Reliable Short Range Whitetail Scope

[Macintosh]

Credo 2.5-10x36 looks good other than the reticle.

That 3-12 klassik is probably the most intriguing.

Honestly after all of this I think the next inbound 3-9 SWFA might still get the nod.

Edit: Credo 3-9 looks pretty good too.

I have a 3-12 klassik with the P3 reticle and have used it this year both in wyoming for antelope, and in northern new england whitetail hunting. Wt here is woods, short range, still hunting or tracking, fast shots often at a moving animal in very thick brush and evergreen new growth, blowdowns, etc. I really like the scope, and it is one of the most woods-usable ffp reticles I have had a chance to look through. That said I would not personally choose that reticle for a gun dedicated mainly to the type of wt hunting I do, as I think the reticle could still be much bolder. Its closer to a fine duplex (maybe a “very fine duplex”) on 3x than it is to any standard duplex Ive used. I have another rifle that is really dedicated to wt hunting here, but this scope I consider a generalist that, while it does double duty at longer range very well, and works well under most conditions at low power, isnt quite ideal at this very close-quarters wt hunting. You may have diff eyes or needs though. I can send you some reticle images if its helpful for you.

 

[rootacres]

I find myself rifle hunting whitetail in my home state of MN in thick stuff where shot distances are most likely to be 10-50 yards. There are chances they could go 2-300 yards but very unlikely.

My current muzzle loaders and centerfire rifles used in MN are wearing SWFA 3-9 SS scopes. I have had no issue with low light but it's just not ideal for the application with the reticle and tunneling below 4x. Ideally Id like something that is 2-3x on the low end with a little more visible reticle, at least SWFA 3-9 brightness for low light, and trustworthy when it comes to holding zero. I'm thinking a 6.5 creedmoor or x47 with a 16-18" barrel is in the near future for this application so I can use a can without it being long as hell like on my current more western hunting oriented rifles.

Any ideas? The trijicon options caught my eye in 2-10x36 and 2.5-10x56 configuration. Reticles aren't my favorite but illum should help a bit. Bonus points for Mil vs MOA as I consciously transitioned away from all my MOA scopes but this will be primarily a point and shoot scope so MOA might not kill an otherwise good option.

Not particularly interested in the standard Leupold/swaro/zeiss options just for zero retention reasons.

I have a 3-9x40 Trijicon Accupoint on my MI deer hunting rifle. I don't think Ive shot at a deer passed 50 yards in my life in MI. The fiber optics in the accupoints are very nice, quick target acquisition, decent in low light. There are more precise reticles out there but this scope is great for the job I use it for. It goes nicely on my 450 bushmaster. Some other guys in camp have the 1-4 Accupoints on theirs.

 

[Intricater]

That S&B looks like it might be the best of all worlds in the LPVO arena. Too bad it costs 4x a CRS. Definitely has an interesting reticle. Looks like they have a ranging solution also. I don't have range time with the Mrad type of reticles. I didn't consider them in my initial evaluation as they don't have the extended cross-hash for wind holds. Don't you get a little lost when you hold for drop and wind? It just looks to me like you're lost in space, but maybe that's just my perception.

 

[Formidilosus]

I don't have range time with the Mrad type of reticles. I didn't consider them in my initial evaluation as they don't have the extended cross-hash for wind holds. Don't you get a little lost when you hold for drop and wind? It just looks to me like you're lost in space, but maybe that's just my perception.

I’m guessing this was meant for me?

If so- sure. That’s why if you actually want to hit things on the first shot, you dial elevation and hold wind- regardless of scope type. As for wind in general- how much practice are you actually getting in variable wind, in broken terrain, on targets where you only get one or two shots on?

 

[Intricater]

Yes, I didn't notice others had posted after you. I understand your point of dialing for elev., this then allows the use of graduations on the horizontal. The reason I decided on the CRS reticle is I wanted to avoid any dialing. This obviously wouldn't work for flat shooting VLD rifles, but one of my initial constraints was that it would match the trajectory of the M855/SS109 cartridge. While it's more range work I've been able to 'fudge' yardages to compensate for other trajectories. Certainly not as clean as perhaps Mrad drops, but doable. Thanks for your insight.

 

[Macintosh]

Im not the OP but I live and hunt in an area similar to the conditions asked about in this thread—the original post as I understood it was focused on use in thick woods at 50 yards or even less, with a rare maximum expected shot of 200-300, and only practice use at longer range where the option to dial would be nice. At that range and in those areas wind holds aren't a thing generally, and if Michigan is anything like where I hunt a few states east, even at 300 it takes a very abnormally windy day to need to hold for wind enough that you wouldnt still be extremely close to the reticle.

 

[BAKPAKR]

I have a 3-12 klassik with the P3 reticle and have used it this year both in wyoming for antelope, and in northern new england whitetail hunting. Wt here is woods, short range, still hunting or tracking, fast shots often at a moving animal in very thick brush and evergreen new growth, blowdowns, etc. I really like the scope, and it is one of the most woods-usable ffp reticles I have had a chance to look through. That said I would not personally choose that reticle for a gun dedicated mainly to the type of wt hunting I do, as I think the reticle could still be much bolder. Its closer to a fine duplex (maybe a “very fine duplex”) on 3x than it is to any standard duplex Ive used. I have another rifle that is really dedicated to wt hunting here, but this scope I consider a generalist that, while it does double duty at longer range very well, and works well under most conditions at low power, isnt quite ideal at this very close-quarters wt hunting. You may have diff eyes or needs though. I can send you some reticle images if its helpful for you.

I mainly have shots at closer ranges and I usually leave my variables, including a 3-9x SWFA and a 3-12 Bushnell, at 6x while walking through the woods. How is the Klassik’s reticle at 6x?

 

[Dobermann]

Because the reticle looks “great” on paper yet in real life off of flat ranges on small, moving targets that don’t want to be seen; the reticle covers up so much in the FOV, blocks large portions of the FOV from being able to spot splash/misses, and in total “ranging” reticles do not work on real targets.


From their own videos-
View attachment 496725

That is not a field reticle- that is a reticle that people that do not shoot fast, accurately, and on real targets in broken terrain like.

Woah ... that's one fugly reticle.

Definitely designed for the Primary Arms YouTube-shill-influenced crowd ...

 

[Dobermann]

That 3-12 klassik is probably the most intriguing.

Yep ... pity about that elevation turret, though!

Rest of the package was really tempting until I saw that ...

 

[Macintosh]

Bakpakr, at 6x reticle is plenty bold. I actually just shipped mine off to get the elevation turret installed so I cant take a pic for you, but I’ll post a 3x and a 12x pic.

The bdc turret I havent used yet. The gripe I hear is that you only get a little over 3mils of elevation travel above zero (3.2 is spec and I believe the turret itself is the limiting factor, not the erector travel), is that what you are referring to Dobermann? That gets me to 550 yards with a 100 yd zero. Its enough for me, but yeah, it would be a deal breaker if you wanted the opportunity to shoot past that range. For a dude like me who doesnt hunt in the west every weekend and doesnt have ready access to a 1000yd range outside of matches, who is only going to use it past eastern max hunting range for informal practice and the occasional trip, its not really a meaningful limitation.

Cell phone pics, but you guys get the idea. 3x and 12x

 

[Bearwhisky]

A high quality LPVO might be good for your purposes too. I have a vortex razor 1-6 gen 2 that has been excellent. Has held zero through some pretty rough stuff.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Intricater]

10mph Wind drift on the 6.5CM is only about 5" @300yds. with a 140gr. Amax, so a Christmas Tree reticle is probably not needed and the 'Horseshoe' covering some viewing area could be a con also. However, once you are accustomed to using the Same reticle on different calibers for multiple applications, I find it a bonus. I think that probably applies to most reticle systems. If the OP had the opportunity to hunt over bean fields that might change his need for an all-around scope.

 

[jseymour357]

I’d check out the tract response 2-10x42 it’s a good versatile scope from close shots up to longer shots if needed

 

[Unckebob]

Im not the OP but I live and hunt in an area similar to the conditions asked about in this thread—the original post as I understood it was focused on use in thick woods at 50 yards or even less, with a rare maximum expected shot of 200-300, and only practice use at longer range where the option to dial would be nice. At that range and in those areas wind holds aren't a thing generally, and if Michigan is anything like where I hunt a few states east, even at 300 it takes a very abnormally windy day to need to hold for wind enough that you wouldnt still be extremely close to the reticle.

If OP limits himself to 300> yards, he should get a light 3-9 or 2.5-10 with a simple reticle and capped turrets. I love my VX3 from Leupold. There are lots of good scopes in that range.

Unless he is shooting a slow bullet, he should be able to set up a Maximum Point Blank Range zero that makes capped turret and a simple reticle perfect. For most modern cartridges, it will work great to about 275 yards.

 

[Veloci_Wrench]

Have you considered the Meopta Optika5 2-10x42 ? The stated FOV at 2x is significantly better than the Trijicon Credo 2.5-10x56 at 2.5x. I primarily hunt in VT, and while I have liked my inexpensive Burris Fullfield E1, I’m also looking for a scope with both lower and higher mag range. I’m personally considering both scopes mentioned above, and also have a SWFA 6x back ordered. It seems no one knows about the Optika5‘s durability, though I’ve read Form’s field eval of the Optika6.

 

[Unckebob]

Have you considered the Meopta Optika5 2-10x42 ? The stated FOV at 2x is significantly better than the Trijicon Credo 2.5-10x56 at 2.5x. I primarily hunt in VT, and while I have liked my inexpensive Burris Fullfield E1, I’m also looking for a scope with both lower and higher mag range. I’m personally considering both scopes mentioned above, and also have a SWFA 6x back ordered. It seems no one knows about the Optika5‘s durability, though I’ve read Form’s field eval of the Optika6.

I have several Meopta scopes. If anything, they are overbuilt. Most of mine are on target rifles, but my 3-9's get banged around a bit. I have had no reliability issues.

 

[McHerbie]

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