Glass for .300 WM Hawkeye

[OrangePwrx9]

New Ruger 77 in .300 Win. mag. needs glass. Usage will be deer hunting here in NY under 200yds. Maybe up to 350 yds. if out West. Always had good luck with Leupold; not so much with others. I reload and will reload for this rifle.

Right now the contenders are VX-2 3-9x40, VX-3 3.5-10x40, and VX-3 2.5-8x36; all Leupold. Favoring the VX-2 at this point due to price, online reports, and the fact that I'm not super picky.

So the questions are:
1) Are these good choices for the given applications?
2) Would I see significant advantage in going VX-3 over VX-2?
3) Has anyone had any fit or eye-relief issues with these scopes using Ruger standard rings on the long-action Ruger 77?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[ironworkerwill]

Leupold is a good decision in most any model. They tend to have good eye relief. Worry not about a dotted eye.

 

[jmr40]

VX-3's are good scopes. But Leupold upgraded the entire VX line of scopes beginning with 2012 production. A VX-2 made since then is a better scope than a VX-3 made prior to 2012 and sells $100-$150 less than a current VX-3. That is where I put my money. Actually a new VX-1 is comparable to the older VX-2's and not a bad scope at all anymore.

 

[elkhunterCO]

Last year I put a VX-2 3x9x40 on model 70 300.

The VX-2 and VX-3 are both built with the same second generation argon waterproofing.

The VX-3 has slightly better lenses.

That sounds like a nice rifle you're putting together.

 

[redbullitt]

I'd say those all would work fine for you! Leupold tends to have very good customer service as well. I have had issues with a handful of them, but the company has always taken care of me.

 

[urbaneruralite]

Yes. Yes. Don't know. The 2.5-8x would be my pick out of those as the field of view is more appropriate to NY and still enough magnification for 350 yards.