Need some advice

I am looking to get my Dad a scope for x-mas.  He has a cheapo simmons 3-9x40 at the moment, but he really hates it.  He is would rather have somthing with alot of eye relief and and really wide field of view.  80% of his shooting is between 40-80yrds.  From what I have researched so far it seems like the 1-4 power scopes give you some of the widest field of views and they also seem to have the most eye relief.  Is this correct?  Is at least 4" or more of eye relief unrealistic?  Trying to stay in a 250.00 budget.  All ideas are welcome.

Hates that Simmons uh??? Easy to understand. A 3x9 for 40 to 80 yard work?? Nope! ....

Squeezer pretty much summed it up, the Leupold vx2 1-4 is a nice scope if your willing to pay $300.00

Just out of curiousity what makes the 3-9 a poor choice? Is that too much magnification or is there another prob?

not trying to go cheap, but what about this scope?  I have heard great things about Vortex Bino's but not much on there scopes.  This has alot of eye relief.

The 3x9 is not a bad choice for a hunting scope, its just that you mentioned your shots would be under 150 yds, so there isn't a need for anything for over 4x and the 1-2x are a very usefull for close range.

cidme wrote: Just out of curiousity what makes the 3-9 a poor choice? Is that too much magnification or is there another prob?

................At the much shorter ranges your talking about, 40 to 80 yards 80% of the time, 3x9 scopes have reduced FOV`s because of their increased magnification. The larger your target as seen through the scope, doesn`t necessarily make things better. Compare the 100 yard FOV specs set on the 1x for the VX2 1-4x20 vs the FOV specs set on 3x for a few 3x9`s here on this site.

I have used 3-9x and 4x fixed scopes my whole life and have never not been fast enough.  I have had charging elk coming out to the trees 30 yards from me and easily had plenty of time to pull up and make the hit with a 3x, it more about the shooter than the gear.  Unless I was hunting dangerous game I would always pick a 3-9x over a lower magnification.  I think it is the perfect magnification for virtually all north american game.

supertool73 wrote: I have used 3-9x and 4x fixed scopes my whole life and have never not been fast enough.  I have had charging elk coming out to the trees 30 yards from me and easily had plenty of time to pull up and make the hit with a 3x, it more about the shooter than the gear.  Unless I was hunting dangerous game I would always pick a 3-9x over a lower magnification.  I think it is the perfect magnification for virtually all north american game.

supertool73 wrote: I have used 3-9x and 4x fixed scopes my whole life and have never not been fast enough.  I have had charging elk coming out to the trees 30 yards from me and easily had plenty of time to pull up and make the hit with a 3x, it more about the shooter than the gear.  Unless I was hunting dangerous game I would always pick a 3-9x over a lower magnification.  I think it is the perfect magnification for virtually all north american game.

....................Whatever speed that you have enjoyed for years with your fixed 4x or a 3x9, I`m sure has been good enough. However! You, me or anyone else, will be all the more quicker with a 1x to a 1.5x on the low end with a scope capable of looking through with both eyes open while having a wider FOV.

I use a 1x every season squeeze for muzzleloading, it is not any faster than my 3x for hunting distances.    It is not the power that makes the bindon aiming concept work.  It is the fact that your dominant eye is on the same side as your firing hand.  I use both eyes open with my 4x IOR on my AR all the time, it is all about training.  If my hunting took place within 15 or 20 yards then I would totally agree with you.  But how often does that really happen?   3x is plenty low.  In fact I prefer having a little magnification for 40 to 50 yard shots anyway.  I have always prefered using my 3 and 4x scopes over my 1x muzzleloader scopes.  

Thanks for all th input guys.  I think your on the money with Dad's train off thought Squeeze.  He is more of a stalk in hunt type. 

supertool73 wrote: I use a 1x every season squeeze for muzzleloading, it is not any faster than my 3x for hunting distances.    It is not the power that makes the bindon aiming concept work.  It is the fact that your dominant eye is on the same side as your firing hand.  I use both eyes open with my 4x IOR on my AR all the time, it is all about training.  If my hunting took place within 15 or 20 yards then I would totally agree with you.  But how often does that really happen?   3x is plenty low.  In fact I prefer having a little magnification for 40 to 50 yard shots anyway.  I have always prefered using my 3 and 4x scopes over my 1x muzzleloader scopes.

.........No matter how hard I practiced and tried with my previous 3x9 4200 and earlier 3x9`s, or the fixed 4`s I`ve had, I always had to close one eye.

Big Squeeze wrote: Here`s why......Simply put, your fixed 4x, any fixed 4x and all 3x9`s (except the 3x9 Trijicon), require the non-aiming eye to remain closed in order to acquire the target through the scope. In that case, the signal to the human brain with only one eye open is always slower which increases reaction time, acquisition time to the target, which in turn increases the time to the shot.

What is different about the Trijicon 3x9? And is what you are saying true just at 3x or all the way to 9x?

cidme wrote: Thanks for all th input guys.  I think your on the money with Dad's train off thought Squeeze.  He is more of a stalk in hunt type.  But my second question about the vortex, I see I left out the link. sorry here it is http://www.swfa.com/pc-12771-2213-vortex-15-4x32-crossfire-rifle-scope.aspx

....................With optics as no exception, you in most cases get what you pay for.

Sparky wrote: Big Squeeze wrote: Here`s why......Simply put, your fixed 4x, any fixed 4x and all 3x9`s (except the 3x9 Trijicon), require the non-aiming eye to remain closed in order to acquire the target through the scope. In that case, the signal to the human brain with only one eye open is always slower which increases reaction time, acquisition time to the target, which in turn increases the time to the shot.   What is different about the Trijicon 3x9? And is what you are saying true just at 3x or all the way to 9x?

................The 3x9 Trijicon has a different aiming system called the "Bindon aiming System" which use Tritium lighted reticles like an arrow on top of the post as well as other reticle choices.

The bindon aiming concept is not really a trijicon invention.  They have just kind of marketed it as their own.  Like I said before it will work with any scope as long as your dominant eye and firing are the same side.  Granted the bright reticle certainly helps in the speed though.  But any red dot or reticle with a horseshoe type reticle works very well with it also. 

Also I really don't see the need for both eyes open shooting for longer distances anyway.  I can see it for really close in stuff like 25 yards and under it is helpful if your target is moving and especially if you are moving as well.  But for beyond that there is no need for it.  Especially 50 and beyond. 

All the time I spend training with the AR 15 in tactical simulators and stuff once you get beyond 50 or so yards it becomes more about precision and you will always be able to be more precise by closing the one eye and focusing on your sight alone.   

cidme wrote: I am looking to get my Dad a scope for x-mas.  He has a cheapo simmons 3-9x40 at the moment, but he really hates it.  He is would rather have somthing with alot of eye relief and and really wide field of view.  80% of his shooting is between 40-80yrds.  From what I have researched so far it seems like the 1-4 power scopes give you some of the widest field of views and they also seem to have the most eye relief.  Is this correct?  Is at least 4" or more of eye relief unrealistic?  Trying to stay in a 250.00 budget.  All ideas are welcome.   Thanks

Kickboxer wrote: cidme wrote: I am looking to get my Dad a scope for x-mas.  He has a cheapo simmons 3-9x40 at the moment, but he really hates it.  He is would rather have somthing with alot of eye relief and and really wide field of view.  80% of his shooting is between 40-80yrds.  From what I have researched so far it seems like the 1-4 power scopes give you some of the widest field of views and they also seem to have the most eye relief.  Is this correct?  Is at least 4" or more of eye relief unrealistic?  Trying to stay in a 250.00 budget.  All ideas are welcome.   Thanks What is x-mas??

The 3-9x is the most popular scope for a reason..it simply is the best magnification for the average hunter.  If I was going to buy a scope for anyone, I would pick a 3-9x because it allows the user to shoot short and far distances (200-250 yards) well.  I am like someone earlier said, I like a little magnification even at 40 to 50 yards. 

you're BOTH joking, right??    [I love you guys!!!  ]  

ed connelly king of the boob tube!

im so mean to you edyou probably spent more time on the floor than in the derrick

I spent all my time on the pits or horsing around in the mud room.   Years ago, back when we lived in America, one could walk a little ways away from the rig and shoot a 22 pistol to amuse oneself.