Lightweight Hunting Scope for 600 yards max range

[HornPorn]

Please spare me the "drop test" links. I'm not a member of the congregation, but I'm happy for those of you who are.

What scopes would you recommend for a lightweight build for hunting deer sized game out to 600 yards?

Thanks

 

[wnelson14]

Swfa 3-9

 

[justinspicher]

I am a fan of using LVPOs for this scenario you are describing, some folks don’t like the smaller objective lenses due to lowlight visibility limitations. I have not had an issue with this though.

I like my NF NXS 1-4x24 with an MOA reticle for this application on my 556 bolt gun. The scope can be dialed for elevation and I have had no issues hitting steel at 600yds so I am sure a deer would be pretty easy as well.

 

[nobody]

SWFA 3-9
Maven RS1.2 2.5-15
SWFA Fixed 6x or 10x
Trijicon Credo 2-10 or 3-15

To clarify, are you stating you don’t care if the recommendations have passed, or you specifically DONT want something that has passed the drop test?

 

[Ethan Parry]

Take a series look at Swarovski Z5 3.5-18x44 BT. Sub 16 ounces. Easy/fast to use turret built for hunting. Outstanding glass and bulletproof construction. At a fair price.

 

[SDHNTR]

Take a series look at Swarovski Z5 3.5-18x44 BT. Sub 16 ounces. Easy/fast to use turret built for hunting. Outstanding glass and bulletproof construction. At a fair price.

A Swarovski Z series is the absolute opposite of “bulletproof construction”, but I’ll give you the outstanding glass. Paper thin tubes and plastic internal parts. That’s why it’s so light.

 

[Dust Rider]

Trijicon AccuPoint 3-9x40

 

[madcalfe]

nightforce nxs 2-10x42 gets my vote

 

[S.Clancy]

Trijicon Huron 3-9x40 BDC. The drops line up really well for 6.5 Creed and 140s out to 500 yds and the scope dials fine for longer shots.

 

[HornPorn]

nightforce nxs 2-10x42 gets my vote

reticle too thin

Trijicon Huron 3-9x40 BDC. The drops line up really well for 6.5 Creed and 140s out to 500 yds and the scope dials fine for longer shots.

no parallax

 

[S.Clancy]

no parallax

Isn't an issue.

I have the scope on a lightweight Kimber 6.5 Creed and can easily shoot 50 to 500+.

 

[handwerk]

I'd look at the Leica Amplus 3-18x44 with L4a Reticle. At 23.6 oz. it's not what I would call lightweight.
I just put it on my Kimber build and so far there is a lot to like.

 

[gr8fuldoug]

The new Swarovski Z5+ Series is certainly worth consideration

 

[Bugger]

These will be released soon, I’ll be picking up the one with exposed elevation and illuminated wind plex reticle for the same use case.

Fullfield 3-12x42 | Burris Optics

www.burrisoptics.com

 

[S.Clancy]

These will be released soon, I’ll be picking up the one with exposed elevation and illuminated wind plex reticle for the same use case.

Fullfield 3-12x42 | Burris Optics

www.burrisoptics.com

That is a sweet looking scope

 

[mtwarden]

Trijicon AccuPoint 3-9x40

After looking pretty hard, this is what I went with too. The lighted (tritium/fiber optic) reticle is nice (I went w/ the green) and weight is just a touch over 13 oz.

I went with the mil reticle and by fitting around with shooterscalculator.com, I can use the mils as holdovers; I think you can dial with it too, but the elevation/windage adjustments are capped, so not ideal.

 

[Jake Larsen]

reticle too thin

It’s not perfect, but it certainly works. I’ve got two, and regularly shoot well beyond 600 yards with mine. There is no perfect answer here, we’ve all been trying to get one for ages. We all want:

Durable (reliable), tracks, good glass, good reticle, capped windage, locking elevation turret, functional parallax, 20oz or less

You can’t have them all, it’s a tradeoff of features no matter what you choose. The NSX 2.5-10 is a good set of these features IMO. Another great option is the S&B Klassik 3-12x42


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[nobody]

@HornPorn you’re shooting down a lot of good options, maybe you should add your other requirements so people will give recommendations you haven’t already decided against? (IE parallax, reticle requirements, Mils vs MOA, exposed vs capped turrets, weight requirements, etc)

 

[TaperPin]

The fixed 10x scopes were popular for a while on light weight custom guns, but new production of most makes is almost kaput. Swfa and US Optics 10x are a little heavy.

Eventually someone decent will make a light 10x or 8x again.

My 600 yard solution is a used fixed 8x with an aftermarket elevation dial and it comes in at about 10 ounces. My old 500 yard max range worked quite ok with a 6x and 8x is very similar at 600.

 

[Spiral Horn]

I have several Z5s and while they are a superbly bright, sharp and lightweight scope, their erector system isn’t great for a ballistic turret. Mine wear the BDH reticle which has proven very effective over time as I limit my shots to ~500 yards or less.

Believe the new Z5+ will prove much more durable. They are a metal erector system and more robust than the original Z5. In fact, I put my money where my mouth is and just put one on my 6.5 PRC. Still very lightweight for the feature set. With illumination and the ballistic reticle ~19oz, and with the ballistic turret ~21.