What's your variable scope power range?

[Mike D Texas]

I have scope from 1-6 up to 4-32.

I shoot mostly FFP scopes and 4x is nearly unusable. Most hunting, i use 10x and can spot my shots. I've never found FOV a problem unless really close.

 

[Dragoon300]

My current favorite is 5-45, probably won't change as it works great for me and the application it is used for.

 

[MostlyUselessLurker]

At any rate it gave me something to crack fun about. Couple years ago I had the privilege of some months recovering and filled it reading all manner of forums. I think this handle has sprung up on a few with similar tone and coherence.

On the actual subject I waiver between 2-10/12 and the 3-18 class scopes. Probably trending towards the latter if my recent shots have been calm and calculated, the former I'd the last hunt had quick shots on jumped game.

I've got a lightweight setup I'm scope shopping for right now. I'm all over the place. I think I'm going with a 2.5-10x42 NXS

 

[comfisherman]

I've got a lightweight setup I'm scope shopping for right now. I'm all over the place. I think I'm going with a 2.5-10x42 NXS

I feel your pain on that one. Trying to bridge the gap between my dialers and my, light weight z3/vx3 type scopes. For any non duplex or post scope I've begun to appreciate ffp for holds if and this is a big "if" the reticle is done right. Don't need a lot of frills or widage dials but really would like parallax adjustment (mainly due to me always setting up my main rimfire just like my main centerfire and parallax manifests there more noticeably). Have seen a few misses i.e. the leupold mark 5 2-10, a hit with the chinesium Athlon and some hope for the steiner h6xi (but they usually pull a leupld and make some feature spoil the pot... i.e. a reticle unusable for a portion of the zoom range).

Reality is, as dated in the world of optics the nxs 2.5-10 is, it's still not yet surpassed or truly duplicated. Maybe a testament to just how good it was when introduced.

 

[PlumberEd]

I've got a lightweight setup I'm scope shopping for right now. I'm all over the place. I think I'm going with a 2.5-10x42 NXS

I also feel your pain, as I stated previously I like the 2-10 & 2-12 power range. However, it is hard to find a scope in those power ranges that will dial dependably, weighs 20ish ounces and doesn't have a wandering zero. I don't think you can go wrong with a NXS in 2.5-10x42, I'm gonna try one on my next hunting rifle.

 

[The_Whitetail_kid]

On my main 2 hunting guns I use Zeiss V4 6-24x50's.

 

[zerosprk]

NF ATACR 5-25x56's for me. Yes, they're big and heavy. But, I can't hit what I can't see...

 

[MostlyUselessLurker]

I also feel your pain, as I stated previously I like the 2-10 & 2-12 power range. However, it is hard to find a scope in those power ranges that will dial dependably and doesn't have a wandering zero. I don't think you can go wrong with a NXS in 2.5-10x42, I'm gonna try one on my next hunting rifle.

Those hard to find traits are my biggest concerns. I'm also being weight conscious. I have a Leupold Mark5HD 3.6-18x44 on another rifle and I really like it but always have the thought of when is it going to fail in the back of my mind. I would love to try a March 1.5-15x42 but the extra $1000 is pushing me to try the NXS first. The ATACR 4-16x42 was a thought also but the weight difference is significant. I was also considering Leica Amplus 6 3-18x44i with the L-4W reticle but just wasn't sure.

As I said, I'm all over the place.

 

[Bill28]

Having lived in the western US many years and having spent time in family hunting camps as early as the late 1960's, I am always interested when I'm at a gun store/shop listening to people discuss scopes. Most of my family members used either fixed 4 power scopes or 3-9 variables. I naturally went with 3-9 when I bought my first scope because that's what my dad had on his rifle.
Over the past several years, and zoom ranges have increased, I have purchased a variety of different variables. One such was a Zeiss 6-24. I mounted it, hunted with it, but found myself in a situation where I was trying to get a follow-up shot (didn't need it) and couldn't because of the field of view at 6 power. I sold the scope not long after that and now most of my scopes are either 3x or 4x at the low end (I don't shoot competitions, only shoot targets for load development and dial up work).
When I was in Germany, I found most of my scopes bottom end was 1-3 power with one rifle wearing an aimpoint for driven hunts: most of the shots we had were less than 100yards.
So, the question is, what is your scope zoom range and why do you like that range?
I'm curious as to what the community thinks and what your experiences are.

On my 3 main hunting guns I use the Vortex Razor 4.5x22x50 great for mid and long range and locking turrets help while hunting. I might have had the windage dial get turned on me.

 

[Lenny Foffa]

I had a Leupold VX3 2.5 to 8 power on a 1-inch tube, on my Weatherby Ultralight, in 270 Win. Small light weight scope. Love it!!! That was my "go to" set up for about 12 years. I'm 75 now, and I need more magnification and a brighter sight picture, so this past summer I purchased a Leupold VX 5 3X to 15X on a 30 mm Tube. When the Weatherby barreled action returned from Weatherby with a new Muzzle Break fitted to it, I mounted the new scope and rings. I will hunt with this new set up for the first time this coming November. I own several other Leupold scopes , each mounted on a rifle that I think is correct for the type of hunting I will be doing with that particular rifle. Example: I like the Leupold 1.5 to 5 power on my short barreled 30-06 for Penn Woods hunting; The 8.5 X to 25 X Wind Plex 30mm main tube, on my .270 Weatherby Mag. using Leupold DD Rings and Bases. I have two Leupold 4.5 to 14 power scopes, One on a one inch tube and the other on a 30mm tube. I sent away to KENTON, and had a custom turret, made for the one with the 30mm main tube for the Nosler180 Grn partition, at 3000 fps for my 300 Weatherby Mag, also using Leupold DD Rings and Bases. Although I really like having the Rifle/ Scope / Load combo all Mounted and sighted in and ready for the hunt, I do not have a problem changing the scope if I think it is necessary. Best of luck to you!!

 

[Dirtrax]

The only issue is those scopes weigh 48oz. That is 3lbs.

Too heavy for a hunting rifle except a dedicated heavyweight LR or varmint rig in my opinion. I like to keep my hunting scopes in the 24-34oz max range.

According to the spec sheet an Athlon Cronus weighs 34.8oz. Call it 35oz if you wish but that's a bit shy of 48 ozs. Just saying.

 

[comfisherman]

Those hard to find traits are my biggest concerns. I'm also being weight conscious. I have a Leupold Mark5HD 3.6-18x44 on another rifle and I really like it but always have the thought of when is it going to fail in the back of my mind. I would love to try a March 1.5-15x42 but the extra $1000 is pushing me to try the NXS first. The ATACR 4-16x42 was a thought also but the weight difference is significant. I was also considering Leica Amplus 6 3-18x44i with the L-4W reticle but just wasn't sure.

As I said, I'm all over the place.

I'd not be super worried about a mark 5 going down, the mark line seems to be where the leupold wandering stops occurring. My strife is the fov trade off with a 3.6 lower end. When compared to the 1.5-15 March the "both eye open on game" that's going to be a noticeable difference. Granted the price isn't trivial as you've pointed out.

My only March ownership was an lpvo and it was definitely finicky on eye box as it seems most wide aspect ratio optics seem to be. Wish I understood the engineering around it, but it must be at the raggedy edge of bending photons.

That atacr is a mighty good scope. One of my long term hunting friends has had one since they first came out. It's chunky for a light weight rig, and doesn't optically pop like some of the uber tier optics, but it's the easiest scope I've ever got behind. Think it's the 4x erector and the image flatness that they get however they do their lenses. Probably the easiest scope I've ever got behind, and certainly the eyebox made it the best 4x low end scope I've ever shot. Some day I'll build a more moderate weight rifle in a reasonable caliber and put that atacr atop, can't think of a scope I'd rather take to a war.

One things for certain, makes me feel a lot less nerotic to know other guys are doing the same mental circle trying to find the "perfect " scope.

 

[Phil Rizzo]

3-atacr 5-25
1-nx8 4-32
1-nx8 2.5-20
1-nxs 3.5-15
1-SB 3-12

as time marches on the higher mags are more useful to me

 

[PlumberEd]

I had an ATACR 4-16x42 F1 on my Fierce Fury carbon fiber rifle. It is a great scope except for the weight and the power at the low end. It is easy to get behind and I never had to fiddle around with the zero. Ended up moving the ATACR to a heavier rifle and replaced it with a Swarovski Z8i in 1.7-13.3 (that incidentally was purchased off LRH classifieds). The Z8i has a great eye box, fantastic glass and is lightweight. However, I haven't used the Z8i enough to comment on the tracking and zero retention.