Scope selections
You guys seem to be pretty good so lets see how you all do with this.
I am the proud owner of a SAKO 75 SS in a 300 ultra. I have now started hunting for scopes. First is simple Silver or Matte finish?
I am thinking something like a Leuapold VX3 4.5 x 14LR boone and crocket. Would love to hear what the experts think.
I am the proud owner of a SAKO 75 SS in a 300 ultra. I have now started hunting for scopes. First is simple Silver or Matte finish?
I am thinking something like a Leuapold VX3 4.5 x 14LR boone and crocket. Would love to hear what the experts think.
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love the idea of that boone $ crockette reticle but have not had the chance to try one yet......but it hink your idea is pretty top notch
imay not know it all.....but at least I know that!0 -
Was thinking of a tacticale scope but dont think it would work well for big game hunting. 0 -
I buy nothing but leupold for any rifle that is going to see any possible hard use ( something thats never going to get off a bench for example a long range varmint rifle may not need it.) I have a great deal of experience with leupold's lower end (vx I and II ) but not the VXIII (im just a broke kid[:)]) The only thing I might question is the necessity for something with that kind of magnification....never really thought of using something that went beyond 9x ( but Im not good enough to really shoot at anything past about 350-400yds ) The quality of the glass is impeccable and if you have the money for that vx III I could think of nothing better than one with the new boone and crockett reticle
To all the liberals.....bite me!0 -
I have a vx3 with the boone and crockett reticle, it's very nice. I got the 3.5-10 with black matte, I put it on a 7mm08 and so far it's a perfect combination. I've only shot it at 100yds and haven't had a chance to go to a 200 or 300 yd range to see how close the point of impact is to the ranging lines but the 7-08's ballistics should put it right in the ball park.
Common Sense is an Uncommon Virtue.0 -
Buy a Burris signature select with the balistic plex or balistic mill dot reticle. The Burris is cheaper and lets in more light at dusk. I sold my vari-x III's and have gone to Burris signatures on hunting guns. Put the extra money toward a good set of Talley rings and bases, and you will be all set.
why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
Got Balistics?0 -
I am with JustC on the Burris, though I have not given away my Leupolds. I like Talley rings and bases, but on a budget, Warnes work just as well. I too question the need for the high magnification for big game unless you are either a very fine shot or are shooting at irresponsible distances. 4x or 6x will do nicely, but a 3-9 x 40-44mm will have a larger resale market and hold value better. Also, for big game I would go with the matte finish. I have one silver scope on SS 10/22, but it is more visible in the field. 0 -
I'll be the odd man out here. I do only use Leupold scopes on everything I own and always in Control mounts except on the scout rifle. The one on all my hunting rifles...except the scout rifle and varmit guns is their 1.5 to 5 power. I have most every hunting caliber ...I don't own a newer super mag....sighted in at 3 inches high at 100. this allows them to stay in a 8 inch circle to between 275 and 300 yds. Tha's a very long range game shot unless you carry a range finder. That to me takes the hunt out of hunting but to each their own. I figure if I can't see the animal well enough to make an ethical shot at 5 power it's to far to shoot. For me it's also "seems" to be easier to shoot off hand at lower powers and I do 90% of my shooting off hand after the right load has been found. 0 -
2BGood,
First, this is going to the field so having shiny things isn't the best idea. That is the outside.
Second, go with the power of the area that you are going to shoot in. Meaning if you shoot in wooded areas anything over 6x can be a major hindrance. So if you want to or do hunt where it is thick make sure you look at the bottom power of your variable scope. 2-4 is what you should have...don't get a 6-18. Along that line you should have enough power to shoot out to what your personal limit/ability is. Meaning you would normally shoot an elk with what you have out to around 400 yds., provided you had a good shot to take. That is around the maximum distance also that you can "zero point of aim"** with that cartridge. A .300 RUM has killing power out to 1000 yds. with a 180 gr. BUT(!) it doesn't have ballistics to shoot that far without making a serious drop compensation. So I hope you don't attempt to shoot that far without a lot of practice with that rifle and know it's ballistics at the maximum range you feel comfortable with and every range in between. Therefore, I would recommend a maximum of 12-16X (preferably the lower) if you are going to hunt the wide open spaces out west. Remember though that if you go too high you won't have a lower power to hunt in wooded areas where field of view is every bit as important as high magnification.
Leupold is good. I have heard Nightforce is quite the scope, but I have never looked through one. I really like my Burris's and have a couple of Sightrons that are good, but not great.
**Zero point of aim is the zero of the rifle out to a given distance that the rise of or the fall of the bullet will never go outside the designated kill zone of the animal you are hunting. In deer it is usually 8-10 in. In Elk is is usually 12 inches. So if you centered your crosshair in the elk's kill zone the bullet impact point would never rise above six inches over the crosshairs or drop below the crosshairs more than 6 inches.
Another Edit:
While I really like the idea of bullet drop compensators, I have found them extremely hard to work close enough for a good long range shot. The best method I have found is to shoot in given conditions with given loads with the rifle you hunt with.
We have the second amendment so that all the rest are secure....UNK>0 -
Another ditto on the Burris Signature series.
AlleninAlaska
Delta Firearms & Supplies
http://www.galleryofguns.com
aglore@gci.net0 -
Burris and Leupold are truely excellent rifle scopes, I own several and wouldn't part with any of them. But if you are talking a magnum lenght action for that 300RUM then they may be a little short. For my 8mmRemMag, classic M70 action, I ended up with a 2x10x40 B&L 4000 because the tube length fit the action well while still having enough length so that the eye piece is back where it is supposed to be. They are enough longer then the Burris and Leupold's that they fit the longer actions better, in my opinion. They are also good tough scopes even if they are now called the Bushnell Elite 4200 series. 0 -
Wow,,,starting to think I should just go with open sights.
I was trying to find a good overall scope I could use in many areas and for many animals. Funny I hadnt really thought about the silver scope being to shinny,,very good point. I have several 3.5 x 10 x50 scopes and have been very happy with them. I like the idea of Tally rings and bases but might be hard to find for that gun with a dove tail receiver. I have been hunting Elk and deer in the same area for several years, and yes there is reason for that. Not sure I would ever take a long shot in the field but love to at the range, We have a 500 meter. Do most of my hunting in the rockies of Colorado, but was looking for something I could use in all conditions and areas.
Thanks for the help thus far,,,,I to am on a budjet but shopping is free.0 -
On my new SAKO Finnlight I put a Leupold Compact SS 3X9X33. It is a Vari X - II. Only 8 ounces and has all the stuff needed for big game hunting without defeating the purpose of a mountain rifle. On my other SAKO I have a 3.5X10X40 Vari-X III. I consider SAKO the best standard production rifle and only put the best standard producation scope on it.
Sako Fan0
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