40mm or 50mm Objective

[Airborne]

Last decision before I order the new Leupold today. It's going on a .280AI for deer/antelope out to 400yds. The difference in weight is next to nothing. The only thing that I can think of is the higher position of my head on the stock due to high rings vs. med rings. Which would you go with?

TIA!

[Jon Jackoviak]

I would personally go with the 40mm objective. I know some people would disagree, but I believe that the higher ring height is a bigger disadvantage over the smaller fraction of more light.

[sakofan]

I agree with Jon...sakofan..Coatings, glass quality has basically has leveled the playing field between the two.

I love the 40mm over the 50. Thats why I'm pissed at nightforce for not making a 40mm scope. Instead their new model has a 30mm straigt tube objective.

[ 05-21-2004: Message edited by: John M. ]

[Pete Lincoln]

Yep, its optical quality that counts, ive been trying to get S&B to build a variable PMII with a 42mm Obj for about the last 10 years, unfortunately all these optics folk seem to want to go bigger and bigger on the objective side of things, a 50mm is ok, it doesn't mean major mounting problems and yes light gathering etc is good, but i would be happy with a 4-16x42.. what i would do is see where you can get a better deal and buy whichever size of objective you can at a price that is right, you will be ok with either,. Pete

[Coyote Hunter]

Well, after having 40mm scopes for over 30 yrs now, I am begining to lean towards the 50mm ends. Mostly because the 50 will give me more light in early morning hunting when the scope is set above 10x.

I have been using a 4.5x14 50mm for about 2 yrs now and I like it much better than the other 4.5x14 40mm that I have.

By this fall I will have a new 4.5x14 50mm Boone & Crocket - 30mm w/side focus, Leupold.

[rwleonard]

I have found that, at least in the state in which I hunt, by the time it is dark enough for the 50mm to matter, it is past LEGAL shooting time. A good fit to my face means more to me.

Rick