Hunting Scopes: What Do You Use?

In the FWIW department, my 3x9 was set on 3X when I shot at and killed a nice buck at 350 yards. I hit within an inch or so of where I intended to hit him.

My father used 4X and 6X on his Springfield sporters. In front of witnesses, he made called shots on bucks at 500 yards and did this at least twice.

My own preference has pretty much been the old Leupold Vari-X II 3x9x40 with duplex crosshairs. Plenty good for prairie dogs to 400 yards, anyhow. Walking hunting, I set the scope on 3X for the widest field of view. Sitting, probably 4X or 5X. I only use the 9X for sight-in, except for the prairie dogs.

The older Simmons Aetec 2.5-10X44



I mounted this one on an old WWII Sherman tank. LOL

Never used one, but something like a Bushnell 6500 2.5-16 or a Minox 3-15 would be pretty versatile.

can anyonte tell me what the difference is in the VX models verus the Vari X models I see a little price difference. is the Vari X the newer model?,

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Vari-X III is the oldest technology. They were replace by the VX-III back in the late 80's or early 90's if I remember correctly. The VX-3 is the newest version and is less than 10 years old.

The newer VX-2 is essentially and old VX-III scope.

Here is a good description on Leupolds website FAQ section. Scroll down to question #3.

http://www.leupold.com/corporate/resources/faqs/

I'll put in a plug for the Zeiss Conquest 3-9X40. Good bang for the buck.

So Leupolds are excellent scopes. I have used them for several years now and never had a problem with one. They have a great line and they have progressively got better with the glass they sell, not that their high end ever lacked for good glass, just that competition is forcing them to bring the quality of their glass up. The newest have got slightly better glass than last years.

But you can now get, on ebay, a Schmidt Bender made in Hungary for half of what the German built ones go for. Same parts, same warranty, just made over the border. So thats around $700. You can get a fixed 6 or 8 power for that price. Schmidt Bender does not make a low end scope in their line, all of them are the best you can get.

I got an 8 power about a month ago. Took it out at 10 at night. About a half moon out. You could easily see 1000 yards out with it. Just unbelievable. Things you could not make out with your naked eye just filled the scope with detail.

So you are not going to hunt at night, but in early morning or just before legal sunset a little extra clarity goes a long way. Fixed power takes all the guess work out of your aim. You practice with the reticle at the same power and you get good with it and there is no wondering where you are in the field.

Worth taking a look at if you want to treat yourself to something special.

Don`t do much hunting with a scoped rifle, I only three Scopes a Simmons & 2 Tasco`s.

The scope for my most general purpose huting rifle is a Nikon Monarch 3x12 with BDC reticle - if you plan on 400 yard shots, the BDC reticle used in conjunction with their Spot On program is excellent.

Lot's of good scopes....Leupold's are great scopes as well (among others)...

I've got a redfield 3X9 on my .308 model 70 featherweight which I love

I have a Savage in .308 Win and it carries a Nikon Pro-Staff 3-9x32 which I feel has a lot of bang for the buck! (Pun Intended)

Leupold VX III 1.5x5.
I have them on 3 of my deer hunting rifles.
(These are not safe queens.)

Bought the first & second in 1977 and 1987.
They are still going strong.

The 3rd one was broken when I got it for nothing.
Leupold fixed it for free.

For long range precision use and other severe appllications, there are better and more expensive scopes.

For a deer rifle, gotta love Leupold !

Be Safe & have fun !
-steve

VX-3: Diamond Coat, Index Matched, Blackened edges, Xtended Twilight Coating

VX-R, VX-2: Diamond Coat, Index Matched, Blackened edges

Fully multicoated: Vari-X III, VX-III, Newer VX-II, VX-1

Multicoated: Older VX II, VX-I, Redfield Revolution

Single Coated: Vari-X II, Rifleman

Vari-X is oldest, then VX-Roman Numeral, then VX-1,2,3,R

can anyone tell me what the difference is in the VX models versus the Vari X models I see a little price difference. is the Vari X the newer model

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?I've had bad experiences with cheap scopes. Lost the chance on a buck of a lifetime (14 points, 28" outside spread) because my cheapie Simmons .44 mag scope fogged up.

I was hunting last fall with my friend. He was using a mid-priced Redfield, which we thought was a pretty nice scope. Looked down a hayfield pretty much into the setting sun to check the deer that were coming out. His scoped glared so much it was impossible to see. I was using a new Leupold VX-R that I bought for a bear hunt in Canada. It was totally clear.

There is a SIGNIFICANT difference between the VX-III's and VX-3's. As far as I can tell, the VX-R & VX-3's have the same glass. VX-R has the firefly lighted reticule. Has ten different power settings. If you don't move the gun for five minutes, it shuts off. Turns back on automatically when you pick it back up.

I was going to get a Swarovski rather than the VX-R. The LGS owner and I looked thru both side by side. Same size objective, same power setting. The Leupold was just very slightly clearer. Wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself.

Just got a 4.5x14x40 VX-3. Clarity and eye relief is astounding. I've got four Leupolds and two Burris, and a B & L. All are their high end models. I haven't seen anything that comes close to the VX-3 for the money.

Iron Sights.

I'm an old fashioned fart. I like a nice fixed power scope, 2x or 4x depending on the game. The ones currently marketed as Weaver have been quite good for their prices.

I bought a used marlin 336 that had a New Weaver Fixed 4x on it. I was impressed with the glass quality, but the scoped seemed "big" for a fixed 4x to me. So, I replaced it with a smaller 2-7x Redfield. I like 2x on a brush gun better anyway. The Weaver seemed to be very good quality for the price. It would probably fit on a Bolt action much better than a lever gun.

Leupold first choice, then Nikon. Nikon first choice if for a handgun.

I settled on 3x9x40 for my hunting scopes many years ago. I haven't run into anything to make me change from that yet. I only hunt coyotes now and both of my coyote rifles wear 3x9x40 Leupold scopes.

I bought my first Leupold in the 70's, they are good reliable scopes that i have many of. But, when it comes to low light levels, i switched to Zeiss 3x9-40.

It's just as reliable as the Leupolds and i can see better in low light levels, especially when the animal is standing in a heavily shaded area. I've looked through hundreds of scopes in low light levels, and my Conquest beats all that i've looked through.

Best part is, that model of Zeiss is priced cheaper than Leupold and other top models.

So, that's my first choise for my "go to" hunting gun!

DM