Magnification, NOT long range

[2MANY]

I'm replacing an old 4-12 Nikon that was about a hundred bucks twenty years ago. I was thinking the 3i 3.5-10 but I have a really hard time not constantly trying to go one step better, which leads to two steps better.....

They have it with and without the CDS, if I'm not shooting past 300 do I need the CDS? I feel like I want one cause the cool kids have it but I've never found myself feeling I needed anything like it. My shot distances in the field have never been more than 200 yards and I've always felt very confident to 300 without.

Gonna show my age and say if you know the old fashion Kentucky windage nope,  one reason still using 3 x 9 and without all the extra bells and whistles, no BDC, no special turrets, just good ole know your rifle and ammo, which takes a whole lot of shooting.

Fear the man with 1 gun!!!!!

[b23]

Another scope I'd recommend, though not a Leupold, is the Vortex Razor HD LH 3-15x42.  I have three of these on different rifles and they're a great scope for the money and their optical quality is very good.  They're a 1in tube scope but it doesn't sound like the OP needs the extra MOA of a 30mm tube.  They're a very light scope and the HSR-4 is a great hold over reticle.

Even though the OP doesn't think he'll be shooting real long distance, I always like a scope with some kind of parallax adjustment and the VX5 3-15 as well as the Vortex Razor HD LH 3-15 have that.

[Jpmiller]

I had an extremely abbreviated hunting season last year and was still around a vortex scope and spotter that both had issues. I feel like that's an anomaly but enough to keep me away from throwing money at them for a while.

I've never installed or done more than check to make sure screws are tight on a scope. Is the install something I could do fairly easy or should I hire it out?

[Jonathan_S]

An issue with a Vortex optic is not an anomaly. I use them plenty but I know "their place" and I'm phasing them out of the "needs to work or I'm screwed" category of equipment. Unlimited lifetime warranty doesn't help when I'm in the mountains 

[Karl Blanchard]

An issue with a Vortex optic is not an anomaly. I use them plenty but I know "their place" and I'm phasing them out of the "needs to work or I'm screwed" category of equipment. Unlimited lifetime warranty doesn't help when I'm in the mountains 

yep. Every piece I've owned (6) has failed. Never again. I was reminded of this last summer when I helped setup a kimber for a buddy. He topped it with razor LH. Thing had aluminum shavings floating around in it and ended up not holding zero.  We were joking at the range one day because we used one of the shavings as a wind hold for a few shots before it drifted to a different part of the sight picture 

[buckfvr]

12 power is already way more than necessary for 300-400 yards 

What are you upgrading from and what's your budget?

Way more ??  If you want to see details, more is better, if you shoot horns, mag doesnt matter......everyones eyes and vision requirements are different , so its totally personal.  Try before you buy if you can.

[jeffitz]

Bushnell Elite 4200 2.5-10.   Thousands of pounds of meat has gone into my freezers in the last 20 years using these scopes. I have newer/fancier scopes but if i had to choose only one this would be it.Super tough and bright optics-and waterproof/fog-proof,first one i ever bought was in 1999(Bausch and Lomb then) still works perfect and still goes hunting every year in the rain and snow and fog.

[Jonathan_S]

12 power is already way more than necessary for 300-400 yards 

What are you upgrading from and what's your budget?

Way more ??  If you want to see details, more is better, if you shoot horns, mag doesnt matter......everyones eyes and vision requirements are different , so its totally personal.  Try before you buy if you can.

Yes everybody has different eyes but nobody should be identifying their target with a rifle scope.

[Taco280AI]

I'm against the high power argument on this thread, as the OP really doesn't even need 10x, but in fairness I don't think the poster was talking about finding and identifying game with his scope. More so after a buck is spotted, zoom in to get a better look at his rack.

[buckfvr]

12 power is already way more than necessary for 300-400 yards 

What are you upgrading from and what's your budget?

Way more ??  If you want to see details, more is better, if you shoot horns, mag doesnt matter......everyones eyes and vision requirements are different , so its totally personal.  Try before you buy if you can.

Yes everybody has different eyes but nobody should be identifying their target with a rifle scope.

No one suggested that........

[Jpmiller]

Oh I'm definitely a glass with binos guy no worries there. I think the only time I've really ever had the magnification dialed up at all has been at the range. I'm pretty certain I don't need more magnification than a 10 so unless I come across a screaming deal I'll try to stick to a lower power version. I just gave Wyoming a bunch of money so a cheaper option will probably help me out with the wife even though she is way too accommodating when it comes to me spending money  life is rough.

How hard is a scope install? It seems pretty straightforward but never having done it I don't know what I don't know.

[Stein]

If you just bolt it on, it's 15 minutes.  If you lap it up, probably an hour.  Either way I would have, borrow or buy a torque screwdriver or small wrench that can go to the recommended torque for the rings you are using.  Blue loctite is also a great idea.

[Karl Blanchard]

Not hard at all Jp, but its definitely an important step and should be done correctly. Rings have come along ways and most quality rings will specifically tell you to NOT lap. I mount a few dozen scopes a year and have gone both ways and I just don't bother with it anymore. Level the gun, adjust scope to proper eye relief, level the optic, torque to manufacturers specs in the proper scew sequence per manufacturer and you are good to go.

[Houndhunter]

Leupold VX5 3.5-15x is a pretty nice scope that'll do everything for hunting, I just picked one up myself.

[Bango skank]

The little brass leveling kits can be found for reasonable prices on midwsy, brownells etc.  That and a torque driver and a gun vise should set you straight for mounting your scope.