Dial up scopes

The market has filled up with scopes with turrets from various brands. Ideally I want FFP, Mil/Mil with a Mil reticle, ideally has marks not dots.

Now I am not trusting of mid range scopes because I bought 2x Zeiss Conquest scopes right back when @Norway taught his course here. Both broke early, and I was away for six weeks at a time then. By the time I got them back from repairs it was probably a year without the rifle, counting gunsmithing and handloading, the hassles were endless.

I flogged them both off, and a couple of rifles and bought a PM2 and I really enjoyed not worrying about it, as well as the FFP turret/reticle combo and the fact the glass was so good I could shoot in the dark with it.

It sure was heavy though. I'm lost on all these new scopes. I don't know their reputations. So what should I look at? I see a lot of very nice looking scopes with low compact turrets. I'm thinking to buy in NZ given the current customs climate.

This scope will get dialed a lot. Not a 3 deer a year scope, I will use it (and dial it) constantly.

I've looked recently and couldn't find such a thing.
I wanted something a lot lighter than my PMII, so ruled out many Vortex, Leupold MK, Zeiss, Swaro Z6, Kahles etc.

I decided on a Leupold VX3i 4.5-14x40 SF 30mm with CDS.
I got cm/100m dials via custom shop at great expense.
It is only 2FP and I will have to forgo the scaling marks and either dial or hold, guessing cm on the target.
I went for a heavy duplex reticle but that's just me; I can't see fine ones in the dark.

So, it cost similar to a VX5 and took about a month and a bit on order.

I've only used it once so can't vouch for its overall quality yet.

It weighs 441g.
Glass is as good as my eyes can use.
The dials are quite easy to turn and I have already had them move a few clicks while walking, not solid like the S&B.
It has 55cm/100m per turn and no zero lock or turn indicator.
It's a compromise, mostly looking for lightness.

Attachment 120961

I'm ok with the weight. Although your scope looks like a good option.

Nx8 4x32x50
The perfect scope

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What magnification range are you after? And do you have a max weight limit in mind?

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Originally Posted by Bagheera

I've looked recently and couldn't find such a thing.
I wanted something a lot lighter than my PMII, so ruled out many Vortex, Leupold MK, Zeiss, Swaro Z6, Kahles etc.

I decided on a Leupold VX3i 4.5-14x40 SF 30mm with CDS.
I got cm/100m dials via custom shop at great expense.
It is only 2FP and I will have to forgo the scaling marks and either dial or hold, guessing cm on the target.
I went for a heavy duplex reticle but that's just me; I can't see fine ones in the dark.

So, it cost similar to a VX5 and took about a month and a bit on order.

I've only used it once so can't vouch for its overall quality yet.

It weighs 441g.
Glass is as good as my eyes can use.
The dials are quite easy to turn and I have already had them move a few clicks while walking, not solid like the S&B.
It has 55cm/100m per turn and no zero lock or turn indicator.
It's a compromise, mostly looking for lightness.

Attachment 120961

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Your turret should have the little indent for a zero lock ball bearing. Once it's in there it's impossible to get it out though

Nightforce would be pretty hard to beat if money isn't an issue for you.

The MK6 on here is a bloody good option

I still rate VX5HD and VX6HD.

I’ve owned Ziess Diavari, Victories & HT and Dialyt, Z6i, NF Beast, Couple of NSX , Leica Magnus, and S&B PM11 & Zenith. Vortex Razor. All with illumination. Had a bunch of 2 tier scopes too but I won’t bother mentioning them here as I’ve been disappointed every time. I’ve had SFP and FFP and Quite like both depending on purpose.

Best turrets were NF Beast followed by High speed NSX. Also best for hammering in nails along with PM11. Best for light and sheer image quality - no competition at all Ziess 3-12x56 HT follows by Magnus. Most delicate was Z6i.

Leupy VX are not as sexy but can hang in there with them. They are My best allrounders quite light for their features and great VFM and I’ve not broken one yet. So I have 3.
Remember they actually dial .255moa. So remember to use that in your ballistic calc.

Just my 2 cents. (Although I might have a Z5 itch to scratch soon)

What's you intended use, preferred magnification range and rough budget ?

That will help to narrow things down a bit

@Tussock. I am currently having a Leupold VXR Patrol (which has as standard a tmr reticle with illuminated dot and milrad dial up turrets BUT 2nd FP ) modified by Oz custom shop to locking turrets. Leupold NZ were unaware this mod was available until I got Oz custom shop to ph them directly. Single turn locking dials are also able to be fitted to VX 3 cds scopes.

If you don't mind the weight or the price, why not just get another PMII ?

The Steiner t5xi is a pretty good buy imo.

Sorry, forgot to mention NF and Steiner. They were all out of my weight spec.

Can you still get March in NZ ? (again, a bit heavy for what I wanted)

The zeiss v6 are quite rugged. 650gr. Get one with a a20 plex type reticle and ffp isn’t a problem. Dial the wind. A mate of mine is the March rep if you want one. The nightforce nx8 is 800gr if that’s not too heavy. I think they are a great balance.
I had a mate get the mk6 leupold when they first came out and the he said it wasnt very good. Focus was very touchy And small eye box. Something to do with the short and compact the lenses are too close together. Todd Hodnett was telling me they just didn’t work good. The mk5 was much better with all their military training.

Budget, I will spend what I have to, I have learned the hard way in that department. No real economy in busted scopes. I have a wee family so I can't get carried away, the cheaper the better. Its not cheap if it breaks.

Magnification range, 4 at the bottom is fine, 12 or higher at the top will do.

What are the Vortex scopes like?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jit

I still rate VX5HD and VX6HD.

I’ve owned Ziess Diavari, Victories & HT and Dialyt, Z6i, NF Beast, Couple of NSX , Leica Magnus, and S&B PM11 & Zenith. Vortex Razor. All with illumination. Had a bunch of 2 tier scopes too but I won’t bother mentioning them here as I’ve been disappointed every time. I’ve had SFP and FFP and Quite like both depending on purpose.

Best turrets were NF Beast followed by High speed NSX. Also best for hammering in nails along with PM11. Best for light and sheer image quality - no competition at all Ziess 3-12x56 HT follows by Magnus. Most delicate was Z6i.

Leupy VX are not as sexy but can hang in there with them. They are My best allrounders quite light for their features and great VFM and I’ve not broken one yet. So I have 3.
Remember they actually dial .255moa. So remember to use that in your ballistic calc.

Just my 2 cents. (Although I might have a Z5 itch to scratch soon)

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This pretty much confirms everything I already thought.

Cheers.

I will probably get a working Leupold for the time being till I can pick up a PM2

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cowboy06

The zeiss v6 are quite rugged. 650gr. Get one with a a20 plex type reticle and ffp isn’t a problem. Dial the wind. A mate of mine is the March rep if you want one. The nightforce nx8 is 800gr if that’s not too heavy. I think they are a great balance.
I had a mate get the mk6 leupold when they first came out and the he said it wasnt very good. Focus was very touchy And small eye box. Something to do with the short and compact the lenses are too close together. Todd Hodnett was telling me they just didn’t work good. The mk5 was much better with all their military training.

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Yup parallax is a touch fussy on VX6 the HD is pretty good.

@Jit, I haven’t used the vx6 scopes. I’ve used a vx5hd that I set up for someone. I’ve heard a few with broken turret locks. The windage doesn’t seem to move very well from New.
I was referring to the mk6 scope in the parallax line the one for sale on here.

Yup the turret locks aren’t perfect and could be a bit more positive to press. But at least they have locks.

I find the mag ring stuff on all of them. But again none of this affect their function.

They are threaded for a power throw lever eh?

I have a vx5hd and that is epic glass and dials well but I have to say my old sightron stac 3-16 dialled as well as any scope i have ever used. Super repeatable and to test one day I went 100m, 1000m, 800m and back to 100m on target's without issue. A little on the heavy side, no zero stop but for a sub 800 scope it was great

https://e.ampro.co.nz/product/5503-b...ategoryId=8096

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cowboy06

The zeiss v6 are quite rugged. 650gr. Get one with a a20 plex type reticle and ffp isn’t a problem. Dial the wind. A mate of mine is the March rep if you want one. The nightforce nx8 is 800gr if that’s not too heavy. I think they are a great balance.
I had a mate get the mk6 leupold when they first came out and the he said it wasnt very good. Focus was very touchy And small eye box. Something to do with the short and compact the lenses are too close together. Todd Hodnett was telling me they just didn’t work good. The mk5 was much better with all their military training.

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What todd doesnt know about high end optics is not worth knowing.
I have not long put the 4x32 nx8 on my go to rifle and I reckon it pretty well much covers all the bases if you need more ruggedness than most.
They are definitely noticeably lighter than the 5.5x22 nsx and with the separate magnification ring and PTL it's a game changer in hunting optics.
There is nothing I dont like about them and looking at investing in another one soon.

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Yes, March are available. I've got 2, both 3-24 FFP.

Heavy? 640 grams doesn't seem all bad.

I have a vortex LH HD, 3-15x42 supposedly better glass than most of the vortex stuff, noticeably better than the vx3 3.5-14 it replaced, lightweight, 1 inch tube. It seems to dial well but the clicks are mushy, turrets are compact, under covers and well marked. It has the g4 reticle which I was unsure of initially but now I really like it, there is another more fancy reticle available the hs4. I got it for under 1k us 2 or 3 years back, I saw they have been on closeout on some US sites. They are around $1500 here I think.

Anyone mentioned sightron, I have three, really like them, good price too. Don't know about weight, that has never bothered me.