Rifle scope for elk hunting

[gapfriz]

I was just wondering what everybody has for a rifle scope on their elk rifles, I've been useing a 14.5x14 leupold on my 338 ultra mag, and have noticed the past couple years i never change it off of six power, where i hunt in eastern oregon the shots can be anywhere from the end of the barrel to as far as you want shoot! So i'm thinking about going to a fixed six power?

 

[climb-101]

i have a 3.5-10 ziess on my 7stw for elk/dear gun. I normally run it on the 10 when i am making the shot if i have some time to setup and adjust stuff. if were in the trees walking i normally have it around the 4-6 range incase something jumps up

 

[AJ Peacock]

I use the Leupy 4.5x14x40 on my 7RM that I use for my walking/hunting rifle. For my sit and wait rifles, I use 3.5x15 NF's

AJ

 

[42769vette]

4-12 swarovski

 

[kcebcj]

I was just wondering what everybody has for a rifle scope on their elk rifles, I've been useing a 14.5x14 leupold on my 338 ultra mag, and have noticed the past couple years i never change it off of six power, where i hunt in eastern oregon the shots can be anywhere from the end of the barrel to as far as you want shoot! So i'm thinking about going to a fixed six power?

I have shot more stuff with the scope sitting on 3.5 than any other power. It's a 3.5-10 which is plenty for elk out to 500-600 yards and is nice and light.

The scope is perfect with the M1 turret for the type of hunting I do but really really lacks when working up a load at 300 yards. Almost impossible to hold on a 1 inch bull at that distance and when trying to achieve 1/2 MOA at that range it can become very frustrating because of the lack of power.

So I would say the 4.5-14 would service you better all around then a 6 power fixed but to each his own right.

 

[25 Otter]

It's funny how things work out. I remember when I started out a 3X-9X was pretty big stuff. For years I carried a 721 Remington with a 6X Leupold on it. At that time I was more concerned about it being too much for close work,than not being enough for long shots. Now my rifles all wear 4X-12X scopes min. 6X-18X isn't too much. What happened to me was a combination of 2 things. First is this "what if" mentality we seem to have these days. Sure a 2X-7X might be more than enough for 90% of my hunting,but what if? What if I need to take that 450 yd shot or none at all. Secondly,I was a bench rest competitor for a few years not long ago. I became so reliant on the 36X scopes that come fall my usual hunting rigs seemed way under glassed! Pair that with some not so youthful eyes and a scope is more of a crutch than an aiming device. I have to agree with a previous post though. Long range target work and load development is very difficult with the conventional "hunting" glass. So, to answer the orriginal question. 4X-12X is what rests on all but a couple of my rifles be it elk or whitetail we're after.

 

[Tikkamike]

I have shot more stuff with the scope sitting on 3.5 than any other power. It's a 3.5-10 which is plenty for elk out to 500-600 yards and is nice and light.

The scope is perfect with the M1 turret for the type of hunting I do but really really lacks when working up a load at 300 yards. Almost impossible to hold on a 1 inch bull at that distance and when trying to achieve 1/2 MOA at that range it can become very frustrating because of the lack of power.

So I would say the 4.5-14 would service you better all around then a 6 power fixed but to each his own right.

i hate to agree. my dad used a fixed 6x leupold m8 on his 375h&h for everything for years and I saw him kill several elk at around 500 with it. so 6x really is no disadvantage but the extra power or ability to turn it way down is very nice

 

[chas3stix]

On my recent unsuccessful elk hunt I was using a 4.5-14 Burris scope. When out stalking, I left the scope on 6X. The 14X setting has a very critical eye relief and it didn't work well for quick shot situations.

 

[Steyr Luxus]

I use a Leupold VX III 6.5 x20 on my 7mm Rem Mag and has never let me down from ranges 30 feet to 700 yards my longest shot. However, I've used all magnification levels available for these various shots.

 

[winmag]

Leupold 4.5-14x40A/O B&C varmint reticle on my 300wby
Burris4.5-14x42A/O Ballistic plex on my 270wsm
Leupold 3.5-10x40 B&C reticle on the 338wm BAR

Ya I've noticed both the 4.5-14's usually get hunted on 6x as well, but I REALLY like to be able to crank er down for the thick & nasty, or crank em up for the long stuff & spotting for dad when he shoots.
Plus the extra magnification is nice when shootin steel at 500 plus. Spotting your hits with out leaving your shooting position to peek thru the spotting scope is real nice too

 

[sp6x6]

I have alot of time behind a 4-14, but I really like my 6-20, and use it as a spotting scope a bunch, I hunt heavy cover and have been ok w/it

 

[Elkmen]

On my recent unsuccessful elk hunt I was using a 4.5-14 Burris scope. When out stalking, I left the scope on 6X. The 14X setting has a very critical eye relief and it didn't work well for quick shot situations.

I had problems with eye relief on my 4.5 X 20 so I changed to 3.5 X 10 and problems went away. As mentioned earlier, unless I am really hurried I always turn the scope up to max when shooting. I have 3 of the above and 3 in the 2.5 X 8, and all are adequate for most game shooting.

 

[ken snyder]

Kind of funny how just a few miles can make a difference in equipment. I hunt the Oregon Coastal range. For general hunting in this area a scope is chosen on field of view and how low it can be turned down or no scope at all. Landing Rifles generally use High magnification scopes but very seldom get turned up past 14 power. For areas that are new and relatively unknown a 3 X 9 is generally chosen because it offers a marginal amount of both. Around my mud puddle it would be a fool hearty mistake not to be able to turn the magnification down to at least 3X on a rifle that is to be considered Utilitarian!

 

[skyfish25]

I have a 3-12 Monarch om my primary hunting rifle, a 7mm SAUM. I think almost all my deer have been shot near 7x. But 10+ is nice when sitting in a good shooting position. Haven't hunted elk yet, midwesterner, but I would plan on using the same rifle/scope setup.