Thread: Where is my dream scope?

I have been fortunate to have used several good scopes over my hunting and shooting years. Started with a little Bushnell 2 1/2 fixed power post and crosshair on a 303. Shot plenty of deer, pigs, chamois and tahr with that setup out to over 400 yards. Since then I've had Budhnell 3-9 *40 , Leupold M8 *4x, vari-x11 3-9*40, various vxiii and vx3 and vx5, vxr, mod1 patrol and ffp bushnells.
My favourites have been Leupold 2.5-8*36 with b+c reticle and capped turrets and still are.
I've had illuminated reticles in vxr and vx5 and really like them too.
I have done a fair amount of successful competative range shooting out to 600 with several scopes and calibres including 308, 6.5*55, 308 norma magnum and 7*61 sharpe and hart.
I have found no real advantage in any scope larger than the 2.5-8* 36 capped turrets 1" tube Leupold at ranges and for hunting with the exception that a very slightly illuminated dot scope in very dull bush or dawn / dusk hunting is a real asset.
Now; Leupold do not make a 1"tube 2.5-8*36 scope with illuminated reticle. Does anyone here know if any manufacturer of highly reliable scopes can fit this dream? I am not interested in 30mm tubes and big magnification.
I await with interest any responses which meet my dream criteria.

Will be interesting to see the responses on this.

Everything seems to be moving to 30mm or even larger. I just bought my first 34mm scope !

I wonder if the Leupold custom shop would be able to retrofit illumination to a 25mm model. Might be worth your while to call NZ Asia (NZ agents) and have a chat. I've had very good customer service from Ben over there.

I want a low profile lowest possible mount height, has to be 1" (25.4mm) tube and under 40mm bells and without big sticky outey turrets.

Originally Posted by Woody

I want a low profile lowest possible mount height, has to be 1" (25.4mm) tube and under 40mm bells and without big sticky outey turrets.

New Burris HD 2.5-10x40(i think 40) with capped turrets might be up your street. There are a few pics on this forum under the Sako s20 thread

@Woody, what is the most important to you ?

If you could get capped turrets, lightweight and illuminated reticle, can you live with 30mm main tube ?

Reason I am saying that is then it would be pretty easy - Leupold with firedot. Also lots of options for mounting 30mm tubes low. If you looks at a 40mm objective, in either 1 inch or 30mm tube, both can be mounted very low. At the end of the day the only thing that matters really is how far above the barrel the edge of the objective is. The size of the central tube is kinda irrelevant ?

minox??

Some of the pricey euro brands may have something, but I would ditch the insistence on 25mm and look at leupy VXR Patrols either 3-9x40 or 4-12x40 or the VX6 2-12x42 with firedot reticle. The latter would be my pick of the bunch

If not an Swarovski Z3 or even more expensive .
Then what about one of the Weaver Grand Slams maybe Woody.

Three models in 2-8x36 each a different reticle.
https://www.weaveroptics.com/w-rifle...rand-slam.html

@Woody totally agree re 2.5-8 leupold
I have a few of them
Best is a vx3i with S1 dial

Sadly it's become a scope arms war !
They must keep getting bigger and bigger and out of proportion to the rifle

M8 4x...man after my own heart.

how about a little 2-7 leupold...do they do them in firedot???they only what?33mm so easy to fit in low weaver mounts.
definately do them in 3x9x40....with mil dot ..not sure re firedot.
simple is good.

“Where is my dream scope?”

It’s in a box that says “Leupold VX-6HD 2-12x42mm CDS Firedot Duplex”.

There’s a couple of things that don’t fit your criteria like the cds dial and 30mm tube. But they can be mounted nice and low and are about the same size as some of the bulkier 3-9x40s. I doubt if you would be disappointed with one

Originally Posted by 7.62

“Where is my dream scope?”

It’s in a box that says “Leupold VX-6HD 2-12x42mm CDS Firedot Duplex”.

There’s a couple of things that don’t fit your criteria like the cds dial and 30mm tube. But they can be mounted nice and low and are about the same size as some of the bulkier 3-9x40s. I doubt if you would be disappointed with one

or vx5 2-10 firedot perhaps??

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

M8 4x...man after my own heart.

how about a little 2-7 leupold...do they do them in firedot???they only what?33mm so easy to fit in low weaver mounts.
definately do them in 3x9x40....with mil dot ..not sure re firedot.
simple is good.

Yeah they used to do a 2-7x33 vxr with firedot. Don’t think they make them any more but occasionally come up for sale

Originally Posted by mikee

or vx5 2-10 firedot perhaps??

Yes, you’re on the money!

I found my dream scope in the VX5. Price is also part of the equation.