Stalking and range scope

[pj1]

Hi there.
ive been fortunate enough to be invited along to a rifle club and hope to be shooting much longer ranges than I am used to so I’m looking for advice on a suitable scope for stalking as well as range work.
I currently have a 6x42 which is lovely and clear and great for woodland stalking but more magnification would be good.
So 75% of the time it will be used for stalking. The rest or the time I’m hoping to be shooting from 100 to 1000 yards.
Not wanting to spend huge amounts so under a grand on suggestions please.
Thank you Pete

 

[stubear]

I have variably mag 2-12x50 scopes on both my scoped stalking rifles and have shot out to 600y with them no issues.

Maybe one of the Zeiss or Leupold scopes would be good? They are under a grand and good quality glass.

 

[I. Farticus]

Have a look for a secondhand Sightron on here. 6-24x50 would be good

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

I guess it depends whether you want exposed, ballistic type turrets or if you’d be happy unscrewing a cap and then manually dialling in elevation that way.
Also, does having a larger objective interfere with anything on your rifle? Do you want to still have the scope mounted as low as possible?

Finally, what diameter of tube do you currently have on the 6x42 - would you want to be able to use the same mounts for a different scope?

 

[jcampbellsmith]

I've looked at this question for nearly 20 years. I use a stalking scope for stalking and a target scope on the range.
Regards
JCS

 

[pj1]

Thank you.
I am currently using a Sauer 202 in 6.5x55 and the scope is inch diameter. Mounts are only at the cheaper end of the market so replacing them wouldn’t be to much of a burden. The barrel has got the base for iron sights still on but that can come off.
if I really get into the target stuff I would probably end up getting a rifle for the range and go back to using my Sauer for stalking. But that is a little way off yet so was looking for something to get me going on the range until such a time as I can afford another rifle.
I like scopes fairly low as I’m not particularly big myself and find I lift my head on really large objective scopes.
It’s been suggested to me that for 1000 ideally I would need 18 or 24 time s mag. And my research may be wrong but I think on some scopes with the higher mag range you get more elevation clicks. I guess though this is model and make dependant.
Would this be got round by having a 10 or 20 moa rail on the gun???
Sorry for all the questions just think there is too much choice

 

[caorach]

This is getting a little bit out of date now but is, that I know of, the most recent testing of rifle scopes that was carried out in any sort of reasonable manner.

Tactical Scopes: Field Test Results Summary & Overall Scores

This is the executive summary and overall scores from an epic scope field test focused on long-range...

precisionrifleblog.com

If you get the time it is worth reading the whole test. It is also worth noting which one of the big names are missing as I believe they will not allow their scopes to be subjected to comparative or quantative testing and that in itself might tell you something.

 

[pj1]

Thank you I will have a read

 

[Selous]

My all purpose range/stalking scope is a S&B PMII. Either a 3-12 or 4-16 would work admirably. They do come up occasionally secondhand for around your budget. Otherwise Kahles, Zeiss and Nightforce are worth a look and Sightron and Leupold are well respected too. There are also some new kids on the block like Vortex, Athlon and Delta that I have no experience of but seem well thought of by those who’s opinions I respect

 

[Scapegoat]

I've got a couple of Meopta ZD 6-24x56 scopes. One on my .243 foxing rifle and one on a 6.5CM CTR. Great quality glass, fantastic turrets with 1/4MOA adjustment, with enough elevation to shoot .243 out to 800 yards and the CTR out to 1000. Illuminated mildot reticle makes them ideal for low light stuff. I got both of them for under a grand used. I consider them to be good all-rounders.

 

[rem284]

nightforce or march

 

[FISH BOY]

I've got a couple of Meopta ZD 6-24x56 scopes. One on my .243 foxing rifle and one on a 6.5CM CTR. Great quality glass, fantastic turrets with 1/4MOA adjustment, with enough elevation to shoot .243 out to 800 yards and the CTR out to 1000. Illuminated mildot reticle makes them ideal for low light stuff. I got both of them for under a grand used. I consider them to be good all-rounders.

Tuco is selling a near new Meopta ZD 6x24 for under a grand.

Awesome scope for the range and amazing low light capability.

 

[Cottis]

If you can find a second hand Delta Stryker and don't mind adding another 4-500grams to your rig, that is the sort of scope I would potentially be looking for in your budget. Loads of elevation, plenty of illumination options, really good glass, solid build, decent turrets and even works with add ons. Few reticule choices and available in FFP or SFP to suit your preferences.

 

[pj1]

FFP or SFP there's another quandary.
i can see the advantage of the ffp but would worry on lower mag and in a gloomy wood i would lose the reticle

 

[Richiee_Nankz_Knivez]

there was a bloke selling a Nightforce NXS, on here the other day ive got one and love it

 

[Andy RV]

I quite like the S&B PMII 3-12x50 with the short single turn turrets for a multipurpose scope.

 

[ejg]

This season I was mainly using a 5-25PMII for stalking. At first sight it has the worst reticle possible, Grid2 which is very busy and quite light reticle being ffp at low mag. Illumination works very well though.
Once you have a hubble scope on... the deer step out right in front of you. First stag this season taken off-hand at 40yds which needed a finisher at 5m off hand through the head. I did not even notice the huge "handicap" of the scope or reticle. A week later another stag walking towards me at 30yds under the chin and later that day a spike at 410m across a valley. I have no issues with that scope and although Schmidt sent it to us as a test and demo scope I think I'll try keep it. Expensive but very good.

edi

 

[pj1]

nice, tis a little busy isnt it.

 

[pj1]

So in my quest to narrow down the options I have a couple of more questions.
1 would an exposed turret for elevation and a covered turret for windage work. (Zeiss conquest v4 ) I believe are like this.
2 If having covered turrets, is a reticle with multiple markings better than a plain duplex as holding off is more achieve able and conversely if using exposed turrets and dialing more is it better to have a simpler reticle.
For stalking my preference would be a fine duplex type with a small illuminated dot.
Ive got more used to milldot type recently for use on my air rifle but not sure I would like it on my stalking rifle.
There will be more questions I’m sure. Just trying to buy right once rather than ending up with scopes that get moved on and spending more.

 

[topscots1]

A vortex PST 6-24 would fit your needs for around 400 quid. Or push the boat to a nightforce nxs at between 800 and 1k used. I may be selling a PST come the weekend when I get back to the UK if you are interested drop me a message.