New setup for long range hunting....need ideas

[Slykhunter]

Recently bought a 6.5 creedmoor, it's a Christensen Arms ridgeline with the carbon fiber barrel. I'm trying to decide on the scope now here is a list of what i have it narrowed down to.

1. NF SHV 4x14x50 F1 30 oz
2. Leupold VX-5HD 3x15x56 22 oz
3. Vortex Viper PST Gen 2 5-25x50 31.2 oz
4. Sig Sauer Tango 4 6-24x50 26.9 oz
5. ? Any Other?

This setup will mostly be used for deer hunting and coyote calling in North Dakota. So the important features for the scope are performance in low light (because i do some full moon calling), weight (the gun is only 6.3 pounds), glass clarity and the ability to accurately shoot at a 1000 yard range (because ND is very flat). So hunting comes first then range ability.

Ive been reading old forms and discussions on this site for a few weeks and that is what led me to these scopes.

20 MOA Warne base and Vortex PMR rings?

Is 14 power enough or should I be going to 24 power?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[dibbs]

In my humble opinion, with hunting as your priority, you are going to want low power for hunting, ~4x on the bottom end, for light transmission and rapid aquisition of targets. More magnification at 1K helps with reading mirage/wind and seeing targets as well as impacts/misses.

 

[Schnyd112]

I have shot the gen 2 pst, ffp. I have also shot the exact same shv. Neither were in my rifles, the pst was actually on a .22 lr. I was not overly impressed with the shv. I can't remember the rifle it was on but for $1000 I was not impressed with the clarity or the feel of the shv. The gen 2 pst is a great improvement over the previous so I would claim it to be a pretty good value on a scope that works.

14x will get you to 1000. I routinely shoot to 850 and have gone out to 1200 with a swfa and a vortex hs-t that max out at 15-16x. I have noticed to get decent clarity during bad mirage on high magnification you need pretty good (expensive) glass to help cut through it.

Shooting steel of various shapes (24"x24" at 1200 is the biggest) I rarely wish I had more magnification. Shooting paper I would like more, especially at 300. I usually shoot 3/4" or 1" dots at 300 and they can be tough to see some days. At 600 and 1000 the target changes and is easier for me to see. Also, when the wind is being tricky I will take just about anything that helps see better or makes things look bigger.

 

[Slykhunter]

Very good point, I have looked though a friends 6x24 and thought to myself that 6 power is too much especially when you have a coyote sneak up on you or are walking cover for deer.

 

[adam32]

VX-5HD and a standard base, really no need for a 20moa.

 

[Rich Coyle]

Good morning, Lee Slykerman, just a heads up. You mentioned low light performance. I compared a Leupold VX-5 3-15X56 with a Swarovski z5 5-25X52, a Leupold VX-6 4-24X52, and a Bushnell 6500 4 1/2-30X50 on 13" wide deer antlers 131 yards away in the woods after the sun set before dark set in. The VX-5 3-15X56 lasted six minutes longer than the other three with all set on the same magnification.

 

[bigngreen]

I prefer lower mag if coyote hunting and early morning shooting, I really like the NF SHV with MOAR reticle, I've flogged mine and it's solid, Leupolds crap out at such a high rate I have a very hard time using one, my buddy's brand new VX6HD made it 3 rounds then got a ride on the brown truck back for repair. I always use a 20 MOA base to put your correction more in the center of travel on the lenses.

 

[MudRunner2005]

You forgot another good option...

https://swfa.com/swfa-ss-hd-5-20x50-tactical-30mm-riflescope-3.html
https://swfa.com/egw-hd-picatinny-rail-1-piece-scope-mount-63.html
https://swfa.com/seekins-precision-scope-30mm-rings.html

 

[BEEMAN]

Could look into the Sightron SIII line as well. I prefer my SIII over my PST. My SHV and SIII would be similar in clarity. Never done any low light comparisons. Hardest part for myself is finding enough magnification with keeping the weight down. Weight is not a problem on most of my guns. My last light weight 6.5X47 wears a Swarovski Z5 5-25X52 BT. Haven't shot it much, but seems like a nice scope.

 

[Canhunter35]

a 4-14x is a nice magnification range for coyote hunting, especially if you have quality glass. The vx5 with 3-15 would be my choice. If ur shooting to 1k I agree with a 20moa base

 

[jpd676]

Another vote for the Sightron SIII, in a 6-24. The glass is good and with 100 moa of elevation travel it will get you to where you want to go.

 

[WildRose]

Recently bought a 6.5 creedmoor, it's a Christensen Arms ridgeline with the carbon fiber barrel. I'm trying to decide on the scope now here is a list of what i have it narrowed down to.

1. NF SHV 4x14x50 F1 30 oz
2. Leupold VX-5HD 3x15x56 22 oz
3. Vortex Viper PST Gen 2 5-25x50 31.2 oz
4. Sig Sauer Tango 4 6-24x50 26.9 oz
5. ? Any Other?

This setup will mostly be used for deer hunting and coyote calling in North Dakota. So the important features for the scope are performance in low light (because i do some full moon calling), weight (the gun is only 6.3 pounds), glass clarity and the ability to accurately shoot at a 1000 yard range (because ND is very flat). So hunting comes first then range ability.

Ive been reading old forms and discussions on this site for a few weeks and that is what led me to these scopes.

20 MOA Warne base and Vortex PMR rings?

Is 14 power enough or should I be going to 24 power?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

The VX-5 3-15x50 would be my choice on that list. I have VX3, VX3, VXIII, Mark IV's, VX6, and VX7's and they've all done the job exactly as intended.

Leupold is the only scope I've ever tried that I didn't eventually have to send one back in for some sort of mechanical failure or leak.

I gave up on the Vipers when 3 out of 5 all failed immediately or shortly after purchase. Their warranty work and turnaround time was incredible but I just won't buy another scope I can't trust.

 

[stwcattle]

Of the scopes listed, i'm throwing out #5, NF ATACR 4~16x50 or maybe a NXS 3.5~15x50.

 

[JJMoody]

.....North Dakota winters..... for that reason, also throw in bulletproof functionality as a requirement