This is what I want in a scope. What options are there?

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Technologist

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So I'm considering upgrading the scope on my lightweight beater allround short range hunting rifle (it's a .308). It's currently wearing an older Nikon Monarch 1.5-6x with a 40 mm objective. I've done all kinds of hunting with this rifle. From midnight hog hunting (with no lamps or NV equipment),to stalking, to driven hunts, to african plains game (yes, the .308 is plenty). I got the scope when I was still in college and had no money, but I'm starting to feel it's time to upgrade it.

If there's anything to improve from a functionality perspective, it would be the max magnification and the ability to make field adjustments to the elevation. Preferrably CCW adjustments, with one click for each 0.1 milliradian. I don't want to lose too much agility by going to a much heavier scope. I don't want to lose any low light capability, I'd rather stick to the 40 mm objective and maybe get better glass than the Nikon has. I also don't want to lose the close range field of view.

These are the requirements I end up with:

- Exposed turret with milliradian adjustments, preferrably CCW
- Lowest magnification not larger than 2x, preferrably smaller
- Highest magnification no less than 7x, preferrably more
- Slim overall package, preferrably no protruding windage turret or large objective
- Objective lens no smaller than 40 mm
- Weight no more than 20 oz

My first two ideas for a scope are the S&B Stratos 1.5-8x 40 mm and the Swarovski Z6i 1.7-10x 40 mm.

The S&B is kind of heavy at 23 ounces, and the target turret version is availible in either mil/CW or moa/CCW. Otherwise, it's a great option. The target turret is nice and discreet.

I find the Swarovski z6i target turret version kind of wonky. The colored dot disks for dialing your range stand out. I just want to use my dope card. The elevation turret is also backwards, ie CW. The z6i is lighter though.
 
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I'm probably going to have to allow for a 20-22 oz weight. It's just really convenient to have a rifle that doesn't weight too much and that isn't top heavy.

An unexpected contender is the Kahles 2-10x50i. It weighs just below 21 oz and has about 90% of the FOV of the Swarovski and S&B scopes mentioned above.
 
You might consider the Nightforce 2.5-10x42 (you can find a 32mm objective on older models). I have the 32 mm model on a lightweight .308 with a 16.5" barrel. I love this scope - bright, crisp, mil/mil set up, open turrets for field adjustments. And, as Nightforce's go, not heavy.
 
That's a fine recommendation, except that the Nightforce with a 2.5x low magnification has a FOV of 44 ft at 100 yards. The Kahles 2-10x should have almost 70 feet at the same distance, if I got the math right. The Swarovski 1.7-10 should be even better, almost like looking through a red dot...

I'm looking for a jack of all trades, master of none scope, and that extra field of view really comes in handy at close range.
 
I take your point on the eye relief. I use the scope/rifle as a woods fun when hunting whitetail. Rarely do I ever move the magnification off of 2.5x. I've never had an issue with wanting more FOV, but may feel differently if I had one with a wider field as a comparator.
 
I'm a huge fan of 1-8x scopes on hunting rigs. So, with that bias fully disclosed...here are the top 5 I'd be looking at in your situation, in a rough order of preference (depending on pricing I could get I might be willing to trade up or down anywhere on this list and be happy):
  • Swarovski Z8i 1-8x 24mm
  • Schmidt & Bender Police Marksman II 1-8x 24mm
  • Zeiss Victory V8 1-8x 30mm
  • Trijicon AccuPower 1-8x 28mm
  • Leupold Mark 8 CQBSS 1.1-8x 24mm
Not every one of these will meet all your specs, but IMO it would be hard to go wrong with any on the rifle you mention and for your intended use case.

Good luck!
 
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Technologist said:
So I'm considering upgrading the scope on my lightweight beater allround short range hunting rifle (it's a .308). It's currently wearing an older Nikon Monarch 1.5-6x with a 40 mm objective. I've done all kinds of hunting with this rifle. From midnight hog hunting (with no lamps or NV equipment),to stalking, to driven hunts, to african plains game (yes, the .308 is plenty). I got the scope when I was still in college and had no money, but I'm starting to feel it's time to upgrade it.

If there's anything to improve from a functionality perspective, it would be the max magnification and the ability to make field adjustments to the elevation. Preferrably CCW adjustments, with one click for each 0.1 milliradian. I don't want to lose too much agility by going to a much heavier scope. I don't want to lose any low light capability, I'd rather stick to the 40 mm objective and maybe get better glass than the Nikon has. I also don't want to lose the close range field of view.

These are the requirements I end up with:

- Exposed turret with milliradian adjustments, preferrably CCW
- Lowest magnification not larger than 2x, preferrably smaller
- Highest magnification no less than 7x, preferrably more
- Slim overall package, preferrably no protruding windage turret or large objective
- Objective lens no smaller than 40 mm
- Weight no more than 20 oz

My first two ideas for a scope are the S&B Stratos 1.5-8x 40 mm and the Swarovski Z6i 1.7-10x 40 mm.

The S&B is kind of heavy at 23 ounces, and the target turret version is availible in either mil/CW or moa/CCW. Otherwise, it's a great option. The target turret is nice and discreet.

I find the Swarovski z6i target turret version kind of wonky. The colored dot disks for dialing your range stand out. I just want to use my dope card. The elevation turret is also backwards, ie CW. The z6i is lighter though.
Click to expand...
TRACT Optics has some of the best glass in the optics business. Schott glass from Germany plus ED along with the best. Tract Optics is around 3/4 years old but the two main guys have been in the business for a combined total of thirty years maybe plus side. The company is based out of PA, and you buy directly from the company there is no middle man in the purchase.
 
Technologist said:
So I'm considering upgrading the scope on my lightweight beater allround short range hunting rifle (it's a .308). It's currently wearing an older Nikon Monarch 1.5-6x with a 40 mm objective. I've done all kinds of hunting with this rifle. From midnight hog hunting (with no lamps or NV equipment),to stalking, to driven hunts, to african plains game (yes, the .308 is plenty). I got the scope when I was still in college and had no money, but I'm starting to feel it's time to upgrade it.

If there's anything to improve from a functionality perspective, it would be the max magnification and the ability to make field adjustments to the elevation. Preferrably CCW adjustments, with one click for each 0.1 milliradian. I don't want to lose too much agility by going to a much heavier scope. I don't want to lose any low light capability, I'd rather stick to the 40 mm objective and maybe get better glass than the Nikon has. I also don't want to lose the close range field of view.

These are the requirements I end up with:

- Exposed turret with milliradian adjustments, preferrably CCW
- Lowest magnification not larger than 2x, preferrably smaller
- Highest magnification no less than 7x, preferrably more
- Slim overall package, preferrably no protruding windage turret or large objective
- Objective lens no smaller than 40 mm
- Weight no more than 20 oz

My first two ideas for a scope are the S&B Stratos 1.5-8x 40 mm and the Swarovski Z6i 1.7-10x 40 mm.

The S&B is kind of heavy at 23 ounces, and the target turret version is availible in either mil/CW or moa/CCW. Otherwise, it's a great option. The target turret is nice and discreet.

I find the Swarovski z6i target turret version kind of wonky. The colored dot disks for dialing your range stand out. I just want to use my dope card. The elevation turret is also backwards, ie CW. The z6i is lighter though.
Click to expand...
Something to keep in mind, high quality glass limits the need for larger objectives. For example if you go with a swaro Z8i 1-8x24, it will likely be better in low light than a monarch with a 40mm objective. The same is true in reverse, a large objective compensates for lower quality glass in low light. If you can find a high end 1-8x24 with a decent FOV at 100 yards that is what I would do. l am guessing you already know this from your research, but the size of the objective doesn't dictate the FOV.
 
PredatorSlayer said:
...high quality glass limits the need for larger objectives. For example if you go with a swaro Z8i 1-8x24, it will likely be better in low light than a monarch with a 40mm objective.
Click to expand...

I have really wondered about this, and how the two scope characteristics (glass quality and objective size) compares, when it comes to resolving power in low light.

As far as I understand, because the pupil of the eye can open up to about 5-7 mm, and thus a 40 mm objective is best used with 6x magnification, as that gives roughly a 7 mm stream of light through the ocular. Lower magnification should be perceived as just as bright, but obviously with less magnification and thus it would be harder to see the target. With a smaller objective, say 24 mm, my 30 year old eyes wouldn't be able to make use of a magnification over 3-4x, before the image would appear darker. It might be that I'm botching the science here, but that's the best understanding I've been able to get. A lot of the articles on the subject are written as if they are scientific fact, while in reality they mostly remind me of the writings on "TKO" of old.

So well, if the z8 and z6 scopes with 24 mm objective perform better or worse than my old ragged Nikon with the 40 mm objective, I don't know. I'd love to see a thorough test.
 
Another vote for the Nightforce 2.5-10. Mine is an older one with the 20mm objective. It's a rock! Short, reliable and repeatable. Mil dot reticle is a bit on the thin side but never a problem when illuminated. You can mount it really low on a rifle so you don't need cheek pieces. I love that scope.
 
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