So What scope do you use and why?

SaOsborne

Well-Known Member
I have had my fair share of scopes and am currently using a Zeiss Victory Diavari FL 6-24 X 56 T* on a Tikka T3 light in .243, but feel my critical last light performance is being compromised by too much glass.

I can hear you all now, well ditch the high zoom scope and go for a fixed 8X.

I came from a stunning S & B 8 X 56, but as an active club member found I just couldn't compete in the stalking comps, sometimes out to 300yds, getting the Zeiss fixed this, but I feel I am missing out on last light shots as a result.

I have looked at the 72 mm objective version, but that's a big piece of glass to haul around (any comment/experience?).

I sometimes find upping the power on those longer range/ difficult shots in cover really helpful, and find 10-12 commonly used and on odd occasions, 16-20 X even for stalking.

Am getting a .260 (maybe subject for a new post!), so may be able to split the two disciplines in the future, but in the meantime......

Whats your thoughts on the best zoom range, glass quality, make, model, to allow for competitive and stalking needs into that last light shot?

(waiting for the bun fight!)
 
Relevant question, I think. As you age, the max diameter to which your pupils can dilate reduces. Maybe 8mm for a young kid, 5mm as an OAP. So if you're 65 with, say, 5mm pupils, you might be buying (and carrying) large objectives, but unable to reap any benefit (other than a more tolerant eye alignment)
8x56 = 7mm exit diameter. This wouldn't appear any brighter than 8x40 = 5mm exit diameter.
 
Without doubt age is a consideration. I'm 59 and started to wear reading glasses around 3 years ago. My long vision has always been excellent and generally still is. But the dilation issue is affecting me. To be honest I notice it most when doing an evening duck flight. Whilst there is still a bit of gloaming I am on the button and can see the ducks before most people, but a little bit darker and I have to give way to those younger.

As for specific scopes, there are so many differing conditions and likes by the user to be taken into consideration that I will leave any observations on that to my betters.
 
Relevant question, I think. As you age, the max diameter to which your pupils can dilate reduces. Maybe 8mm for a young kid, 5mm as an OAP. So if you're 65 with, say, 5mm pupils, you might be buying (and carrying) large objectives, but unable to reap any benefit (other than a more tolerant eye alignment)
8x56 = 7mm exit diameter. This wouldn't appear any brighter than 8x40 = 5mm exit diameter.
That may be so, but with the big 56mm Zeiss you can get the 5mm EP at 11x compared to 8x in the 8x40.
 
Always a with a zoom as it will do for long range shots and you can decrease the zoom for close shots.

Always one of the top German makes, with a 30mm tube and at least a 50mm objective lens.
 
I have a Leupold VX-2 4-12x50 in low light I can see more by looking through the scope than I can with the naked eye
 
I find my Swarovski z6I 2.5-15x44 is a great lightweight scope I've never sat there and thaught Damm I really bought the wrong scope , even with a smaller objective size It's never lacked in the last light department I do draw the line on last light shots probably way befour the scope can realistically see tho as I shoot for sport rather than culled numbers I'm quite happy to let the odd deer pass for another day

I use 6-8 X mag most the time although I have been caught out with a few deer at about 10-20 + yards and wound it down a touch


if im checking zero I'll use 15 X



to be fair the scope u have is about as good as you'll get really your not going to gain anything if you sell it and buy something else
 
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I have a Swarovski Habiccht 4-12x50 on the 243 and 6x42 (Meopta, Zeiss and Swaro) on the rest. For stalking with my eyes 6x42 is perfect, but once in a while with the swaro I turn it up for a long shot on a fox or when shooting a target.

But I am not target shooting at 300 yds.
 
I have had my fair share of scopes and am currently using a Zeiss Victory Diavari FL 6-24 X 56 T* on a Tikka T3 light in .243, but feel my critical last light performance is being compromised by too much glass.

I can hear you all now, well ditch the high zoom scope and go for a fixed 8X.

I came from a stunning S & B 8 X 56, but as an active club member found I just couldn't compete in the stalking comps, sometimes out to 300yds, getting the Zeiss fixed this, but I feel I am missing out on last light shots as a result.

I have looked at the 72 mm objective version, but that's a big piece of glass to haul around (any comment/experience?).

I sometimes find upping the power on those longer range/ difficult shots in cover really helpful, and find 10-12 commonly used and on odd occasions, 16-20 X even for stalking.

Am getting a .260 (maybe subject for a new post!), so may be able to split the two disciplines in the future, but in the meantime......

Whats your thoughts on the best zoom range, glass quality, make, model, to allow for competitive and stalking needs into that last light shot?

(waiting for the bun fight!)


Trouble is it depends on which scope you but with some manufacturors

I have two Swaro 2.5 15 56 and they are simply epic

I have a Swaro 2 12 50 which is also epic

I had a Swaro 8X56 which was very very good but I wanted variable

I had a Swaro 5-30X 50 and it was good but very slow to the eye

I had a Zeis Durlite 2 12 50 which was vey very good

I have a Zeis Conquest 6 22 50 which is not particularly good and its slow to the eye

I had a Shmidt and Bender 8 X 56 which was good but not as good as the Swaro

I have two Leopolds a 3 -9 and a 2 -12 and for the money they are good but again not a scratch on the swaro

I have no doubt that a modern top end Zeiss is fantastic but I have never looked through one and the two I have dont come close to the Swaro


For my shooting I want woodland wide view close range (10-20m sometimes and long range max will be 200m. So for me the 2.5-15 X 56 Swaro Z6i covers all that range and its stunning glass.

I also had/have the 2-12 X 50 Swaro Z6i which frankly was perfictly adiquate for the same operational window but being a bit of a kit tart I am selling it as I swaped it for the 15/56 so both my rifels matched.

ATB

Chasey
 
If you wear glasses, it might be worth getting a pair made with no anti-reflective coatings or polarizing treatment or any other magic technology.

I did that (largely to avoid the "poor old blind bloke, can't even see through a Swaro 56" banter) and with the new glasses my last-light vision suddenly started to match that of my younger colleagues.
 
Having had both scopes and the 72mm version which was great at last light . Ive owned quite a few scopes and my opinion is in this order
8x56 Swarovski or SB
zeiss diavari 3-12x56 illuminated
SB zenith 2.5-10x56 illuminated
swarovski z6i 2.5-15x56
 
If you wear glasses, it might be worth getting a pair made with no anti-reflective coatings or polarizing treatment or any other magic technology.

I did that (largely to avoid the "poor old blind bloke, can't even see through a Swaro 56" banter) and with the new glasses my last-light vision suddenly started to match that of my younger colleagues.

Thank you the heads up as I wear glasses and of course they have the coatings. Oddly enough have been thinking of getting a new single vision pair just for using the aperture sights, binos, and scopes.
 
Fixed power 6x42 does the job for me (55yo, prescription glasses). Light to carry, reliable. Those who have a variable power scope generally have it turned down to x4 or x6 when out stalking, there must be a good reason for that.
The 'last shootable light' moment is more to do with the background the deer is in front of, cloud cover, brightness of the moon and factors such as back-lit silhouetted deer than the brand and model of your scope.
 
Zeiss V8 1.8-14X50 ASV , on my .270 R8, absolutely stunning glass and covers me from driven shooting to stalking.
 
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