Mountian Rifle Hunting Scope

[Allen Kitts]

I picked up a CA Ridgeline in 6.5 PRC and want to set it up for mountain hunting. I live in Montana and have the opportunity on many occasions to get out in the hills and chase critters around. All of my current hunting rifles are fairly heavy with long range scopes on them. Packing one up and down the mountain is not my idea of a good time, hence the ridgeline. I have grown overly found of the large full length rifle scopes with high magnification but they are to heavy, IMO to pack all day. Here's the question: What would you guys recommend for a mountain rifle hunting scope? I want a quality scope with weight being one of my main concerns. Thanks in advance for all your replies.

 

[alf]

You need to define your parameters.
Max weight vs max power plus cost limits.......

 

[Allen Kitts]

I would like to spend less than $1,500.00 if possible. I don't have a max power but would want it to be at least a 14-16 power on the upper end.

 

[fabricator21]

Leupold vx5hd 3-15 or vx6hd 3-18

 

[Mcarso1]

Couple hundred more and the Leupold vx5hd would be my choice but same financial scenario as you and went with the vortex viper pst gen 2 3-15 and really like it. Weight is not optimal but close enough compared to my atacr 5-25x56. Lol

 

[CVCOBRA1]

Check out the Leupold VX3i 4.5-14. It is around 12 inches long and 14 ounces with CDS. Nice light compact scopes for carry rifles.

 

[Monkeygoat]

Echo the vx6hd recommendation. I would wait and save a few more bucks if it's not in the budget, but definitely go look through them all at a big box store to judge the trade offs.

 

[Tree Farmer]

Just bought a CA Ridgeline in 300 WSM for a pure hunting rifle. I mounted a Swaro Z5 3.5-18x44 with the ballistic turret/wind plex for $1200. This scope has a 1" tube, but I don't plan on shooting beyond 600 yds.

 

[Len Backus]

I am moving this to OPTICS forum

 

[hthunter]

I've put vx6hd 3-18x44 on my "lightweight" rig and I'm still wanting lighter. Bare rifle weight was 6.2 lbs. Seekins rail, seekins rings, and scope puts me at 8 lbs. While not bad, I was hoping for lighter. I'm gonna start by adding talleys. That will get me to 7.5, but really wanting 7 or less. So I'll probably end up ordering a vx3i either 2.5-8 or 4.5-14.

 

[Slick8]

I agree with you on weight. I'm currently running a vx6hd 4-24 on a custom 30 nos. It's not a light weight but is lighter than comparable scopes. And most of my hunting is in a stand. Mine weighs in at 8.75 loaded with a sling.

I'm not a fan of the truly ultra light as they give up too much imo.

The vx6 3-18x44 would be a great compromise, i have one on a 22-250AI in talleys with a 22 inch Bart 3b in a McM swirl stock. Nothing was built to be overly light but the rifle weighs about 8 is well very balanced and handy. The 2-12 really shaves some weight without giving up long range function as another option.

Remember, glass quality and retical dimensions make up a lot in regards of lower magnification.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

Leupold vx5hd 3-15 or vx6hd 3-18

^^^ this.

 

[hthunter]

Check out the Leupold VX3i 4.5-14. It is around 12 inches long and 14 ounces with CDS. Nice light compact scopes for carry rifles.

Are you referring to 30 mm or 1"? And how's eye relief and is there any tunneling problem? I like the mag range better in that scope but have been leaning more to 2.5-8x36 for maximal weight savings. This setup mainly 500 and in.

 

[CVCOBRA1]

This is for the 1" tube. Eye relief is on par with other scopes. 3.7 - 4.4 inches