Thinking of upgrading the scope on my deer rifle. It's a Savage .270 and still has the factory 3-9x40 Simmons scope on it. It's has done well over the last 12 years or so, but I want a scope that can handle the climates better on crappy weather days (like not fogging up). I hunt various areas. Some stands I hunt shots are 20-30 yards, but I also hunt field edges a good bit. I limited myself to 200 yard shots as that's about the limit of my comfort zone. What power scopes are you guys using?
Most name brands are good. You get what you pay for.. 4-14 works for me, helps when counting antler points and when varmint hunting. I would look for one with a little bigger objective 42 or 44mm.. helps with low light times, and a bigger field of view helps pick up moving critters easier.
Fogging in a scope is unacceptable and I'd consider it a defect. Simmons has a lifetime warranty and I'd get their opinion on fixing it. Simmons might replace it with new and if you wanted to go with a different brand you could sell the Simmons as new.
For power on big game in the 200yd range, 2.5-8, 3-9, 3.5-10, would all be equivalent. I generally try to match the scope quality to the gun quality, if its a $500 gun put a $300-500 scope on it, $1000 gun put a $800-1000 scope on it. Most of the deer I've taken in the last 10 or so years have been from my blind and I've yet to take one out of it under 200yds. The gun I've used most is a Sako 243 with a Leu 3.5-10. Last year pic is below at 335 yds and nowhere near the limit of the scope capability. A bunch of years ago before I put the blind in I was making the reverse shot of this pic. Walking out exactly where the deer is laying I saw a very nice 8pt to the right of where the blind is now, because I was walking I had the scope down on 4x and in my haste never cranked it up, didn't even realize I was on the low end until after the shot. That ranged at 347yds.
Most newer scopes, even the cheap ones, are waterproof and internal fog proof....at least until they're not. Which is where a quality scope pays off...a lot less likely to ever leak. Cheap ones may only remain water/fog proof for a limited number of years, although they've gotten much better.
I'm partial to Leupold VX series. I like a 40-44mm objective and never really needed more than a 3 x 9. On a compact gun I like 2 x7 (33mm objective). 50 mm objectives are just too big for my liking.
my favorite foul weather rifle and scope is a rem LH 700 in 7mm08 with a 2.5-8x leupold scope. combo has been together for years and used in some very heavy rain-snow conditions with out fail. the longest shots at game were at two prong horn,s, one at 280 yards and one at 310 yards resulting in two dead prong horn,s.
My choice is always Leupold! I only had one complaint with them, and that was with the Rifleman Series. Had to send it back to Leupold, but it does work fine now, just don't care for 1/2MOA clicks I guess. I own 6.5X20X40mm AO VariX 3's, 1X4X20 VariX2, 3X9X40 VariX 2, and 4X12X40mm AO VariX2. Higher magnification on the varmit rifles, and the 4X12X40 on my Savage 220. Everything but the Rifleman have 1/4 MOA adjustment clicks.
I stay no larger than 40mm objective for mounting concerns, and for the .270 I think the 4X12X40mm would handle anything you want to use it for, from 20 to 300yards. Hope this helps out. Buy Leupold once, and you have it for life.
I've had a Vari-X iii 3.5-10x40 on my 06 for 20+ years.
Taken plenty of deer from 25 yards to 350, with the average being right around 100-120.
If I was limited to 200 yards and had frequent opportunities at 20-30, OP, I'd have gone with a 2-7 power.
Even at 3.5 power, a deer takes up a lot of FOV at 25 yards.
I usually leave the scope set at 6x and dial it up or down as needed when I'm in the blind, or turn it down all the way if I'm still hunting.
I've shot a few rifles with 50mm objectives. Not knocking them, they just aren't for me. I can feel the slight difference in scope height and don't prefer it... probably a side-effect of having cut my teeth on 40mm scopes from the start.
I have used a number of different variable scopes over the years 3-9x, 3-15x 4-16x, and 4.5-28x ranges. This hunting season I used a 2.5-20x scope and honestly that range is hard to beat, I could dial down to get a wide FOV for close shots in the woods yet had plenty of magnification for small targets at range like the crow that I shot at 300 yards.
Personally if you are primarily hunting the woods and close shots are common I would pick something with a minimum of 3 or less. I hunted one year with a 4.5-28x and the 4.5x was a bit too much for close shots in the woods. It was doable for standing shots but trying to track a moving animal through brush 30 yards away could be a problem. Additionally for the most part your will never use the max magnification outside of sighting in so the additional magnification isn’t really important unless you’re trying to pick out a brow tine at 200 yards.
One final thing I cannot stress enough is that good glass beats magnification every day of the week so make sure you get the most out of your budget rather than replacing one bargain scope with another.
I'm leaving Leupold as a brand and as a general rule. There's waaaaaay too much documented occurrence of QC and inability to correctly return to/hold zero in their products. I've seen it myself in my Leupold VX7, which was NOT a cheap scope by any means.
Getting out of this forum and onto others will yield many users reporting this. My VX7 is a good example.... take it to the range, it's maybe 1moa, or 1/2moa, off being zeroed. So...I zero it. Next time I take it out...you guessed it. 1/2-1 moa off zero. Not a ton, but enough to be a pain.
Send it back to Leupold ,you say? They'll find no issue with it. The erector springs are the culprit, and Leupold has no other springs that act any differently than what's already in their product. So....it'll do no good. They could say "yes, there's an issue" and replace them. With the same exact thing that will behave the same exact way.
I've seen live streamed Leupold events where customers repeatedly asked about this issue...this VERY issue.... and the Leupold reps flat REFUSED to even acknowledge the questions. Even on "Q&A" events where they took questions. They would not, and continue to refuse to, address this issue.
I am done with them.
I have other scopes that don't require me to touch dials yearly, or monthly, to rezero them.
If you want one on the more budget-friendly side, the Meopta MeoPro line is a good one. I run a 3-9x42 on my 35 Whelen and it is a superb scope. Handles the Whelen recoil, has very good low light capability, and is very clear/sharp.
I'm probably the ONLY one on this forum who isn't a Leupold fan, but I figure it's worth putting out the other view points on this.
I have some older Leupolds that I'm keeping at the moment, but it won't take much to convince me to sell them. I still may. The VX7 is getting replaced prior to next hunting season. I'm not putting up with it anymore.
There's waaaaaay too much documented occurrence of QC and inability to correctly return to/hold zero in their products. I've seen it myself in my Leupold VX7, which was NOT a cheap scope by any means.
This absolutely happens. This past weekend I had a Leupold muzzleloader scope not take any adjustments until 4 shots later, it jumped a foot and a half to the right. I have a 6-18 with CDS that i'm thinking about parting ways with. I can get a SWFA and not have to worry about it when i really need it.
Can't go wrong with a Leupold. Most of mine are 2x7, but then I hunt a lot of areas where 20 to 50 yards are the norm and 100 yards is long shot. Killed a groundhog at 300 yards with the 257 Roberts with the scope set on 7 power one time, didn't feel I needed more at the time. Yeah I missed him the first time, not enough elevation, but he gave me a second chance a few minuets later. 😀
I have two Meopro's. I may have paid over 500 combined, but it isn't by much.
Obviously, alpha glass to alpha glass, bigger objectives will tend to be brighter if other variables are constant.
My point was....I often see guys going to big objectives and lower end glass, when they'd get an actual better end result if they went to better glass even with a smaller objective.
I don't doubt some Leupolds are fine.
I've talked with enough people I trust that have experienced what I have with my Leupold that I'm done with Leupold. There are plenty of other options that are competitively priced and do everything Leupy does without the two-step shuffle at the range.
Where are you buying your Meopro...cheapest I can find them for online is about $500 ?
I agree, better quality glass pays bigger dividends than larger objectives. I guess what I was getting at is the difference between a scope most guys consider an alpha glass and the "mega" alpha glass in a $2,500+ scope. You just don't think there could be much difference until you look at a target in twilight conditions, then realize there is a huge difference.
For a dedicated deer (and bear) rifle, I like something with 2x on the bottom end.
Three of my rifles wear Weaver V10 scopes. Great scope when it works. Weaver products have let me down enough times that I'll never buy another...……...and it's no wonder they folded.
I am a big fan of upper end Nikon and a HUGE fan of Burris.
I have found that some rifles can change zero over time because of changes in the stock. by the way send me all your junk leupold scopes, I,ll even pay the shipping.
I like the Rain Guard coating on the upper end Bushnell scopes, I have these on 4 of my rifles and have shot quite a few deer the my buddy’s with the HIGH DOLLAR Leupolds couldn’t see in bad weather.
Used Leupolds easily bring half (usually a bit more) of what a new one costs, and sell quickly. I really don't know if that can be said of any other scopes. You may get half of new retail if lucky, but may be waiting a while for a buyer to come along.
I know they can be sold and I know I’ll not get my money back entirely.
I rarely pay full retail for stuff and scopes are no exception. I also know that I bought the stuff and it’s my loss to take for getting something I wound up deciding not to keep.
I get that.
I had figured I’d eBay them or list them on forums as exactly what they are.
Those who like Leupold will be fine with putting a couple clicks on now and then to restore zero. The rifles shoot solid groups using those scopes so the scopes can do fine. I just don’t care to tolerate the need to fiddle with them as often as they require when I know I don’t have to tolerate that.
Sorry if that has offended anyone, but I feel someone going into a scope purchase should hear the good and not so good alike and then they can make up their own mind.
I agree with all you've said, except your contention Leupolds tend not to hold zero. I've not had that in my experience nor personally know anybody who has. We've obviously had different experiences. And I, like you, am just passing on my experience for the benefit of the OP.
I'm certainly not offended by your opinion, in any way.:smile2:
A forum community dedicated to Pennsylvania’s hunters and enthusiasts Come join the discussion about trails, licenses, fishing, game laws, styles, reviews, optics, accessories, classifieds, and more!