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Long Range scopes with at least 4" eye relief

ratbuster

I'm planning on an elk hunt with a 300 Win Mag. Shots are expected to be in the prone position, usually shooting uphill. The prone position is less forgiving for recoil so I'm concerned about the possibility of scope eye.

The shots are typically over 500 yards so I want 12 power minimum and 30 mm tube for adequate elevation adjustment. Also most scopes lose eye relief when magnification is increased. Are there any decent scopes made that offer a full 4" eye relief at 12 power or higher? I can live with a reduced field of view
 
The Vortex AMG 6-24x has 3.6" of eye relief and is only 28.5 ounces. Having shot a lot of 300WM uphill both prone and sitting that is plenty of eye relief. Not the AMG in pic but a scope with the same eye relief.

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Nope. No such thing... ;)

Theres so many options out there that will meet those requirements the list is a mile long. Most modern scopes do not lose much if any eye relief at such a low magnification level. Just figure out what you want and get the best you can afford.

I don't do any hunting with scopes having less than 20x mag on the top end. Makes those longer pokes that much easier
 
ratbuster said:
I'm planning on an elk hunt with a 300 Win Mag. Shots are expected to be in the prone position, usually shooting uphill. The prone position is less forgiving for recoil so I'm concerned about the possibility of scope eye.

The shots are typically over 500 yards so I want 12 power minimum and 30 mm tube for adequate elevation adjustment. Also most scopes lose eye relief when magnification is increased. Are there any decent scopes made that offer a full 4" eye relief at 12 power or higher? I can live with a reduced field of view
Click to expand...
SWFA 3-15
 
I don't know that I have seen a scope with a full 4" of eye relief. Nightforce NXSs have around 3.5" of eye relief, which is a lot, even shooting magnums. They're heavy, but should fit the bill as well.
 
ratbuster said:
I'm planning on an elk hunt with a 300 Win Mag. Shots are expected to be in the prone position, usually shooting uphill. The prone position is less forgiving for recoil so I'm concerned about the possibility of scope eye.

The shots are typically over 500 yards so I want 12 power minimum and 30 mm tube for adequate elevation adjustment. Also most scopes lose eye relief when magnification is increased. Are there any decent scopes made that offer a full 4" eye relief at 12 power or higher? I can live with a reduced field of view
Click to expand...
A good muzzlebrake would help a lot. Matt
 
I've put a +6 diopter lens on a 16X scope's eyepiece to make it about 22X. Had to screw eyepiece in about 3/16". Eye relief went from about 3.5" to 2". Not a problem for a 22 rimfire match rifle. It was the same diameter as the eyepiece and held in place with a Butler Creek lens cover.

Therefore, a minus diopter lens will lower a scopes magnification and increase its eye relief. A -4 or -6 diopter lens on a 16X to 20X scope may do the trick for you. The reticle will appear thinner as it won't be magnified as much. Scope will be a lower power with longer eye relief. And the eyepiece will need to be backed out to focus on the reticle.
 
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Thanks for all your suggestions guys. I have several quality scopes that have 3.5" relief. What about using what I've got and position my eye further back than is optimal for widest field of view? Might this amplify any parallax errors?
 
Moving the eye back won't effect parallax as long as it's on the scope axis. Parallax is best minimized doing that.
 
A first time shooter took his new 300 Weatherby hunting rifle to a 1000 yard match. Several cautioned him about the scope set too far back for use in the prone position.

He fired his first sighter.

Fortunately, a doctor, scoring a few points away, took care of the horrible wound using his emergency kit kept in his car trunk.
 
I've even been scoped by lower recoiling rifles. I sometimes start to get comfortable shooting the smaller rifles then forget all about eye relief when shooting from an odd position uphill. They'll bite pretty hard too. Even a lightweight 204 Ruger can crack you pretty good ;)
 
Bart B. said:
Fortunately, a doctor, scoring a few points away, took care of the horrible wound using his emergency kit kept in his car trunk.
Click to expand...
The following year, that same doctor treated a bullet wound in the leg of a target puller. A bullet ricocheted down off the metal target carrier.
 
ratbuster said:
I'm planning on an elk hunt with a 300 Win Mag. Shots are expected to be in the prone position, usually shooting uphill. The prone position is less forgiving for recoil so I'm concerned about the possibility of scope eye.

The shots are typically over 500 yards so I want 12 power minimum and 30 mm tube for adequate elevation adjustment. Also most scopes lose eye relief when magnification is increased. Are there any decent scopes made that offer a full 4" eye relief at 12 power or higher? I can live with a reduced field of view
Click to expand...
Many good suggestions. Would add consideration of a bit longer length of pull and a hard hold with good cheek support
 
ratbuster said:
Thanks for all your suggestions guys. I have several quality scopes that have 3.5" relief. What about using what I've got and position my eye further back than is optimal for widest field of view? Might this amplify any parallax errors?
Click to expand...

I think practicing more with the rifle will help the most with gaining confidence as with that much eye relief you should not be having any issues with eye bite. If you do then something is wrong with your shooting fundamentals.
 
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