what optic on new rifle?

[Pro_guitar]

Evening,

i was looking for advise on a new scope for my .243. I predominatly use the rifle for roe in forestry land and some open fields. i am not too sure what to get but i reckon uo to £500 is the limit i have.

any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Cottontail killer]

You won't go wrong with any of the top brands and that's about entry money for a new one. But used will get you a much better scope

Paul

 

[Pro_guitar]

Im clue less with the size of them, 3-15x50 etc. what do you recommend?

 

[terrier1]

Swarovski 6x42 or 8x56 fixed

 

[YoungGun]

Personally, I would go for an 6*42, 7*50(meopta do a verygood one) , 8*56 if you are just going to use the rifle primarily for stalking.Variable just end up getting stuck on the same magnification, somewhere between6-8 usually.

Mike

 

[jimbo1984]

schmidt and bender 6 x 42 theres one on guntrader for 250 quid used! great glass and bombproof!

 

[Muir]

Im clue less with the size of them, 3-15x50 etc. what do you recommend?

Will you be shooting off hand?? Higher mags are harder to handle off hand.JMHO~Muir

 

[nuttyspaniel]

Ive just got a leupold 3-9x50 vxr firedot. Uttings are doing them for about £500 and offering 0% apr. 1st impresions are very good. I must admit that I am a leupold fan, but as mentioned earlier a Meopta 7x50 would also be a damn good scope for your rifle



nutty

 

[fbrad]

+1 for meopta 7x50.been using one for over 4 years now with great
result's from deer stalking to lamping .optic's just as good as my
schmidt /bender 8x56 if not better (IMHO).
hope this help's,
fbrad.

 

[caorach]

As with most things in life the really common and often used things are usually common and often used for a reason so my vote goes for the 6X42 or the 8X56. I have an 8X56 S&B which I bought second hand for about £250 and which I could probably sell for the same money and it is the only scope I use. I shoot sika in forestry, or occasionally on fields or reds on the hill, and the sika only emerge at last light so very similar circumstances to yourself. I've also shot deer from 20 yards to 230 with it and not suffered from any disadvantage from the magnification.

I tested the S&B against the 8X56 Swaro and found the light gathering of them to be equal, there was a group of us and we all agreed on this, and the S&B is usually a lot less expensive second hand or new so purely for reasons of cost I would recommend the S&B unless you especially want a Swaro. Should you find a second hand Nickel in your price range then buy it as I've found them better than either Swaro or S&B however the price is frightening and there aren't many about.

 

[Brithunter]

Im clue less with the size of them, 3-15x50 etc. what do you recommend?

It's already obvious that you have been seduced by a large variable scope hence the 3-15x50. yet the majority of the replies suggest a fixed magnification scope.. It will be interesting to see how this turns out .

I would normally suggest you try a few different scopes, sizes, makes if possibly but somehow I get the impression you have really made up you mind what you want.

If you were closer I would offer to let you examine a few different scopes. Unlike a shop I only have a few but at least you could try them outdoors across fields etc.

 

[Yorkie]

Any of the quality manufacturers 8x56 and i would be delighted with a Meopta 7x50 or 6x42, they are superb. I had a Meopta 6x42 on my first Stalking Rifle for years. Should you chose to get a variable then fine but you really do not need one for a Woodland Stalking Rifle.
My 2p worth.
Yorkie.

 

[tika243]

zeiss 6.5x20x50

 

[Apache]

Variable just end up getting stuck on the same magnification, somewhere between6-8 usually.

I agree to a point. There is no getting away from the fact that if you want to shoot a fox further away or happen to stumble upon a deer 15 yards away the ability to alter the magnification is great. If you have the capability you don't have to use it, but if your scope is fixed then it is fixed and you decide where on the brown blur you want to put the shot on the 15 yard target.

My opinion, an this differs to many, is that a higher mag gives a better view of the target and a better view of how steady you are. Yes you can seem to move more but that is only because you are moving more!

 

[Paul at Fechan]

I like big variables because like on my t3 that you've played there's optical advantages where you can zoom right in to assess something at distance or zoom right out when a deer is at 30m.

3-12 mag is a good variable range to cover any situation where you may be stalking but if foxing is in order then stepping up into the 4-16 or greater may be better. Fixed power lovers often say that high mag makes scope wobble worse but that's obviously an indicator of an unstable shooting position and you can always reduce the variable power to the most comfortable power for any shot.

I shot a beast in mature broadleaf woodland last monday and reduced the power to about x5 for the shot. The beast before that on an open hill with a little bit of distance at no less that x14 because in both situations I chose the picture that was best for me to deliver the shot. Best advice right now is to get a budget 3-12 like a hawke and get experienced. After a bit of time you'll know exactly what you want and you can treat yourself.

 

[fbrad]

the main reason that i choose a fix mag scope over a variable is that i spend too
much time getting right focus.
fix mag= aim,fire ,job done,
atb,
fbrad.

 

[Sierra]

Second hand swaro 8x56. You wont regret it

 

[Pro_guitar]

Thanks folks, that's greatly appreciated. I think I have settled on one offered to me from a kind gentleman on this forum. Your advice and thoughts will defiantly help

 

[Thar]

Second hand swaro 8x56. You wont regret it

I have a second hand hardly used (100 rounds) S&B 8X56 going for £350 ono, as an alternative to a Swaro.

ATB

Tahr

 

[jackfish]

May be interested in the S&B 8x56 if Pro-guitar does not take up the offer 1st...