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Does anyone here hunt with lower power scopes?
I have been offered a Zeiss Duralyt 1.2-5x36 for a very tempting price, and am just wondering if anyone uses something similar? My hunting is generally more open, alpine scrub and tops. I have a self imposed limit of 300m.
The minimum mag I have used is 3-9, so am wondering how the lower mag would go.
My 708 has a vx3 2-10 on it, and .223 a vixen 4-12.
Appreciate your thoughts.
I tend to prefer the lower power scopes, but I like good glass. And that makes a huge difference. Shot more animals in a 5 year period with a 222 fitted with a 3X than all my other rifles put together. tahr @250, rabbits 200, deer out to 350, pigs to 300. A few years back I shot a long range course, walking it from the furtherest target and back to the mound so all the targets were at different positions etc. Shot out to 840 on 3X. The Zeiss Duralyt scopes are some of the better Zeiss scopes around and a 1.2-5X sounds good. So I'd buy it just to have it, even if you decide you need more power later on. Will be a good all round scope and 300 on 5X is easy peasy.
I really like low powered scopes for bush work. Until recently was using 1.5x5 but now 2.5x8 but most of shots are under 50m. No problem on 5 out to 200 though.
Simple solution is to buy the scope and then a bush rifle to put it on.
I'm pest control rather than hunting as such, but I happily used 1X red dot on the old E cat out as far as the calibre would reach, now using a 1-8X scope on my new pest control rifle, and have not yet gone over 3X with it, except occaisonally going up to 8X to identify something. Irons and LPVO still work, I find even 3X is too much for bush work.
I have always hunted with lower powered scopes. The vast majority of deer I have shot have been on 2.5 power. At 300m 5 power will be plenty.
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.
Went from 3x9 with 42mm obj to 2.4x12 with 50mm obj, major improvement for close work. Added bonus of illuminated centre for lower light situations
Started with the 4x32 Attachment 192399
Now have this sightron scopes but as you can see Attachment 192400it’s not exactly bush……still have the 4x32 for the bushAttachment 192401
2.5-8 currently on my 300wsm and shortly hope to have 2-10 on my 308. 2-7 on my other 308.
Bit of a reoccuring theme
I had a 2.5x fixed power on my 308 for over 25 years (now it's got a 2.5-8x), zeroed at 200m and never had any issues, so double the magnification would be fine to 300m.
I have another rifle a with 1-4x (16" 30-30), I haven't shot that to 300m at the range but 4x is plenty for 200m.
The two scopes on the BLR are fixed powered 4x32 scopes been upgraded rifles still the same:thumbsup:
Bush scope is 1.5-5x20. Maximum distance shot is 50m, usually less than 25m. At 1.5x, the suppressor fills the bottom quarter of the view. It annoyed me at first, but I've got used to it now.
I have a couple of low powered 1.5x6x42s.I shot a 4 inch group at 400 yds on 6x thru the Jaeger compact scope last week.Big FOV makes for quick target aquarsition.
Saved my 1-6 strike eagle off the naughty rifle, now it's on a 7.62 x39 sometimes I use it on 6, mostly on a lot less.
Thinking about it even with my higher powered scopes I rarely shoot things at over 6x the higher magnification can be used for checking things but I dial back to shoot.
Use 2.5-6 on both my bush rifles which cover out to 250 meters. Spend most their time on 3x. Both are FFP.
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
hope you looking after that 3x for me Zimmer......... Im still keener than a keen thing for swapzies lolQuote:
Originally Posted by zimmer
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:
Attachment 192443
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 :)
Attachment 194155
And my .223 enjoyed the improved glass of the vx3 :)
Attachment 194156
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.
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)Quote:
Originally Posted by Bradp
have the same issue.... think the paralax adjustment is broken on my eyes but i only hunt the tight stuff so 1-4x on the 30/30 2-8 on the 8mmQuote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
that can actually be a good thing...you keep aiming at bull without distraction...... but means you need to walk up to check.Quote:
Originally Posted by scotty
