Hunting Scope Recommendations

[Unit74]

https://www.leupold.com/learn/core-communities/vip-programs-info

FWIW... I just logged in and checked my mil prices. Optics Planet and Sportsmans were the same price on the VX-Freedom and VX3 line up. I didn't go up from there.

[Garbcollector]

Vortex, nightforce, Leupold

[theduracellbigd]

For hunting all types of big game at all ranges up up 200 -300 yards. Fixed 4x is your best optic(good for in close and walking targets as well as adequate for long range) A variable 2x7 or 3x9 is the next best choice since you can put it on 4x or 5x and go hunt(9x good for spotting and longer pokes) a fixed 6x would be the next best choice. A fixed 10x will work but would be my last choice because decreased field of view will be a disadvantage on close/walking game. Yes your M1 would be the best choice of your two rifles due to size and weight, and a fixed 4x or variable with ability to go down to 3 would leave the rifle also still a realistic defense weapon with the lower magnification for close range shooting. The small objective and low weight fixed 4power would also keep the rifle as svelte as possible for beneficial handling.

[Sdonabo]

+1 on Vortex cant beat the lifetime warranty.

[Househusband69]

For hunting all types of big game at all ranges up up 200 -300 yards. Fixed 4x is your best optic(good for in close and walking targets as well as adequate for long range) A variable 2x7 or 3x9 is the next best choice since you can put it on 4x or 5x and go hunt(9x good for spotting and longer pokes) a fixed 6x would be the next best choice. A fixed 10x will work but would be my last choice because decreased field of view will be a disadvantage on close/walking game. Yes your M1 would be the best choice of your two rifles due to size and weight, and a fixed 4x or variable with ability to go down to 3 would leave the rifle also still a realistic defense weapon with the lower magnification for close range shooting. The small objective and low weight fixed 4power would also keep the rifle as svelte as possible for beneficial handling.

Thank you so much for all the detail! This is great!!

[Househusband69]

+1 on Vortex cant beat the lifetime warranty.

[waveslayer]

For a hunting scope get a good used SHV model by NF off the Hide a good reputable hunting Forum. Plenty around 1,000. Don't skimp on glass! Number 1 rule.

Spend a lot on glass it will last you a long time! No point in a good rifle if the scope can't track or hold a zero

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

[Househusband69]

For a hunting scope get a good used SHV model by NF off the Hide a good reputable hunting Forum. Plenty around 1,000. Don't skimp on glass! Number 1 rule.

Spend a lot on glass it will last you a long time! No point in a good rifle if the scope can't track or hold a zero

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

Never thought of off a forum! And will definitely take good glass into account. Thank you so much for the wonderful advice!

[socal m1 shooter]

Apologies if this should go into the Hunting forum, please let me know if it should and I will move. I am going hog hunting in November for the first time ever and was wondering if there were any rifle scopes you could recommend that is durable and won't break the bank. Or would I even need a scope for this? Looking for something $500 or less but willing to go up to $1000 if it is really worth the extra money and it can be used for other purposes (other game, distance shooting). The extent of my scope knowledge is the Leupold Mark 4 from the military as well as the Remington 700 my friend sold me which has one of these on there; he said everything is dialed and not to touch it LOL.

I know this is not ideal, but I was thinking of just using my M1A Loaded 22" for this upcoming trip; I have a Sadlak mount for it I would ideally like to use to mount this scope (please let me know if I need a different one for this function). I'd love to buy a new rifle (who doesn't) just for this but I just wanted to try hunting before I drop money on another setup. My 700 is 26" and already has a B&C stock that makes it quite heavy to lug around.

My main purpose at this time is to try it out and just have some fun with the boys. Any recommendations or advice is greatly appreciated since there are so many options out there. Thank you all!

Even here in CA, where you're legally limited to shooting from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, something that gathers light is the way to go. If you can't see through your scope in low-light conditions, it greatly limits the utility of your rig. The human eye can open the pupil to about 8 millimeters, so a scope with a smaller exit pupil means your seeing is worse through the scope than with the unaided eye. In other words, if the exit pupil on your scope is bigger than the pupil in your eye, the scope can transmit more light than your eye is taking in. That's what you want, you want to see better when using your scope than the unaided eye.

I recently got a Leupold VX Freedom 3x9 with a FireDot (lit) reticle and a 50mm objective bell. It has a 30mm tube, and since the exit pupil is (objective diameter)/magnification, the size is at least 50/9 = 5.6mm. At lower magnification, say 6x, it would be 8.3mm.

I got this for my tang safety Ruger M77, but I did break my rule of thumb (don't spend more on the optic than the rifle), but I used a portal (ActiveJunky) so my cost was around $450. I'm in my mid-50's and my eyes are not what they used to be, so I'll take whatever help I can get.

[Househusband69]

Even here in CA, where you're legally limited to shooting from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, something that gathers light is the way to go. If you can't see through your scope in low-light conditions, it greatly limits the utility of your rig. The human eye can open the pupil to about 8 millimeters, so a scope with a smaller exit pupil means you're seeing is worse through the scope than with the unaided eye. In other words, if the exit pupil on your scope is bigger than the pupil in your eye, the scope can transmit more light than your eye is taking in. That's what you want, you want to see better when using your scope than the unaided eye.

I recently got a Leupold VX Freedom 3x9 with a FireDot (lit) reticle and a 50mm objective bell. It has a 30mm tube, and since the exit pupil is (objective diameter)/magnification, the size is at least 50/9 = 5.6mm. At lower magnification, say 6x, it would be 8.3mm.

I got this for my tang safety Ruger M77, but I did break my rule of thumb (don't spend more on the optic than the rifle), but I used a portal (ActiveJunky) so my cost was around $450. I'm in my mid-50's and my eyes are not what they used to be, so I'll take whatever help I can get.

[waveslayer]

Even here in CA, where you're legally limited to shooting from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, something that gathers light is the way to go. If you can't see through your scope in low-light conditions, it greatly limits the utility of your rig. The human eye can open the pupil to about 8 millimeters, so a scope with a smaller exit pupil means you're seeing is worse through the scope than with the unaided eye. In other words, if the exit pupil on your scope is bigger than the pupil in your eye, the scope can transmit more light than your eye is taking in. That's what you want, you want to see better when using your scope than the unaided eye.



I recently got a Leupold VX Freedom 3x9 with a FireDot (lit) reticle and a 50mm objective bell. It has a 30mm tube, and since the exit pupil is (objective diameter)/magnification, the size is at least 50/9 = 5.6mm. At lower magnification, say 6x, it would be 8.3mm.



I got this for my tang safety Ruger M77, but I did break my rule of thumb (don't spend more on the optic than the rifle), but I used a portal (ActiveJunky) so my cost was around $450. I'm in my mid-50's and my eyes are not what they used to be, so I'll take whatever help I can get.

Diameter of a scope doesn't necessarily mean better light transmission.

OP get a Swarovski or ZCO of you want the best low light scopes.

I switched from Swarovski and running ZCO .

Leupold... pass compared to those mentioned above

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

[3006]

My 80 dollar Tasco works fine on hogs .

[Househusband69]

Diameter of a scope doesn't necessarily mean better light transmission.

OP get a Swarovski or ZCO of you want the best low light scopes.

I switched from Swarovski and running ZCO .

Leupold... pass compared to those mentioned above

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

Oh wow, I'll take a look, thank you for the recommendation!

[Househusband69]

My 80 dollar Tasco works fine on hogs .

I like that price! I'll take a look, thank you so much!

[waveslayer]

Ha Ha a Tasco. Holy Shiz. Mods can we boot this guy! This poor Forum.

I wonder how well that Tasco tracks, holds zero. And withstand multiple shots! Plus for hunting, maybe airsoft!


Stay away from Tasco, Simmons, Burska, etc.

If you want really affordable SWFA but none else.

You never skimp on glass, buy once cry once. Get 1 really nice piece of glass and use it on all your rifles. Guys spend thousands on scopes to be mounted on all of their rifles. Why not spend less and use one scope on all their rifles?

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk