Advice on a new scope for my new deer rifle

[Knotwild]

I'll add just one thing. When I say illuminated reticle, I mean one with an illuminated dot in the cross hairs. I once tried a Nightforce illuminated moa reticle which illuminated the entire reticle - it was way to busy and all but impossible to use in hunting situations.

 

[TrapperBR549]

I like the Leupold VX5 with fire dot. For a deer rifle I would go with 2-10. I would prefer a 1" tube but don't think they make it.

 

[1K6BRA]

Not sure what type of country you are hunting or how far you are shooting but a VXlll 2.5 x 8 Leupold always lets me shoot before and until Leupold/30

 

[MisterHelix]

A 50mm objective is a pretty big piece of glass. I personally found the improvement in low light performance to not be worth the added bulk and larger profile.

I tend to not take those real late shots though.

 

[DumpHollow]

The Leupold 2.5x8 was my favorite deer rifle scope. But I have been moving over to Swarovski. Just don't "over-scope" your rifle with ridiculous power.

 

[JB10]

I have 4 sightrons and a 5th on its way to my house. I like them.

 

[ChrisNZ]

The Leupold 2.5x8 was my favorite deer rifle scope. But I have been moving over to Swarovski. Just don't "over-scope" your rifle with ridiculous power.

My close-range scrub rifle wears that VX3 but it's not on the same planet as the Swaro when the light's largely gone.

 

[BobT]

Not sure what type of country you are hunting or how far you are shooting but a VXlll 2.5 x 8 Leupold always lets me shoot before and until Leupold/30

Any of my Leupold VX or Vari-X 3 2.5-8 scopes or my old Vari-XII 2-7 let me see plenty well enough to shoot past legal shooting hours even in thick woods. Night hunting is a different task but even then if the moon is bright these scopes work on hogs in the dark.

 

[Downeast]

I picked up a Meopta 3-15X50 Meosport with the illuminated dot and I really like it for deer hunting. I'll probably pick up a few more by next season. If I'm going to purchase a higher end optic it will be for target shooting. No need to spend a lot on a hunting scope. But I only shoot deer out to 300 or so yards, so a simple duplex with a floating dot works great on my .257 Wby.

 

[Intell]

I’ve been using the Zeiss V8 1.5-14x on my deer gun for a few years now and it’s the best low light scope I’ve had. They also have very good illumination with the shake awake feature and rain coating on the lenses.
Demos pop up occasionally for about 1/3 off.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

I would consider a used Swarovski on ebay or somewhere w guarantee on return. 3x10. or 3x9.

 

[CJ6]

Leup VX3 HD 4.5-14x50 with Ill. Firedot Twilight Hunter reticle.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

You might want to look at the March 1.5-15X42. It's available in SFP or dual reticle (SFP/FFP). The SFP version with an illuminated MTR-4 reticle is about 21 ounces and 10 inches long and a 30mm tube. The dual reticle version is a couple ounces more.

SFP:

D15V42I (MOA, Normal, Illumi) | MARCH Scopes | DEON Optical Design CorporationMARCH Scopes | DEON Optical Design Corporation

MARCH Scopes Official Site

marchscopes.com

Dual reticle:

D15V42FDIMLN (Dual, MIL, Normal, Illumi) | MARCH Scopes | DEON Optical Design CorporationMARCH Scopes | DEON Optical Design Corporation

MARCH Scopes Official Site

marchscopes.com

 

[HTSmith]

Thanks for all the input.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

I sure like my tract 2-10 but a little heavy. I really like a lightweight scope like a leupold v3 or a swaro.

 

[Chuckcraig]

I'll add just one thing. When I say illuminated reticle, I mean one with an illuminated dot in the cross hairs. I once tried a Nightforce illuminated moa reticle which illuminated the entire reticle - it was way to busy and all but impossible to use in hunting situations.

My favorite hunting scope is an old illuminated Swarovski 2.5-10x56. It’s an incredible low light scope

 

[Knotwild]

You have good taste. I had a Swarovski, 25x10x56, but not illuminated. It was stolen from me, along with a really nice rifle. I think I'm going to go with a Zeiss next time around just because they can be had at a more reasonable price. Or maybe a Leica if I can catch one on sale.

 

[Dimner]

For those of you hunting with sightrons... do you like the MOA reticle when it's getting dark? Seems like there are certain situations where it would be hard to see. That's the thing that has kept me back from trying one out.

As far as other brands go, I sure would love german glass, but that would just mean I can see after legal hunting hours. So I tend to stay with glass equivalent to the VX3. Honestly, the reticle is more important than the glass for where I hunt. And zooming past 12x just makes everything harder to keep in the FOV.

I'm a firm believer of picking a scope that matches and benefits your hunting style and the terrain. A 56mm zeiss may be an amazing scope, but it would be a detriment in some situations.

My preferred stats on a scope would be 2-10 or 4-12 by 42 or 44. 50mm and bigger bells mean more do dads on the rifle to be able to raise the comb for the sight picture. My preference for hunting is a slim, decently light sporter with repeatable and consistent cheek weld and eye placement. Low power either kept at 4x or 6x mag.

Clear cuts, cedar swamps, natural forest clearings, spurs in old growth woods is the habitat I'm prowling.

So a 2-10 or 4-12 x 44 fits perfectly where I hunt. I will admit I'm sure I'd have a whole different set of preferences if I hinted different terrain and in different areas of the state and country.

 

[SS GO DEVIL]

My vote for low light and affordable is the Meopta Meostar 3-12x56 with illuminated 4k reticle. I believe they are made with Schott german glass. If budget is unlimited the Schmidt and Bender 3-12x52 T96 Polar.

 

[3-300s]

Trijicon accupoint , you won't be disappointed.
get the green duplex, it glows in the dark.
I have several, crystal clear, big field of view and dependable.