Leupold Vx3i 4.5-14x40 - sufficient for Elk?

[WestTexasBestTexas]

I am currently running a Leupold Vx3i 4.5-14x40 on a Browning Hells Canyon .270. To date it has mostly been used on southeastern whitetail hunts to which it has performed well.

However, I was recently stalking some small does (Florida) and even at maximum power (and dialed back to 10) 250-300 seemed like an unreasonable distance to take a confident shot.

Since I know these distances can be 300+ in the backcountry but the elk are much larger, should I feel confident in that power range?

I do know that most of this chalks up to the user and I’ll be spending ample time at a long distance range working on longer shots in case I have to reach out there a bit.

 

[Forest]

Definitely personal preference. Most would argue 14x is good out to a thousand yards. Old rule of thumb is 1x per 100 yards, for me thats a little light but I am real comfortable at 2x per 100. Out of all the elk I have killed I would guess 90% of the time I was under 10x. I dont even really think about turning it up from 6x until 400 yards or so personally. And I dont hunt in very heavily timbered areas

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[ReddingArcher]

I'd think you'd be fine. I killed an antelope doe at like 386 on a frontal and did'nt feel like I needed any more than that. 10" gongs at 500 are very doable as well.

 

[Hoodie]

Holy Crap, that´s a lot of magnification. I just switched from a 3-9x to a 1.5-4x this year to save weight. My personal max range is 300 and I don´t feel under-scoped on elk at all at 4x.

I´d argue if anything 14x is serious overkill at 300 and under, but a lot of this stuff is personal preference.

You felt like 14x was insufficient magnification to see the vitals at 250-300 or you didn´t feel you were able to achieve sufficient stability? FWIW higher magnification will make the floating of your cross-hairs significantly more apparent.

 

[Ross]

That is the scope I am currently running and it is more than enough out to 700 plus yards.....go have fun with it and get confident that you can shoot to the distance you need...practice is the key...good luck.

 

[cbeard64]

It’s plenty. The more you shoot with it at longer distances the more comfortable you will become.

 

[archp625]

I am with others. This scope is more than capable for long range. Sounds like you need to shoot more with the optic you have an get comfortable. Center is center no matter the power on the scope.

 

[WestTexasBestTexas]

You felt like 14x was insufficient magnification to see the vitals at 250-300 or you didn´t feel you were able to achieve sufficient stability? FWIW higher magnification will make the floating of your cross-hairs significantly more apparent.

It was more of a stability issue, however, the specific animals that I was looking at through the scope were pretty small. I would imagine it would be prudent to spend more time at the range!

 

[SDHNTR]

Get a better rest! The scope is just fine.

 

[Fish_on!]

Good to go..... shot a deer at 600 this year with same scope and it is plenty magnification.

 

[Blockcaver]

The 4.5-14X is plenty of scope. Have shot Prairie dogs to over 800 yards with one in good light of course. And a large number of elk with a bow and arrow with no magnification.

 

[Tradchef]

This guy took it behind the shoulder from my 25-06 with a vx3i 4.5 x 14. I thought he was 250ish but Ended up being a smidge over 300. You are totally fine with that scope.

 

[Marble]

I've killed probably 40+ elk with an almost identical scope. Just an older model. Anywhere from 35 to 650 yards. Works for me.

Never looses zero and had never failed me.

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[Honyock]

I can show you five elk that thought it was enough scope. Then again, I decided to shorten the distance instead of trying to hit them from the next county.