyt did not impress me too much. 

Leupold VX-R is a nice design, but optically not as good as the Meopta or Conquest HD.  It is also less expensive and has an excellent reticle illumination system.

With the Trijicon Accupoint, you probably want to look at the larger 2.5-10x56.  3-9x40 will do in a pinch, but once it gets truly dark you will find yourself dialing the magnification down to 5x or so with that scope.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ccoker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/07/2013 at 14:16
agreed ^^^
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Outrider Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/07/2013 at 14:43
Have several of the scopes listed including both the 50 and 56 Meopta Meostar. If low light is your primary shooting time, as others have I suggest the 56. To my eyes at least, there is enough increase in seeing/shooting time over the 50 at last light to justify the difference in cost, weight and objective size. Likewise, you might consider either a German #4 reticle or illuminated model or both if low light shooting is your mainstay.  Of the German 4s out there, IMO Meopta has one of the better ones.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tejas Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/07/2013 at 22:48
I own the 3-9X40 and the 2.5-10X56 Trijicons. Also have the Leupold VXR 2-7X33. In low light the 2.5-10X56 IS brighter, but you pay for it. It's big and bulky so I prefer the 3-9X40. I would get the Mil Dot reticle in either. It's illuminated dot is smaller than the dot in the plex reticle, which makes it easier, for me, to aim precisely at night.

Let me clarify that. The illuminated dot in the 2.5-10X56 mil dot is smaller than the dot in the 3-9X40 plex reticle. That's with both at max magnification. Whether the illuminated dots are different sizes in the SAME scope sizes, I'm not sure about. The illumination in the mil dot reticle is lethal at night under the moon.

The VXR doesn't have quite as good glass. It's small and light though, and reasonable priced. As mentioned above, the illumination is very good.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote oyster Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/16/2013 at 17:14
Thanks for the advise guys, I am now leaning toward a meostar, is the 56mm the only one with an IR. I know that bigger lens is better when going for low light performance but I my case when it gets dark I'm not shooting past 150m so I could dail a scope down to 4 or 5 and get enough exit pupil out of a smaller lens.
How do the meostar and meopro compare? I see there's a meopro 44mm with a IR.
 
I still open to suggestions on scope, so if you think a certain scope will work let me know. 
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/16/2013 at 17:39
You could always go with the 1.5-6x meostar as well, thats a sweet scope.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote oyster Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/19/2013 at 05:43
Following the advise given, go better glass before illumination , both would be good, I have never had an illuminated scope, some guys really seem to love em. I sure a good 4 will do the job 95% of the time . It seems that the meopta meostar just edges out the others on the list. Just wondering how the Z3 would compare ? they are around the same $$.
swfa don't ship to Australia. I spent a few years over there doing stonework, one of my buddies said he could sent it out to me.So is this possible, swfa send the scope to my buddy in Montana then he can send it to me in OZ. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/19/2013 at 08:50
TMI, oyster...

I would make an effort to check and see if Australia has been granted a waiver for such things.  Some of our "closer friends" have been.  


Edited by Kickboxer - October/19/2013 at 09:03
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote oyster Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/21/2013 at 05:50
Kickboxer,
            yeh we're on the good list of countries that the states allows scopes to be sent. Strange that Canada isn't.
Anyway plenty of people out here have said they've had em sent out no worries. was just wondering if it was better to come from a company or if anyone over can sent one out. Good if swfa would sent scopes out if we're on the list. I'll get it sent to my mate over there if he can't send it out he'll end up with a pretty nice scope. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote oyster Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/21/2013 at 06:34
Just tried to buy a scope off swfa but when I was filling in the shipping address, I only had the po box num . It seems to be wanting a residence, My mate lives near Kila MT but is a bit out there.
Would swfa have the scope delivered to he's door and does he have to be home at the time? 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/21/2013 at 15:11
Kila, Mt. Sounds like a nice place. Wink 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote oyster Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/23/2013 at 05:27
Right swfa got back to me and I got the address sorted. Now with an extra day I thought maybe a different scope.
Right I'm looking for a low light scope mainly, with some night hunting,
 3-10x50 Meostar R1 #4  OR  3.5-10x44 Meopro RD 4C
 
Whats your thoughts?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote oyster Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/24/2013 at 20:40
Just grabbed the 3-10x50 Meostar r1 #4 off the sample list.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Scrumbag Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/25/2013 at 03:33

Just a word for the Duralyt, I've got the illuminated 3-12x50 and I really like it.

 
Done several airp trips with me and held zero and low light on melanistic fallow it works a treat.
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Son of Ed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/25/2013 at 06:20
Has Obama tapped the phones in Canberra?  Do we still have Diplomatic Relations with Australia?  

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Scrumbag Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/25/2013 at 06:23
Is it really that surprising?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Scrumbag Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/25/2013 at 06:30
^^Sorry, wrong thread.
 
As I understand it, the retailers in the US need an export license for various components and accessories relating to firearms which includes scopes to be sent overseas
 
(I'd like to buy from the too US but being in Europe most retailers won't ship)
 
ATB,
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote oyster Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/26/2013 at 16:22
Son of Ed,
they've been doing it for years and we're still friends, so I don't see things changing here.
 
Scrummy,
I was pretty keen on the duralyts but its seems that the meostars glass is slightly better.I've always been told to go for the best glass you can first then look at other features.
Some countries need a licence and some don't, we're lucky not to need one. I read somewhere it was easier to have a sporting scope sent to Australia than a tactical.
Also every company offers some sort of warranty , so you must be able to send it back for repair and have it returned. 
 
regards
oyster
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