Scope for elk rifles

[slm9s]

This is just to start a discussion of people's favorite scope for big game hunting here in WA.

"the best" scope for elk hunting (or big game in general) depends on where you hunt, how you hunt, are you comfortable with a max shot of 200yds - 400yds - 600yds -etc, can you spend $200 or $2000, among other things.

I hunt the west side for elk and maybe one or two days for deer.  I went from Leupold and Elite 4200 3-9s long ago to a Swarovski z6i 2-12 about 15 years ago.  Then I thought I found the perfect scope, the Leupold vx6 2-12 with long range duplex - dots on the vertical to shoot to 600yds and a lit red dot for dark timber hunting.  I used them for several years and was very happy with them.  Then I started to read of many of them losing zero on hunts and started looking at scopes again.  I am a rifle looney and have several rifles available for elk season so I can't spend $1000+ on a scope for each of them. 

I settled on the Vortex Razor LHT 3-15x42.  Nice weight, perfect mag range, excellent glass, very well done illumination, tracks perfectly (all 5 of them so far), and an excellent warranty if ever needed.  I have the MRAD version and love the reticle.  Completely open top half, floating dot for precise aiming, pop-up elevation turret and capped windage, and the illumination is just the floating dot - I don't like when the whole reticle lights up on a hunting rifle.  If I need illumination, I'm not going to be shooting an elk far enough away to need holdovers.  Its also 2nd focal, which I prefer on an elk rifle. 

When I made the switch from vx6 to Razor LHTs, liberty optics had the LHT for $750 shipped and I sold the VX6s on ebay for about $1000 each - getting paid $250 per rifle to upgrade sounded good to me.

Anyway, just thought I'd share my thoughts to start discussion on what scopes people use/like and why.  The other main contender was the Bushnell Elite LRHS 3-12 or 4.5-18 but I didn't like how busy the reticle was right around the center of the crosshairs and I thought the Razor was a little more compact, had better optics, and I liked the pop-up turret in that in the brush it would be harder to be moved accidently. 

[Magnum_Willys]

The Swarovski is uber light with very good glass and Affordable.  You can bend the tube by hand and turrets will eventually fail in 1000 or less twists.   The ZCO is even better glass, you can pound nails wth it, turrets are nasa strength, costs twice as much and weighs twice as much.

Pick one for your needs or any of the others between depending on priorities of weight, cost, clarity, dependability.

[Caveman123]

I have the zeiss conquest v4 4-16 44 mm with the turret. Love it, got it used for 700

[Fidelk]

Burris 3-9x40 on one rifle......Burris Veracity 2-10x42 on another. A world of difference in brightness and clarity going up to 42mm and good enough to place a very accurate shot out to 300 yards. Beyond that range, I'd want more magnification. 

[MountainWalk]

Gold Ring Leupy, fixed four. On my o sixes, my 338 and my 375

[Angry Perch]

Gold Ring Leupy, fixed four. On my o sixes, my 338 and my 375

Classy. That's what I have on my Model 70. Does just what I need, and looks good doing it!

[Fidelk]

Gold Ring Leupy, fixed four. On my o sixes, my 338 and my 375

Classy. That's what I have on my Model 70. Does just what I need, and looks good doing it!

Se habla Jack O'Connor.

[MountainWalk]

Gold Ring Leupy, fixed four. On my o sixes, my 338 and my 375

Classy. That's what I have on my Model 70. Does just what I need, and looks good doing it!

I’m nothing, if not classy! Wanna kick that spittoon closer my direction? Lol

[Angry Perch]

Gold Ring Leupy, fixed four. On my o sixes, my 338 and my 375

Classy. That's what I have on my Model 70. Does just what I need, and looks good doing it!

I’m nothing, if not classy! Wanna kick that spittoon closer my direction? Lol

I know to like old Winchesters. That's classy enough for me.

[Alchase]

All my hunting rifles have Leupold 3x9x40 , Fire dots on them.
 

[BigGoonTuna]

I'm not much of an elk hunter per se, but I do have a couple "elk caliber rifles": 30-06, .358 Win, 9.3x62, .375 Ruger; they wear 2-10x42, 1-4x20, 1.5-5x20, and 3-9x40 scopes respectively.  At least until I get bored and change them around 

The more I hunt, the more I like those low power scopes.  Too bad they are so hard to find locally.  My two favorites are the Tract Toric 2-10x42 and Leupold VX-3I 1.5-5x20, both of them have German #4 type reticles (Tract calls it a "T-plex").

[C-Money]

We run Leupold 3x9x40 VXII, wife has a Leupold 4x12x40, all regular cross hair. Also have a couple Burris 3x9x40 ballistic plex in the family. The .243 I have been deer hunting with has a Burris on it. The Burris has been a great scope with some dandy bucks to its credit. I'm a pretty traditional guy, but have grown to not mind using the ballistic plex.

[Damnimissed]

I’m using a Zeiss HD5 3-15x50 with locking turrets on my 300RUM. It’s killed elk from 60yds to 462yds and banged steel to 1050yds. Very versatile scope. It’s the predecessor to the V4 line.

[Damnimissed]

I’m using a Zeiss HD5 3-15x50 with locking turrets on my 300RUM. It’s killed elk from 60yds to 462yds and banged steel to 1050yds. Very versatile scope, it’s always tracked true and been problem free. I wish I would’ve bought one or two more when they were on clearance! It’s the predecessor to the V4 line.

[rsarkks]

With the westside brush I hunt, my 2-12x VX-6 has been a valuable asset. I had a higher power scope years ago that got in my way when a big blacktail buck and I faced off for a brief moment about 12-15 yards apart. Since switching to the 2-12x I have shot a few bucks under 25 yards, and that 2x magnification has been the ticket to be able to see them when up close in their bedroom. At the same time the higher power option came in handy once when I shot an elk at 300 yards in a rare open shot opportunity. I wouldn't hessitate to put another VX-6 2-12, or even a VX-5 2-10 on an elk/deer rifle when I know I will be in the timber/brush at least part of the time.

[hoytxl2009]

Nightforce NXS 5.5-22 for a couple of my rigs.

[trophyhunt]

Wouldn't touch a vortex, top brands are obvious, but I am very happy with my Huskemaw!  dial and shoot!

[b23]

Nightforce NXS 5.5-22 for a couple of my rigs.

That's a scope you can just never go wrong with.  Never had a NF NXS 3-15 or 5.5-22 I didn't like.  Have other NF scopes and they're great too but the NF's NXS line of scopes are a workhorse optic that'll never let you down.

[hoytxl2009]

Nightforce NXS 5.5-22 for a couple of my rigs.

That's a scope you can just never go wrong with.  Never had a NF NXS 3-15 or 5.5-22 I didn't like.  Have other NF scopes and they're great too but the NF's NXS line of scopes are a workhorse optic that'll never let you down.

100% agree. I've never had a issue with zero or tracking in any one I've used. 

[Magnum_Willys]

Yep NF NX8 is only 28 oz and a work horse 4-32 power.  Prefer it over heavier Leupold MKV.

[thinkingman]

Nightforce NXS 5.5-22 for a couple of my rigs.

Minimum power 5.5 would be way too tight for my liking.
I would want a 2 or 3X bottom end for the type of hunting the OP is talking about.
3-15 seems like the sweet spot.

[b23]

Nightforce NXS 5.5-22 for a couple of my rigs.

Minimum power 5.5 would be way too tight for my liking.
I would want a 2 or 3X bottom end for the type of hunting the OP is talking about.
3-15 seems like the sweet spot.

Maybe take a look at the NF NX8 2.5-20x50.  I have one on a my 6.5PRC and though the eyebox isn't quite as forgiving as it is on my NXS 3.5-15's it's certainly not a deal breaker and to my eyes, optical quality, of my NX8 is slightly better then my NXS scopes but day in day out all conditions, for the money, I still think the NXS line of NF scopes is hard to beat.

[Sakko300wsm]

NightForce NXS 5.5-22x50 with MOAR reticle is my go to -  hard to beat in my opinion

[pianoman9701]

I haven't rifle hunted for about 30 years. Headed to CO to hunt with my brother for late season elk. Took the Rem 700 .30-06 out and the ancient Redfield scope is kaput. Instead, I'll be using a model 74 .30-30 this year. This discussion is giving me some good ideas for the future outfitting my 700. Carry on.

[MeepDog]

I'm more budget minded than you folks. I run an Athlon Talos 4-16x40mm with side parallax and illuminated BDC reticle on my .308. I think it was as round $200 but has served me well and rung moa steel at 400 countless times in a row using the drop reticle. It just took some math to figure out it works on 14 power for the 150 gr 308 instead of full 16 power.

I've also had good consistent experience with my Burris fullfield 4.5-14x42mm with an moa reticle and side parallax. The reticle is crisp and works better than a BDC for faster cartridges like the 270wsm it's mounted on. Both of these scopes have consistently held zero and tracked true during rezeroing with new ammunition.

I cannot recommend BSA scopes from experience with failure of turret adjustment, or CV life scopes due to being absolute garbage.