Any new players in ultralight scope world?

[Blue72]

I don’t disagree it is heavy 13oz, no lighter options available. nothing on market that fit my need for lightweight scope with 2 or less power on lower end, good glass, reliable/warranty. Leupold put stupid cds on everything now leaving no reticle options, and no 2 power lightweights. Trijicon heavy too even with 1-6x24. I wouldn’t mind have z5 2.4-12, 50mm bell kills that. SWFA ultralight too cheap for option it provide. Do you have any in mind I don’t know about it?

I am in the same boat as you…not a lot of options

leupolds are one of the only few options available at 6-9 ounces for some of their scopes. I still like their lpvo and their 2.5x fixed is nice too. Since I don’t need a lot of magnification. Most of my shots are under 400 yards

I have also been resorting to red dots on some of my guns to save weight. Which have work well

 

[DoubleDown]

I am in the same boat as you…not a lot of options

leupolds are one of the only few options available at 6-9 ounces for some of their scopes. I still like their lpvo and their 2.5x fixed is nice too. Since I don’t need a lot of magnification. Most of my shots are under 400 yards

I have also been resorting to red dots on some of my guns to save weight. Which have work well

Red dot sounds great, I was considering them too. Do mine to share same pictures and specs of rifles with red dots? Thank you

 

[Blue72]

 

[TxxAgg]

^^^ never thought of that

how far can you shoot with that set up?

 

[Blue72]

^^^ never thought of that

how far can you shoot with that set up?

I can shoot red dots to 400 yards….I also have a magnifier,but rarely need it or use it

 

[TxxAgg]

That's awesome

 

[762 ULTRAMAGA]

If a 13 oz scope is just too heavy for you then get a good set of peep sights and learn to shoot with them.
I've played with optics on my AR and in the end went back to the Iron sights, they just work well inside 400 yards and nothing is faster

 

[Blue72]

If a 13 oz scope is just too heavy for you then get a good set of peep sights and learn to shoot with them.
I've played with optics on my AR and in the end went back to the Iron sights, they just work well inside 400 yards and nothing is faster

Red dot is faster and I would argue more accurate since you can get 1-3 MOA red dots compared to front sights of irons that are usually several MOA bigger

plus no gun smithing is required with red dots if your using a bolt gun

 

[762 ULTRAMAGA]

Red dot is faster and I would argue more accurate since you can get 1-3 MOA red dots compared to front sights of irons that are usually several MOA bigger

plus no gun smithing is required with red dots if your using a bolt gun

Nothing is faster than open sights, we ran aimpoints and standard peeps on the M4s I used in the military.
For CQB we were taught "front sight focus" and speed mattered.
Low light scenarios is where red dots excell, however I wouldn't put one on a heavier recoiling rifle they're too janky to handle that kind of abuse.

 

[Blue72]

Nothing is faster than open sights, we ran aimpoints and standard peeps on the M4s I used in the military.
For CQB we were taught "front sight focus" and speed mattered.
Low light scenarios is where red dots excell, however I wouldn't put one on a heavier recoiling rifle they're too janky to handle that kind of abuse.

not true, otherwise competitors would be using them instead of reflex sights

a quality red dot can handle any recoil you throw at it

 

[DoubleDown]

wild boar drive hunts in Europe. Everyone using aimpoint red dots, and they using heavy kickers

 

[bruceleroy]

Nothing is faster than open sights, we ran aimpoints and standard peeps on the M4s I used in the military.
For CQB we were taught "front sight focus" and speed mattered.
Low light scenarios is where red dots excell, however I wouldn't put one on a heavier recoiling rifle they're too janky to handle that kind of abuse.

Just because we were taught things in the military does not make them true. Red dots are absolutely faster in 99.99% of scenarios to include close quarters battle. And they are 100% capable of very heavy recoiling rifles. A 5.56 or 7.62 will do nothing to these.
A red dot on a bolt action is something I toyed with for a bit as well. I have moved to higher magnification but am currently building a intermediate cartridge bolt gun with red dot that will be used on deer and elk. The light weight argument is pointless. Dudes are seriously acting like an 18 ounce scope will ruin a hunt. A 30 oz one might but these arguments are ridiculous and filled with more opinion than fact.

 

[WRM]

Leupold had a bevy of great lightweight scopes...and nobody bought them so they quit making them.

Quit demanding super long range Hubbles that'll stop a tank round without shifting zero and they might start making them again.

When ounces count, I stick a 4x33 or 6x36 on it and go kill stuff.

What he said.

We had a discussion on Leupold 6 x 36 on another thread (they also make a 6 x 42). Time was fixed scopes ruled the world. And plenty of stuff got killed with them. They can be light because there isn't so much "stuff" inside them that can go wrong--the 6 x 36 is 8.9 ozs on my scale. Lack of complexity also can improve light transmission (in quality scopes). Leupold 6 x 36 can be had for under $300 and lifetime wty--that's a heck of a deal. If you are shooting "big game", how often do you really need more than 6x mag?

I love a red dot, but have astigmatism so I get the "starburst" on all I've used. Limits me to pretty short range, but I run a Trijicon MRO on my custom .45-70 and it is real handy in thick stuff. Can switch it out to a Leupold VX R 2-7 x 33 if needed. Sadly the VX R line has been discontinued. Both are on QR mounts. Irons are peep sight.

On the downside, you can't use a Leupold to pound in a fence post on chore day. Somebody said Nightforce authorized and warranties that use.

 

[762 ULTRAMAGA]

What he said.

We had a discussion on Leupold 6 x 36 on another thread (they also make a 6 x 42). Time was fixed scopes ruled the world. And plenty of stuff got killed with them. They can be light because there isn't so much "stuff" inside them that can go wrong--the 6 x 36 is 8.9 ozs on my scale. Lack of complexity also can improve light transmission (in quality scopes). Leupold 6 x 36 can be had for under $300 and lifetime wty--that's a heck of a deal. If you are shooting "big game", how often do you really need more than 6x mag?

I love a red dot, but have astigmatism so I get the "starburst" on all I've used. Limits me to pretty short range, but I run a Trijicon MRO on my custom .45-70 and it is real handy in thick stuff. Can switch it out to a Leupold VX R 2-7 x 33 if needed. Sadly the VX R line has been discontinued. Both are on QR mounts. Irons are peep sight.

On the downside, you can't use a Leupold to pound in a fence post on chore day. Somebody said Nightforce authorized and warranties that use.

A warranty doesn't do much when your 8 oz leupold loses zero.
Ask around you'll hear horror stories from a pile of hunters.
I have a personal friend who missed a really nice bull at 100 yards when his vx2 shit the bed on him.
He went home and shot a nice 4' group with it, hey but he got it fixed for free

 

[Blue72]

The light weight argument is pointless. Dudes are seriously acting like an 18 ounce scope will ruin a hunt. A 30 oz one might but these arguments are ridiculous and filled with more opinion than fact.

many hunters are also ultralight backpackers, when every ounce counts…once you experience how much more comfortable - with your back straight and head up, you can breathe easier and see more of the nature around you. Ability to travel faster and farther using less energy - Less weight on your back means more energy for side trails! Especially when hiking 10 miles out on elevated terrain.

18 ounces is over a pound, that is some serious weight you will feel a few miles out…and that’s just the scope!…if you ignore the weight of all the other gear as well. It can seriously drag you down….why carry a 30-60 pound traditional backpack when you can carry 3-8 ultralight backpack set up.

 

[fightthenoise]

many hunters are also ultralight backpackers, when every ounce counts…once you experience how much more comfortable - with your back straight and head up, you can breathe easier and see more of the nature around you. Ability to travel faster and farther using less energy - Less weight on your back means more energy for side trails! Especially when hiking 10 miles out on elevated terrain.

18 ounces is over a pound, that is some serious weight you will feel a few miles out…and that’s just the scope!…if you ignore the weight of all the other gear as well. It can seriously drag you down….why carry a 30-60 pound traditional backpack when you can carry 3-8 ultralight backpack set up.

Yes we get it, you’re preaching to the choir. But if you’re not in good enough shape to carry an 18 oz scope, you’re not going to get in front of animals with an 8 oz scope either.

The chances of a hunt being ruined over 10 ounces are far lower than the chances of a hunt being ruined because you got some scope made of paper and glass that can’t take the heat.

I carry Nightforce because the whole point of the hunt - all that money spent, all that time exercising, meal prepping, e-scouting, scouting, prepping - is to get a bullet where I want it. I can cut weight elsewhere. Show me a 30 lbs load out with a 6x Leupold and a 30 lbs 10 oz load out with a Nightforce and I will gladly carry the extra 10 oz.

Lots of stuff can fail and you just deal with it and be a little more miserable. A scope failure is a show stopper and I will not tolerate show stoppers.

 

[Blue72]

Yes we get it, you’re preaching to the choir. But if you’re not in good enough shape to carry an 18 oz scope, you’re not going to get in front of animals with an 8 oz scope either.

The chances of a hunt being ruined over 10 ounces are far lower than the chances of a hunt being ruined because you got some scope made of paper and glass that can’t take the heat.

I carry Nightforce because the whole point of the hunt - all that money spent, all that time exercising, meal prepping, e-scouting, scouting, prepping - is to get a bullet where I want it. I can cut weight elsewhere. Show me a 30 lbs load out with a 6x Leupold and a 30 lbs 10 oz load out with a Nightforce and I will gladly carry the extra 10 oz.

Lots of stuff can fail and you just deal with it and be a little more miserable. A scope failure is a show stopper and I will not tolerate show stoppers.

I don’t care how in shape you are, heavy equipment is going to slow you down and wear you out. Especially when you are hiking with people who are faster then you and you become a drag to everybody else.

plenty of lightweight mountain rifle builds out there that can get the job done reliably. I’ve never had optic issues. I think some hunters are like some AK and glock owners who are convinced that nothing else will hold up.

the fact that you have a 30 lb load out, tells me you never experienced the benefits of going lightweight or even ultralight. Nothing wrong with that, but this topic probably isn’t for you. It’s for those where ounces matter for a more pleasurable hunt.

 

[hodgeman]

A warranty doesn't do much when your 8 oz leupold loses zero.
Ask around you'll hear horror stories from a pile of hunters.
I have a personal friend who missed a really nice bull at 100 yards when his vx2 shit the bed on him.
He went home and shot a nice 4' group with it, hey but he got it fixed for free

Meh...I've got several of the old Leupold fixed powers. The only one that failed went down a scree chute on my back. It was still serviceable but fogged.

The zero on my 2.5x IER has never been adjusted since it left the Steyr factory, in 1998.

Are Leupold's bulletproof? Not even close, but they're good enough for most folks.

 

[mtwarden]

I've got a 6x36 (actually two) and they definitely haven't been babied. I mean I try to baby any scope I use, but almost always there is a slip, a fall, a drop. After 15-ish years of hard hunting with both scopes, they still hold zero and have had no problems whatsoever. I wouldn't hesitate to purchase another.

Another scope to look at are the Swaro Z3 ones (3x9 and 3.5-10)- not uber light, but still damn light. While I think the glass in the upper end Leupold's is very good, after looking side by side w/ the Z3's, the Swaro is better. They also offer a couple of pretty good reticles

 

[JDBAK]

Nothing is faster than open sights, we ran aimpoints and standard peeps on the M4s I used in the military.
For CQB we were taught "front sight focus" and speed mattered.
Low light scenarios is where red dots excell, however I wouldn't put one on a heavier recoiling rifle they're too janky to handle that kind of abuse.

I couldn't disagree with that more strongly. You'd see irons dominating in run and gun hose-fests stages if that were true (3 gun, USPSA PCC, etc). Also with assaulters who can run whatever they want. Irons don't compete. I humbly suggest there's a bigger world and experience pool out there to get familiarized with. And yes, I've spent a fair bit of time with military marksmanship training and competition (including CQB), competitive shooting, and with some of the top name trainers (Frank Proctor, Larry Vickers, Mike Pannone) out there.

Kyle Defoor ran this experiment pretty hard some years back. He found that yes, with a lot of practice, irons can just about hang for speed with a Aimpoint: assuming ideal lighting, and without introducing alternate and compromised firing positions, or moving shooters and moving targets. Introduce any of those real world problems, and the red dot rules. But that took consistent practice.

Without a lot of practice, forget it. There are benefits to training with irons....you develop a great index from having to present the gun so precisely. But in the real world application of speed...its a red dot world, and the LPVOs are getting close.