Thread: Hunting with a lower powered scope

Thanks for the advice team. I have decided to go for it. It comes with rings and scope caps so couldn’t really say no

Will likely put it on my tikka 708 rather than my rem700 .223

Originally Posted by zimmer

For a long while I had a 3x Leupold on my 308. Unbelievable for bush or the odd running shot. That model Leupold had a substantial field of view. I think it may have been a true 2.75x with Leupold rounding up as they used to.

And I didn't feel that disadvantaged for longer shots either.

An older 1 - 4x Leupod has come my way. Looking thru it at 1x I'm most impressed and I think I could have no problems shooting on that setting in bush/close up.

hope you looking after that 3x for me Zimmer......... Im still keener than a keen thing for swapzies lol

yes lower power scopes are great.

I use a Swaro Z6i 1-6 on a 308 Bergara, great setup. I agree with the comment about glass quality on lower power optics you want something decent.

These illuminated dot true 1x scopes are great as you can use it like a red dot up close, both eyes open.

@Longranger is selling one just like mine if someone is after one. They don't come up often.

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....%242100-80855/

My rifle:

I'm running the Swaro Z6i 1-6x24 as above and a Z8i 1-8x24 now. I don't want for anything else, but they are at the high end of the optics market. Personally I wouldn't buy anything with a low end magnification of more than 2x now. People don't seem to bush stalk as much these days though, all long range legends it seems.

@joelhenton what rifles/calibres are you running them on?

I'd love a Z8i 1-8 one day. So versatile.

@308mate I just have 3 scopes now. My Z6i sits on top of the CZ527 223, my Z8i on the Kimber Montana 7mm-08. Those two calibres cover essentially all my hunting. Now my Kahles CL 2-7x36 lives on my 22LR. I'm changing over to Sako though for a few reasons. So the Kimber and CZ will get listed at some stage, when I can get my hands on a Sako 85 in 223.

Low power is pretty epic. Have a vari x 111 1.5-5 sitting in the cupboard I am pretty keen to whack on my rifle rather than the hd5 3-15 I currently run. The zeiss is pretty wicked though at 3x in the bush

My Bush and goat rifle was wearing a 1-4x20 Nikon but after a number of deer out at 200-250mtr I upgraded to a 1.5-6x42 burris euro-diamond (because the price was right)
The 1-4 looks better on the rifle and is lighter but the burris is way ahead when looking into the shadows and in twilight.
Would love a euro 1-6 or 1-8 scope.
Z

Like most that have posted here, I’ve got 2 low powered scopes. A 2.5-8 Leupold on the 6x45, and a 1.5-5 Leupold that will be going on the .358 when it’s finished.
One thing I’ve learned is to not succumb to thoughts that I couldn’t go something, without trying it, and proving or disproving it for myself. I forced myself to shoot with the scope set to a max of 3x, and took a string of deer out to around 200yards without issue.

Go for it. Sit with it for a while and back yourself. It will work just fine, and you won’t look back.

Greetings all,
The three rifles in my cupboard likely to be taken on my mid week gentlemens hours armed wanders are:
Tikka t3 Lite in 6.5x55 6x36 Leupold with the long range duplex.
Bergarra single shot in .308 1.5-5 Leupold (lent by a friend when he saw the 2.5x32 Tasco I had put on it).
No 4 Lee Enfield in .303 2.5x20 Lyman.
Not much more to say is there.
GPM.

I started out with a old M8-4x, then had a 2-7x32 VariXii. This was replaced by a Bushell Elite 1.5 - 6 x 36. This latter scope was great just rather large and bulky for the power range. Finally I've been using a 2-8 x32 Nikon monarch for over a decade now. I find 2.5 perfect for the Bush and generally leave it there (regardless of lowest power), I turn up the power if I have time on a longer shot.
Bearing in mind that 200m is a long shoot for me, and only shot about 4 animals in nearly 30 years of hunting longer than that.

I finally got sorted with the correct rings and took it to the range today. I’m pretty happy with the group considering the max 5x zoom



And my .223 enjoyed the improved glass of the vx3

well the fixed 3x M8 loopy sitting proudly on my .270 now...and blooded first outing ,no worries at all and AWESOME in the tight bush.
I actually took the 3x9x50mm loopy off my .223 and have fitted the fixed 4x M8 loopy.....and will see how it goes
JUST BECAUSE I CAN

my 50 year old eyes might be rooted for reading with short arms...but these two scopes still work great for me.

I have been using a 1-4x20 scope on my 223 and have shot deer out to 230 meters. The only time I've felt I would like more zoom is when sighting in.

Originally Posted by Bradp

The only time I've felt I would like more zoom is when sighting in.

glad im not the only one.......(not an issue punching the paper more of not being able to verify point of impact @100 with 4 x)