Thread: Dreams are free - Ideal do it all riflescope for NZ

VX6 2-12 or 3-18 I have both......I normally turn the 2-12 up to 2.5-3x in the bush anyway so I would probably say go the 3-18

Zeiss do a 3-12x50 with dial up in mils. I just sold one recently. Very good glass.

Mostly bush hunting you need minimum 3x or lower in the bottom end. You want good glass for low light and if practical, illumination is a nice to have. You've said you're mostly bush hunting which can be hard on gear so something tough is a good call. I've owned most brands and have recently bought a NF NXS 2.5-10 x 42. I think this is the best choice or something similar. I also have a Z6 1.7-10x42. This again is a fantastic scope but I'm on the fence for Swaro being robust enough for your average guy. The Z6 with a 30mm tube feels just more robust than the Z5. Mine went back and nearly everyone I know with a Swaro has sent one back too. Different hunting style in Europe to NZ. I'm not a Leupy fan but they are certainly on the improve. 10x top range is more than enough for 400m and your pulling yourself if you think the 7-08Rem is the right gun for anything further for the average kiwi hunter at that distance. 10ish x power also gives you a better field of view after the shot. No parallax is also a good thing, the last thing you want to be doing is fucking around with dials and knobs and anything else. KISS is where you want to be aiming. Anything larger than a 42m OBJ will mess with the rifles ability to quickly point. Check risers or other stick on shit just are a pain in the ass. Its pretty obvious you're from Auckland as soon as we see you in the bush cause you've got stupid shit like 20x scope for bush hunting. 2-12x42 with good glass that can dial elevation is where you want to be to cover the bases you are after. My 308 has a VX3i 3.5-10x40 with CDS. Its kinda shitty glass but its tough enough, it dials OK and I can shoot to far enough with it. It's also low and light. It's in the same camp for what you're after and does the job but, it's not my only rifle so i'm OK with the compromise in this instance.

@kiwijames I know no one from Auckland with 20x scope and I’ve been hunting with red dot on my bush gun for years. But thanks anyways

Originally Posted by Pop Shot

I've been using this exact scope for over 10 years now and cant rate it highly enough. It's a pack horse especially with the rainguard feature. I abuse it, and it's going strong.

Holds zero and dials well (does over dial, but once you know... it's not an issue). 2.5-16 is a great zoom range IMO. Glass could always be better, but it's a hunting scope and is good enough for me.

Quite an underrated scope IMO.

Moreso the Bushnell LRHS/LRTS in 3-12 or 4.5-18

My dream scope would be if Swarovski bought out a Z5 3-10x40 BT with plex reticle. I would buy 3 of them tomorrow.

And if they did something like a Z6 2-12x42 BT I'd buy a couple of these too.

My dream scope would be a VX-6hd 3-18x44 w/mrad illum reticle but in FFP and MRAD (if they made such a model).
I can quick calculate wind holds in my head with mrad but not moa, same with drops. However moa i have to draw on my turret cause i can never quickly work it out.

Im currently running the VX-6hd 3-18x50 w/t-moa illum reticle. However would prefer mrad(mil), 44mm obj lens and it is SFP which means the reticle is not so quick to use on less than max magnification (you have to know what magnification your on and calculate what each ret' hash mark now means). It not often you want to shoot on 18x when by yourself as it can be hard to get back on the animal fast after recoil and see where it went or take that fast follow up shot.

I did like the swaro z5 initially when i ran one but it just felt too fragile in the turrets for my hunting. Really it doesnt have to be a vx6 etc, just as long as it isnt too heavy, has a windage marked reticle, illum ret and low profile locking dial turrets for when your bush hunting and then pop out on the tops for that last light long shooting.

In the bush i use 3x or 4-5x in open bush. Ive shot deer at 4m & 5m with 4x mag on my other vortex scope. 2x mag on another scope just seemed not enough for picking out a deer head fast in the bush for me.

i was going to suggest having a look at the Burris range. I have a 2-10x42 Veracity FFP which i'm really happy with. it is a bit large and heavy for a bush rifle but looking through it is great.
However when I saw you wanting to get out to 500 mtr, they do a 2.5-12 and a 3-15. Possibly not quite up to the high end euro's or a night force.
I would say you need to look though a scope if you can as differant eyes see differantly though a scope.
Z

In my humble opinion the dream nz hunting scope that does most things well is beleive it or not the NF 2.5x20x50 sfp.
Who else on here is running one as I have a sfp and ffp.
Dream is the operative word as not cheap but won't bend ( the ones starting with s do) won't fail, always repeatable and have feild of veiw and magnification to burn.
I have shot my 308 out to 1200 m and hit what I'm aiming at and shoot up close with the illumination on in the bush.
A dream scpoe summed up.

Sent from my SM-A226B using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by Huntn

My dream scope would be if Swarovski bought out a Z5 3-10x40 BT with plex reticle. I would buy 3 of them tomorrow.

And if they did something like a Z6 2-12x42 BT I'd buy a couple of these too.

Not a lot of difference between a z6 2,5-15x44 lol

Originally Posted by andyanimal31

In my humble opinion the dream nz hunting scope that does most things well is beleive it or not the NF 2.5x20x50 sfp.
Who else on here is running one as I have a sfp and ffp.
Dream is the operative word as not cheap but won't bend ( the ones starting with s do) won't fail, always repeatable and have feild of veiw and magnification to burn.
I have shot my 308 out to 1200 m and hit what I'm aiming at and shoot up close with the illumination on in the bush.
A dream scpoe summed up.

Sent from my SM-A226B using Tapatalk

Yesh I'd agree with that Andy but having had both theres something that trumps it makes it the nX8 glass look very average swarovski z8i 3.5-28x50, definitely buy far the best glass I've looked through and a handy mag range, with clearer top end than the NF, probably can't hammer a nail home with it though.


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depends on your definition of long range.... the 2x7 and 3x9 have been main stays for years...the 2x7 is awesome up close...your NI bush hunting and on deer will get you out to reasonable distance..not head shot at 400 like but solid chest shoulder shots..the 3x9 will stretch that out slightly easier and both still have great field of view...
weight and size are two other considerations.
something 2x10 that didnt weight half a ton and wasnt half the size of rifle and didnt cost left arm and right testicle would be ideal.

In a dream world,

3-18x42 (ish)
30mm tube
.1mil adjust with capped windage and a low profile locking elevation turret, single turn 10MIL
FFP with a simple mil-hash reticle e.g. TMR or FIML
Top tier quality - accurate, repeatable, robust, good optical quality, forgiving eyebox
Parallax adjustable
600gm.
Cost somewhat irrelevant (but less than ZCO or Hensoldt)


The closest I have found is a March F 3-24x42 or a Leupold Mk6 3-18x44. I have both.


Opinions will vary. This is what I like.

@Micky Duck - Matak long range

hmmm will look it up.