what type of scope do you prefer?

[obsessed1]

just wondering if any one else has been changing their hunting scopes out for more tactical style scopes(mil dot reticle high turrets) it seems thats been my trend lately.

[catnthehat]

Not on my hunting rifles, nope, fixed low power and standard plex or German reticle is what I prefer .
Cat

[sheepguide]

Im the opposite of most. Compact and smaller. Both my full time hunting rifles carry Leupold Vari-X I 2-7x33 but do carry the mild dots.

[elkhunter11]

I don't use Mil Dots, and I don't twist turrets on hunting scopes. What I am seeing at the local range, is that many people are going with very high magnification, large,heavy scopes, they are watching way to much long distance shooting on television, and they aren't actually shooting enough to learn their equipment.

[tchardy1972]

It all depends on which rifle and the application. I have a wide variety from compact fixed powers to huge with moa turrets and reticals

[jr_80]

3.5-10 X 40 for me. Leave it on 6 while still hunting. Turn it up for shots with time and sighting in. Standard reticle to keep view open and to get on animal with ease. Know the gun and practice, practice, practice is my opinion on how to make a shot. Not junk in the way.

[jimbo1]

Fixed 6x or 4x Schmidt or zeiss (german) for my hunting rifles

[traderal]

I'm going back to fine-plex crosshairs. Somehow I think I know what holdover means at normal hunting ranges. Rather than counting mildots I should be concentrating on my game, and whether its safe and legal to shoot.

[Pathfinder76]

I like fixed power or light variables with smaller objective lenses.

[Silverado04]

I don't like target turrets or extremely high power for hunting scopes, but the target turrets and BDC/Mil-Dot sure are nice for target shooting.

[sikwhiskey]

I really like the vortex PST FFP with mil dot recital - mil turrets, it is on my coyote/gopher rig though. With a bit of practice you can engage multiple targets at different ranges using either your turrets or hold overs very quickly.
If by chance you see your shot and it is a miss, simply measure the miss with the mil dots, adjust hold over and fire, works at any range on any magnification without the need for calculations.
On my big game rifles, 3x9x40. Zeiss or Leupolds.

[Lefty-Canuck]

My hunting rifles mostly have 4-12 power 40mm objectives with duplex reticles.

LC

[Robmcleod82]

Big game rifle, fixed six with a heavy duplex reticle, its in at korth right now getting an m1 elevation turret put on. For my bush big game gun I run aperture sights

[Alberta Bigbore]

3.5-10, 4-12 for hunting....6.5-20 , 6-18 for yotes and vermin.

[32-40win]

7-08 has a 2-7x33 on it, 7mag & .338 have 3-9x40, 30R is 1-6x24,.300H&H is a 4.5-14x44, 450/400 is a 1-4x24, all but the 1-6x24 are crosshair, 1-6 is a German, one is a z600, one z800.. .218bee is a 3.5x10x50 mildot with an elevation turret, .223 is a 6.5-20x40 crosshair.

[bat119]

350 rem mag Bausch & Lomb 1-6 x 20
9.3x62 1.5x20 vari-x 3 Leupold
.270 Vari-x 2 3-9 Leupold
.22-250 Redfield 4-12
.10/22 2-7 Leupold rimfire
.17HMR Cabalas 3-9

[Donkey Slayer]

I use a duplex reticle and set the scope power so the space between the centre dot and where the thin line meets the thick line is my bullet drop at 500 yards.

[Jordan Smith]

For a no-nonsense, utility killing rifle, I like a fixed power with turrets and a good MOA or MIL marked reticle for hunting. Depending on the use of the rifle, a 4x, 6x, or 10x work for me.

For my LR-dedicated rifles that may be used for hunting in very open country that doesn't require too much hiking, I'm a fan of the slightly larger, more feature-laden scopes. My favourite for the money so far is the Viper PST.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

Not on my hunting rifles, nope, fixed low power and standard plex or German reticle is what I prefer .
Cat

I guess that I should also add that I don't often use them use them for big game where I hunt up here, but when I do it's a low powered scope.

My varmint rifles however for long range stuff , certainly carry scopes that are equipped with reticles for longer distances, and I still have a few rifles that I could shoot long range big game with that have 9-36X or 8-32X scopes, but these guns are also heavy and not something you would do any amount of walking with.

Cat

[obsessed1]

since all my rifles are not only working hunting guns but also my target rifles my trend has been to mil dot reticles and power in the 3-14 range with tactical style turrets. i practice with all rifles out to 800yds,but my big game hunting is kept closer to the 400yd distance. yotes are another story longest shot was just over 700yds. i spend hours and hours practising and have found this type of scope allows me more 1st shot hits at all distances then my old fixed 4-6 powered scopes do. the added weight is worth it in my books

[CNP]

BDC type scopes on all hunting rifles (3-9 Rapid Z600/3.5-10 Boone & Crocket). Varmint .223 has a 6-24X 40 target turrets with mildot. Plinkers 22LR/.17HMR have BDC too.

[nicemarmot]

I use old steel-tubed Weavers and I see just fine through them. I prefer low power scopes - 2.5x, 3x, 4x. I like dot, post, plain crosshairs coarse or fine depending on the rifle,and "Duplex" reticles. I find the post reticle allows me to aim very precisely when shooting for group at 100 yards. I just picked up a 3x wideview with coarse crosshairs for my 338 Winchester Mag carbine...all steel...tough as nails...adds a little weight to the rifle as well.

[Canuck Bob]

I'm a dedicated peep sight shooter but time has marched on and now I'm considering a scope.

I've only owned a few over the years but my favorite is the Leupold Ultralight 2.5X20 mounted on a big game rifle. The current version has almost 5" of eye relief and 1/4 moa adjustment with a duplex crosshair. My second choice would be one of the variables like 1 or 1.5 to 5 or 6.

The Ultralight operates like an optical peep and I found it made my 444 a true 250 yard rifle. I could never get used to the sight picture of 4X or better up real close. My longest actual hunting shot was 175 yards down a cutline for a big bull moose many years ago.

Air rifles are interesting me so I suspect the VX2 3-9X33 with close parallax adjustment (10m) might be bought soon.

I realize not everyone likes Leupold but with the warranty depot a few miles away and a history outstanding service it is a no brainer for me.

[mcreg]

All my scopes are either Ziess or Nightforce. I prefer the German reticle (ziess#4, iluminated - if possible), and my turrets are all Custom Bullet Drop Compensated built by Kenton Industries. Exceptions are my Dangerous Game calibres.
Have found this combination to be both easy and deadly.
I also agree with the other posts -that a lot of shooters/hunters buy way too much magnification!
Good hunting

[Big Racks]

I'm all dependent on the rifle. If I'm trying to keep weight down to a minimum hen I'll go lightweight on the scope as well at the sacrifice of magnification. Swarovski Z3 3-9x36 is a good compromise. If I'm not overly concerned about weight then I'll usually run a 4-12 or 4.5-14. Scope needs to fit the rifle for me though. For example, I just scoped a stainless guide gun .45-70. Hard to find a scope that goods good on a lever gun to me but think I found a decent compromise again of size vs. magnification on a VX-3 1.5-5x20.

[philthygeezer]

I like Leupold 4x33mm, 6x36mm on centerfire hunting rifles. Would like to try the 6x42mm... I also like the 2.5x20mm for it's light weight, long eye relief and tiny size.

Variable-wise I like the 1.5-5x20mm. Would like to try the 1.75-6x32mm and the 2.5-8x36mm as I've heard good things. I'm Leupold-centric on the variables but might consider a Vortex or Sightron. I don't like large objectives for field guns and don't like huge magnification ranges. Binoculars are for glassing. Scopes are for aiming.

I lean towards fixed scopes. Once you get into photography you understand the advantages of fixed focal length tubes.

Target rifles get all manner of AO scopes but I'm trending to something containing 16-24x with focus down to 10 m, lots of click adjustment range, and mil dots in that order. Target scopes ought to be flexible.

Magnification means a lot less than we think. Shooting the same groups at 50 m with the 2.5x20mm and a 16x40mm scope proved that to me.

[sheepguide39]

Originally Posted by obsessed1

just wondering if any one else has been changing their hunting scopes out for more tactical style scopes(mil dot reticle high turrets) it seems thats been my trend lately.

im using an elite 6x24x40...I like lots of power to see what im shooting at..i think the more power the better,,