"Unicorn" scope?

[Underpup2]

I have been looking for a scope for a hunting rifle I recently had built. I guess the whole project is kind of a "unicorn" build. I wanted a short and light but long range capable rifle. Well it's easy get any 2 of those 3 but putting all 3 together took a little work. The problem now is I need a long range(1000 yards), light weight, durable and dependable scope to go on it with a clean reticle and 20x or more(the higher the better) magnification.
Putting all those together seams to be harder then the rifle was.
The closest things I have found to being exactly what I want is the Arken EPL4 and the Elemet Helix. Both are very similar and pretty much meet all the criteria.

Just wondering if there is a clear winner between the 2 of them or some other better option that I may not have seen(I have looked at a lot).
A few other on the list are

Vortex razor hd lht 4.5-22x I love the weight on it but they only offer it in a Christmas tree reticle which I hate.

Nightforce NX8 4-32x50 wish it was offered with a center only illuminated reticle like the SHV has. Also onthe heavy side.

Leupold Mark 5 seem to be the most recommend option I have looked at, and I like the locking turret, but is way to heavy unless I drop to the 3-18x magnification and it's still heavier then I really want.

I know the glass quality on the Arken and Element won't be on par with the others mentioned but they are also 1/4 the price of the competition. If I'm gonna give $1200+ for a hunting scope then I want to get exactly what I'm looking for and I just can't seem to find it. Any and all advice or options are welcome.

 

[JTEX]

For your application I like the old Leopold VXIII 6.5x20x 40mm, fine duplex.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Leupold for me. 6.5-20x50 can be had cheap enough used and are solid with side focus and covered turrets.

 

[3Sigma]

What is the low end power need? This is the more important consideration. I wouldn't carry a hunting rifle with more than 3x on the low end, so this dictates a different set of issues.

 

[dthomas]

Look at the Leopold vx6hd. I think you'll find what you're looking for.

 

[lawman29]

S-TAC Series

Sightron is a premium optics manufacturer with factories in Japan and the Philippines. Our North Carolina headquarters offers full service support, sales, and marketing.

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SIII Long Range Series

Sightron is a premium optics manufacturer with factories in Japan and the Philippines. Our North Carolina headquarters offers full service support, sales, and marketing.

sightron.com

 

[Hondo64d]

I have been looking for a scope for a hunting rifle I recently had built. I guess the whole project is kind of a "unicorn" build. I wanted a short and light but long range capable rifle. Well it's easy get any 2 of those 3 but putting all 3 together took a little work. The problem now is I need a long range(1000 yards), light weight, durable and dependable scope to go on it with a clean reticle and 20x or more(the higher the better) magnification.
Putting all those together seams to be harder then the rifle was.
The closest things I have found to being exactly what I want is the Arken EPL4 and the Elemet Helix. Both are very similar and pretty much meet all the criteria.

Just wondering if there is a clear winner between the 2 of them or some other better option that I may not have seen(I have looked at a lot).
A few other on the list are

Vortex razor hd lht 4.5-22x I love the weight on it but they only offer it in a Christmas tree reticle which I hate.

Nightforce NX8 4-32x50 wish it was offered with a center only illuminated reticle like the SHV has. Also onthe heavy side.

Leupold Mark 5 seem to be the most recommend option I have looked at, and I like the locking turret, but is way to heavy unless I drop to the 3-18x magnification and it's still heavier then I really want.

I know the glass quality on the Arken and Element won't be on par with the others mentioned but they are also 1/4 the price of the competition. If I'm gonna give $1200+ for a hunting scope then I want to get exactly what I'm looking for and I just can't seem to find it. Any and all advice or options are welcome.

Not sure what you want in magnifacion range, but the SWFA 3-9 HD will do every thing you stated and weighs 19oz. They are rock solid reliable.

John

 

[acloco]

At 1K, under cold or hot conditions, 12-16x is all that you will be able to use.

 

[jghoghunter]

March 2.5-25
20 oz
Decent reticles

 

[std7mag]

For the lightweight dept, a Sightron is going to weigh a lot less than the Arken.

I've hunted with my STAC 4-20X50 MOA-2. Took a decent buck at maybe 50 yards.
It's also the same scope i shot my firts F-Open 600 yard match with.

So, yeah they have lots of versatility.

 

[drop_point]

Personally, I think you're placing far too much emphasis on top-end magnification. 18x at 1,000 yards on an animal is huge and often more magnification than you'd want. You want to be able to cut out mirage and you want FOV for finding game and watching for reaction after the shot. High magnification can make that difficult.

The last 700 yard + shot on game I took was taken on 12x. Follow-through after recoil still took me a moment to get back on.

 

[nakneker]

If size and weight are important I’d take a look at the Leupold Mark5 series, I like the size of the 3-18x for hunting, they make a 5-25x but the footprint is bigger than I like for hunting scope. March is another good option. I’ve used both on sporter barrel hunting rifles. I use to use Match but decided I like the Mark5 better. Clean reticle, small size for a true lone range scope, tough, track’s accurately, easy to use zero stop and you can’t get lost in the rotations.

I also tried Arken’s SH4 line when they first came out. Too big for hunting with the 34mm tube and heavy. I ordered one of the new EPL light weights with the 30mm tube. It arrived three weeks ago and it is much lighter and a bit shorter. I haven’t mounted it yet, I will soon when a build finishes but no experience in the field yet. I like the reticle, glass competes with scopes that cost twice as much but I like the two I mentioned better, they are one another level or two.

 

[Gary in MD]

Check out Tract Optics

 

[Dave M.]

Not sure what you want in magnifacion range, but the SWFA 3-9 HD will do every thing you stated and weighs 19oz. They are rock solid reliable.

John

Good luck shooting 1000 yards with a 9x scope. The reticle would probably cover the “X”, “10” and half the “9” ring.

 

[Underpup2]

Leupold VX-5HD was at the top of my list originally, but everyone kept saying that the vx models tracking was not good at all so I took them off the list.
I looked at a sightron or 2 early on and wasn't impressed I'll check out the ones recommended here to see if they are any better fit.
Same goes for March I looked at a few early on and didn't see 1 that was what i was looking for at least not for the right price. I'll look into the 1 suggested.
Like I said before MK5 is on the list still but the main problem with it is weight.
I looked at Tract and if I remember correctly they were too heavy as well.

And yes I am well aware that I am putting to much emphasis on the max magnification. I have hunted with a 3-9 for years and out to 700 yards it's done fine. But I don't ever carry a spotting scope with me so having the extra magnification is more so for picking up smaller details ie. knowing exactly how big the buck is and not necessarily for the shot itself. I don't think that 20x is overkill and that's all I really want/need but if I can get more it would be nice. Because if I need to I can always turn that 32x scope down to 18x(or below) to take the shot, but I can not turn that 18x max up to 32x if I need to in order to decide whether or not I want to shoot. I know that's kind of an see extreme way to look at it but that's how I see it. As far as lower end magnification goes I very rarely turn a scope below 5-6x so as long as the bottom end is somewhere there about or below I'll be happy.
Thanks to all for all the info and input so far.

 

[andym686]

If size and weight are important I’d take a look at the Leupold Mark5 series, I like the size of the 3-18x for hunting, they make a 5-25x but the footprint is bigger than I like for hunting scope. March is another good option. I’ve used both on sporter barrel hunting rifles. I use to use Match but decided I like the Mark5 better. Clean reticle, small size for a true lone range scope, tough, track’s accurately, easy to use zero stop and you can’t get lost in the rotations.

I also tried Arken’s SH4 line when they first came out. Too big for hunting with the 34mm tube and heavy. I ordered one of the new EPL light weights with the 30mm tube. It arrived three weeks ago and it is much lighter and a bit shorter. I haven’t mounted it yet, I will soon when a build finishes but no experience in the field yet. I like the reticle, glass competes with scopes that cost twice as much but I like the two I mentioned better, they are one another level or two.

I will give another nod to the Mark 5. I have a 3-18, and it is the best glass of any scope i have owned.
Of course, as always, it depends upon your application.
OP: Good luck with your scope search.

 

[Hondo64d]

Good luck shooting 1000 yards with a 9x scope. The reticle would probably cover the “X”, “10” and half the “9” ring.

The OP said he’s looking for a scope for a hunting rifle. The reticle on the scope I suggested subtends .07 mils which means it will cover 2.52” at 1000 yards. I have my own range that goes out to 900 yards and have shot my 900 yard steel with that same scope with no issues. Not sure where people get the idea you must have high magnification to hit at long range, but it simply is not so. On vital zone sized targets, 1x per hundred yards is more than enough. Additionally, the SWFA scopes are rock solid reliable, retain zero, and track precisely. The OP also wanted something light weight, which narrows the field even more. The scope I recommended is about as light as you are going to find and still have the qualities I mentioned.

Have you shot the SWFA 3-9?

John

 

[HandgunHTR]

Here are a couple of options for you

RS.1 - 2.5-15x44 FFP

Buy Maven Outdoor Equipment Company RS.1 Riflescopes. Our RS Series Riflescopes stack up with the most celebrated and expensive scopes in the world…bar none.

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RS.3 - 5-30X50 FFP

Buy Maven Outdoor Equipment Company RS.3 Riflescopes. Our RS Series Riflescopes stack up with the most celebrated and expensive scopes in the world…bar none.

mavenbuilt.com

 

[Underpup2]

I looked at the maven RS.3 but I didn't like the reticle that well it's ok but not anything impressive. The march 2.5-25 SFP and the 3-24 FFP both look like really good options. My main concern with march is a lot of people say the parralex is finicky for a hunting scope?

 

[fishermen0105]

Good luck shooting 1000 yards with a 9x scope. The reticle would probably cover the “X”, “10” and half the “9” ring.

I guess I don’t see a downside to the swfa 3-9 or even the 6x at long range. For a 20ish oz scope thats Very durable they are hard to beat. If you need more power I like my Bushnell lrhs2 4.5-18. I’be read good things about some Of the trijicon scopes too. I think you’d be surprised how far you can shoot a 6x or 9x scope.