Rifle Scope Recommendation

[med358-boise]

Guys,

If you have $2k to spend on a scope for a 7 mag what would you get?

Thanks,

I would start with "What is my use case and at what distances?" as opposed to I have X amount of dollars to spend.

 

[Rick Richard]

I thought this was a scope thread lol.

That is what happens when any post gets past two or three pages. ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER. lol.

 

[Ranger Rick]

I worked in optics for years at one of the big outdoors stores. I acquired many different scopes. I recommended potential buyers to come by around sunset and we'd take two or three scopes outside with our demo scope stock, then they would decide. If the one a buyer chose was too $$$, I'd recommend buying a used one from us or wherever.

 

[JAYgs8163]

I guess it all depends on what you call "long range hunting ". That doesn't mean unethical hunting. With a bow 50 yards is long range, with a scoped pistol 75 yards is long range. Unless it is a TC, they are basically short rifles. Open sights on a rifle 100 yards is a poke. With a modern rifle and scope 300 to 500 yards is long range and only very few, if any should attempt shots on game further than that except in the most ideal conditions. And by that I mean little or no wind and the animal is very calm or laying down.

As hunters we are also ambassadors for our sport. That means we must always hunt in the most ethical way possible. One story of a long shot gone wrong tarnishes all of us. We are already loosing more hunter's than we're gaining every year due to aging out. I was always taught to respect the animal that was giving its life to feed us. That means striving for quick, clean one shot kills. We owe that to our sport, ourselves and the animals. Maybe it's the Cherokee in me, small as it is but this is the way I was taught and it's the way I taught my kids.

Read the forum rules. Ethics are not a topic allowed for discussion here. Move along.

 

[Lazy D]

Spend a little over half that on a Burris Veracity PH and the rest on ammo to practice at various distances and positions.

 

[NotLongRange]

Well…if you want to use that entire spending range, I would go with a Swarovski Z5/Z5+ in a 3-18X scope. This is a hunting scope, still relatively light, and will enable you to shoot game at reasonably long range effectively.

 

[Sportshooter5]

I'd look at the Sightron line of scopes …..great value for what you get.

 

[JAYgs8163]

The Steiner HX6i is a fantastic scope and you mentioned it in your earlier post. I have 3 of them and glass is fantastic.

 

[azarcher10x]

Heavier, but my choice is a Zeiss LRP S3. Has everything you're looking for, except it weighs more.

 

[Pro2A]

Guys,

If you have $2k to spend on a scope for a 7 mag what would you get?

Thanks,

Popcorn buttered/salted....cold one popped.....LazyBoy reclined. "What scope" questions are entertaining. Scope opinions are like assholes.....everyone has one, but it only benefits that one person. :) :) :) Just kidding. You'll get great advice from really knowledgeable shooters on this site, but sorting through it all to find what works for you is like going to the biggest scope store, seeing all the scopes in the world, to make your selection. Note....looking through scopes in a store to make a selection is wasting your time.....unless maybe you intend to hunt in that store. You really didn't share enough info of your specific application to make any recommendation really meaningful. Range, elevation angles, open range or dense cover, low light or bright sun, ballistic programs in play, deer under your stand or elk across canyon, place hunting or pack all day/shoot once stalking, what rifle in the equation, and on and on.....even your personal competencies....will you range/noodle/spin the solution or do you want a Burris Eliminator to show you the hold. You're putting together a package......including you. The rifle is a key point as a 39oz NF ATACR on spot'n'stalk mountain 5lb Barrett Fieldcraft would seem a mis-application, but on an overwatch the whole **** state 14lb Barrett MRAD not an issue. Also, scope visuals are very subjective due to individual eyes, age, preferences, perspectives. Picking scopes is a steep learning curve. Expect you will be like most shooters entering, asking your question, that whatever you choose, you'll change your perspective as you become more experienced, hone your needs, actually learn what is important to you. Do you really want to "shoot your whole $2K wad" 'cause some keyboard commando on a website said shoot it here??? Go to several active shooting ranges/competitions, talk to shooters, ask to look through their scopes...in the wild, discuss what features they find important, how they use the scope, etc. You will learn great personal info toward your selection, plus you'll meet great people, make friends. As with the actual hunt, it is not the kill, but the hunt that makes the memories...ala Harley riders...it's not the destination, but the journey. But, all that BS said, to save you the time'n'effort of learning curve'n'mistakes'n'being misled....the only truly correct answer to your question is.....to continue, please, insert another quarter...... You get what you pay for...if you've done your own due diligence. Enjoy the ride.

 

[Crockett12]

Leading the pack for me is the Mark 4HD 4.5-18x. I'm also looking at the Zeiss V4 in a 4-16x, but that one isn't FFP. I'd like to put my hands on a Steiner H6Xi but no stores around me have one that I can look through. I was really set on the NX8 4-32 and then I looked through one a couple weeks ago and it didn't blow my hair back like I thought it would.

For me drop tests separate the bad from the good! That leaves Nightforce and Trijicon. I'd go Nightforce but I don't have that kind of money so I'm transitioning most of my scopes to all Trijicon!

 

[171farm]

For me drop tests separate the bad from the good! That leaves Nightforce and Trijicon. I'd go Nightforce but I don't have that kind of money so I'm transitioning most of my scopes to all Trijicon!

Problem is there aren't any scopes in the "light" category that are going to survive the drop test. If someone could master durability with light weight they would be sitting on a mint. Nightforce almost did that with the Nx8 at 28.6 oz (not great but way better than mid to upper 30 oz scopes) if it wasn't for the well known tight eye box.

Though I get the value of a drop test, I wouldn't chance what one form says about a scope after dropping it. There are far too many variables (rings, bases, action screws and so forth that can and will shift if the shock is great enough) to just blindly follow a drop test. Heck even with a Nightforce that's bullet proof, if I take a large enough fall with my gun I'm confirming 0 before I take my next shot at an animal regardless of brand. L Dont get me wrong, a drop test can at least tell you how the scope should stand up, but not every drop/fall is created equal nor are all other items on my rifle that could shake loose were tested in the drop tests so only one variable can reasonably be checked off.

 

[jwp3]

I'm going through the same process and I think I may have finally narrowed it down somewhat. I'll be putting it on a yet-to-be-built lightweight 25 Creedmoor and I'm trying to stay around 30 ounces and under and hunting scenario shots out to 700 yards. I'm wanting it to have an illuminated MOA reticle and prefer to stay with a FFP.
Leading the pack for me is the Mark 4HD 4.5-18x. I'm also looking at the Zeiss V4 in a 4-16x, but that one isn't FFP. I'd like to put my hands on a Steiner H6Xi but no stores around me have one that I can look through. I was really set on the NX8 4-32 and then I looked through one a couple weeks ago and it didn't blow my hair back like I thought it would. The glass was definitely clear and maybe my expectations were a little too high, but looking though it felt a lot more restrictive than what I thought it should be. I was worried about the mounting adjustment range on the 2.5-20x, so that's why I was going with the 4-32. I definitely don't need the 32x magnification.
I've never had the loss of zero with any of the five Leupold scopes I have, except once when my rifle took a nasty spill onto some boulders and, to be honest, I don't know that I'd trust any scope after a fall like that without first confirming no loss of zero. So, regardless, my hunt for the day would've been over. I'm surprised it didn't bust the scope completely.

I like the leupold vh6HD 4-24X52 (34mm). Only weighs about 22 oz. Much better than my nightforce.

 

[Shankedit]

I like the leupold vh6HD 4-24X52 (34mm). Only weighs about 22 oz. Much better than my nightforce.

I love the VX6 and have two of them. I just wish they had different reticle options. I have two of the older models (2-4 years old) and they both have the MOA reticles. I bought them both on special from Midway and I should've bought more even though I didn't need the extra at the time.