Optics for aging eyes

Guys, Looking for advice from you old guys. As we age our eyes change. I've noticed my eyes require better and more expensive scopes with better resolution to see well as I am getting older. I am having a new beanfield rifle built and need to choose a scope. We hunt big fields and the ranges can be pretty far. 900 is not unusual at all. Deer here are hunted hard and nearly nocturnal. Shots always come in poor light, usually just before dark. Have a little cateracts, and don't see as well in poor light as I used to. All that being said, looking for a scope with excellent tracking, 1min wind marks, and really great glass that stands out in class in low light. Needs to top out around 25X. Cost really isn't an issue as much as trying to get the most out of my old eyes, but would like to stay around $3k or so. The options are mind boggling. I do know a Vortex Razor won't cut it anymore so don't go there.

Orange Dust said:

Guys, Looking for advice from you old guys. As we age our eyes change. I've noticed my eyes require better and more expensive scopes with better resolution to see well as I am getting older. I am having a new beanfield rifle built and need to choose a scope. We hunt big fields and the ranges can be pretty far. 900 is not unusual at all. Deer here are hunted hard and nearly nocturnal. Shots always come in poor light, usually just before dark. Have a little cateracts, and don't see as well in poor light as I used to. All that being said, looking for a scope with excellent tracking, 1min wind marks, and really great glass that stands out in class in low light. Needs to top out around 25X. Cost really isn't an issue as much as trying to get the most out of my old eyes, but would like to stay around $3k or so. The options are mind boggling. I do know a Vortex Razor won't cut it anymore so don't go there.

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I am 78 And have the same issues in some cases.(No cataracts) I find that most of my hunting is in poor light and therefore need many the same features.

I have several basic needs that work for me that I find that realy helps.
1 = Minimum of 50 mm objective lens.
2 = 30 mm tube.(The 30 mm turrets have a better range of MOA adjustments both vertical and windage.
3 = the 30 mm tubes allow bigger lens and are shorter in overall length.
Sharpness and clarity has a lot to do with your eyes, so that has to be determined by you. My eyes like the Leupold lens coating the best. so that is my preference. I have compared the Leupold to every other scope I could get my hands on and the Leupold LPS was the best (But it is no longer manufactured) with the Mark 4 a close second.

I compared scopes that cost more than $3500.00 and could not see the difference, so I stayed with the mark 4's

I prefer hunting with 3 to 14 power on most of my hunting rifles but have a few 6 to 20's and 8 to 25's for the longest shooting rifles and terrain. On my deer lease I often have to make running shots and to much power will make this very difficult.

Hope this helps you

J E CUSTOM

Swaro for old eyes.

Rick Richard said:

Swaro for old eyes.

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I've heard that. Was in cabelas in Dallas a couple of weeks ago. Wanted to look through an x5i. All they had was a DS. really cool scope but the glass seemed no better than the NF atacr I compared it to.

My experiences with good glass are limited but I've been very impressed with my Enhanced ATACR.

VX6HD or Mark 5? Have heard good things about the Swarovski x5i but only one I got is a Z5. It's ok but nothing special.

One other thing. I have owned many different reticles and found that Many are to busy to be effective under most conditions. Sometimes I think that the Optics makers do it for sales not for use. Some probably think It will make them a better shot, but in many cases it is so cluttered that it can make it more difficult to come up with a shooting solution.

My favorite scopes are the simplest Reticle for the job. For the longest ranges I like the MOA hash marks both vertical and horizontal and no more. (To much information to download in my old brain).

Poor light conditions make the standard Duplex or the German Duplex very good for running shots and distances of 2 or 3 hundred yards. Beyond that they are two wide and cover to much Point of aim. A lighted reticle also helps as long as it is adjustable for brightness.

The longer shots require a finer and more detailed Reticle.

Just My Opinion

J E CUSTOM

J E Custom said:

One other thing. I have owned many different reticles and found that Many are to busy to be effective under most conditions. Sometimes I think that the Optics makers do it for sales not for use. Some probably think It will make them a better shot, but in many cases it is so cluttered that it can make it more difficult to come up with a shooting solution.

My favorite scopes are the simplest Reticle for the job. For the longest ranges I like the MOA hash marks both vertical and horizontal and no more. (To much information to download in my old brain).

Poor light conditions make the standard Duplex or the German Duplex very good for running shots and distances of 2 or 3 hundred yards. Beyond that they are two wide and cover to much Point of aim. A lighted reticle also helps as long as it is adjustable for brightness.

The longer shots require a finer and more detailed Reticle.

Just My Opinion

J E CUSTOM

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Correct. I also like a duplex in a lower powered scope sighted for MPBR for this type of hunting. Not what this rifle is for. Strictly long range. Haven't shot at one yet under 400 in either of the 3 stands this is for. All I really need in a reticle for this scope are wind marks (Preferably 1 min.). I'm old school I guess, dial for range and hold for wind.

I'm almost 66 and I have a Vortex Razor HD and I also have a NF ATACR
The NF is a lot clearer to me.

ATACR is on the list, it did seem to tunnel more than the Swaro I compared it to.

I used to use mill dot reticles when we had to use them for ranging, But now with the Laser range finders that system is not as accurate as ranging and twisting turrets. And if you have one of the ballistic range finders it can give you the shooting solution's you need automatically.

J E CUSTOM

We are putting the cart before the horse. Need to find the glass, then pick from available reticles. I feel in this price range scopes are like the 300Winnie, none of them are the wrong answer. Just need help finding the best answer.

This might be our answer? I'm going to look into it.
https://www.clemit.com/

KyCarl said:

This might be our answer? I'm going to look into it.
https://www.clemit.com/

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Wish I thought of that!