Generalist Scope for Driven, Stalking, the odd fox

[WildBoarHunter]

A true universal scope needs to be very light, with lowest possible mag, 50 mm lens for low light and not be the most expensive scope on the planet. There really aren't many that fit all this. Second generation Swaro Z6i 2-12×50 was probably as good as it gets. Unfortunately discontinued now. Kahles 2-10×50 is also a good suggestion but a bit heavier than the above mentioned Z6i.

As for driven hunting. Not two cases are the same. It really all depends on the stand you get, on the terrain you are hunting and shooting distances. In an open woodland area in the winter where boar might pass your stand at 100 to even 200 meters, a simple 6×42 will do just fine. But standing on a narrow trail in dense woodland even an Aimpoint won't be a guarantee for success. Sometimes for really close encounters open sights would work best - but how many rifles nowdays have open sights - or reliable detachable mounts for that matter...

 

[NorHunt]

I don’t know your budget.
But I would recommend that you have a good look at Kahles Helia with 30 mm tube.
In general I would not recommend buying a scope with 1" tube. I feel it gives a smaller FOV and it's sensitive to eye placement.
Kahles have target turret replacement kits that is very good, if that is on your list.
I think Kahles is underrated, because it is a high end product and at a good price...

 

[tusker]

May I ask what was the closest distance you shot driven boar ?

In my experience, driven boar can be cross valley, 200m, 300m, and some, in places like Turkey, OR inside 10m up in the mountains.

There’s a reason driven sights/scopes are either Red Dot, or low mag scopes commonly 1-4, or 1-6 ?

The closest would be about 40 yrds and the furthest was huge boar in Estonia 200 yrds.
Tusker

 

[tusker]

Hi,

The question was to Tusker, who's suggesting a 6x scope, but you've made my point !

I used to do a lot of driven boar in Portugal, mostly in the mountains, almost always stood on a track, often not much more than the width of a pickup truck. To stand any chance at all, you needed to be lucky, and hear the boar coming either down or up the mountain, and be gun up, and ready as it crossed.

I was using a side by side in 9.3 x 74R, and started off with a Swarovski Z6i 1-6 x 24, but after missing a number of boar inside 10m, I ditched it, and just shot the rifle as a shotgun, both eye's open, and just instinctively. My success increased straight away. And that was with a 1x. My other boar rifle is an R8 9.3 x 62, and I carry an Aimpoint H34L (great Red dot sight) and a low mag scope, and fit whatever suits the peg I draw.

Portugal. I heard movement, saw a boar, it saw me, it launched itself faster than a Ferrari. Even gun up, my first shot hit the rear haunch, my second dropped it 6m from where I stood.

Portugal Close Up Boar

When I had my Marlin lever action 45-70 I used it without a scope and like you , just like a shotgun .
Tusker

 

[KimE]

There are many types of driven hunts. I have shot a driven roe at 15m with a 1,5-6 scope, driven wildboar at 30m with the same. Driven fallow with open sights at 50m. Driven sika 40-50m wit the 1,5-6 scope. Driven roe by my fathers dog at 25-30m red dot on a combination gun. Fox at 180m at 6x. One time I had a stand were the longest range I could see were 30m didn`t shoot anything but I felt 1,5x were too much magnification.

 

[HonestJohn]

Are you into driven or is it like most ‘scope for Africa’ threads,,ie, I hope to one day do it? Meaning this in a nice way because a good low mag scope for such purposes will not make a good U.K. stalking scope at all, and if 99% of your hunting is UK, then you’re not getting the best out of 99% of your stalking because one day, or ad hoc, you go abroad.

Also remember that a low mag scope will show your moderator in the lens, so either needs to be mounted extra high to get ‘over it’, or shoot without a moderator.

A low to medium magnification scope generally has too low ish FOV at the bottom end,and as you wind up mag to what you probably will use 99% of the time in the U.K., the clarity worsens. Ie, for 99% you’re screwing yourself and could do better with a £175 6x42 Schmidt!

Also, a super lightweight rifle is probably the worst (IMVHO) yiu could want for well balanced rifle driven shooting, a light rifle it’s like a witches wand. And putting a heavy optic in the middle like you succes does not create balance and stability, but a pivot anchor point from where you’ll be fighting shooting high or low.

If anything, as for a general all round scope, ..and I don’t believe they exist!! Look at the Schmidt and Bender Meta - @H et Al can help you with one if needed

 

[JMikeyH]

Good info thank you chaps, got some new scopes to consider. Now time to put a wanted up in the classifieds

 

[lotuseater]

Schmidt & Bender 1.5-6 x 42 is a good compromise. Super-high mags in my opinion start to be unnecessary, and a bit of a phallic substitute.

 

[Bowland blades]

Looking for recommendations on a scope for driven, deer stalking and the occasional fox. It will be going on a very lightweight 7-08, so certainly room for a bit of scope weight without making the rifle ungainly.

Ideal minimum zoom for me would be no greater than 2x and to at least 10x. Not sure on if a 50mm+ bell is necessary or not, would be happy to go for a 42mm if the glass is good enough for last light.

I see that Swaro are changing how they handle warranties of late (or might be isolated cases?) so not sure if the Swaro warranty holds as much value as it did before. I am considering Leica glass at the moment.

Thoughts please

Yes they have been dropping scopes and binos , on the excuse of they no longer make the parts. How the **** is that a lifetime . Thing is there current prices are scary and without a real solid back-up , they just aint worth the investment . If a firm or individual goes back on promises I no longer send them orders. Push comes to push poorer nations will get richer off our orders

 

[Border]

I believe most of the premier european optics manafacturers changed to a 10 yr guarantee quite a few years ago. Electronics, ie illuminated reticles often only a 2 yr guarantee. I think Meopta still offer 30 yr guarantee and Leupold, Vortex and some others have full lifetime guarantee not limited to first owner.