Back Country Hunting Scope

[timeout]

I'm planning a back country mule deer hunt this fall. I'll take two rifles just in case of the unlikely event one should fail. One rifle sports a NF NXS 5.5-22X56. I absolutely love the scope but it is Heavy! Been looking at Leupold's VX6 HD series. I've only looked through them inside of a big store, but I was impressed with the clarity. I'm a dial up guy and am not fully on board with the turrets. My first concern is how small and close together the lines are. I'm older and my distance vision is still great, but I need reading glasses for the small stuff. My NF has low speed turrets, big lines with adequate spacing. So with it, I have no need for glasses while hunting. My other concern with the turrets is that the clicks feel a little soft, at least compared to my NXS. For a big game hunting scope I'm thinking maybe I could get by with something like the B&C reticle and not "dial up"? I don't have any experience with the Leupold custom dials that can be installed. Perhaps they are easily readable and would solve the turret issue for me? I'm really fussy about reticles and detest those that completely fill my sight picture. I have 3 illuminated LRV reticles in Leupold VX6 Scopes and like these. They are essentially 3 dots. Simple and effective, but not available with the VX HD series. Help me out here guys!

 

[Lougler]

i bought a VX6 two years ago (prior to the HD) and am very happy. Glass is great, and I like the turret. It’s not an NXS turret, but good enough for a hunting rig. I’m not a big fan of the custom turrets. If you have big changes in elevation or weather, they won’t be accurate. If you’re not shooting far, probably a non issue.

 

[fredo]

A few more ounces, centered over top of your rifle, is a small penance to haul for the peace of mind the Nightforce will allow during 'the moment of truth'...

 

[effendude]

I often tell people the last place they should worry about weight is on their hunting rifle (obviously within reason). I tell them the first place they should look for weight savings is the mirror, and then their backpack contents if they are happy with their own weight. I have all brands of scopes and they work well for their intended purposes, but when the hunt presents opportunities for distances longer than maximum point blank shooting, I have either 5.5-22X NXS or Huskemaw scopes on my rifles because I too dial for distance.
Scott

 

[2506]

How far do you plan on getting a shot? What caliber rifle will be used? Most bullets going 2800 fps muzzle and above will stay inside a not much over 3" or under 3" from line of sight out to 300 yards. Most deer are taken inside 300 yards unless you just plan to set up on yon hill and snipe. I sight most everything I use 3" high at 100 and hold center out to 300 and they go down. If it is between 300 and 500 I usually know my rifle and hold a little high but usually still staying in the hair. Windage is more of a problem than elevation. My biggest problem with scopes is seeing the reticle. If you use those thin long range type then old mossy head shows up at the first glimmer of day light or the last glimmer of sun down and you can't see the reticle. I use the heaver line reticles in my hunting scopes. Yes they cover up a lot at distance but I can still see them and center on the game and out of hundreds of deer I have taken in the past 47 years I have not missed one yet because of the problem. Good luck. Oh, to not have to do dialing you could take the advice of the old golf pro when the young fellow wanted advice on how to improve his putting stats. The old pro told him "hit the ball closer to the hole." Actually do some hunting and get closer to the game.

 

[timeout]

I often tell people the last place they should worry about weight is on their hunting rifle (obviously within reason). I tell them the first place they should look for weight savings is the mirror, and then their backpack contents if they are happy with their own weight. I have all brands of scopes and they work well for their intended purposes, but when the hunt presents opportunities for distances longer than maximum point blank shooting, I have either 5.5-22X NXS or Huskemaw scopes on my rifles because I too dial for distance.
Scott

No idea how old you are but I'm almost 70 and had a serious leg injury in 2010. I'm pretty slim and work pretty hard for a guy my age. Can do more than most quite a bit younger. I still want to lighten a rifle to pack around in the wilderness. 10 years younger and two good wheels - no problem.

 

[muleystalker]

March makes some great scopes that will meet your needs, great glass, great turrets,repeatable, good selection of reticles, and lighter than your NXS. They also have a good zoom range, you can get a 3-25x and I believe a 2.5- 24x. And offer both FFP and SFP.

 

[spencerhenry]

Big game hunting scope? No turrets or fancy crap. 3-9x50 or 4.5-14x50, done.

 

[timeout]

How far do you plan on getting a shot? What caliber rifle will be used? Most bullets going 2800 fps muzzle and above will stay inside a not much over 3" or under 3" from line of sight out to 300 yards. Most deer are taken inside 300 yards unless you just plan to set up on yon hill and snipe. I sight most everything I use 3" high at 100 and hold center out to 300 and they go down. If it is between 300 and 500 I usually know my rifle and hold a little high but usually still staying in the hair. Windage is more of a problem than elevation. My biggest problem with scopes is seeing the reticle. If you use those thin long range type then old mossy head shows up at the first glimmer of day light or the last glimmer of sun down and you can't see the reticle. I use the heaver line reticles in my hunting scopes. Yes they cover up a lot at distance but I can still see them and center on the game and out of hundreds of deer I have taken in the past 47 years I have not missed one yet because of the problem. Good luck. Oh, to not have to do dialing you could take the advice of the old golf pro when the young fellow wanted advice on how to improve his putting stats. The old pro told him "hit the ball closer to the hole." Actually do some hunting and get closer to the game.

Going somewhere I've never been, so no idea how long a shot. Even if I had been there, no guarantee what will or won't present itself. I can shoot to 600 here and verify my dope. I will not shoot farther than that. I know my rifles to that distance. I'm not a lover of big boomer calibers. I will be taking a 6 Dasher and a 25-06. Could also take a 7 Rem Mag, but probably won't. Been a hunter all my life going back to my Dad carrying me on his shoulders. Not sure how to take the "Do some hunting and get closer"? Every hunt is different, unless of course you are a bait pile hunter. Probably should have worded my original post better. I'm fishing for some answers as to how solid the turrets and tracking are on the Leupold VX6 HD series scopes. Really not looking for opinions on dieting, going to the gym, or how to sneak up closer to game.

 

[timeout]

March makes some great scopes that will meet your needs, great glass, great turrets,repeatable, good selection of reticles, and lighter than your NXS. They also have a good zoom range, you can get a 3-25x and I believe a 2.5- 24x. And offer both FFP and SFP.

Probably more than I want to spend, but they certainly do have a good zoom range and quality. 3-25 would be sweet.

 

[hammerjack]

The custom dial will be easier to read than the one that comes on it , large numbers.

 

[ebb]

Ive mounted several VX6 scopes and they have all been hunting. If anyone had problems I would have heard. And you are right, they are very clear. With all the new high end scopes Leupold had to do something or they were going to lose a lot of business. From all reports I've heard they got it right.

 

[timeout]

Big game hunting scope? No turrets or fancy crap. 3-9x50 or 4.5-14x50, done.

Call me spoiled. I like zero stop and reliable turrets.

 

[K22]

How far do you plan on getting a shot? What caliber rifle will be used? Most bullets going 2800 fps muzzle and above will stay inside a not much over 3" or under 3" from line of sight out to 300 yards. Most deer are taken inside 300 yards unless you just plan to set up on yon hill and snipe. I sight most everything I use 3" high at 100 and hold center out to 300 and they go down. If it is between 300 and 500 I usually know my rifle and hold a little high but usually still staying in the hair. Windage is more of a problem than elevation. My biggest problem with scopes is seeing the reticle. If you use those thin long range type then old mossy head shows up at the first glimmer of day light or the last glimmer of sun down and you can't see the reticle. I use the heaver line reticles in my hunting scopes. Yes they cover up a lot at distance but I can still see them and center on the game and out of hundreds of deer I have taken in the past 47 years I have not missed one yet because of the problem. Good luck. Oh, to not have to do dialing you could take the advice of the old golf pro when the young fellow wanted advice on how to improve his putting stats. The old pro told him "hit the ball closer to the hole." Actually do some hunting and get closer to the game.

This guy is a hunter - listen to him.

Never understood the fine cross hairs on a hunting scope even for varmints (ghogs) since the most productive hunting time is in the evening when the light is going down. I sent all my VX 2's back to Leupold and had normal plex reticles installed to replace the fine ones.

 

[Bc'z]

Check out SWFA.
I shoot thier 3x15 with QDM retical. Great glass, built like a freakin tank.
They have some nice ficed power scopes in
3x,6x,10x, and i believe 20x they come in mil, or moa. Fixed power SFP $299. My brother in law swears by SWFA 10x.
Top of the line 5x20 ffp a lil over $1100

 

[timeout]

This guy is a hunter - listen to him.

Never understood the fine cross hairs on a hunting scope even for varmints (ghogs) since the most productive hunting time is in the evening when the light is going down. I sent all my VX 2's back to Leupold and had normal plex reticles installed to replace the fine ones.

Who said anything about fine cross hairs?

 

[Hydenseek]

A NF offers peace of mind.

 

[timeout]

A NF offers peace of mind.

Indeed.

 

[spencerhenry]

A 6 dasher or a 25-06 at 600 yards is a bit light for mule deer.

A "backcountry" hunt, must mean a high country hunt? Typically deer above treeline will allow you to get well under 600 yards without much effort. You can't just walk up on them, they are very wary, but the terrain allows for a pretty easy stalk. Getting to within bow range is pretty hard, but getting to within 200 is pretty easy. Above treeline, you will almost certainly have a little bit of wind to contend with as well.
I have a 243 set up for above treeline goat, sheep, and deer hunting. It has a 3.5-10 on it. If for some strange reason I need to shoot over 300 yards, where I might have to hold over, I can estimate the hold over pretty easily. No need to "dial it in", deer are pretty big targets. At over 300 I think the 243 gets kind of light for deer anyway.

 

[JRS]

S&B 6x42 Klassic, or 8x56 Klassic No reason to go overboard with magnification when hunting big game.