What scope for my 308

Okay, so a few months ago I bought an 85 sako finnlight 2, in 308 cal, which was really far too fancy for my first rifle but it was a very good price so I didn't pass on it.
But it's a bare rifle. It's also still sitting in the sellers cabinet because my FAL hasn't been finalized yet! But I need to put a silencer, rings and scope on it.
I'm choosing a scope. After much research I think I expect this to be a max 300m range rifle. So my 3 scopes I'm considering are:
Leupold vx3 2.5-8
Leupold vx3 3-9
Swarovski z3 3-9
From what i can figure out, these are quality, simple, good value for money and light weight.

Does anybody recommend getting/not getting any of these? I've been watching and waiting for one of these three to come up as a good used deal, with no particular preference for one or the other. They should all serve my purpose, shouldn't they?

Make sure you have good eye relief 308 in light rifle can have a robust recoil and you dont need the mark of the devil between eyes to early as it can lead to flinching early in your shooting career .

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Originally Posted by Brad S

Okay, so a few months ago I bought an 85 sako finnlight 2, in 308 cal, which was really far too fancy for my first rifle but it was a very good price so I didn't pass on it.
But it's a bare rifle. It's also still sitting in the sellers cabinet because my FAL hasn't been finalized yet! But I need to put a silencer, rings and scope on it.
I'm choosing a scope. After much research I think I expect this to be a max 300m range rifle. So my 3 scopes I'm considering are:
Leupold vx3 2.5-8
Leupold vx3 3-9
Swarovski z3 3-9
From what i can figure out, these are quality, simple, good value for money and light weight.

Does anybody recommend getting/not getting any of these? I've been watching and waiting for one of these three to come up as a good used deal, with no particular preference for one or the other. They should all serve my purpose, shouldn't they?

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all good = for my eyesight I need a scope with a fully adjustable rear lens - only the Leupold VX5 in their range has that- but have had leupold for 40 years no problems with any of them - but for target work I just cant get a good sight picture as the adjustment they have simply does not work for me - I have a Kahles and cant rate those optics enough and rear adjustment is as simple as any binocular - my only other criteria is it must go down to 3x and most of my scopes dont move of that all day ( scrub country 200 metres long shot most 80 metres or less )

Have a look at the vx3 3.5 to 10 with the red dot. I just got one on the 708 and have been enjoying it

It depends on your budget a rifle of that quility deserves a good scope.
I had a vx5 on mine which was perfect.
Or a Z3 if you want a smaller lighter scope but a 4-12 BT as the z3 3-9 is not a dial up scope.

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Depending on budget keep an eye out the older ziess conquests they fit in that category nicely. And if you go the vx3 route spring for the hd model the glass is vastly superior. I like the older khales too not too sold on the new ones.

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25/08, there was a vx5 3-15 came up on here the other day for a good price, but I woke up too late and someone else got it first.
I wasn't really looking for a dial up scope. Maybe I should be? I'm a simple man and like simple things haha

I know it seems a waste to put a pissy little scope on such a nice rifle. But the budget doesn't stretch far. I can get any of those 3 scopes I listed for comfortably under $1k (used), and I know people use them very successfully for less than 300m shots.

older 2x7 loopy would go well
the freedoms arent bad new either... 3x9x40 is another great option and will set you back less...quality is more than fine for me.

One scope that I have always had good results with is the Leupold 3.5-10 and as my eyes age it has always had clear crosshair definition. However if budget is a concern I have had great results with the Burris 3-9 Full field, with the Bullet drop compensation reticule. Not an expensive scope, but it does all you want easily to 300m. Apparently Burris does honour its lifetime warranty as well. Maybe save money on the scope and put some funds into reloading gear?

Well actually, a very kind forum member Philipo gave me a Bushnell Elite 3500 4 - 12 x 40, which he said I was to use, and not sell. Of course haha!
I was going to save this scope for a small rifle, 22 or 223, but maybe it would do the trick for a 308, at least for a start?

A lot depends on what your primary hunting environment is.
Open country vs bush. In the tight stuff, 2x or 2.5x is more usable than 3x
That said don't overthink it to much, they all work.
Your on the right track by getting a quality scope you can afford.
Your decision most likely will decided by what comes available.
30 years ago most of us got by with 4x40's

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Originally Posted by Brad S

Well actually, a very kind forum member Philipo gave me a Bushnell Elite 3500 4 - 12 x 40, which he said I was to use, and not sell. Of course haha!
I was going to save this scope for a small rifle, 22 or 223, but maybe it would do the trick for a 308, at least for a start?

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FOV on the 4-12 may be an issue in the bush but the Elite is a good scope. I had a 2.5--10 on my 270win for a few years without issues. It now lives on my 17HMR.

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Originally Posted by Brad S

Well actually, a very kind forum member Philipo gave me a Bushnell Elite 3500 4 - 12 x 40, which he said I was to use, and not sell. Of course haha!
I was going to save this scope for a small rifle, 22 or 223, but maybe it would do the trick for a 308, at least for a start?

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@Philipo...what a GC!
That scope is perfect for what you are wanting to do, IMHO. I have one of those on one of my rifles and it's taken quite a few tahr, chamois and reds without any issues. Pretty light too if you're climbing mountains. Also has a lifetime warranty IIRC. Use it and put your money into other gear, as someone up there suggested ^

Get a scope with good field of view for close encounters and 12x plus for distance to 300yds plus.

Swarovski z3 3.3-10 with a BRH reticle. Have a look on the internet at the reticle, you can holdover on the lines at distances, it'll get you out past 400 too I bet. I was shooting nanny tahr with my 308 at over 350 with one as an example.

Spend your coin on a good pair of boots. Sounds like you have the scope sorted.

I should have said i've already got good boots - i've done a fair bit of hiking. I also have good binos - I bought a pair from ex-forum member Sarvo on his site https://www.nzgrhunts.com/.
From my research on this forum I thought I should be finding a scope with a lower low-end for close range stuff on a 308. But alright, i'll use the Bushnell 4-12 on the 308 until I can find an upgrade for it, then put the Bushnell on a smaller calibre rifle. I'll keep watching for a good 2nd hand scope on this forum. Thanks all!

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Originally Posted by Southerner223

Swarovski z3 3.3-10 with a BRH reticle. Have a look on the internet at the reticle, you can holdover on the lines at distances, it'll get you out past 400 too I bet. I was shooting nanny tahr with my 308 at over 350 with one as an example.

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This. Brilliant scopes for a dedicated do it all hunting rifle. I've had all sorts of flashy fancy scopes with knobs and shit sticking off them and once I started using these I'm hooked. Simple, great glass, compact (I HATE 50mm+ objectives) lightweight, functional reticle (I shoot steel out to 600yds with my 243 no problems) and mine have taken a beating. I ask myself now why I needed all the extra weight and shit on scopes I had in the past.

I’d say a 3.5-10 leupold with zl turret to future proof yourself, I recon we are way over scoped in nz for mid range shooting


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Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

This. Brilliant scopes for a dedicated do it all hunting rifle. I've had all sorts of flashy fancy scopes with knobs and shit sticking off them and once I started using these I'm hooked. Simple, great glass, compact (I HATE 50mm+ objectives) lightweight, functional reticle (I shoot steel out to 600yds with my 243 no problems) and mine have taken a beating. I ask myself now why I needed all the extra weight and shit on scopes I had in the past.

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I agree. Been down a very similar path with scopes and gone back to "simpler is better". With one exception all my recent scope acquisitions have been Swarovski scopes with BRH reticles. The system is brilliantly effective, simple and fast into action. And the Z3 and Z5 scopes don't weigh a tone as they lack all the extra large glass, huge turrets and internal mechanisms to make the systems work. With dial up turrets it's all too easy to forget resetting after a shot I have frequently seen happen. Or, sometimes, by the time a turret gets adjusted the animal has disappeared. Keeping things simple makes hunting much more enjoyable.
A Swarovski Z3 with BRH reticle would be ideal for your 308 in my view but there's nothing wrong with any of those scooes you listed.

Depends on what type hunting you will be doing really.. I have owned a sako 85 Finnlight 308 for a bit over 11 years now. Have had about 3 different scopes on it. Started with a zeiss conquest. Couldn't fault it. Was a nice 3-9 scope that was good at low light. Was a light scope so suited the light rifle. I moved from the north island to south for a bit so needed a longer distance setup. Purchased a sig saur tango 4 scope. You mentioned your sako will be good to 300, i disagree on that. With the sig with dialup i was reaching out to 800m.
Once i headed back north I went back to my zeiss for better low light glass. This scope actually developed a fault in lense and zeiss replaced it with a brand new conquest v4 which i was pretty happy about. Not bad after 10 years. That's my set up now. Its what works for me. I think youll be happy with your new purchase. Absolutely love mine, insanely accurate.

Thanks for the message B0Whntr. Having never hunted before, I won't be specializing in any type of hunting initially. Which is why I chose an all-rounder 308 calibre, and I'm looking for an all rounder scope to go with it. I realize that many people take 600m+ shots with a 308, with fancy dial up scopes etc, but I sure don't think I'll be doing that for a good while. Baby steps. I've gotta learn a heap of basics before I worry about animals more than half a km away, if i ever get to that stage.
That's my thinking, anyway.

I used to hunt with a higher end scope mag range, but like you 300m is my max. Seemed overkill for a deer rifle. I now run an older Zeiss Duralyt 1.5-6 and I wouldn’t change it for anything. Nice clear optics, lightweight. Does everything I need it to in my defined range :)

Second hand S&B 6x42
Spend the rest on practice bullets.

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Originally Posted by Strummer

@Philipo...what a GC!
That scope is perfect for what you are wanting to do, IMHO. I have one of those on one of my rifles and it's taken quite a few tahr, chamois and reds without any issues. Pretty light too if you're climbing mountains. Also has a lifetime warranty IIRC. Use it and put your money into other gear, as someone up there suggested ^

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hopefully, it will have the Bushnell rain guard coating on the lenses which is the bee's knees in wet conditions water will just bead off the lenses and you will not have to wipe the lenses bring the rifle to the shoulder, and see the target/deer pull the trigger job done instead of the deer running way while you wipe the lense;)

Yep thats good thinking. I'd suggest to keep it simple aswell. Put your money towards good glass opposed to dials etc. Good glass will give you extra vision for at least 10mins or so after your naked eye can't see the target anymore. A 3-9 or 3-12 would be fine. Good rings are a must aswell. I like zeiss as I think they are have a good quality /price ratio. Good luck!

As already praised by those who have used, go the Swarovski 3-10x42 in BRH, Duplex or #4. The field of view & light gathering is amazing when you compare with the Leupold models you listed. I've ditched all my Leupy's and run the Swaro for this reason.

https://www.scopeuout.co.nz/collecti...duplex-reticle

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Originally Posted by Shearer

https://www.scopeuout.co.nz/collecti...duplex-reticle

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As above - great scopes. Have a look at BDC and Mildot reticle options, and 2-8 and 4-16 magnification options as well.

I have a 3-9x40 on my 308 but realised quickly that at 250 beyond was needing more so going to get a 4-12x40

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