Scope for stalking and target?

[NullMac]

good balance of both and doesn't break the bank

Impossible to say as "balance" is really your interpretation as it is about compromise - extra weight when stalking vs sub optimal aiming on a target. Only you know what your stalking is like and what kind of target shooting you want to do.

A lot of people use a tactical scope for both. I guess this is the compromise. Equally plenty guys shooting a stalking scope on targets (and don't expect too much) while others are prepared to hump a Schmidt & Bender PMII on a stalk 'cos they want to use one. And why not, we do this for fun.

If you get serious about it then, as JCS says, you end up with two scopes.

 

[Heym SR20]

I can’t but help agree with JCS. Get the right scope for the job. Far too many of high range Zoom scopes look great on paper, but in practice are a huge compromise.
For a stalking / hunting rifle weight and balance is very important on the handling of the rifle. On many occasions you have limited time and its a question of point and shoot from a standing position, or standing off sticks. For the vast makority of stalking 6 or 8x is enough and you want as wide a field of view and as bright an image as possible. A big heavy scope does nothing to help this.

On the range, you will mostly have plenty of time, and usually be shooting off a sling, bipod or other form of rest. A high powered zoom can help on longer and small targets, but mostly it’s used as a means of spotting where shots go. Many target scopes have complicated reticles giving all sorts of information, but that makes my head hurt.

And military and police snipers main job is spotting, reconnaissance and target ID. High magnification of the rifle scope is very useful for this purpose and using the rifle scope also means you not having to switch back and forth, and also serves as redundency if the spotter and his spotting scope get damaged.

 

[User00040]

We still don't know what 'target' means in this context.

Just like 'long range'

 

[Bowland blades]

Hi All,

I know most its best to try and keep stalking and target rifles separate however this will be my first rifle so I am looking to get a scope that a good balance of both and doesn't break the bank.

Any suggestions?

Depends on what kind of target shooting.
To explain short range bench rest of high precision needs a fine reticule but not necessarily lots of elevation and windage.
long range needs lots of elevation and large windages plus a high magnification say 30 + it also needs a fine reticule
Stalking requires 1x to 12x mag and a reticule that works in low light ( not illuminated particularly) just visible in most lights against what is a dark background of a deer body. Fine reticules are hard to decern and illuminated often close your eyes low light ability .
If its casual 100-200 none competitive occasionally 300 ? a straight up S&Bender variable up to 12x will do your job for both and you can of course go up. Beware fine reticules and really big scopes.
Having shot competitively at long range, Benchrest etc but also stalked a lot ... Let me say first thing i did when i called time on paper punching was sell those guns and scopes. I would no more enter my Pickup in a rally than equip myself for stalking with a big nightforce scope and a monstrous heavy barrelled rifle that i couldnt shoot well free-handing standing!
Better to buy two than not be able to take such a shot well

 

[gixer1]

Depends on what kind of target shooting.
To explain short range bench rest of high precision needs a fine reticule but not necessarily lots of elevation and windage.
long range needs lots of elevation and large windages plus a high magnification say 30 + it also needs a fine reticule
Stalking requires 1x to 12x mag and a reticule that works in low light ( not illuminated particularly) just visible in most lights against what is a dark background of a deer body. Fine reticules are hard to decern and illuminated often close your eyes low light ability .
If its casual 100-200 none competitive occasionally 300 ? a straight up S&Bender variable up to 12x will do your job for both and you can of course go up. Beware fine reticules and really big scopes.
Having shot competitively at long range, Benchrest etc but also stalked a lot ... Let me say first thing i did when i called time on paper punching was sell those guns and scopes. I would no more enter my Pickup in a rally than equip myself for stalking with a big nightforce scope and a monstrous heavy barrelled rifle that i couldnt shoot well free-handing standing!
Better to buy two than not be able to take such a shot well

I agree with the above, I have had a fixed scope and it was a nightmare to my eyes, I have resigned to the fact I need more mag now. For years the trend in binos was 8x42’s and the day I looked through 10x42’s was a literal eye opener…very little weight difference but so much clearer to my eyes. I find the same with a scope, go from 8 to 12x mag and to me it’s night and day.

And regardless of what people say - they cannot make a choice for your eyes and say you just need a XYZ - only you can judge that.

Regards,
Gixer

 

[SussexSteve]

Zeiss v4 6-24x50 60 reticle

 

[User00044]

8×56 S&B for stalking and a Sightron dialler for target work . Both can be found for reasonable money preloved , plus qr mounts . You may be able to buy both for under £1k .

@jcampbellsmith hit the nail squarely on the head .

 

[User00040]

What you do not need on a stalking rifle is large 3lb several thousand pounds worth of S&B military grade sniper scope which will allow you to spot, observe and engage targets at 1500m plus with a 338 Lapua Magnum.

@Ronin

 

[Len the dog]

Hi All,

I know most its best to try and keep stalking and target rifles separate however this will be my first rifle so I am looking to get a scope that a good balance of both and doesn't break the bank.

Any suggestions?

You should have highlighted the ‘doesn’t break the bank’, so far it’s all Swarovski this or Schmidt & Bender that, all scopes that cost upwards of a couple of grand.

 

[JMikeyH]

Lots of suggestions of Swaros and S&B. I believe these would fall into "breaking the bank".

To the OP - Consider the Element Optics Helix 6-24. It has ballistic turrets with a very good zero-stop for dialling, useful for range work and it has very good light transmission as the light is fading or just coming up. Not as good as Swaro for sure, but it is only £300. Is 10 minutes of stalking light either side of daytime worth an extra £500-1000 or more for you?

The base mag of 6 is perhaps not ideal for stalking, especially if you're in woodland. Almost all of my stalking is on open ground and I have never had any missed opportunities because of a 6 base magnification.

People disparage Element Optics because they are a new brand and are suspicious of anything promoted by YouTubers, believing it to be some kind of scheme. I have used a Helix for a year and a half now and I'd buy one again in the blink of an eye

 

[Len the dog]

Lots of suggestions of Swaros and S&B. I believe these would fall into "breaking the bank".

To the OP - Consider the Element Optics Helix 6-24. It has ballistic turrets with a very good zero-stop for dialling, useful for range work and it has very good light transmission as the light is fading or just coming up. Not as good as Swaro for sure, but it is only £300. Is 10 minutes of stalking light either side of daytime worth an extra £500-1000 or more for you?

The base mag of 6 is perhaps not ideal for stalking, especially if you're in woodland. Almost all of my stalking is on open ground and I have never had any missed opportunities because of a 6 base magnification.

People disparage Element Optics because they are a new brand and are suspicious of anything promoted by YouTubers, believing it to be some kind of scheme. I have used a Helix for a year and a half now and I'd buy one again in the blink of an eye

Likewise I have the Element Optics Titan on my foxing rifle, for the money it’s unbeatable IMHO. 5x base mag and it also works brilliantly with rear NV.

 

[I. Farticus]

Don't lose sight of the warranties that the likes of Swarovski offer, and a Gen I Z6i isn't much over £1000.
Vortex scopes are worth considering as well as they have a Lifetime Warranty.
Finally, this has been hanging around for 5 years and is a cracking do all scope: For Sale: - TR23-2 Trijicon/AccuPoint® 5-20x50 Scope

 

[Ronin]

Because they work

Because it’s what I’m used to using and have done for the past two decades and of course ,,,,,,

Because I can and it’s my choice what I use on my rifles

Just to clear up any misjudgments

I use three rifles for killing deer

One has a 4-16 PM11 on it (bought new when prices were sensible)

One has a 4-16 Polar on it - bought second hand and a “traditional gentleman’s optic”,,,,f f s

The last has a 3-12 x 50 Klassic on it as it’s “that kind of rifle and would look over dressed with anything else,,,,,darlink “

 

[Heym SR20]

My advice to a novice hunter loki g for his first scope is to find the best S&B 6x42, 7x50 or 8x56 you can. Doesn’t really matter whether its German or Hungarian or 30mm or 1” tube. Get a 4A or 7A reticle. And learn to shoot it. Should not cost than £300 or so. Spend the rest of coin on ammo and hunting.

Once you have experience and get to know the sort of hunting / shooting you like to do and you are able to make decisions on experience then if you need / want you can upgrade.

I know, and have done so myself, got enthralled by illuminated, big fancy scopes, only to realise that I keep them on 6 or 8 power and I am carrying around extra weight and cash.

 

[User00040]

A decent first focal plane dial scope (older Bushnell Tactical or currently made SWFA SS, both US brands, Japanese made, too expensive to buy new in the UK, look for second hand!) and learn to read the ranges and wind via your reticle so you can either hold off or dial.

Many will talk 'glass' for hours yet fail to get to the point, a scope is there to direct your bullets. If it loses zero at the slightest knock, it's junk!

The scopes I mentioned above have a good reputation for tracking (dialling1 Mil gives you 1 Mil, none of this cm per 100m or inch per 100 yards rubbish) and return to zero, also holding zero.

You'll probably not have trouble seeing targets on a range as they are usually well lit (or outdoors). What matters for stalking/hunting is not colour or light transmission as much as target resolution (crispness). A lot of the high mag high dollar Euro optics from big names don't have a fine enough parallax adjustment for the real last light (or NV ) stuff.

But their marketing departments work overtime so they are seen on many rifles that only come out of the safe a few times a year (or decade, if at all...)

 

[zerovarm]

In a case like this I believe you would get the correct advise if you specified a rough budget and type of target work to be undertaken.

PJ

 

[zerovarm]

Likewise I have the Element Optics Titan on my foxing rifle, for the money it’s unbeatable IMHO. 5x base mag and it also works brilliantly with rear NV.

Ticks alot of boxes that scope as an all rounder

 

[I. Farticus]

For Sale: - Swarovski z6 2-12x50

Swarovski z6 2-12x50 4A Recticle 30mm tube Very Good condition one small mark as per pictures. Very good stalking scope . Will throw in new Swarovski lense cover (£80 to buy). Complete with original box and paperwork. Posted royal mail special delivery. £800 Ono

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

 

[Dalua]

Edit -

 

[Steff]

This is like Groundhog Day. We still have no clue what the OP wants to shoot at which ranges - but lots of advice …..