LPVO's (Low Power Variable Optic) for stalking/hunting

[Heym SR20]

I have three driven type scopes.

1) an old Nickel Supra 1-4x20 on straight 1" tube with 1" tube eyepiece. Its a really tough Reticle moving type scope with a German No 1 type reticle in the FFP. FOV on 1 is wide - but probably 20m wide at 100m. I was going to mount it on my Combination Gun,

but then looked at a more modern scope.

2) A Schmidt and Bender 1-4x20 - with a straight Post Reticle in the FFP. Its on 30mm tube - beautiful optics and a really nice scope. And I quite like the reticle and in view it just looks like a shot gun rib - put target on end and squeeze. If I could persuade S&B to switch it to a No4 or an illuminated (which on their website they say they can do, but in when enquired they say nein) I would do this. I had it mounted on my 7x57 for a while and it shoots well and used it for closer range woodland and it was excellent, then mounted it on the combination for driven piggies. It would be ideal for Plains / Big Game in Zimbabwean type bushveld.

3) I got tempted by a certain Emporium into a Docter Comfort 1-4x20 with just an illuminated dot reticle in the 2nd Focal Plane. I really like this and its mounted on my combination when its being used as a double rifle. At 1x this has a very wide 33m at 100m Field of view - You keep both eyes open and its wider than my own field of view - you don't even see the scope surrounds, but can see the rear and front sight. The latter is a red bead which was a bit off putting at first and should really cover with a piece of black tape.

With any of the above I would quite happily take on any deer sized animal out to acceptable ranges.

But I have tried the high zoom low power scopes from Docter, Swarovski etc. These are typically 1-6 or 1-8x20. They have large eyepieces and the image a top magnification has an element of distortion around the edge - its not like the crisp neat image you get with say a 6x42 or an 8x56 scope. I tried the Docter Version on targets to zero it in, and this distortion at 6x really put me off so swapped for the 1-4x20 version no distortion and substantially more compact and lighter. I did look long and hard at the little Leupold 1-4x20 on a 1" tube but only came in their plex reticle in the FFP.

I can understand how these would be useful on a battle rifle but suspect that a more useful route would be to have a 4-12 x42 or 50 as the main optic with a light weight Red dot up top for when up close and personal - which is what the Army has done for its L129A1 as a sniper support weapon.

 

[User00040]

To cap this all off, I forgot to mention that Swaro already offer two of such optics in their Z8i line:

1-8 x 24 and 0.75-6 x 20

Both are second focal plane, and are offered with an illuminated Flexview reticle (basically a circle and dot). Not to mention that you can also add their Ballistic Flex Turret.

The 0.75 seems pretty trick as they are claiming a 56m field of view at 100m. Supposedly the only 'negative power' scope in the world.

All yours for around £2k!

 

[spannulman]

I like them.

I have a 2nd hand swarovski pv 1.25-4x24 with illuminated dot with three line reticle ( no verticle cross hair) bought from a gun shop. I like it and used it out to 170 yd if shooting prone on a good rest. Most shots were closer but it is versatile. It took a bit of practice to get the zero at 12 o clock of the dot but once I did I could get a good sub 1 inch 5 rnd group. But I wouldn’t take neck or head shots with it as I just wasn’t confident enough for such precise shooting.

the dot represented 3 inches at 100 yd so it was fine for shots beyond that range so long as your zero was within that area, if that makes sense. I had no low light issues with it. It could be my eyes but it was no worse at last light than my meopta 7x50.

I bought an old, short barrelled stutzen .308 two years ago with dreams of driven boar so moved the swarovski onto that. But still haven’t used it on boar. Yet.

 

[Orion]

I have a Swarovski Z6i 1-6x24 on my 9.3x62 Helix for driven shooting. It has the CDi reticle which works really well for me as it seems to focus attention on moving quarry and gives a good reference point for leading it if it’s a way out. It’s on QD return to zero Ziegler ZP mounts and although it’s an easy job to change the scope and barrel on the Helix to .308 or 7x64 and a bigger Z4i 50mm, I sometimes leave it as is and shots out to 150m plus on deer locally present no problem - and a 232gr Oryx certainly gets the job jobbed!

 

[otbed]

Alternatively have a look at the range of Primary Arms scopes as sold by the SGC. These are solid, well made and have the clever but simple ACSS ret system that makes holdover easy. If you want to see them in action just look up ACSS or Primary Arms on YouTube. The ACSS ret is essentially a 'horseshoe' with an aiming mark in the centre and for fast shooting takes your eye rapidly on to target. I have two, the initial 'have a look' buy was a .22LR specific 1-6*24 SFP for a .22LR rifle. The scope is brilliant frankly. Having zeroed the rifle at 50yd with mini-mag, essentially the built in holdovers are in the scope to 200 yds - just put the approprate mark on the target and you hit it - even at 200yds. I then bought a 1-8*24 FFP with the .223/5.56 ret to use on a rifle for CSR, zeroed it easily at 100yds intending to use and check it a few days later on a range out to 500yds prior to a CSR comp. But then CV hit and so far that's it till things get going again. However the ret system has impressed me with it's ease of rapid acquisition and I reckon it would be excellent for driven boar. I've already realised that it will be an excellent day scope for fox on my .223 - range with bino's, put the mark on, squeeze. The rets are military inspired, easy to use, uncluttered, have windage and lead for running targets built in, available for most calibres and I think are worth a look. But I guess for european stuff you'd need not to be a brand tart! Seriously worth a look I think.
And robustly built, clear and relatively inexpensive.

 

[308rws]

1-8*24 FFP

I'd interested to know how you find the PA 1-8*24 FFP performs, thanks.

 

[BLUEROLL]

March are in the process of developing a compact/lightweight 1.5-15x42 SFP riflescope.

 

[User00040]

I'd interested to know how you find the PA 1-8*24 FFP performs, thanks.

It's being used on an AR here but still worth watching.

 

[Karhumies]

Popular moose scopes here. I currently own a vixen VIII 1-6x24 that iam selling and a new vector comstantine.

the Vixen is OP for moose hunting, shot racoondogs in the dead of night with it on 3x power.

the vector is 1-10x24, came in today and i love it so far. Very clear iluminated reticle, clear at all magnifications. Would i recomend it for dusk? probably not. Thing is 320 euro wich is about right for a moose scope perched on top of a Vepr.

Also an ideal setup for a drilling or shotgunrifle imo, 1x for the shotgun 4x 6x etc for the rifled barrel.