sleepyone
Member
I'm about to get my new FN Winchester Model 70 FW in .30-06 out of lay away (yea!) and will start saving for a scope. I think for this rifle I want to use a 50mm scope for the extra light gathering ability. I also think I should go with a higher mag scope maybe up to 12x. I have nothing but 3x9 40mm Buckmasters on my other rifles, but they don't make a 50mm version. I can upgrade to a Monarch for the 50mm.
I've been a Nikon guys for years. I recently tried out a Vortex and did not care for it. Also don't care for the narrow FOV of the RedFields. What is Leupold's model that compares to the Monarch or Buckmasters in a 50mm 12x configuration?
I know the benefit of investing in a good quality scope. However, I don't want to overspend or get the wrong features. This rig will be for an elk hunt I want to make in two years hopefully. I will use it for other hunting, but my longest shots where I hunt whitetail and hogs is 200 yards.
I want to be able to make a 400-500 yard shot. There are some ranges nearby that go to 1,000 yards. I plan on practicing with my hunting load, which will be a 180 grain bullet in either Federal Nosler Partition, Federal Nosler Accubond or Hornady InterBond. They are all good bullets just depends on which one shoots best in my rifle.
So, for those of you who have made those long shots on elk what magnification would you recommend? Is there any reason NOT to invest in a 50mm scope? Is there any compelling reason to buy a Leupold model over the Nikon Monarch? Also, is there a real benefit to a BDC or other compensating reticle? Set me straight also if you think 12x is overkill. I have read about people getting the higher power scopes if for no other reason than using the 12x or 14x as their spotting power to avoid having to lug around a pair of binocs or a spotting scope.
I've been a Nikon guys for years. I recently tried out a Vortex and did not care for it. Also don't care for the narrow FOV of the RedFields. What is Leupold's model that compares to the Monarch or Buckmasters in a 50mm 12x configuration?
I know the benefit of investing in a good quality scope. However, I don't want to overspend or get the wrong features. This rig will be for an elk hunt I want to make in two years hopefully. I will use it for other hunting, but my longest shots where I hunt whitetail and hogs is 200 yards.
I want to be able to make a 400-500 yard shot. There are some ranges nearby that go to 1,000 yards. I plan on practicing with my hunting load, which will be a 180 grain bullet in either Federal Nosler Partition, Federal Nosler Accubond or Hornady InterBond. They are all good bullets just depends on which one shoots best in my rifle.
So, for those of you who have made those long shots on elk what magnification would you recommend? Is there any reason NOT to invest in a 50mm scope? Is there any compelling reason to buy a Leupold model over the Nikon Monarch? Also, is there a real benefit to a BDC or other compensating reticle? Set me straight also if you think 12x is overkill. I have read about people getting the higher power scopes if for no other reason than using the 12x or 14x as their spotting power to avoid having to lug around a pair of binocs or a spotting scope.
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