4616Oxon
Well-Known Member
Yes oxon, woodland and parkland. So a mix of short and medium distance.
FWIW, my recommendation then would be something like a 2.5-10x50 or 3-12x50, but with an illuminated reticule.
Any of the big 3 German/Austrian makes (4 including Kahles) or, if on a budget, perhaps look at Leupold as well. Keep an eye on the website of Macleod's of Tain (they are on here) to see if they have anything suitable ex-demo or secondhand.
With that type of stalking you will likely as not be in, or at the edge of, woodland for much of the time. An illuminated reticule can help not just at dawn/dusk, but also with muntjac in heavy cover, both in terms of faster acquisition (they are flightly creatures) and when you might struggle to discern the reticule when they are mooching about in the gloom created by heavy cover such as pine plantations, etc.
My stalking is in Berks, and having worked my way through a variety of both fixed and variable scopes I have found the above to be about ideal. I will often turn the illuminated reticule on when I get out of the car, to save fiddling with it later, and stick the scope somewhere between 6x and 8.5 x (to match the binos). Occasionally I'll dial up to 10 or 12x if there's a deer in open fields, or down to 4x at first/last light, but more often than not I never change the magnification setting from one outing to the next.
This type of scope will also cover you for the occasional trip to the Hill, where you may find yourself taking longer shots than down South, but more frequently with outings during "regular" daylight hours (though a dark day in Sutherland may have you questioning that).
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A good quality (Zeiss, Schmidt or Swarovski) second hand scope would be my recommendation. With a simple, fairly heavy cross-hair, if it's a fine cross-hair then look to go illuminated.
I would suggest something like a second hand Zeiss Duralyt 3-12x50 (illuminated or otherwise), you can pick one up for £300-£500 and it will hold its value. They come up on here periodically, it looks like @Edinburgh Rifles might have a couple at the moment and possibly another advertised on Friday.
It would be worth giving @R. Macleod & Son a call as well, as they often have good quality second hand scopes in stock.
Then spend the savings on more stalking.
I would suggest something like a second hand Zeiss Duralyt 3-12x50 (illuminated or otherwise), you can pick one up for £300-£500 and it will hold its value. They come up on here periodically, it looks like @Edinburgh Rifles might have a couple at the moment and possibly another advertised on Friday.
It would be worth giving @R. Macleod & Son a call as well, as they often have good quality second hand scopes in stock.
Then spend the savings on more stalking.
long_range_rob
Well-Known Member
3-12x50 Swarovski or S&B will do what you need. Zero at 100 and 4” drop at 200 is no problem to hold over. Anything over that stalk closer.
quailybirds
Member
Zeiss Conquest MC 3.5-10x44 second hand is my favorite and would recommend
Buy a second hand good marque scope in 6x42 / 8x56 fixed if mostly woodland stalking.
I have two swaros bought for £400 and £550, an SWFA 6x42 for a few hundred (excellent glass) and a minox from SGC for £133 and have shot more deer with it than the other scopes together.
Categories (personal opinion):
Top
Swaro, zeiss, leica
Middle: kahles, docter, S&B (But some models are as good as anything), meopta, minox, vortex
Low: leupold, hawke
Bottom line - a lot of scopes are made for plains game hunting in daylight in bright conditions. Its likely you need a scope capable of last 15 minutes usable light - and as mentioned above this moves with age.
I have two swaros bought for £400 and £550, an SWFA 6x42 for a few hundred (excellent glass) and a minox from SGC for £133 and have shot more deer with it than the other scopes together.
Categories (personal opinion):
Top
Swaro, zeiss, leica
Middle: kahles, docter, S&B (But some models are as good as anything), meopta, minox, vortex
Low: leupold, hawke
Bottom line - a lot of scopes are made for plains game hunting in daylight in bright conditions. Its likely you need a scope capable of last 15 minutes usable light - and as mentioned above this moves with age.
4616Oxon
Well-Known Member
Thanks very much! Will weigh it all up. Quite a few people have said Kahles are as good and better in cases than swaro etc but as I haven’t had both I can’t corroborate! Good info though thank you.
Just buy a delta titanium for the money its unbeatable and will do everything you need. Super fine illuminated central dot huge FOV on low mag very accomadating on eye position great PA.
I have one on my stalking .243 and would never part with it.
Only scope that is marginally better would be a Zeiss Diavari in similar mag. Diavaris are acknowledged to be some of the best glass ever made. I also have a high mag Diavari.
D
I have one on my stalking .243 and would never part with it.
Only scope that is marginally better would be a Zeiss Diavari in similar mag. Diavaris are acknowledged to be some of the best glass ever made. I also have a high mag Diavari.
D
big ears
Well-Known Member
If I were starting out again I would also consider weight. A light scope makes a rifle much more pleasant to use.
All of my scopes are fixed mag, even the variable ones as I just don’t move them.
6x42 S&B are about £250 and all you will need.
With a creedmoor 1” high at 100 will mean you are on target out to 250m. After that you need to learn to stalk in closer
What ever you buy do consider spending £20 extra and getting a bespoke scope cover to protect it. Some good ones advertised on here
All of my scopes are fixed mag, even the variable ones as I just don’t move them.
6x42 S&B are about £250 and all you will need.
With a creedmoor 1” high at 100 will mean you are on target out to 250m. After that you need to learn to stalk in closer
What ever you buy do consider spending £20 extra and getting a bespoke scope cover to protect it. Some good ones advertised on here
HonestJohn
Well-Known Member
Now to all those who say "all you need is a good german 6x42, etc." (including myself of course), do you ACTUALLY still have and use them, or did you 'upgrade?'
nun_hunter
Well-Known Member
These scopes are brilliant, full stop. Even at 30% more expense they'd still be a great buy and you only have to read a few threads on here all saying the same thing not to mention the numerous youtube reviews.
I think some people don't realise that 40 years ago S&B, Swarovski, Zeiss etc were making great scopes with great reliability and great customer service but at a premium cost. This hasn't changed, they still make great scopes and they still charge a premium and they still specialise in the sort of scopes us as Brits generally want to use (twilight ability, lightweight, simple reticles). What has changed though is that 40 years ago the cheaper brands were making rubbish scopes in China that had no reliability because the CNC machining wasn't available, the quality control was non existent and customer service was terrible at best.
Now with availability to modern quality machines much newer companies can make scopes just as good (often better), with great customer service, the same lens coatings, better options and all at a cheaper price but they get a bad press by some because they aren't made by the top Euro brands.
Much the same with cars now, a BMW, Mercedes or Volvo is a great car and has good pedigree but you can't discount the cheaper but often better made and more reliable cars coming from Japan and South Korea, just without the same "prestige" to show off to your neighbours.
People either take one of two routes:
- buy a 6x42, then lust after a 2-12x50
- buy a 2-12x50 then realise a 6x42 is all you need
I still have both, I don't consider either an upgrade over the other, both are good scopes and useful if you have two rifles.
HonestJohn
Well-Known Member
I think a lot get 'upsold' by gunshops, then keep the 'upgrades' because they've spent the money, but actually in hindsight, they preferred their old simpler scopes. Know many people that relates to.
I still shoot a low power fixed mag. I do have a variable but I don't like it one bit, sits way too high, despite being a premium brand scope the low light visibility at full mag deteriorates poorly, eye alignment changes with zoom/magnification changes, it's too heavy, it's FFP.
what's not to hate? LOL
4616Oxon
Well-Known Member
Many thanks I think I will get variable to be honest, as this is not going to be a outlet stalking rifle.If I were starting out again I would also consider weight. A light scope makes a rifle much more pleasant to use.
All of my scopes are fixed mag, even the variable ones as I just don’t move them.
6x42 S&B are about £250 and all you will need.
With a creedmoor 1” high at 100 will mean you are on target out to 250m. After that you need to learn to stalk in closer
What ever you buy do consider spending £20 extra and getting a bespoke scope cover to protect it. Some good ones advertised on here
norcan
Well-Known Member
First of when I choose optics, I find the lowest possible mounts / rings for said rifle.
Most of these, lets you mount a maximum of x42mm objective before hitting barrel or bolt handle hitting ocular.
If you have an adjustable comb, this is less of a problem.
But I prefer simplicity and not spending money on adding an adjustable comb.
There are several models with x42mm objectives. 6x42, 3-9x40, 3-12x42, 1,5-6x42 etc..
I prefer fixed scopes.. cheaper to buy used, often less used..
And, it stops me fiddling with them sitting on posts..
Most of these, lets you mount a maximum of x42mm objective before hitting barrel or bolt handle hitting ocular.
If you have an adjustable comb, this is less of a problem.
But I prefer simplicity and not spending money on adding an adjustable comb.
There are several models with x42mm objectives. 6x42, 3-9x40, 3-12x42, 1,5-6x42 etc..
I prefer fixed scopes.. cheaper to buy used, often less used..
And, it stops me fiddling with them sitting on posts..
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