What scope on a 243??? Help???

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Claret_Dabbler said:
guy comes on here looking for scope advice on what I assume is his first deer rifle, he doesn't need a scope with side focus
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The problem is assumption, it may be an all round first rifle that will have to do stalking and foxing over open ground and dense woodland. If for example he went for the Delta it would do everything a fixed mag scope would plus a lot more. It may lack a few minutes at last light but mine will pick out a fox past legal deer stalking hours so it's pretty good. If after a few months/years it stays on 8x then go and get a fixed mag but if like me he finds himself zooming in and out depending on the situation and light levels and shooting at things beyond 300yards then more mag and focus is a must.
 
Wow, I really appreciate everyone's comments and I must say, my father has a Schmidt and bender 8x42 klassik which seems incredible at low level light scenarios and I took my first roe buck with it fitted on his Tilka t3 but just thought I could get by with the hawke on value for money and still get okay results at low light as they state it can achieve this.

maybe it's time to consider other options before I dive in and make a mistake that will take me some time to save and spend money again.

thanks so much ch for all the comments!
 
I'd definitely say go for a good quality second hand fixed mag (swaro/ S&B, Zeiss) 6x42/ 7x50/ 8x56 at that price point over a zoom. At that price you can get good scopes and you can get highly featured scopes. You are unlikely to a good, highly featured scope.

Then you'll also need a large bucket of iced water.

Every time the marketing shpeel gets you thinking you need zoom, parallax, illuminated, range finding etc etc - just stick your head in the iced water for a couple of minutes until the feeling goes away.

:tiphat:
 
You could go the second hand 6x42, 7x50 or 8x56 from Swarovski, Zeiss, S&B and if you don't like it or fancy a change after 12 - 18 months probably sell it for what you paid for it.
 
I'll echo much of what has been said about fixed S&B scopes etc above.

However, my .243 had a £250 second hand Leupold 3-9X50 on it, and it was perfect for what I used it for (roe and foxes). So much so that I now have that scope on one of my .270s.

I think the sensible approach is to decide on a price ceiling (sounds like £350 is yours), then draw up a short list of the brands you'd be happy using. My own personal, idiosyncratic list, based on what I've used and like, is S&B, Leupold and Meopta. I dislike Zeiss and think Swaro is overpriced. Then keep an eye out for ANY scope made by them in the range 6x42, 8x56, 3-9x50, 4-12x50, 7x50 (all will work perfectly well for what you need). Then take the first scope in good condition that meets all those criteria and stop worrying.

You do not need IR or side focus etc etc. Tube size does not matter. Make sure you get standard reticules (a4, a7, duplex), and not something odd, like German No1 post.
 
I agree with what Mungo says except I take issue with him about the "marmite" german No1 reticule.
If you aren't going illuminated, the No1 is fine unless you are shooting bunnies or crows at 300yards. At long range the post obscures small targets if you hold over your target. Deer size targets at normal stalking ranges are fine.
In low light the thick post is much more visible than a crosshair so arguably the No1 is better than plex or crosshair.
I have both types & have shot more foxes under the lamp & plenty of deer with a No1 on various rifles.
I currently use a Swaro with one on my 30-06 stutzen & can group better than 1 MOA with it (& I'm not a brilliant shot!)
One upside of the No1 scopes are that they aren't popular & cost quite a bit less on the second hand marketplace.
One make of scope not mentioned yet is the old school Pecar range - still up there with the best & built to last. Few & far between these days but within the OP's budget.

Ian
 
Just to represent the other side of the coin. I have an Edgar brothers opti mate 4-9x40 on my 243 which was my first rifle. About £100 and I can't fault it for first light fallow or on the hill, admittedly not used it at night. Every time I look through it at a deer I remember how pleased I am with it. I do use the variability, again despite what others say I find it useful when going between short range high seat work and longer range hill stalking.

I also have the American assembled Zeiss in a similar mag and whilst it twiddles more nicely and feels more luxurious I will never feel I have wasted money on my optimate and never want for a different scope when out with my 243. So horses for courses, some cheap scopes do work very well these days but the resale is never as good as a second hand big 3.
 
essexsussex,your optimate scope was made in japan by the same company that makes the delta rifle scopes:-P good luck to the op
 
Claret_Dabbler said:
With all due respect to the OP, if a guy comes on here looking for scope advice on what I assume is his first deer rifle, he doesn't need a scope with side focus and a load of rubbish hung on.

The default advice which is always offered here is absolutely correct, if in any doubt, buy a big name 8x56 and call it good. If you can afford a big name 3-12x50, then that is even better. Do not get seduced by a high mag cheap scopes.
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Good advice
 
Thers a fella on this site selling a Delta Titanium 2.5-15-50 for £530 and its got IR

Just stretch it a bit and grab that and your set for life

ATB
 
I have got a couple of Schmidt's I have a Meopta I have had Zeiss.But 16/17 years ago I came in late after having quite a lot to drink in my local got home at 2 in the morning had a look on eBay and bid on a ZOS a Chinese made scope which the blurb said was being used by the Chinese military anyway I bid on it and won it for £12 delivered from Shanghai anyway it arrived about 6 weeks later a 3-12x56 30mm tube with illuminated centre dot reticle complete with a set of rings I fitted it to a 222 where it stayed for a few years till I sold the rifle it was then fitted to a 223 and it has since been on a couple of 243s I still have it 16 years later it has never lost zero and it is very good in low light I was recently offered £75 for it which I turned down it has been a brilliant scope for any money never mind £12.
 
geordieh said:
I have got a couple of Schmidt's I have a Meopta I have had Zeiss.But 16/17 years ago I came in late after having quite a lot to drink in my local got home at 2 in the morning had a look on eBay and bid on a ZOS a Chinese made scope which the blurb said was being used by the Chinese military anyway I bid on it and won it for £12 delivered from Shanghai anyway it arrived about 6 weeks later a 3-12x56 30mm tube with illuminated centre dot reticle complete with a set of rings I fitted it to a 222 where it stayed for a few years till I sold the rifle it was then fitted to a 223 and it has since been on a couple of 243s I still have it 16 years later it has never lost zero and it is very good in low light I was recently offered £75 for it which I turned down it has been a brilliant scope for any money never mind £12.
Click to expand...

I just looked up zos as i'd never heard of them.....sure enough....several on ebay
 
The fewer "features" a scope has, the better it is likely to be, in my limited experience.
(NB: for "features", read "marketing gimmicks")
 
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