Mil Hunting Scopes with Dialable Turrets

[Nillion]

After hauling my Vortex PST Gen 2 around the high desert of WY, I've decided I needed a lighter weight option for my rifle. Now my question is, what options do I have for a light weight, mil turret hunting scope? I generally prefer a FFP but I'm open to a SFP if it's a useable reticle. I'm thinking somewhere in the 3-15ish range, sub-25 oz, less than $1500 range, and reliable tracking. I find myself never using illumination despite having it on most of my scopes, so that's a non factor for me.

I'm aware of the SWFA range and the new Vortex LHTs, but what else is out there?

 

[Wapiti1]

Sightron SIII 6-24X50. Several MIL models with different additional features. They also have the S-TAC 3-16 and 4-20. The S-TACs are more of a price point scope, they track well and are reported to be reliable (I have no first hand knowledge of this), but the glass is OK to good. Not the level of the SIII for glass. Again, that is second hand, I have only used SIII scopes from Sightron and they are solid.

Trijicon Credo 2.5-15X42, Credo 4-16X50, Tenmile 3-18X44 All of these are available in MIL.

Everything else that I can think of is MOA only or made in China. The scopes above are made in Japan or the Phillipines (S-TAC).

Jeremy

 

[ChrisAU]

I am still searching for the perfect scope and sounds like we have essentially the same wants. Currently I have a 2.5-15x42 Trijicon Credo on my main rifle, and that'll be what goes Antelope hunting with me next week. I do wish it was FFP, but in reality if its long enough for me to hold over its long enough for me to dial. I also like the illumination on it. Capped windage, zero stop exposed elevation. Clicks are nice, but not the best. Has tracked perfectly this summer practicing with it.

That said, I'll be the first to jump on the next thing that comes out. I keep wanting to just slap a 3.6-18x44 Mark 5HD on it, but limited mounting options (35mm tube) and the bottom end FOV have kept me from doing it so far. I did just get a new 3.6-18x44 Mark 5HD today with the PR1 MIL reticle, its going on my 6.5 PRC and will get some field trials during whitetail season this year.

 

[Swandive]

This is exactly what I was going to suggest.
not really under $1500 but IMHO totally the way to go 3-18 MarkV is the best glass for the $ with the features.
I am running the 5-25 MarkV on my elk Rifle and I think I could have she'd the Lil more weight and gone with the 3-18.

 

[aaronoto]

Maven RS.3 would come pretty darn close to all those requirements. I have a Razor LHT and have been very happy with it though.

 

[eric1115]

Bushnell LRHS 3-12 or 4.5-18. FFP, dead solid tracking and reliability, 26 oz, capped windage and exposed elevation. Made by LOW in Japan. I love mine, the LHT FFP I picked up did not unseat it from my main LR hunting rifle.

 

[shax2lex]

Bushnell LRHS 3-12 or 4.5-18. FFP, dead solid tracking and reliability, 26 oz, capped windage and exposed elevation. Made by LOW in Japan. I love mine, the LHT FFP I picked up did not unseat it from my main LR hunting rifle.

I have the same Bushnell LRHSi 4-18. Perfect for shooting and hunting. The new ones aren’t illuminated but have better glass and cost under $1k. I prefer the old ones.

I also got a NF NX8 4-32 as my new match/hunting scope. That’s probably out of your price range but so far it seems like to be popular too.

 

[st1650]

S&B Klassik 3-12x42 with BDC turret (which is 0.1 mil per click)
- 20oz
- FFP
- Illuminated (if you want) - I love illum in low light on a FFP reticle. You'll regret the day that you need it and don't have it.
- Mil dot reticle (p3l)
- Capped windage.
- S&B Reliability and glass quality
It is literally the best hunting scope in its category (lightweight FFP 1500-1700$). I just got one to replace my POS Vortex 3-15 LHT HD that completely lost zero for absolutely no reason. Second Vortex that shits the bed during hunting season. March 3-24 would be probably the best compact hunting/hybrid scope but they aren't cheap.
The S&B BDC turrets gives me 3.2 mil of elevation which is more than enough for most calibers to 500-600 yards.
Bushnell LRTsi/LRHsi 3-12 is a close second. It's an amazing value if you can find it around 1000$.

If you don't need illum - you can get the S&B Precision Hunter which the SKU in the USA.

 

[Geewhiz]

After hauling my Vortex PST Gen 2 around the high desert of WY, I've decided I needed a lighter weight option for my rifle. Now my question is, what options do I have for a light weight, mil turret hunting scope? I generally prefer a FFP but I'm open to a SFP if it's a useable reticle. I'm thinking somewhere in the 3-15ish range, sub-25 oz, less than $1500 range, and reliable tracking. I find myself never using illumination despite having it on most of my scopes, so that's a non factor for me.

I'm aware of the SWFA range and the new Vortex LHTs, but what else is out there?

This fits your bill as far as I can tell.

3-15x42 | SWFA

Sports Optics, Hunting Gear, Hunting Supplies and Accessories

swfa-ss.com

 

[ChrisAU]

S&B Klassik 3-12x42 with BDC turret (which is 0.1 mil per click)
- 20oz
- FFP
- Illuminated (if you want) - I love illum in low light on a FFP reticle. You'll regret the day that you need it and don't have it.
- Mil dot reticle (p3l)
- Capped windage.
- S&B Reliability and glass quality
It is literally the best hunting scope in its category (lightweight FFP 1500-1700$). I just got one to replace my POS Vortex 3-15 LHT HD that completely lost zero for absolutely no reason. Second Vortex that shits the bed during hunting season. March 3-24 would be probably the best compact hunting/hybrid scope but they aren't cheap.
The S&B BDC turrets gives me 3.2 mil of elevation which is more than enough for most calibers to 500-600 yards.
Bushnell LRTsi/LRHsi 3-12 is a close second. It's an amazing value if you can find it around 1000$.

If you don't need illum - you can get the S&B Precision Hunter which the SKU in the USA.

Which S&B SKU do you have? Every time I start to look at one I get bogged down trying to figure out what I’m looking for, that sounds pretty close.

 

[st1650]

Which S&B SKU do you have? Every time I start to look at one I get bogged down trying to figure out what I’m looking for, that sounds pretty close.

My SKU is 645-811-882-30-05a02 but I'm in Canada so ymmv. The one I see at Eurooptics not sure if they have the wrong picture but theirs doesn't have the BDC turret which I have (it says optional on the spec sheet). But yeah I never really get excited with scopes, most of my purchases have been reliable Japan glass specc from LOW such as Burris XTR II, Bushnell HDMR II, Athlon Cronus and a few Leupold VX-R Patrol and VX6HD (which I quite like) but I really really like this S&B. Sure it's not a mk5 3.5-18 with 30 mils of usable elevation. But up here in Canada, an illuminated MK5 TMR reticle is *twice* the price of the Klassik that I just purchased and I don't believe for my needs, as a light weight dedicated hunting scope that I will be missing out on the extra mag or the extra elevation. But I know in the USA, there are some good deals on MK5s if you're LEO and by all means they are very nice hunting/tactical crossover scopes.

 

[ahcraig87]

S&B Klassik 3-12x42 with BDC turret (which is 0.1 mil per click)
- 20oz
- FFP
- Illuminated (if you want) - I love illum in low light on a FFP reticle. You'll regret the day that you need it and don't have it.
- Mil dot reticle (p3l)
- Capped windage.
- S&B Reliability and glass quality
It is literally the best hunting scope in its category (lightweight FFP 1500-1700$). I just got one to replace my POS Vortex 3-15 LHT HD that completely lost zero for absolutely no reason. Second Vortex that shits the bed during hunting season. March 3-24 would be probably the best compact hunting/hybrid scope but they aren't cheap.
The S&B BDC turrets gives me 3.2 mil of elevation which is more than enough for most calibers to 500-600 yards.
Bushnell LRTsi/LRHsi 3-12 is a close second. It's an amazing value if you can find it around 1000$.

If you don't need illum - you can get the S&B Precision Hunter which the SKU in the USA.

I have the 3-12x50 and love it. No experience with the rest of the scopes mentioned in the thread though.

 

[260madman]

I missed out on a S&B 3-12 last fall. Kick myself for that. A day late and a dollar short is the story of my life LOL.

 

[ChrisAU]

My SKU is 645-811-882-30-05a02 but I'm in Canada so ymmv. The one I see at Eurooptics not sure if they have the wrong picture but theirs doesn't have the BDC turret which I have (it says optional on the spec sheet). But yeah I never really get excited with scopes, most of my purchases have been reliable Japan glass specc from LOW such as Burris XTR II, Bushnell HDMR II, Athlon Cronus and a few Leupold VX-R Patrol and VX6HD (which I quite like) but I really really like this S&B. Sure it's not a mk5 3.5-18 with 30 mils of usable elevation. But up here in Canada, an illuminated MK5 TMR reticle is *twice* the price of the Klassik that I just purchased and I don't believe for my needs, as a light weight dedicated hunting scope that I will be missing out on the extra mag or the extra elevation. But I know in the USA, there are some good deals on MK5s if you're LEO and by all means they are very nice hunting/tactical crossover scopes.

While I love Mark 5’s, something about an S&B at 20 oz sounds right for my Cooper 280AI. I put that new Mark 5 on a semi custom Bergara 6.5 PRC I put together today and as always it’s fantastic at first impressions. Incredible turrets, and I have 27.5 or so MIL from my zero. Way more than I’ll ever use. I can get them for less than the S&Bs here.

 

[MuleyFever]

I am really looking hard at the Trijicon Credo 2.5-15X42for my 280ai I should be getting soon. It checks a lot of boxes. I dont get the FFP craze. I have one FFP SWFA and if I am shooting out there a ways I am dialing anyway so I dont see what it really does for me other than make the reticle really thin at low mag and fat at max mag.

 

[Nillion]

Thanks for all the recommendations so far everyone. Clearly I have much more research to do on all these options.

I am really looking hard at the Trijicon Credo 2.5-15X42for my 280ai I should be getting soon. It checks a lot of boxes. I dont get the FFP craze. I have one FFP SWFA and if I am shooting out there a ways I am dialing anyway so I dont see what it really does for me other than make the reticle really thin at low mag and fat at max mag.

My biggest thing with FFP for hunting is accurate wind holds. Sometimes it's easy enough to just cheat a little left or right depending on the wind, but it's nice to know at 300 yards and a 10 mph crosswind, holding .6 mills off puts the bullet exactly where I want as opposed to just in the ballpark. It's the same reason I like to dial for elevation, it takes all the guess work out of it.

 

[MuleyFever]

Thanks for all the recommendations so far everyone. Clearly I have much more research to do on all these options.



My biggest thing with FFP for hunting is accurate wind holds. Sometimes it's easy enough to just cheat a little left or right depending on the wind, but it's nice to know at 300 yards and a 10 mph crosswind, holding .6 mills off puts the bullet exactly where I want as opposed to just in the ballpark. It's the same reason I like to dial for elevation, it takes all the guess work out of it.

I am still new to dialing and I have not gotten really into wind calls yet but I see your point. I have been using the "in the ballpark" method thus far.

I also like lower mag scopes so I am likely to be at max mag if I am shooting any distance so I can use the hash marks. The 15x on the Credo is all I need.

 

[Longleaf]

Nightforce NSX 2.5-10 compact
12” 20oz

 

[chaser_2332]

S&b 4-16x42 single turn
NF 4-16

 

[Lou400a]

I like the LRHS 3-12 the new LRHS 2 4.5-18, Vortex AMG 6-24 and LHT 4.5-22. Haven't hunted yet with the new LHT 4.5-22, but I'm very happy with it so far on my shorty 6.5 PRC. The Bushnell's are hard to beat for the $$