Which of these scopes for deer rifle?

F

FirstFreedom

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This will be put on a turnbolt in either .270 or more likely 6.5x55 swede. Here's several I'm currently considering (budget doesn't allow real high-end stuff):


1. Sightron SII 3-12x42mm, $289 http://theopticzone.com/detail.aspx?ID=3693

2. Bushnell Elite 4200 2.5-10x40mm, $335 http://theopticzone.com/detail.aspx?ID=3276

3. Weaver Grand Slam, 3-10x40, $269 http://theopticzone.com/detail.aspx?ID=2498

4. Leupold VX-2 3-9x40mm, $300 http://theopticzone.com/detail.aspx?ID=2975

5. Nikon Monarch UCC 3.3-10x44mm, $345 http://theopticzone.com/detail.aspx?ID=2349

6. Simmons Aetec Master Series 2.8-10x44mm $190 http://www.riflescopes.com/products/512101/new_simmons_2.8-10x44_aetec_master_rifle_scope.htm

7. Burris Signature Select 3-10x40mm, $369 http://theopticzone.com/detail.aspx?ID=1996

8. Burris Fullfield II 3-9x40mm, $190 http://theopticzone.com/detail.aspx?ID=1964

9. Bushnell Elite 3200 4-12x40mm with AO $288 http://www.riflescopes.com/products/324124A/bushnell_4-12x40_elite_3200_rifle_scope.htm

These are roughly in the order of consideration, highest to lowest. Looking for the most scope for the money among these or others - best overall value, since they're all pretty good.

I'm leaning toward the Sightron SII, but the Elite 4200 is very clear and does have the nice anti-fog/anti-rain coating - is it worth the extra? Any other thoughts or alternate suggestions in the $190-$375 price range new (before tax/shipping)?
 
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What kind of area do you plan to do your hunting?

I think any of the scopes you list would be good for fairly open areas and medium to long range shots.

Most of my Deer hunting is in more wooded areas, so I really prefer 1x-5x or 2x-7x scopes.

In the magnification range you list, you might want to check out the Mueller Extreme 3-10x44 for $149.95 http://theopticzone.com/detail.aspx?ID=2313
 
Thanks. I also like 2-7s a lot, but I think you get more VALUE from a 3-9ish, since that what the makers make the most of. I've got that Mueller Extreme 3.5-10x44 on my handi-rifle in .243, but it does not have much eye relief at all - I want more eye relief for my 'ultimate' deer rifle setup, both for quick-acquisition and no-scope-eye reasons. I'm usually hunting in wooded areas, but occasionally in or on the edge of fields too. I have a .45-70 with a 1.5-4x on it for thick woods hunting. But this is my 'all-purpose' deer & antelope rifle, so I want something that can handle the occasional 250-300 yd shot. So, bottom line, this one has to double-up as a longish-range gun, which is why I've included a 4-12 and a 3-12, and many 3-9s & 3-10s. I definitely want a lot of eye relief, click repeatability, and high clarity at low light - those are the 3 most important features. Behind that, durability and other features such as target knobs, anti-rain coating, ballistic reticles, etc.

Also, if anyone can happen to clue me in on a screamin deal on one of these on ebay or elsewhere (used), I'd certainly appreciate it.
 
You bring up a good point - maybe I do want the Leupold. Here are the eye reliefs for those on my list, when set at 3/3.5 power.

1. Sightron SII 3-12x42mm ER 4.2"
2. Bushnell Elite 4200 2.5-10x40mm, ER 3.3" at mag. unknown - (assume @ 2.5x)
3. Weaver Grand Slam, 3-10x40, ER 3.5"
4. Leupold VX-2 3-9x40mm, ER 4.7"
5. Nikon Monarch UCC 3.3-10x44mm, ER 3.6"
6. Simmons Aetec Master Series 2.8-10x44mm, ER 3.6"
7. Burris Signature Select 3-10x40mm,8. Burris Fullfield II 3-9x40mm, ER 3.5"
9. Bushnell Elite 3200 4-12x40mm with AO, ER 3.3"
10. Burris Fullfield 2 3-9x40mm, ER 3.8"

OK, so I think I'm going to narrow it down to those with over 4" of eye relief:
1. Sightron S2 3-12x42mm
2. Leupold VX2 3-9x40mm

Let's do a head to head comparison - which one wins in each category?:

a) coatings/clarity/resolution in low light ==> don't know...
b) click repeatability/zero-keeping ===> don't know...
c) overall durability, ===> don't know
d) click "true-ness" (i.e. a supposed '1/4 click' really means 1/4" change in POI at 100 yards) ===> don't know....
e) maximum adjustment range at the far ends for windage & elevation ===> don't know, but the Sightron is said to have 80 inches of adjustment - at what range and with what caliber they mean I don't know. OTOH, the Leupold is said to have max adjustment of 56 inches at 100 yards - based on what caliber/trajectory I don't know...
f) warranties ===> don't know... Is Sightron's warranty as incredible as we all know Leupold's is?
g) adjustments you can do without a coin or screwdriver ===> don't know; don't think either one has knobs, do they?
h) weight ===> Leupold wins by 1.9 oz (loopy is 12.0, sightron is 13.9)
i) eye relief ===> Leupold wins by 0.5" (4.7 vs. 4.2)
j) upper magnif ===> Sightron wins (12x vs. 9x)
k) price ===> about a wash, really, but Sightron wins ($290 vs. $300 for the loopy)
l) what else am I forgetting?

Anyone know the answers to any of these? Of course, I'll answer my own questions later if no one else does first. :)
 
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Leupold VXII 3-9x40

Lifetime warranty has got to be worth the extra $10.

Just bought one of these myself a couple of months ago for my .270, very pleased with it so far - does all you need for a deer rifle scope.
 
I've had a simmons Pro-50 on my 270 Winchester before and that gun is in the light category with it's pencil thin barrel, but never a problem with scope eye. Definitely a new scope is in order, I did buy one of the Burris Fullfield II in 3x9x40mm that came with the free cheezy spotting scope. I paid 229 for it but you can get some good deal for 199 now. I like it and it's clear as my old Fullfield scope, but with the ballistic plex to boot. I think they chinese parts assembled in the USA, but hey if it carries the lifetime warranty and stands up to hard use like my old Fullfield scope, then it deserves the Burris name. If you move up to the Signature models then it's a better quality all around especially the positive clicks on the signature. josh
 
Leupold but I'd go maybe fixed 6X

Thanks. I also like 2-7s a lot, but I think you get more VALUE from a 3-9ish, since that what the makers make the most of
Click to expand...

A Leupold MX8 fixed power in 16X power with target knobs at $10 would be a great value (I loved mine on a heavy barrel 22-250 improved) and verge on being more handicap than help for a deer rifle.

Considered as a rifle sight to shoot deer with I'd stop short of the
3x9. I might justify the extra power for load development and shooting on paper but never strictly as a hunting rifle sight.
 
Clark, I agree with you that for practical purposes a 2-7 is fine for deer. I personally go for 3-9, but most of the time I have it set to 6x and don't change it. About the only times I crank it up to 9x are for zeroing, when the extra magnification helps a touch, and on the very occasional steady long shot. One drawback of cranking up to 9x routinely for hunting use is that it significantly cuts down the field of view, and can make it more difficult to find the deer should a follow up shot be required, or if you are shooting more than one deer.

Apart from the marginal use for the extra power when zeroing, the other reason I go for 3-9 rather than 2-7 is simply because there are more 3-9 variables on the market and that popularity translates into value for money. For all practical purposes I doubt it makes any difference. Like I said, for 98% of the time my variables are set to 6x and never changed anyway!
 
because there are more 3-9 variables on the market and that popularity translates into value for money.
Click to expand...

Exactly, that's what I was trying to say. Plus, as you mention, cranking up to 9 helps with zeroing, esp. at 150 or 200. But when hunting, 90% of the time, I'll have it on 3x, the lowest setting. Still, I've noticed that when hunting with a 2-7 before, I'll sometimes feel that 3 or 4 power is better than 2 for my particular ambush setup, so I'm not giving up much in going from a 2 min to a 3 min, and gaining 2 on the top end for long shots and sighting in. Plus there's the value thing. Also, the 40mm (vs. 32 or 33mm) is going to allow a larger exit pupil, which can make a difference on 6 or 7 power, which both scopes can do (thus the larger objective is better). Now if someone made a 2-7x40 or 2-7x42, we might have something there...
 
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