Leupold 2.5-8 on 300 Winchester for Elk

[Stray Horse]

What are your opinions? I had a Mark 4 6.5-20 and hated it all around. It was too heavy on my Tikka. I thought too much power on the low end. It was nice for target shooting.

 

[journeyman713]

The 8 power is going to leave you wanting more in elk country.

 

[lyle_destroys]

How far are looking to be shooting?

 

[Stray Horse]

I've never shot over 309 yards ay game. I'd like to keep it under 400.

 

[mmac]

I think it depends on the elk country you are hunting. I have found myself dialing down to 6 or so on my latest hunts as they shots were under 100 yards. I am embarrassed to say, but I had it set at 18x two years ago and missed a shot as I couldn't find it quick enough. But if you think you are shooting farther than 300, you may want more.

 

[11boo]

I have been transitioning my elk guns to lighter, lower power variables. The 45-70 has always had a 2x which works well, but it will be getting a 30mm 1x4 or 5 once I figure out how to get it mounted low enough

 

[ChrisAU]

I've never shot over 309 yards ay game. I'd like to keep it under 400.

I think you'd be fine then. An SWFA 3-9 hasn't stopped me or my hunting partner from taking elk in the 360 yard range the last two years.

 

[JPeters218]

All my elk have been 100yds or less. I don’t carry binos so I just use my scope to confirm the elk is legal. That’s when some magnification is nice. I currently have a 4.5-14x, but I find myself sitting around the 7-9x range when it comes time to shoot. But I also used a 3-9x40 for 8+ years and never felt like I was shorted.
So to answer your question I think you’d be fine. If you’re hunting open country just carry a set of binos with you and you’ll be just fine

 

[LightFoot]

My rule of thumb is a minimum 1x per 100 yards. I have the 2.5-8x on a 6.5prc. Great scope and I am comfortable to poke out to 300+ yards, depending on conditions. If it had a dial on it, I would be comfortable past 400.

Go for it!

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

 

[FLAK]

Thats what I got on my .300WM.
And thats what I take when I hunt out West.
Perfect IMO.
If you need more than 8x, your stalking skills might
need some work.

 

[TxxAgg]

Sounds sexy

 

[stevevan]

Sounds sexy

Excellent choice. Too much emphasize is put on magnification now days and ridiculous long range shooting at game. How do I know? Experience. Without wanting to sound like I'm boosting I've punched 26 elk tags and Lord knows a fair number of Caribou, Moose, Sheep, Deer, etc. using various rifles but never with a scope more than 10x on the high end. Use that 2.5x8 and never look back.

 

[Cannonball]

one advantage i can think of is if you are using a ballistic reticle on a second focal plane scope, you may not want to have that much magnification at the top end

 

[Blockcaver]

2.5-8X with B&C reticule is in my coyote calling .223 Kimber Montana. Love the scope and no trouble shooting coyotes out to 350 yards. Elk would be a piece of cake with a good rifle and that scope...I've shot over 30 elk with my bow with zero magnification.

 

[TxxAgg]

I just put a fixed 6 on a 243. Kinda like the easy button...just point and shoot inside 300 yds. I've never shot animals past that anyways.

 

[CApighunter]

Those 2.5-8 leupys are great scopes. It’s a shame they discontinued the B&C reticle, I’ll never part with mine.

 

[LaGriz]

+1,

I purchased one of these (on Rokslide) with the BDC reticle for my grandson's Model 70 Win featherweight. I find it to be a great match for both the .308 chambering and the compact size & weight. It just looks correct on the rifle. I became a little envious once I learned they no longer offer it with the BDC reticle. My gunsmith was a big fan of my choice for this unit for boys 1st rifle. He and his son both have rigs with this same VX-3 2.5X8X36MM scope. Leupold Quality and C.S. is well known.

I'm also fond of the Swarovski 3X9X36MM Z-3 that costs nearly twice as much. A Z-3 3X10X42 would be hard to beat too. The advantage of such a light weight (9-12 oz.) low profile scope combined with high quality glass & fully multi-coated lenses is hard to beat on a hunting rifle. Another benefit, a rifle so equipped should be compatible with most rifle scabbards.

LaGriz

 

[fmyth]

2.5-8X with B&C reticule is in my coyote calling .223 Kimber Montana. Love the scope and no trouble shooting coyotes out to 350 yards. Elk would be a piece of cake with a good rifle and that scope...I've shot over 30 elk with my bow with zero magnification.

Damn! 30 elk with a bow? I've never met anyone who has been that successful with a bow. Congrats.
Afraid I won't live long enough to kill 30 elk bow and rifle combined.

 

[Blockcaver]

Colorado had great archery either sex "meat" hunting which led to a fair number of 4-5 pointers and cows. Tried hard to get one for the freezer every year. If I had 10 days to archery hunt elk it usually led to a packing job. I did get a few 6 pointers too. Elk are the perfect archery animal and great eating.

We could buy a second cow tag for private land as well, but typically only wanted one for the freezer as it filled it.

 

[Jim1187]

Probably one of my favorite scopes for hunting anything bigger than wood chucks, and even for them I could get by with one. I'd hunt all of NA's medium and large game with one on a 300 Win Mag.