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Scope for hunting out west.?

EEP,

I have hunted Elk here in Idaho since 1979. 20 to 25X MINIMUM? Maximum, yes. You might perhaps rethink that. You will have trouble with it. 5-25X is more realistic. I have a Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25 x56 with a 34mm tube on my 338 LAPUA for late in the season.

Rich
 
I've been hunting the Western States with a fixed 10x for over a decade. Its plenty for even coyotes to 750y. However, I took a coastal blacktail at 30y with it and it was difficult to discern exactly where I was going to shoot. Ended up with a neck shot because I could trace the profile from his ears/antlers down his neck and just let it rip.

Anything up to about 15/16x top end and minimum 5x on bottom end. Keep the scope dialed down at all times. If its a long shot you normally have time to zoom in anyway.

I like Leupold scopes for hunting.
 
10-12x top end is fine to 500 yards on plates as small as 6" across. An elk heart lung is more than double that. If you think you need, more 14-16.
 
I've gotten by fine with a 2-7x33 and a 3-9x40 for many years, didn't want a big heavy scope to haul up and down the hills here in BC and AB. I graduated to 2-10x42 now, got rid of most of my Leupolds, Z3 is more money, but, the VX3 couldn't compete. Never had a need to dial when out hunting.
 
My only experience is with prairie dogs, so not very relatable. I do run 4.5-27x on my rifles, but most of the time I have them setting in the 15-18 range. Anything much above 15x on a warm sunny day and the mirage makes it hard to see. Even on the hot, sunny days 15x-18x is plenty for shooting PDs at 300 yds, and an elk is quite a bit bigger than a PD. That said, I WOULD absolutely require a FFP Christmas tree reticle of some kind (moa or mrad) along with a zero stop and side parallax adjustment. Cranking knobs is fine when you have time, but when you don't these reticles make it super easy to apply the correct hold over without having to take your eye's off the animal. After trying them, I'll never put anything else on a rifle that might need to shoot past 250 yds ever again.
 
I put a Leupold VX6 HD 4x24x52mm TMOA reticle scope on my rifle. A Browning Xbolt 280AI rifle. Planning on going on a spring bear hunt next spring hopefully. I just got a Leupold VX3 HD 4.5-14x40 cds wind plex reticle and side focus yesterday. Planning on putting it on my 300 wby.
 
Features i find necessary and wish I knew years ago, learned the hard way:

1. Ffp for wind hold and elevation when you don't have time to dial.
2. Zero stop turret. Nothing is worse than questioning your zero given the handling while hunting.
3. Adjustable reticle illuminated reticle for contrast when game is against dark background and low light.
4. Variable in range of 4-16 power
5. Many scopes of this description are designed for prs and are heavy, get a lighter option
6. Decent optical quality, top end is not necessary.

The hunter and/or guide needs a reliable range finder, several are built into binos. Shoot out to 500yd or so to confirm dope, and learn to dial and use the reticle. Calibrate a ballistic table and evaluate at various temperatures and altitudes to understand what to expect, and carry a convenient dope card when hunting.
 
You need really good glass and a good bit of power to ensure your in that "hart lung area" on a Prairie dog. A good bonded bullet if you think you're going to take a shot through the shoulder area. They can get pretty excited and charge you if you wound one, then all hell breaks loose and you have to draw your hand gun or worse yet the K Bar. And hope like hell your PH is there for a back up shot in that case!



My only experience is with prairie dogs, so not very relatable. I do run 4.5-27x on my rifles, but most of the time I have them setting in the 15-18 range. Anything much above 15x on a warm sunny day and the mirage makes it hard to see. Even on the hot, sunny days 15x-18x is plenty for shooting PDs at 300 yds, and an elk is quite a bit bigger than a PD. That said, I WOULD absolutely require a FFP Christmas tree reticle of some kind (moa or mrad) along with a zero stop and side parallax adjustment. Cranking knobs is fine when you have time, but when you don't these reticles make it super easy to apply the correct hold over without having to take your eye's off the animal. After trying them, I'll never put anything else on a rifle that might need to shoot past 250 yds ever again
 
He will be way ahead if he just gets a Nightforce or Tract for his "out west" hunting"
Probably won't work in the East though...
 
Nightforce or Trijicon TenMile, maybe a Zeiss V6. I have a Vortex LHT also. Nice little optic.

I cannot recommend against a Leupold short of the Mark 5 enough for long range shooting, especially with a magnum. They usually last a little while then give up.
 
Fox guy -

Howdy ?

What game is being shot at, if we might ask ?


With regards,
357Mag
I put a Leopold 4/12x a with 40 mm tube on a 300 WM in 85 and it's all i need to get the job done never broke, never fogged up, always work's. All the power you need to much power is not good in timber in my opinion
 

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