I'm a bit outdated in my scope knowledge, and am finally back in the market for something better after about 20 years since my last scope purchase. Here's the breakdown:

- I'm not planning on any serious long range shooting.
- I hunt mostly central Texas for whitetails and pigs, where the longest shot available is usually under 250.
- I like the option for higher magnification than really needed for hunting, because I shoot a whole lot more paper than fur, and I like doing load development
- I don't care about an illuminated reticle. I'd rather save the weight, and honestly, if it's dark enough to need it it's probably too dark to be shooting (I'll take my chances).
- I'm rather partial to the duplex reticles I've always shot with various older Leupolds, Burrises, a Hawke (pellet gun) and (don't judge me, I was young and poor) a Simmons or two.
- This is going to go on a 7mm-08 I'm having built on my old Ruger M77 tang safety
- I'm a big fan of buying for the 95% use case, which is why I drive a Prius to work and a 5.7L Ram 1500 to the country.
- I don't have any particular brand loyalty

It seems like everything in the scope market is geared toward extra long range, and while that's cool I really just want a high quality hunting scope with clear optics and decent low light visibility. My eyes aren't getting younger, and I don't really feel the need to go crazy with features. Avoiding range shame if I show up with a custom rifle with less expensive glass is not irrelevant, but certainly not that big of a deal--I'd rather have the best thing for what I need it for than whatever is sexiest. I specifically didn't mention a budget, the reasons for which should be fairly obvious from the above.

Help me out y'all.

With those requirements...pretty tough to beat a VX5HD 3-15x, if you want to spend less money the VX3HD 4.5-14x. I have owned a vx5hd (don't currently because I want a reticle I can use for wind holds) but not the 3.

Most of these guys will give you the answer of their favorite scope or what they use. My 2 cents, if they say FFP or MIL...ignore their answer, those aren't built for folks like you (I don't mean that as a slam or derogatory either).

I have that Leupold VX5 3-15HD with the CDS and the Firedot. You may or may not want the CDS option, but I highly recommend the Firedot. It comes in very handy in dim light and a black hog.

I also have a couple of VX 3 4.5-14, and I sure wish they had the Firedot.

The Optika5 is available at 3-15x, and it's actually a pretty nice scope. There are a few reticle choices as well including a plain duplex reticle and others as well if you like more bells and whistles. They'd cost about half as much as the VX-5. The VX-5 3-15x is nice, but I'm not sure you get that much more than the Meopta gives you. I've only had three VX-5s and I won't criticize them for tracking because I did not notice them being as flaky as other Leupolds have been. I've had three or four of the Optika5 models and the tracking was never problematic---but I AM talking about using the adjustments in a set-and-forget manner.

Just get on an optic seller’s site and look at Leupold scopes. Choose what you’re willing to pay. I just put a 4-12 VX Freedom on a model 7. It’s a Texas deer rifle that I wanted good power and light weight as far as the optic goes. I’m willing to bet it will still be a good optic that is still functional after I’m taking a dirt nap. If you were putting it on a 416 Remington for a dangerous game hunt I would suggest a different optic in their line but you’re not.

The VX5 HD is what you want. I’ve hunted one hard for 6 years and bought another last year. It’s a fantastic hunting scope. I have the CDS dial on both, it works if you have good ammo and give LEUPOLD accurate data. Just a few months ago I dialed a 550 yard kill shot on a coyote using the one that’s 6 years old and been dialed to shoot and back to 100 yards hundreds of times. I trust that scope to take a 500 yard shot on the buck of a lifetime.

VX-5

In case nobody has mentioned it




Yes, the firedot is worth it.

I like a scope with MIL turrets and zero stop with MIL graduations on an FFP reticle. But, I have a BAR that is set up to be a 300 yards and less hunting with a lightweight scope rifle. The VX3 is perfect for that setup. A vx5 would fill the bill equally well. If you haven't noticed a pattern, most of the guys answering think your new scope should start wit VX.

Yep, hard to pass on a Leupold for quality.

I just purchased another brand for my AR and I’m regretting not having gone with a Leupold. About all I did, was to waste $500.

Seems like in the category I'm looking at, not much has changed after all. Thanks for the feedback guys.

Like you iv'e had more than one Simmons, and I might add they were not bad scopes at all for the money. I read that you are building a rifle, so with that in mind as a dinosaur, I going to fall in line by recommending the VX5hd. If that is beyond your budget then the VX3. I own two of the vx5's in the 3-15x44 and while I am not a long range shooter I can reach out there if I choose. By the way I have one of your brothers knives and love it, for the same reason I bought the Leupold, raising the standard bar one step at a time.
If you go with the Leupold call Predator Optics, Schmalts will make you a really good deal 262-349-2889.

I have always sort of had this issue with Leupolds having too much scope shadow. My first "nice" scope was a 4.5-14 VX3 and it was a pain. I've had other brands without issue. There are some of higher end Leupolds I've looked through that don't have this issue as much. I've assumed for years it had something to do with wearing glasses.

Since there is no budget and based what ahs been discussed, I still really like Ziess scopes for the purpose you intend. We have an older conquest on a 270 that we love. Either the 3-12 or 4-16 versions Conquest V4s seem to closely fit your bill. Personall

I’ll agree with the VX5 recommendations above. I have one with Firedot reticle on my Tikka 6.5 CM and like it a lot. another suggestion is Trijicon Accupoint for about the same price. I really, really like the little pinprick of light on the Trijicon reticle. Haven’t even used it in low light conditions but seems to help with precision shooting at the range. Mine is the 3-9. Here is a link to the 3-18:

https://www.trijicon.com/products/details/tr34-c-200166

For what you plan to do a Swarovski Z3 4-12x50 is about as good as it gets. After tax will be a little less than $1,000. Stepping down in price and size but will still do all you plan to do with your rifle would be a Leupold VX-3 4.5-14x 40. For what you are going to do, you do not need to pay the added expense for exposed turrets. For what it’s worth, I set my deer rifles up much the same. Spending your money on the best glass you are willing to pay for rather than turrets is going to serve your purpose.

You should look at Tract Toric 3-15X50 I think its every bit as good as the VX5 for less money.

X2