Thread: Scope Recommendations for low power zoom?

Hey all - I'm toying with setting up a Howa Mini Action in 7.62x39 as a sub 200m hunting/fun gun.

I have a bunch of criteria for the scope and I've been away from centrefire shooting and optics for a while so not sure if I've missed anything.
But here's what I'm looking for:

1. Low power zoom: 1x or 1.5x is ideal on low end, ok at 2x. Max 6x/7x at top end.
2. Must have illuminated reticule - single dot is ok.
3. 30mm preferred but ok with 1"
4. $300-$500 is the sweet spot. Don't want to spend $1000+ for sure

I was thinking of a simple 2-7x32 but seems this is not a popular combo anymore.
Or a LPVO ... but seems their optical quality at the zoom end is not great at this price point?

Let me know your suggestions to check out!

I was using a Leupold 2-7 on my 223 for years and shot more deer than I can count.

2.5-8 vx3s are great and vxr 2-7 are even better if you can find one second hand


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https://www.scopeuout.co.nz/collecti...nated-german-4

https://gunsnz.com/Vortex-optics?product_id=2965

The vortex strike eagle that Superdiver has posted a link to exactly meets all of the criteria you have specified.

As someone who has owned and used the 1-8 strike eagle I can say you won’t go wrong with that option.

I had a Vixen 2-8 on my Howa 7.62x39
https://www.scopeuout.co.nz/collecti...duplex-reticle.

Originally Posted by Mohawk .308

Suggestion….spend a bit more

https://shop.theopticzone.com/rifle-...-scope-180626/

If it was $699NZD I'd probably do it... then I realised its USD lol
I know buy one cry once.... it has crossed my mind!!

Originally Posted by longshot

The vortex strike eagle that Superdiver has posted a link to exactly meets all of the criteria you have specified.

As someone who has owned and used the 1-8 strike eagle I can say you won’t go wrong with that option.

Hows the optical quality on the Strike Eagle vs regular scopes? Online reviews suggest sharp at 1x but as you zoom up the quality gets soft and edge to edge is not great. By that point I might as well just get a regular scope. The Hawke 2-7x32 that's currently sitting on my crossbow looks markedly sharper and brighter than the Strike Eagle online reviews.

Originally Posted by Basenjiboy

I had a Vixen 2-8 on my Howa 7.62x39
https://www.scopeuout.co.nz/collecti...duplex-reticle.

Yeah I saw this one too... what was the quality like? It can't possibly be as bad as the video below!!

I found it clearer than a Leupold Vari-x that it replaced - should never have sold it.
(picture of it here, mounted on Howa mini = https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....-x-39-a-81368/)

I still have a Vixen 3-12 which i rate for the price.

Originally Posted by Daniel L

Hows the optical quality on the Strike Eagle vs regular scopes? Online reviews suggest sharp at 1x but as you zoom up the quality gets soft and edge to edge is not great. By that point I might as well just get a regular scope. The Hawke 2-7x32 that's currently sitting on my crossbow looks markedly sharper and brighter than the Strike Eagle online reviews.

I actually found it pretty good, on 1x it was like having a red dot sight, I don't remember it being super clear like a Leica or Zeiss but it wasn't blurry at all either. It was easy to shoot very accurately with it which for me is the main consideration.
I actually have the Leupold Vx3i similar to what Mohawk has suggested to you. It is better to look through but not by much and not enough to make a difference inside 200m.

The Vortex is inside your price range, if you want something with better optics it will most likely be 2nd hand and/or cost more money.

Advance optics NZ, got a few Yukon Jaegur scopes.Iv got a 1-6x42 compact scope.Very good all round scope.Around the $700 mark.30MM tube,illuminated dot.Big FOW.

For those dollars a decent 2nd compact hand scope will be the go

If you can find em then my go for 3-5hundy would be

1.25 - 4 or 2 -7 Leupuy VXL = great scope with great glass, I loved the one's I've had. Or maybe try a Bushnell Elite 3200 with "firefly" I had one & while the reticle was very heavy it worked well, Bushnell used to be a great company making great idea's / value for money stuff, pity it's now turned to shit

You can 1.5-6x42 Nikko Stirling scopes in NZ for about $320 new.

Thanks all for the comments - I think I'm going to skip the LPVO idea.. I don't think I need a 1x and the narrow field of magnified view would probably drive me nuts.
Going to look for a 1.5/2 to 6/7x zoom ... will keep my eyes open.