Post by: Jpmiller on January 15, 2020, 06:41:10 AM
Post by: Jonathan_S on January 15, 2020, 06:53:56 AM
What are you upgrading from and what's your budget?
Post by: Karl Blanchard on January 15, 2020, 06:57:58 AM
A VX-3i in 3.5-10x50 would fit the bill quite nicely.
Devils advocate here though, just because you have a bit more magnification doesn't mean you have to use it. You can still shoot a 14x scope on 10x :chuckle:
Post by: b23 on January 15, 2020, 06:58:35 AM
Post by: jjhunter on January 15, 2020, 07:25:10 AM
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 packed one around this past hunting season and it is a great little scope with a lot of nice features.
Post by: Karl Blanchard on January 15, 2020, 07:56:48 AM
I've got one on the way. I think its gonna be a great optic for anything I'm gonna need it to do on a hunting gun.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 packed one around this past hunting season and it is a great little scope with a lot of nice features.
Post by: Jingles on January 15, 2020, 08:03:14 AM
Post by: Magnum_Willys on January 15, 2020, 08:22:50 AM
Post by: Jpmiller on January 15, 2020, 08:40:49 AM
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.
Post by: opdinkslayer on January 15, 2020, 09:32:51 AM
Post by: Stein on January 15, 2020, 09:58:44 AM
The VX5HD 3-15 is a great scope with really good optics, I don't think you could go wrong with one of those.
:yeah:
15 is plenty for 300 yards even with bad eyesight. I am left eye dominant, shoot rifles right handed and wear glasses and it's no problem at all.
Post by: birddogdad on January 15, 2020, 10:02:03 AM
Post by: kukusya on January 15, 2020, 10:06:06 AM
Post by: Jingles on January 15, 2020, 10:13:54 AM
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.....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.
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.
Post by: Taco280AI on January 15, 2020, 10:30:36 AM
Go down the rabbit hole if you want, there's always a more powerful scope you can get, always a more expensive one, and where you actually land, who knows. Or just buy something simple, yet trusted and reliable, for your sub 200 yard hunting shots.
Post by: 2MANY on January 15, 2020, 10:43:44 AM
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.....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.
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.
Fear the man with 1 gun!!!!!
Post by: b23 on January 15, 2020, 10:59:56 AM
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.
Post by: Jpmiller on January 15, 2020, 11:46:58 AM
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?
Post by: Jonathan_S on January 15, 2020, 11:49:27 AM
Post by: Karl Blanchard on January 15, 2020, 12:24:18 PM
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 :twocents: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 :chuckle:
Post by: buckfvr on January 15, 2020, 01:37:38 PM
12 power is already way more than necessary for 300-400 yards :twocents:
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.
Post by: jeffitz on January 15, 2020, 02:08:21 PM
Post by: Jonathan_S on January 15, 2020, 02:27:00 PM
12 power is already way more than necessary for 300-400 yards :twocents:
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.
Post by: Taco280AI on January 15, 2020, 02:49:56 PM
Post by: buckfvr on January 15, 2020, 03:54:29 PM
12 power is already way more than necessary for 300-400 yards :twocents:
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........
Post by: Jpmiller on January 15, 2020, 04:40:46 PM
How hard is a scope install? It seems pretty straightforward but never having done it I don't know what I don't know.
Post by: Stein on January 15, 2020, 04:50:59 PM
Post by: Karl Blanchard on January 15, 2020, 05:25:13 PM
Post by: Houndhunter on January 15, 2020, 07:14:24 PM
Post by: Bango skank on January 15, 2020, 07:25:03 PM
Post by: Jonathan_S on January 15, 2020, 07:46:24 PM
12 power is already way more than necessary for 300-400 yards :twocents:
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........
:tup: good stuff. Still kinda reads that way to me but glad I'm wrong.
Post by: Jpmiller on January 16, 2020, 06:24:52 AM
Post by: Karl Blanchard on January 16, 2020, 07:19:27 AM
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.
Post by: Windwalker on January 17, 2020, 09:59:37 PM
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.
:yeah:
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/
Post by: 7mmfan on January 17, 2020, 11:04:43 PM
Post by: cutter on January 18, 2020, 04:51:55 AM
Post by: HillHound on January 18, 2020, 05:02:00 AM
Post by: Bango skank on January 18, 2020, 05:53:01 AM
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.
Post by: Buckjunkie on January 18, 2020, 06:39:07 AM
The VX5HD 3-15 is a great scope with really good optics, I don't think you could go wrong with one of those.:yeah:
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.
Post by: Jonathan_S on January 18, 2020, 04:42:55 PM
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 :twocents:
Post by: jdb on January 18, 2020, 05:00:57 PM
what light is that?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.
Post by: Bango skank on January 18, 2020, 05:37:26 PM
Post by: Bango skank on January 18, 2020, 05:38:30 PM
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 :twocents:
I disageee. Going down to 2x can be better than 4x. Depends on the situation you put yourself in.
Post by: fly-by on January 18, 2020, 07:09:07 PM
https://www.natchezss.com/nikon-monarch-3-rifle-scope-2-5-10x42mm-sfp-mil-dot-40-3-10-1-4-matte.html
Post by: Jpmiller on January 22, 2020, 08:15:44 PM
Excited to shoot it, thanks for all the input gents!
Post by: h20hunter on January 22, 2020, 08:16:46 PM
Post by: Angry Perch on January 23, 2020, 10:33:43 AM
When the season is over, you can just gaze at it lovingly.
Post by: Jpmiller on January 23, 2020, 10:43:36 AM
Post by: Bango skank on January 23, 2020, 12:14:12 PM
In my humble opinion, that is exactly what a hunting rifle should look like. Walnut and a gold ring will never go out of style.
When the season is over, you can just gaze at it lovingly.
Nonsense. This is 2020. Deer are evolved. If your rifle doesnt look like this and weigh 15 lbs, with a 30x scope, it cant kill a deer. It is impossible to get any closer than 700 yards to a buck.
Post by: buckfvr on January 23, 2020, 12:57:15 PM
In my humble opinion, that is exactly what a hunting rifle should look like. Walnut and a gold ring will never go out of style.
When the season is over, you can just gaze at it lovingly.
Nonsense. This is 2020. Deer are evolved. If your rifle doesnt look like this and weigh 15 lbs, with a 30x scope, it cant kill a deer.
32x
Post by: Jpmiller on January 23, 2020, 01:09:56 PM
Post by: buckfvr on January 23, 2020, 02:33:22 PM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on January 24, 2020, 09:42:11 AM
I do practice hand eye coordination and target acquisition though so the limited field of view isn’t a hinderance.