Short/Medium Range Optics

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01-31-2016, 07:26 PM
Rick_W

Short/Medium Range Optics

I'm building my wish list for a new rifle for next hunting season.

Based on a Stevens 200 short-action, it will have a .308 chambered 18 1/2" Varmint contour barrel threaded for a brake/flash-hider (I've had each for several years and need to do something with them).

I want to drop it into a modular chassis (looking at the XLR Element) with a Rifle Basix SAV-1 trigger.

Most shots will be under 50 yds in the swamps/bayous/thickets of South Mississippi hunting hogs and whitetail deer.

I don't care for the RZ600 reticle, or any ballistic reticles for that matter on my hunting rifles, but the advertised price of the Zeiss makes me consider "overlooking" or looking through it. :rolleyes:

I want a nice, bright scope for low light conditions with a generous eye-box/eye-relief.

Accupoint 3-9x40 Standard Duplex Crosshair with green dot - 1" tube
Leupold VX-6 2-12x42mm CDS Matte Duplex Reticle - 30mm tube
Nightforce SHV 3-10x42m .25 MOA Non-illuminated IHR Reticle - 30mm tube
Swarovski Z3 3-10x42mm 4A Reticle - 1" tube
Zeiss Conquest HD5 2-10x42mm RZ600 Reticle - 1" tube
02-01-2016, 11:55 PM
mattri

Under 50 yards why not go iron sights?
02-02-2016, 12:36 AM
Robinhood

or a 1-4X
02-02-2016, 02:11 AM
pepper savage 111

I don't know if you'll see any functional benefit with a chassis system if you're rarely shooting past 50 yards. As for optics, with 10x at 50 yards you'll be able to see the hairs inside your target's ears. I agree with Robinhoods suggestion of a 1-4x.

I have a 16.5" 308 "brush" gun in a wide forend accustock and a Leupold VXR 1.25-4 riding on top. It's a perfectly balanced and maneuverable rifle and service it's intended purpose extremely well. It's also more than accurate out to 300 yards (off of a lead sled, 4x at 300 yards is a heck of challenge without assistance)
02-02-2016, 10:06 AM
yobuck

An as issued 94 Winchester 30/30 sounds like it would be perfect.
02-02-2016, 01:50 PM
Rick_W

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattri

Under 50 yards why not go iron sights?

My eyes need all the help they can get.
02-02-2016, 02:03 PM
Rick_W

Quote:

Originally Posted by pepper savage 111

I don't know if you'll see any functional benefit with a chassis system if you're rarely shooting past 50 yards. As for optics, with 10x at 50 yards you'll be able to see the hairs inside your target's ears. I agree with Robinhoods suggestion of a 1-4x.

I have a 16.5" 308 "brush" gun in a wide forend accustock and a Leupold VXR 1.25-4 riding on top. It's a perfectly balanced and maneuverable rifle and service it's intended purpose extremely well. It's also more than accurate out to 300 yards (off of a lead sled, 4x at 300 yards is a heck of challenge without assistance)

I don't have a stock for this action at all, and I've been wanting a chassis with a detachable magazine. It may or may not end up with a longer barrel in the future.

I agree that the scope on this set-up will rarely see anything over minimum magnification and even 4x magnification is overkill for the present conditions, which is why 2x or 3x (at most) is the minimum magnification.

Most of the scopes in the 1-4x and 2-7x range that I've looked through give me the effect of tunnel-vision and I can't stand that. Well, with the exception of the four + figure "tactical" scopes.

Open to suggestions of 1-4x/2-7x power scopes with generous eye boxes, generous eye relief, and above average brightness and clarity.
02-02-2016, 02:05 PM
Rick_W

Quote:

Originally Posted by yobuck

An as issued 94 Winchester 30/30 sounds like it would be perfect.

Got one.:smile-new:

Always good to have more choices, though.
02-02-2016, 02:35 PM
mikgarus

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattri

Under 50 yards why not go iron sights?

Red Dot
02-02-2016, 06:23 PM
yobuck

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick_W

Got one.:smile-new:

Always good to have more choices, though.

Only if their better ones lol.
02-02-2016, 06:36 PM
foxx

Leupold vx3 1.75-6x32 is my all time favorite low power hunting scope. Only issue I have ever had with it is it lacks Bushnell's RainGuard. Probably not an issue in warmer climates.
02-02-2016, 11:49 PM
Rick_W

Quote:

Originally Posted by yobuck

Only if their better ones lol.

Better is subjective.

Always have my eyes open locally for a JM Marlin 30-30 or .35 Rem - I'm rather fond of levers (but I've not come to terms with putting a scope on one ,yet).

I did pick up a new red dot at the SHOT Show - Ultradot L/T.
02-03-2016, 01:19 AM
Robinhood

For the money the Burris MTAC or Weaver Kaspa.
02-03-2016, 09:17 AM
yobuck

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick_W

Better is subjective.

Always have my eyes open locally for a JM Marlin 30-30 or .35 Rem - I'm rather fond of levers (but I've not come to terms with putting a scope on one ,yet).

I did pick up a new red dot at the SHOT Show - Ultradot L/T.

I guess the Marlin would handle the scope better. My son has one he uses with an old 2.5 power on it.
One of those would be hard to beat for what your describing.
02-03-2016, 05:11 PM
Rick_W

The Marlin 336 is one of the few rifles I ever shot growing up. I don't remember what power scope it had on it or even who made it, it was a wide-field or wide-view or something, but it really was quite handy.

The Marlins can be smoothed up fairly easily as well.
02-03-2016, 05:13 PM
Rick_W

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robinhood

For the money the Burris MTAC or Weaver Kaspa.

Appreciate it. Does that particular Burris have the tinted lenses?

I have two Burris Fullfield II scope, 2-7x, and both have a yellowish tint.
02-03-2016, 09:23 PM
barrel-nut

http://www.natchezss.com/weaver-3-15...cle-matte.html
02-03-2016, 10:08 PM
Robinhood

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick_W

Appreciate it. Does that particular Burris have the tinted lenses?

I have two of the 4.5-14 models. But I can Help....
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=burris+mtac+1-4x24+review
02-04-2016, 03:52 PM
Cnsane

Love the Google Link

I've got a Burris 4x12 Compact on a Beeman R1 and it has a noticeably "brown" cast to it's view.

I've also got a Burris 1.5x6 Signature on my Savage that's clear as a Leupold
02-04-2016, 04:52 PM
Rick_W

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cnsane

Love the Google Link

I've got a Burris 4x12 Compact on a Beeman R1 and it has a noticeably "brown" cast to it's view.

I've also got a Burris 1.5x6 Signature on my Savage that's clear as a Leupold

Appreciate the direct reply. I do not like the yellowish tint my two Burris scopes have and have removed one from the rifle it was on. The other is on a muzzle-loader that hasn't been shot in a couple years (so it doesn't bother me as much).