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Thinking of getting a close quarter scope for my 338federal.
Somthing like a 1-6 or 1-8@24 etc
Can anyone comment from experience etc
Plan on using the rifle to shoot put to roughly 300-350max
Mainly on bush riffle. Have seen a few models, but unsure what's around that's budget friendly and decent.
How thick is the bush you hunt in?
What's wrong with a fixed 4x - A Leupold, Kahles, or similar has worked for the last 70 years.
As I said the other day when someone was after one, a 2.5-8x36 Leupold VX3 would fit the bill well.
I've always been a fan of lower powered scopes, used a 3X Weaver for over 20 years on my first decent hunting rifle. Still have 2 of those Weavers, and my mate uses my third on his 22 and has no issues. I have shot out to 800 metres on steel using 3X, simply cos I could, you dont need high power, you need quality glass. Presently I have a couple of 1.5-6 Kahles and theyre brilliant scopes for up close and personal. Great FOV and dont lose any light gathering ability right out to 6X cos theyre a 42mm objective lense. And good visible European type crosshairs with the fine cross hair in the middle. Another option I would like to try is a VX5 in 2-10, but dont have any need for more scopes.
One of the issues with the lower powered variable scopes that have a smaller objective lense is that your exit pupil gets smaller and smaller as the power goes up, hence less light gathering. The optimum exit pupil for the human eye is 7mm, a 6X scope with a 24mm objective lense only has a 4mm exit pupil, so youre losing some of your light gathering ability up past 3.5X. The Kahles, Burris and a few others with the 42mm objective lense dont have this issue. And the VX5 would only start to lose light gathering ability after 6X.
I'd be looking at not in particular order....
2-12×44 vx6
2.5-12×50 z5
Both give nice low power for bush ranges but still decent top mag if you need to stretch out. I believe the z5 has slightly better low light performance but not much in it.
Both come with illuminated centre dots as well which is invaluable in low light.
That's my to cents
I used to hunt with a Tasco 1.75-5x20 scope. Was fantastic in the bush, got a few deer with that scope that you wouldn’t have got with a 4x. I reckon 2x at the lower end is what you want to be looking at. Look for a good quality scope. Your budget will probably have a bigger effect on what to buy.
I have a Leupold VX-3 1.5-5x20mm. It really is a good bush scope. Animals are shot within 20 metres away most of the time, sometimes within 5 metres. For rare longer shots, I do feel under-scoped, but that's just me. On the plus side, it is very light.
https://i.ibb.co/q1QcLtm/IMG-5505-2.jpg
Field of view is the biggest factor - 1-6x46 or something like that range is where you are going to be looking. The biggest field of view you can get which is usually at a very low magnification... The reason for this is at close range, single digit meters anything bigger than 3x is a toilet tube and you might struggle to resolve what you are looking at (the difference between seeing a part of a head and visible eyeball and ear with naked eyes, and then through the scope having to work out what each individual hair or fur bit is attached too).
A secondary factor is actually fitting the thing to your rifle, as some of the lower mag scopes are shorter in body length which won't get to the right place for your eye with some mount setups.
even on my lower power scopes I always tend to favor 4 power, you see way too much suppressor otherwise and I find it distracting
any old 3-9 would be a decent fit. my go to while Im deciding are vx1s with the LR duplex. they are tough and cheep as chips
Stick with a 42-44mm objective, way better low light performance. Buy quality optics.
Loopy 1_5 pig Plex. I have the 1_4 and great but tiny bit more at top end be good. Fixed 3&4x loopies also awesome
Z6 1.75-10x42 will do all you want and some. Great light gathering in the bush & on low power you can shoot with both eyes open like a shotgun.
I bought mine s/hand for 18hundy.
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Delta styker hd 1-6 or 1.5-9 are worth a look
I'v had 2 true low power scopes.
Nikon Monarch 1-4x20. Shot deer out to 230 mtr with this.
I kept it but upgraded the rifle to a Burris 1.5-6x42 as I struggled to see bullet hole on targets at 100 mtr and found I was taking more shots out past 200 mtr than expected.
This had an electrical fault and was replaced by Burris with a 2-10x42 which I really like. It's a little larger and heavier than I want but it makes up for that every time i looking into shaded areas.
The 1-4x20 is now on son's CZ 512.
Z
Unless you are shooting things very very close (10m and less) you don't really need 1x.
I think 2x on the low end is all you need practical, 3x is even fine if you you have a decent FOV, but 2x is better IMO.
Not saying 1x, 1.5x, 1.75x is bad more than it's not really any advantage.
Have VX3 1.5~5x 20 on 375, not great in low light.
Re: low light. It's not an issue for me. I don't want to be deep in gnarly bush at last light. Of course, everyone has different requirements.
I have a 2-7 x 33 VX1, goes well.
Cheers