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Scope for LR elk

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prosthogod View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote prosthogod Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Scope for LR elk
    Posted: May/23/2007 at 17:42

My first post here is for help/advice.

 I have a S&W 7mm mag that I will be using and have been advised to get a more powerful scope for 3-400yd shots. I currently have a Leupold 3x9VXII. I'm getting alot of advice so here are my questions:

1-Leupold 4.5x14/50(56) VXL or 6.5X20=which one?

2-What makes Leupold the preferred in that price range? What about Nikon, they make great camera lenses?

3- Is there something out there of high quality in the 400-700$range I should look at?

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote prosthogod Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/23/2007 at 18:20
no opinions? hard to believe.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote sscoyote Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/23/2007 at 18:29
If it were me i'd stick with the 3-9X. 400 yd. elk with that rig shouldn't be a problem at all. Everybody these days is switching to bigger scopes with special reticles. Truth is that scope is a fine intermediate range optic. The simple plex in that scope can double as an excellent ballistic/ranging reticle. If u have the wide Duplex in it, that's even better.

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silver View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote silver Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/23/2007 at 19:13

Originally posted by prosthogod prosthogod wrote:

no opinions? hard to believe.

 

 

You asked the wrong questions  Start looking in the middle of the Zeiss Conquest line or the Kahles.  Magnification without resolution is wasting money.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/23/2007 at 19:29
Hi there and welcome to this forum!!!..................As a long time hunter, hopefully I can pass along some helpful advice, as will others, when their replies are posted.................First, I wish to concentrate on the variable power. You will hear and read many different opinions on what the best choice is. The truth is? There are several excellent choices that will do the job you seek............ Personally, on the low end magnification, I would not go above 4X. You must be prepared for any hunting situation, including short range shots (less than 150 yards) for which 3X is more than sufficient for quick target acquistion and a good field of view for deer and elk. A 4.5X low end will, in my opinion, be a little too powerful for shorter hunting work. Remember though, that in most hunting situations your average shot will be around 150 to 300 yards. 3X to 5X is all you may need at those ranges! But, what about that 40 to 80 yard shot? A 4.5X is a little too strong!........... On the high end magnification, a 10X to 12X max. will be more than ample for a 400 yard shot. You will not be more successful in the field at 14X as opposed to a max. of 10X or 12X with deer or elk. And, your group size measurements at the range shouldn`t that much different either..........However, if you plan to mix in a little varmit hunting here and there, THEN a 4X14 or a 4X16 would be great choices to handle all possible situations...............The best teacher though, is experience in the field. My advice to you is to stay with and go hunting with your 3X9 VX11. If you later feel a need to change your scope, then do so. While some prefer the higher magnifications, you should still be able to properly place your shot at 400 yards using 9X maximum..............I have a 3X9 on my 300 WSM and on a recent piggy hunt, I bagged a 307 lb. sow at 387 yards. My scope power was moved to 8X for the one shot kill, with my rifle sighted in at a 300 yard zero. My longest kill for deer was 432 yards using a 3X9!...........As for scope brands to choose should you decide to swap? I would look at the Nikon Monarch, Leupold VX111, Zeiss Conquest and the Bushnell Elite 4200. Look through and compare those scopes. Let your eyes make the decision. You will not go wrong with either of those!!........I own one of them in a 3X9!!!!!.....................Good luck...................................Big Squeeze!     
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tahqua Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/23/2007 at 21:41
You can certainly improve on the glass quality of the VXII for the price range you have mentioned. Zeiss, Kahles, Nikon Monarch and Sightron SII are all available in this price range. Even the VXIII is far better than the VXII and a very reliable scope. Kahles is my favorite.
As far as magnification, no need to go higher than 10x and it is much better to have 2.5-3 on the low end. My longest kill was well over 300 yards on a deer with a fixed 4X and a 7mag, he looked plenty big for the shot. A high quality 3-9X40 will give you plenty of brightness and in your price range you will get a very nice "picture".
This pretty much supports what Silver and Big Squeeze have already said.
Good luck and welcome to O.T.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/23/2007 at 21:59
i wont say anything all we need is another scope war in here, i agree with big squeeze and tahqua, i wouldnt waste my money on the leupold, for the same money as a leupold gets i think a lot of other companies make a better scope, and a few companies make a better scope for less money as well, the nikon monarch and the elite 4200 and the sightron are very good scopes and very affordable. i hunted elk in wyoming for many years with a 3x9x40 and never once had any issues with the scope any issues in the field always had to do with me.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ronnie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/23/2007 at 22:44
if you want to go the higher magnification route my vote would be an IOR 4x16x50.i like this scope is for its field of view.compare some other scopes in this class and you will see why.there is no way i would fork out that much money on the loopy VXL.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Julian Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/24/2007 at 09:06

Pentax Lightseeker 30mm. These scopes are available in 4-16x50, 6-24x50, 8-32x50mm.

 

I have an 8-32x50 on my 7mm STW that is very clear and more than enough zoom. This is my "open field" rifle. At the range, I have no problem seeing my bullet holes at 200yds.

 

The ballistic plex reticle has range markings on the verticle and is a little less than the mil-dot. Pentax scopes are in the $600 ranges.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote prosthogod Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/24/2007 at 09:30
Back online, Thanks to all for your input. Everyone from guides to fellow hunters have been giving me advice and clogging my brain. I have mainly hunted mule deer and pig . Getting this tag here in Az. is probably a once in a lifetime so I don't want to waiste it. I'll let you know what I choose and how I do. I think the VXII I have right now may be a little too dark in low light so I will upgrade, but now I have some better options to look at.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dale Clifford Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/24/2007 at 10:45

don't think of the 3x9 as less of a scope--think of the vx2 as making more use of your shooting skills,

 

get the vx3  4.5x14 with the boone and crockett reticle

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dolphin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/24/2007 at 17:05
I tend to agree with DC about the upper end of magnification.  There is nothing wrong with going up to 14x, but I would agree, keep the lower end to 4x at a minimum.  Now I do disagree about recommending a Leupold vxIII.  Way overpriced.  Stick with a Bushnell Elite 4200, Sightron SII or Nikon Monarch.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tahqua Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/24/2007 at 18:09
Originally posted by Dale Clifford Dale Clifford wrote:

don't think of the 3x9 as less of a scope--think of the vx2 as making more use of your shooting skills,

 

That is the most seasoned advice I've seen around hear regarding Leupold VXII's.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/24/2007 at 22:57

Hello and welcome, prosthogod!

 

You've received some good advice.  You don't need more magnification than what you already have for all-around hunting.  2-7X, 3-9X, and 2.5-10X are perfect variable ranges for the majority of big game hunting anywhere in the world.  For that matter, even 1.5-6X will handle most of the field shots you'll ever be presented with, but for a dedicated elk rifle used in typical elk country, I'd want a bit more magnification on the upper end.  To my way of thinking, 2.5-10X seems to be the best compromise power range for all-around big game hunting -- good FOV on the low end for close shots and more than enough magnifcation for any reasonable long range shots.  A good 2.5-10 also typically provides good low light performance without requiring excessively large objective diameter to achieve it.  The typical 2.5-10 strikes a good balance between usable magnification, reasonable size and weight, cost, and optical performance.  If you want to replace your 3-9X40 VX-II and you have a budget that allows up to $700, I wouldn't spend the money on more magnification, I'd spend it on improved optical performance.  There's nothing wrong with Leupold VX-III, and I disagree that VX-IIIs are always overpriced, because despite the fact that competing scopes often provide a better value for $ spent, at least Leupy does offer more options than competing scopes, depending on your reticle, magnification range, finish, and dimensional and weight preferences. However, since you said you'd be willing to stretch your budget to $700, I have one word for you -- KAHLES!  The Kahles 3-9X42 KX or the discontinued 3-9X42 & 2.5-10X50 American Hunter models off the Sample List are all within your budget, and they are as good as it gets optically for under $700. 

Ted


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dolphin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/25/2007 at 08:14
Rifledude makes some good points as usual.  I still think having some upper end higher magnification can always come in useful as you say you may take shots out to 400 yards.  This is especially important if you change game, where you might want to make some identification of point or doe versus a button buck at a long distance.  Kahles, from what I am told makes a great scope, I have no personal experience, but I do have experience with the scopes I mentioned and optically at their upper end are great.  But, I do have to agree, 95% plus, of your hunting needs and just about everyone elses can be meet with a 3x9 scope.
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