Thread: What scope for bush through to 500yd bunny's?

This has probably been asked a million times but what scope would you use on a Kimber 308 to handle everything from bush to 500yd bunny's? I'm thinking 2-3x at the bottom end & at least 12x at the top & dialable. Scopes that come to mind Swaro 3-18x44BT, March 2.5-25x42, S&B 3-12x50 PMII maybe leupolds VX6 2-12x42 or 3-18x42 CDS. I think 10x at the top end won't be enough to clearly indentify a bunny or magpie around 500yds. I don't really want to drop a heavy scope on the trim rifle either & completly destroy the balance either. Before you ask yes 308's make great bunny guns Your thoughts gentlemen?

Was in the same boat Luke. Ended up with the Z5. The Z6 may be worth a look too, but if your spending coin the March has all the fruit. The Weaver Super Slam could be worth a look but nothing beats the Z5 for weight and compared against baldbobs Premier the glass was good.

I am definitely a fan of Leupold. I don't shoot bunnies with a centrefire but cranked down at 3 the Leupold is fine in short range bush and on the odd occassion that I have shot deer out beyond a couple of hundred metres the 12 setting gives enough of a view to knock the nuts of a gnat. Impressed that you take on bunnies at 5 hundy with a 308. The slug must drop a metre and a half over that distance.

nightforce 5.5-25x56 nxs with zerostop.... a tad on the heavy side but holy hell worth it!

Originally Posted by Rock river arms hunter

nightforce 5.5-25x56 nxs with zerostop.... a tad on the heavy side but holy hell worth it!

Waste of time in the bush.
Have a look at the Bushnell Elite range. 2.5-16 and reasonably light and reliable.

Originally Posted by Rock river arms hunter

nightforce 5.5-25x56 nxs with zerostop.... a tad on the heavy side but holy hell worth it!

Are you trying to sell one of these or what?

Ive got a bushnell 6500 with target knobs in 2.5-16 , glass is as clear as my loopy vx3 . Be great out to 500 + ... Cheap off opticsplanet too (all relative i guess )

Im after almost the same LJP....I want light so prob 42 objective max and inch tube max 3x low end and 12x would be nice top end dialable.
Sounds like a swaro for me Geez that is gonna hurt

I have a couple of 4.5-14 VX3 CDS with Alumina caps & really like them.
Nice & light with good glass & enough mag.
I use 4-6 in the bush, but thats just how I like it.
It's a waste of time having a lovely light little rifle & then sticking a bloody great scope or suppressor etc on it.......

Originally Posted by Kiwi Greg

I have a couple of 4.5-14 VX3 CDS with Alumina caps & really like them.
Nice & light with good glass & enough mag.
I use 4-6 in the bush, but thats just how I like it.
It's a waste of time having a lovely light little rifle & then sticking a bloody great scope or suppressor etc on it.......

I rate mine too Greg but being a 50 its a bit bulky and heavy and 4.5 is doable in the bush but less is more.
Got it for the 08 to make it a bit more "do all" but its been to the detriment of my bush stalking enjoyment

Originally Posted by Rock river arms hunter

nightforce 5.5-25x56 nxs with zerostop.... a tad on the heavy side but holy hell worth it!

Complete waste of time in the bush

Originally Posted by Kiwi Greg

I have a couple of 4.5-14 VX3 CDS with Alumina caps & really like them.
Nice & light with good glass & enough mag.
I use 4-6 in the bush, but thats just how I like it.
It's a waste of time having a lovely light little rifle & then sticking a bloody great scope or suppressor etc on it.......

Is that a 25 or 30mm tube? Did you bother with getting one with parallax adjustment?

I would go z5
I have just got one for my 280ai which i plan to use from nothing to 600

Id be thinking about glass quality and reticle sub tensions as well, low light in the bush you want the posts big enough to be easily visible but with a fine cross hair so that 500yd rabbit doesn't disappear behind it. I had the Bushnell 6500 2.5 -16 for a while and its a good light option for the money , replaced it with the March. have a Z5 3.5-18 BT and even though the BT is a soft and lacks feel I'm liking it a lot for an alrounder. Had a look at the vx6 2-12 but it was only a couple of hundred cheaper than the z5 and the turrets weren't any better. Going cheaper the clearidge XP5 looks pretty good with the 2.5-12. Around the $1000 mark id take the 6500 for the lower bottom end over a vx 3(4.5-14). The z3 4-12 BT is around $1600 but its a 50mm objective and another $400 gets you to the 2k mark and the Z5 is hard to beat there. Looking top end the March is probably the best on the market given the weight and compactness.

Nightforce 3.5-15?