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Best long range hunting scope?
#4919420
01/19/14 07:05 AM
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 234
jphillips
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Woodsman
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Woodsman
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I know it has been discussed on here before. What are the opinions on the best long range scope on the market? Best package, ie magnification, light gathering, clear, durable, tracks perfect, just all out the best. Cost not an option? Lets keep it in the over 20 power range.
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Re: Best long range hunting scope?
[Re: jphillips]
#4919638
01/19/14 03:48 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 11,045
Texas buckeye
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MOst reports will say the best long range hunting scope will be a swarovski or better, and the best long range shooting scope will be a nightforce. Sorry if that doesn't help much, but that's about all I can give you anyway when it comes to scopes. Not my area of expertise...
Now some on the forum here know a good bit more than I do, give skylar a pm, he will steer you inthe right direction if you give him a little more detail of what you are wanting.
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Re: Best long range hunting scope?
[Re: jphillips]
#4919700
01/19/14 04:34 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,227
J.G.
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I use an SS 5-20 HD Mil/ Mil first foacl plane
Vortex Viper PST 6-24 Mil/ Mil first focal plane
Bushnell Elite Tactical 6-24 Mil/ Mil first focal plane
I like the clarity and functionality of the SS the best, and shoot it the most. The absolute only negative about it is the weight of the scope, it's the heaviest in the bunch. Its also built like a brick s**thouse.
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Re: Best long range hunting scope?
[Re: jphillips]
#4919810
01/19/14 05:50 PM
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 6,578
Wburke2010
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What fireman uses are all good scopes.
I use a US Optics Sn3 3-17 power. Great glass and is indestructible. Also take a look at night force and bushnells new scopes coming out.
Walter
MW Ranch Services 903-303-4523 Metal buildings, welding, equipment repair, dirt work
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Re: Best long range hunting scope?
[Re: Wburke2010]
#4919815
01/19/14 05:54 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,227
J.G.
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Walter is also right on the money. His other suggestions are all top quality. I'm a first focal plane proponent, so up until last year, the Night Force F-1 was the only scope I would consider in their offerings. If it didn't have a max of 15X I would have one. The new "Beast" intrigues me, but I want some other shooters to put it through its paces before I dive into one.
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Re: Best long range hunting scope?
[Re: jphillips]
#4920339
01/19/14 11:17 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,682
cmorsch
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If price were not a issue then I would have to say Zeiss Hensoldt, Schmidt & Bender, US Optics, and Night Force. But I would take the Zeiss over the others first if it were the Hensoldt ZF 3.5-26x56 model, but 7000 is a lot for a scope or even the Hensoldt ZF 6-24x72 SAM but its 12000.
Last edited by cmorsch; 01/19/14 11:26 PM.
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Re: Best long range hunting scope?
[Re: jphillips]
#4920679
01/20/14 01:37 AM
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 234
jphillips
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Woodsman
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Fireman, funny you mentioned the Beast. I have been looking at that one as well as the ATACR 5X25. I know they all track great, and have good glass. I know they advertize the light gathering being 90% plus. Anyone have any info on this? Do they gather light better than most? Or is there a better suggection on the low light abilities. Being a hunting scope, there is nothing that I dislike more than a scope that lets me down 30 minutes early....
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Re: Best long range hunting scope?
[Re: jphillips]
#4920723
01/20/14 01:54 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,227
J.G.
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I can't speak on it. There may be reviews on Snipers Hide, bit I havn't read them.
I can tell you all of the scopes previously mentioned won't let you down in the last 20 minutes of legal light. I pay close attention to the daylight calendar when hunting, and push it to the last minute when in the field. Of course you know to back the magnification down the darker it gets outside. The 50mm objectives allow plenty of light to enter.
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Re: Best long range hunting scope?
[Re: jphillips]
#4920940
01/20/14 02:52 AM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 254
sww
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I have Zeizz, Nikon, Bushnell, Redfield, on rifles, but the rifle I always go back to is the one with my Nightforce. And when I can tell the difference is just prior to sunrise and just after sunset, when I always seem to shoot.
Gun and bow hunter, and raising the future of hunting.
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Re: Best long range hunting scope?
[Re: jphillips]
#4921521
01/20/14 02:48 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,972
ChadTRG42
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If money is no object, then a Shmidt & Bender or a Hensolt would be tops. If you want a great scope for the money, then a Nightforce is tops in my book.
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Re: Best long range hunting scope?
[Re: jphillips]
#4921928
01/20/14 05:59 PM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 348
Nighteagle
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Bird Dog
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there is some nice features on that scope, but at 2500.00 i can buy a brand new f1...duh...
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Re: Best long range hunting scope?
[Re: jphillips]
#4922464
01/20/14 10:01 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,758
ccoker
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There are lots of nice ones.. add to the list Kahles.
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Re: Best long range hunting scope?
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#4924564
01/21/14 08:38 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,653
MacDaddy21
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If money is no object, then a Shmidt & Bender or a Hensolt would be tops. If you want a great scope for the money, then a Nightforce is tops in my book. Agree! I run a Schmidt & Bender 5-25x56 on my 300 WM long range rig. It is absolutely phenomenal.
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Re: Best long range hunting scope?
[Re: Wburke2010]
#4924829
01/21/14 10:50 PM
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,594
Skylar Mac
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What fireman uses are all good scopes.
I use a US Optics Sn3 3-17 power. Great glass and is indestructible. Also take a look at night force and bushnells new scopes coming out.
Walter I love that USO, it's awesome, but I would never hunt with it, this and several of the other scopes mentioned are very heavy. If hunting in a deer blind, you would most likely be ok, but if you are on a spot and stalk or hunting in the rockies, I would definetly re-evaluate my options and look into Swarovski. There is nothing that can beat them optically and weight is not an issue. Khales would be a distant second.
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Re: Best long range hunting scope?
[Re: Skylar Mac]
#4924831
01/21/14 10:53 PM
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 6,578
Wburke2010
THF Trophy Hunter
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What fireman uses are all good scopes.
I use a US Optics Sn3 3-17 power. Great glass and is indestructible. Also take a look at night force and bushnells new scopes coming out.
Walter I love that USO, it's awesome, but I would never hunt with it, this and several of the other scopes mentioned are very heavy. If hunting in a deer blind, you would most likely be ok, but if you are on a spot and stalk or hunting in the rockies, I would definetly re-evaluate my options and look into Swarovski. There is nothing that can beat them optically and weight is not an issue. Khales would be a distant second. Completely agree. It is on a heavy lr rig and only use it at my place where I don't walk too far. Walter
MW Ranch Services 903-303-4523 Metal buildings, welding, equipment repair, dirt work
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Re: Best long range hunting scope?
[Re: jphillips]
#4924863
01/21/14 11:11 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,304
Judd
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If you aren't using the scope to range with I wouldn't get a FFP and I wouldn't get MIL, I would opt for the MOA...talking just a hunting scope only.
I didn't see a bad scope listed above and it looks like we all have great tastes, hard to go wrong with any of those.
Don't let your ears hear what your eyes didn't see, and don't let your mouth say what your heart doesn't feel
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Re: Best long range hunting scope?
[Re: Judd]
#4925086
01/22/14 12:57 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,227
J.G.
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Can't go with you on that. Windage is in Mil, elevation is in Mil, and no matter what power setting I know what wind to hold. Every rifle I have that hunts with a scope is wearing a Mil/ Mil FFP.
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Re: Best long range hunting scope?
[Re: J.G.]
#4925196
01/22/14 01:34 AM
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 6,578
Wburke2010
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Can't go with you on that. Windage is in Mil, elevation is in Mil, and no matter what power setting I know what wind to hold. Every rifle I have that hunts with a scope is wearing a Mil/ Mil FFP. Same here. I couldn't imagine going back to moa. Maybe sfp. Maybe. Walter
MW Ranch Services 903-303-4523 Metal buildings, welding, equipment repair, dirt work
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Re: Best long range hunting scope?
[Re: jphillips]
#4925844
01/22/14 12:53 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,219
dee
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My biggest concern is that the reticle matches the turrets. Other than that it's just simple math.
"A vote is like a rifle; it's usefulness depends on the character of the user" Theodore Roosevelt
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Re: Best long range hunting scope?
[Re: jphillips]
#4926019
01/22/14 02:40 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,972
ChadTRG42
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I was eyeing the new Nightforce BEAST scope. It looks freakin' awesome. NF changed up their glass for top clarity, and the reviews from a few shooters I know said it was on par with the S&B glass now. The only issue is I can but 2 NXS scopes for the price of 1 BEAST.
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Re: Best long range hunting scope?
[Re: jphillips]
#4926071
01/22/14 03:00 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,219
dee
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And a bit of a wait for the actual release of the beast.
"A vote is like a rifle; it's usefulness depends on the character of the user" Theodore Roosevelt
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Re: Best long range hunting scope?
[Re: J.G.]
#4927185
01/22/14 10:43 PM
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,594
Skylar Mac
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Can't go with you on that. Windage is in Mil, elevation is in Mil, and no matter what power setting I know what wind to hold. Every rifle I have that hunts with a scope is wearing a Mil/ Mil FFP. I couldn't agree more Jason. I'm exactly the same way.
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Re: Best long range hunting scope?
[Re: jphillips]
#4927201
01/22/14 10:49 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,972
ChadTRG42
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I think it's cause you guys can't do the math! On a second focal scope, if you cut the power in half, your reticle size doubles. So, my .5 mil hash at 22x is now a 1 mil hash at 11x. And I'm either at 22x or 11x when I need to use either power setting. It's pretty easy!
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Re: Best long range hunting scope?
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#4927251
01/22/14 11:13 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,227
J.G.
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I can do math. My problem is when I'm in speed mode, shooting a stage, points on the line, guys watching, I'm in my lower brain. I need no other factor involved. Maybe you just use more percentage of your brain than I do, Chad! When you train like you fight, fight like you train, I want the same scope I've practiced so much with to be the one I hunt with.
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Re: Best long range hunting scope?
[Re: jphillips]
#4927330
01/23/14 12:19 AM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,603
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
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Jp- how far do you consider long range?
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