OT: Rifle Scopes

[Jeffreauxdawg]

I suggest that you go back and look at the Zeiss V4 Conquest series. They are more economical than the high end Zeiss scopes and they are just excellent. Between my 2 boys and myself we have 5 of them. My 300wm elk rifle carries the 4x16x44 and my 6.5PRC deer / antelope rifle caries the 6x24x50. I haven’t priced them in the last year but normally $1100 to $1250 depending of power and features. Occasionally after hunting season is over I have seen them on sale for $1000. We have put them on horses and rode all over the Teton Wilderness for 10 days and the zero never moved. The zero also has always repeated after numerous yardage adjustments back and forth. I would also recommend a custom ballistic turret calculated in yards instead of minutes. You can order them from Kenton Industries for approximately $130. You provide the specific details on the ammo you are using and they run the calculations and produce the dial. With regard to the scope magnification I have shot steel at 600 yards with the 4x16x44 with no problem and small groups. It also fits better in a scabbard if you plan to hunt off of a horse. It’s perfect in my opinion for an elk rifle. The 6x24x50 is fantastic and I hope to have an opportunity to shoot steel out to 1000 yards with it next fall. It’s a great scope but I must say, it’s more power than I need about 99 percent of the time.

I like Zeiss glass, but they don't have a ton of discounts. The Steiner H6Xi is probably more comparable to the V6 in features and quality but at I can snag it for $600 less so I am leaning that way.

 

[MaxwellSmart]

Yeah, the NX8 is a cat daddy. A friend of mine has your exact model. I just can't get there on my budget seems like $1500 is the floor even with discounts. So far I am down to 2 in my price point it looks like so far.

-I prefer Mil vs Moa since I am used to it

Steiner H6Xi 3-18x50mm STR-MIL FFP​

Actually looking at the 3x18x50 since I can get it in MIL for under $1000

Vortex Viper® HD 5-25x50 VMR-3 MRAD Riflescope​

$180 less than the Steiner.

My guess is the Steiner might be the best glass I can get for under 1000 but since this is for hunting I don't know anyone that is disappointed in Vortex for durability and overall performance. The Steiner does have great light transmission that apparently is only rivaled by optics in the $1800+ category. Light transmission is a big deal for me.

Believe me, I get it on the cost, my budget was $1500 at the time. If money was no object, I'd have 4 ZC scopes mounted right now. I don't get any discounts but when I decided to pull the trigger, Eurooptic had the 4x32 for $1900 with no tax. I ask the guy if he could cut me any more if I purchased the rings and base from him. He got me out the door with Seekins rings and base plus the sunshade $2050. I'm retired and I said screw it, you only live once.

 

[Dawgbite]

No comment on the Burris scope but rather about Tikka. I bought a tikka 270 a couple years ago. It’s easily my favorite gun. First tikka I’ve owned and I’ll definitely be buying more. It’s hard to imagine a better gun at the price point. Very accurate, very smooth bolt.

I have a Tikka 308 and it is slick. I was out pawn shopping today and ran across 3 Husqvarna rifles from the late 50’s and 60’s, talk about slick. Two were true Husqvarnas, one was a Smith and Wesson made by Husqvarna and he also had a Colt made by FN. Four beautiful guns with some beautiful wood.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Not sure your price range but there is Tract Optics, Maven as you mentioned but depending on which Maven, Nightforce has some in that range. I would guess you plan to dial this scope and unless you go upper end Vortex, you would likely not care for the spongy turrets. True budget options that are recommended all the time for their value at their price point are Athlon and Arken. Trijicon might have something that falls in the range you’re looking for. Bushnell is another to look at.

If the budget is tight, don’t look at Tangent Theta or Zero Compromise. They’re easy on the eyes but hard on the wallet. Schmidt and Bender also…

If you have military, law enforcement or first responder credentials, you might have access to discounts that could possibly put something above your “price point” within reach.

Vortex Viper PST gen 2 5x25 is pretty much the best you're going to get for the money. The Strike Eagle is a good reliable scope but the glass isn't a good. Same with Arken. I took my Viper PST off my main hunting rifle last year and replaced it with a Nightforce NX8 4x32. I put the Viper on a .22 for long range plinking. It tracks perfectly, something non of my Leupolds ever did.

I suggest that you go back and look at the Zeiss V4 Conquest series. They are more economical than the high end Zeiss scopes and they are just excellent. Between my 2 boys and myself we have 5 of them. My 300wm elk rifle carries the 4x16x44 and my 6.5PRC deer / antelope rifle caries the 6x24x50. I haven’t priced them in the last year but normally $1100 to $1250 depending of power and features. Occasionally after hunting season is over I have seen them on sale for $1000. We have put them on horses and rode all over the Teton Wilderness for 10 days and the zero never moved. The zero also has always repeated after numerous yardage adjustments back and forth. I would also recommend a custom ballistic turret calculated in yards instead of minutes. You can order them from Kenton Industries for approximately $130. You provide the specific details on the ammo you are using and they run the calculations and produce the dial. With regard to the scope magnification I have shot steel at 600 yards with the 4x16x44 with no problem and small groups. It also fits better in a scabbard if you plan to hunt off of a horse. It’s perfect in my opinion for an elk rifle. The 6x24x50 is fantastic and I hope to have an opportunity to shoot steel out to 1000 yards with it next fall. It’s a great scope but I must say, it’s more power than I need about 99 percent of the time.

Ended up almost where I started and ordered the Maven RS1.2 2.5x15x44

If you trust the reviewers its great glass, super durable (Nightforce level durable), has a zero stop, excellent eye box and relief, capped windage knob, and maybe the best reticle design I have seen. Thinking about durability as the most important aspect considering where it will be used, the RS1.2 is basically competing with trijicon and nightforce in that category. This seemed to fall in between the SHV and NX8 in features and clarity and was still under $1000. Made in Japan with Japanese glass.

I have never actually looked through one and since Maven is direct to consumer there's only one way to know for sure and that's to get my hands on it.



Horses at just under 400 yards on max power... Nice clarity. The reticle is also illuminated if you need it.

 

[Coast_Dawg]

Ended up almost where I started and ordered the Maven RS1.2 2.5x15x44

If you trust the reviewers its great glass, super durable (Nightforce level durable), has a zero stop, excellent eye box and relief, capped windage knob, and maybe the best reticle design I have seen. Thinking about durability as the most important aspect considering where it will be used, the RS1.2 is basically competing with trijicon and nightforce in that category. This seemed to fall in between the SHV and NX8 in features and clarity and was still under $1000. Made in Japan with Japanese glass.

I have never actually looked through one and since Maven is direct to consumer there's only one way to know for sure and that's to get my hands on it.

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Horses at just under 400 yards on max power... Nice clarity. The reticle is also illuminated if you need it.
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I hope it turns out to be a great purchase for you. I’ve never known anybody to own one but see them mentioned regularly on forums.

Wish you would post more photos of your backyard. Always enjoy the pics you post.

 

[Pilgrimdawg]

The pressure is on now because we are all expecting to see pictures of a big 6x6 bull elk next fall along with the story on how the hunt unfolded.

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

The pressure is on now because we are all expecting to see pictures of a big 6x6 bull elk next fall along with the story on how the hunt unfolded.

 

[Dawgbite]

 

[Walkthedawg]

I was a Nikon man. Went with sig sauer. Their glass is amazing. I’m a sig sauer only guy now

All of my handguns are Sig. I just don’t like striker fired pistols as a matter of preference so Sig is the one I go with. Everything they sell is top notch.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

The pressure is on now because we are all expecting to see pictures of a big 6x6 bull elk next fall along with the story on how the hunt unfolded.

Well... There's going to be a whole other discussion about building out a new bow for elk hunting one day. Not sure if I have the time this year. Between work, kids sports, and fly fishing my Septembers are really full and I could only sneak out for a day or two here or there.

But by November the kids are done with football and are just practicing for the upcoming wrestling season, its too cold to fish, it's the slowest month of the year at work, and I sure as hell won't be interested in watching Mississippi State play football... So the mule deer rut hunt is on. Trying to get a group of about 4 guys to go on a ten day trip into the Frank next year. Depending on water levels I'd like to raft in, but it's only every 7-8 years that is doable with water levels being high enough. Otherwise we'll fly in or just take horses.

Or I could just shoot one of these bàstards from my sofa... Here's some back yard pics for you @Coast_Dawg

 

[trob115]

I was a Nikon man. Went with sig sauer. Their glass is amazing. I’m a sig sauer only guy now

Sig is remarkably underrated. I too was a Nikon guy, but sig moving forwards.

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

That scope gonna come in handy warding off drones.

How did the horse meat turn out?

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

That scope gonna come in handy warding off drones.

How did the horse meat turn out?

I'm a trophy hunter. Left the body out there for the crows. But he's going to look good next to this other one on my wall...

 

[MaxwellSmart]

Well... There's going to be a whole other discussion about building out a new bow for elk hunting one day. Not sure if I have the time this year. Between work, kids sports, and fly fishing my Septembers are really full and I could only sneak out for a day or two here or there.

But by November the kids are done with football and are just practicing for the upcoming wrestling season, its too cold to fish, it's the slowest month of the year at work, and I sure as hell won't be interested in watching Mississippi State play football... So the mule deer rut hunt is on. Trying to get a group of about 4 guys to go on a ten day trip into the Frank next year. Depending on water levels I'd like to raft in, but it's only every 7-8 years that is doable with water levels being high enough. Otherwise we'll fly in or just take horses.

Or I could just shoot one of these bàstards from my sofa... Here's some back yard pics for you @Coast_Dawg


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At those distances, you should have gone with a ZC 8x40x56.***

 

[Coast_Dawg]

Well... There's going to be a whole other discussion about building out a new bow for elk hunting one day. Not sure if I have the time this year. Between work, kids sports, and fly fishing my Septembers are really full and I could only sneak out for a day or two here or there.

But by November the kids are done with football and are just practicing for the upcoming wrestling season, its too cold to fish, it's the slowest month of the year at work, and I sure as hell won't be interested in watching Mississippi State play football... So the mule deer rut hunt is on. Trying to get a group of about 4 guys to go on a ten day trip into the Frank next year. Depending on water levels I'd like to raft in, but it's only every 7-8 years that is doable with water levels being high enough. Otherwise we'll fly in or just take horses.

Or I could just shoot one of these bàstards from my sofa... Here's some back yard pics for you @Coast_Dawg


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Those are some impressive lawn ornaments. I’d be happy with a couple of those. Thanks for sharing

 

[sandwolf.sixpack]

One tip for low light conditions, the camera on an iPhone 15 literally turns night into day. If you're watching a food plot say 150 yards away with a few deer grazing but you can't tell their size, take a pic, you'll be surprised how much light is captured.

This is the first time I've ever heard of this. Tried it today and I was stunned. Incredible.

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

This is the first time I've ever heard of this. Tried it today and I was stunned. Incredible.

Yuup, last night, it turned 5:45 PM (technology after legal shooting hours, but I'm not a rule follower) into shootable light.