Mountain rifle scope

[neverquit]

The mountains are hard on gear. I’ll take the weight.

NIGHTFORCE NSX

 

[prm]

The first time I was adjusting the Vortex I had one dial which didn’t move until after a shot. Since then it has dialed well. Dialed 11 MOA between shots and ended up with ~.6” 3-shot groups. Again, it hasn’t been exercised extensively, but the first few hundred shots and dialing have gone well.

 

[zimagold]

Nightforce if you plan on dialing. I'll take the weight penalty for the reliability.

 

[prm]

My Nightforce and SWFA SS HD dial flawlessly, and if I were constantly dialing they’d be my choice.

 

[tttoadman]

The rifle is light enough. I go strapless. Scope is a Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16 x 42.

 

[JeffRaines]

I think the term "mountain rifle" is a little ambiguous since some people think 8.5lbs is okay, yet others feel like 6lbs is too much.

I'm in the second camp. If I'm paying money for a mountain rifle I want it to be as close to 6lbs as possible. My intent isn't to shoot over 500 yards with it, though. I have some other rigs I can carry with me that will do that job better. If you plan to dial, you kinda have to forego a lightweight scope... there just aren't any lightweight options with reliable dialing - at least thats what my searching has told me.

I ended up picking up a used Swarovski z3 3-10x42 with the BRX reticle. I figure for out to 500-600 yards using holdovers it'll be perfect.

 

[bhylton]

can anyone comment on the a vortex razor LH 3-15 x 42 or Zeiss Conquest V4 4-16 x 44 ? I'm in the same position as the OP and these two have caught my eye... i just have no experience to share

 

[JohnyRingo]

My experience has been with a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x42mm with a Kenton custom turret, a Swaro Z3 3-10x42 mm (no custom turret available) and a Leupold VX5HD 5-15x44 CDS (custom turret). I like all of them. They are all lightweight and all durable and they have awesome clarity. If I were to rank them in terms of a mountain scope, I would rank them #1-Leupold, #2-Zeiss, #3-Swaro. For a mountain rifle, I want a custom turret. I didn't realize that I couldn't get one for the Z3 until after I bought it, so that scope went on my 243 and I shoot it extremely well out to 400 yards by using the cross hair subtensions. The Zeiss (Kenton) has a better turret. The clicks are very crisp as opposed to the mushy Leupold clicks. I put the Leupold slightly ahead of the Zeiss because the Leupold is lighter and I like the larger magnification of the Leupold. I also like that it has a 30mm tube. I have not had any tracking issues with either the Kenton turret or Leupold CDS turret, but I don't dial a ton. I like the features on the CDS like the zero stop and that it shows you when you have gone either once or twice around while dialing.

 

[Muley Buck]

I'd give the Maven RS-1 a good looking at. IMO, It's one helluva "do all" scope and I really like it.

Maybe give this a read too, if you haven't already.
Review: Maven RS.1 Riflescope - Rokslide

 

[Trial153]

2.5x8x36 vx3 ..... just my two cents

 

[Formidilosus]

I see posts on the best mountain rifles and mountain rifle weight. So what are the best mountain rifle scopes? What are the factors to consider and options that keep it a good fit for a light weight rifle?

Capability to dial yardage reliability?
Best magnification range?
Weight limits?

What scopes do you consider the best mountain rifle scopes?

It’s an aiming device. Short of tearing the bases off the rifle, it must stay zeroed no matter what.


Zero retention is the number one criteria. if you are going to shoot past 250-300 absolute correct functioning of the turrets is number two. If you are going to shoot past 250-300 yards turret and reticle increment matching is number three. If you are going to shoot past 250-300 yards FFP should be number four. Number five is size and weight. Six is optical.

So how about on those cross canyon shot opportunities that push 6-700 yards. Is a 3x9 or 10 enough scope?

It’s a non-issue. The vast majority are over cartridged, over X’ed, under bulleted, and under practiced.



666 yards, cross canyon in a snow storm, bedded- 9x.

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732 yards. Cross canyon, 7x.

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Right at 600, 10x.

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527 yards, 6x.

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625+/- yards, 8x I believe.

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[MuleyFever]

So I assume you take the weight penalty every time for a Nightforce or similar reliable scope?

 

[Formidilosus]

Currently a Zeiss V6. I've found no perfect scope. She is heavy and the parallax is finicky, but the image is crisp and it tracks perfectly. Built like a tank.

The couple that I have experience with didn’t last very long....

What is the word on the tracking of the Swaro scopes?

What about on the Vortex? Although, I don’t think I could talk myself into buying a Vortex product.

Swaros are reliably, not. At least the several dozen I’ve used.

Vortex’s are probably the most failure prone major scopes made. Granted, only a hundred or so.

can anyone comment on the a vortex razor LH 3-15 x 42 or Zeiss Conquest V4 4-16 x 44 ? I'm in the same position as the OP and these two have caught my eye... i just have no experience to share

Half dozen Razor LH’s. All failed. Incorrect, and inconsistent tracking, failure to return to zero, loss of zero, etc. Conquests are are better, but not by much.

 

[Formidilosus]

So I assume you take the weight penalty every time for a Nightforce or similar reliable scope?

Every single time.

 

[zimagold]

I use a 3-9x40 SFP with milling reticle and capped turrets for my lightweight rifle. Intended for shots out to 450, but workable to 600. I practice on 10" steel at range a few times a year and have no issues holding for drift/drop. Past 500 it is more of a wind issue than magnification or elevation.

Long range hunting setup is for when I expect shots over 400. Nightforce 4-14x50 SHV FFP. Dial elevation and hold for wind. Duplicates my long range target setups I shoot frequently.

As mentioned earlier, depends how you define mountain rifle and hunt.

 

[bhylton]

Thanks Form. in your experience, could you recommend either of those scopes for a guy who most often is a point and shoot guy with the occasional dial up for a 400-550yds shot. "vs frequent dialing"

 

[LandYacht]

can anyone comment on the a vortex razor LH 3-15 x 42 or Zeiss Conquest V4 4-16 x 44 ? I'm in the same position as the OP and these two have caught my eye... i just have no experience to share

Put the V4 on my rifle this year and it is quite a bit brighter than the 1” 32mm Vortex Viper that it replaces. Not really an apples to apples comparison in that regard, but it was more than a significant improvement. Has tracked perfectly so far.

My wife used the rifle it was on to kill her bull elk and she had both her bullets within an inch of each other. We set up for a 300 yard shot and then kept moving closer and adjusting accordingly before she fired her first and second shot.

A fair bit heavier than the little 32mm it replaces, but the gains in optic quality and brightness far out pace the extra weight. Don’t think anyone could be disappointed with he V4.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Brightwhite]

Thanks Form. in your experience, could you recommend either of those scopes for a guy who most often is a point and shoot guy with the occasional dial up for a 400-550yds shot. "vs frequent dialing"

I don't know if Form would agree with me or not, but I think for what you just described the 2.5-10x42 Nighforce NXS @ 20oz would be tough to beat. I also have the 3-10x42 SHV and it s has been just as reliable this season.

 

[Wrench]

I've taken elk to 700 with the 2-8×32 zeiss w/turrets. I think it's the most bang for the buck in light vs performance. I prefer the 3-12 LRHS as the weight penalty brings zerostop and mil turret to the table (non issue for moa guys). The swfa 3x9hd is a decent choice too. It's too close in weight to get the nod from me over the LRHS, but it's a solid performer for the price/weight.

 

[Wrench]

Thanks Form. in your experience, could you recommend either of those scopes for a guy who most often is a point and shoot guy with the occasional dial up for a 400-550yds shot. "vs frequent dialing"

If 550 is the end of your range, and you're not shooting a 45-70 or looking for .25moa type accuracy, I'd go reticle and save the potential headaches.

I shot for years with a 270 win and 3x9 using the intersection of the thin/thick in the reticle as my 450yd hold....now with bdc or mildots, that is easy to get to 550 with and never worry about returning to zero or bumping windage, etc.