Magnification, NOT long range

[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.

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

  good stuff.  Still kinda reads that way to me but glad I'm wrong.

[Jpmiller]

Midway had a deal on the vx-3i 3.5-10 but they also had a deal on the 4.5-14 CDS model lol so I think I'm going to grab the 4.5-14 and just end up with more scope than I need lol thanks all for.the advice and input, it's all much appreciated.

[Karl Blanchard]

Midway had a deal on the vx-3i 3.5-10 but they also had a deal on the 4.5-14 CDS model lol so I think I'm going to grab the 4.5-14 and just end up with more scope than I need lol thanks all for.the advice and input, it's all much appreciated.

great choice! I think you'll be happy with that optic.

[Windwalker]

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.

 
Here is a pretty good article - Precision Scope Mounting for the Working Rifle.
https://www.longrangehunting.com/articles/precision-scope-mounting-for-the-working-rifle.1227/

[7mmfan]

You'll be happy with it. I upgraded from. Vx2 3-9x40 to the vx3i 4.5-14x40 two years ago. The extra magnification has been a huge benefit for me in shooting in the 300-400 yard range. I killed my elk at 360 this year and felt good with my setup. Whole waiting for my shot I realized I was only on 8 power. Dialed it to 14 and felt like I could pick the hair I was aiming at.

[cutter]

As the great Bill Jorden wrote years ago "a variable scope is only as useful as its lowest setting" take into account the closest, fastest opportunity to make meat in the nastiest weather that you're likely to encounter and make your choice.

[HillHound]

Does anybody have any experience with the Leupold VX freedom 4 to 12? Does it hold zero and have the glass quality that leupold is known for?  I know it is definitely in the budget class compared to their other leupold scopes but I am looking for something that will be effective but won’t break the bank if my son ends up falling on it. He’s moving up from his 243 to a 6.5 creedmore this year.  He won’t be taking any shots further than 300 yards. If he needs to shoot further than that he can just suck it up and slide in behind my 7mm mag.

[Bango skank]

Does anybody have any experience with the Leupold VX freedom 4 to 12? Does it hold zero and have the glass quality that leupold is known for?  I know it is definitely in the budget class compared to their other leupold scopes but I am looking for something that will be effective but won’t break the bank if my son ends up falling on it. He’s moving up from his 243 to a 6.5 creedmore this year.  He won’t be taking any shots further than 300 yards. If he needs to shoot further than that he can just suck it up and slide in behind my 7mm mag.

I just got a vx freedom 3-9x33 a few days ago, the real lightweight one, mounted it on my .22wmr.  About to go play with it today.  I have a couple of the now discontinued vx2 lightweight scopes on a .243 and a .308.  This vx freedom seemed to be the closest thing currently available to those older models, which im very fond of.  I like them better than much more expensive scopes i have or had.  Damn good scopes for the money, if a guy just wants something simple, light weight, low magnification.  The vx2s on my 2 lightweight guns have been great.  Figure the freedom on my .22wmr will be good for its purpose.  Close range bobcat / yote gun in the winter, whistle pig destroyer in the summer.

[Buckjunkie]

The VX5HD 3-15 is a great scope with really good optics, I don't think you could go wrong with one of those.

I love mine. I see you are from Wilkeson. If you hunt around home the 3x will be nice in the timber and the 15 power is plenty to shoot way beyond your needs. Light scope, crystal clear optics and a zero lock on the dial. I went with the 3-15x44 with the Wind Plex reticle. The best prices I’ve found lately have been through Muley Crazy in Kanab Utah.

[Jonathan_S]

As the great Bill Jorden wrote years ago "a variable scope is only as useful as its lowest setting" take into account the closest, fastest opportunity to make meat in the nastiest weather that you're likely to encounter and make your choice.

 A 2 to 7 power scope or 3 to 9 with a small objective doesn't have any strategic advantage over a 4-12 with a larger objective 

[jdb]

Does anybody have any experience with the Leupold VX freedom 4 to 12? Does it hold zero and have the glass quality that leupold is known for?  I know it is definitely in the budget class compared to their other leupold scopes but I am looking for something that will be effective but won’t break the bank if my son ends up falling on it. He’s moving up from his 243 to a 6.5 creedmore this year.  He won’t be taking any shots further than 300 yards. If he needs to shoot further than that he can just suck it up and slide in behind my 7mm mag.

I just got a vx freedom 3-9x33 a few days ago, the real lightweight one, mounted it on my .22wmr.  About to go play with it today.  I have a couple of the now discontinued vx2 lightweight scopes on a .243 and a .308.  This vx freedom seemed to be the closest thing currently available to those older models, which im very fond of.  I like them better than much more expensive scopes i have or had.  Damn good scopes for the money, if a guy just wants something simple, light weight, low magnification.  The vx2s on my 2 lightweight guns have been great.  Figure the freedom on my .22wmr will be good for its purpose.  Close range bobcat / yote gun in the winter, whistle pig destroyer in the summer.

what light is that?

[Bango skank]

Its a green coyote light.

[Bango skank]

As the great Bill Jorden wrote years ago "a variable scope is only as useful as its lowest setting" take into account the closest, fastest opportunity to make meat in the nastiest weather that you're likely to encounter and make your choice.

 A 2 to 7 power scope or 3 to 9 with a small objective doesn't have any strategic advantage over a 4-12 with a larger objective 

I disageee.  Going down to 2x can be better than 4x.  Depends on the situation you put yourself in. 

[fly-by]

Had a similar need and just ordered this yesterday.  I like the 2.5 low end and the ability to crank to 10x and use mil dots on the rare occasions when necessary.  Also just over $200 bucks with code
 https://www.natchezss.com/nikon-monarch-3-rifle-scope-2-5-10x42mm-sfp-mil-dot-40-3-10-1-4-matte.html

[Jpmiller]

Got the scope in the mail today and put it on the rifle. I've got a buddy who has mounted a few who is going to double check my work, he's an engineer so he is an expert on everything 

Excited to shoot it, thanks for all the input gents!