Reliable Short Range Whitetail Scope

[woods89]

I'm interested.

None of my shots on public land here in MO have been over 70-80 yds for the last 10 years. I've thought that a short barreled 223 or 6x45 with an LPVO would be really cool for that specific style of hunting.

 

[keystone112]

This

 

[dreamingWest]

I think you would really enjoy using one of the low powered Trijicon Accupoints for that application. 1-6x24, 3-9x40, or 2.5-10x56.

The 1-6x24 has a mil option. You wouldn't need the reticle though. I'd go for the triangle post. That's what is on my AR. It works really well.

The 3-9x40 would be your classic light weight option.
The 2.5-10x56 would be your low light option. It could help in the thick timber whitetail woods.
Both of these have a triangle post and mil-dot option as well.

I also have the 2.5-12.5x42. It's great, but I think one of the three above may work better for you.

 

[JCMCUBIC]

As mentioned, the 3-10 SHV with Forceplex.

The Tract Toric 2-10x42 with Tplex. I've been impressed with the optics. It is also MOA. Mine has held zero and adjusted exactly...except for a severe drop test of 3 drops from shoulder height directly onto the scope....which is more than can be asked, a SWFA 6x42 failed the same drops...but again, it's more than can be asked. Afterwards both adjusted exactly on the corrections and have dialed exactly since.

I just saw Form tested a 3-15 Toric and the results were not so good....my results can only be tied to that scope. Oh well.....

 

[NateTP38]

I'm interested in the SWFA 1-4 or 1-6 for a similar application. I searched a bit but didn't turn up a ton. @Formidilosus - any experience with these scopes? Do they hold zero like the 3-9 and 6x?

 

[redneckbmxer24]

90% of my big game hunting has been done in thicket and no way would I pick a 6.5mm for that. You’re just asking for deflection which is a miss or a wound. No bullet is going to track perfectly straight after a twig but the more mass and more blunt it is the better chance it has.

A 12ga tactical semi auto shotgun with interchangeable choke (Benelli M4, Beretta 1301) or a Marlin guide gun in 45-70 are the kings of handy brush guns. I personally prefer the shotgun for versatility and run a Trijicon RMR so I can run a slug followed by buckshot and I’ve got spitting distance in brush to 150 yards in open field covered. If there’s no deer action have a few #6 fasteel in a pocket and you go back with some squirrels.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

I'm interested in the SWFA 1-4 or 1-6 for a similar application. I searched a bit but didn't turn up a ton. @Formidilosus - any experience with these scopes? Do they hold zero like the 3-9 and 6x?

Someone on the hide just got a 1-4 and it’s made in Philippines and not Japan anymore. Not sure if they’re changing production entirely but at least that model seems to have changed. Phillipino optics are not reliable like Japanese stuff.

The 1-4 SWFA I had was solid reliability wise, it had its shortcomings but you can’t expect perfection out of a $300 optic.

Steiner P4Xi V2 1-4x24mm G1 Riflescope 5204

FREE SHIPPING on Steiner P4Xi V2 1x-4x24mm G1 Riflescope 5204

www.eurooptic.com

The PX4i’s are good LPVO’s for the $$ and about the entry into a reliable one these days. With the PX4i’s it seems like you get a good one right out of the box or you don’t. I know that doesn’t sound great but if you get a good one you’re unlikely to have any issue and if you get a bad one you just have it swapped out, Burris/Steiner has pretty good customer service and the PX4i is one of the few optics from them that I’d buy.

 

[eoperator]

accupoint 1-4 or 3-9 triangle for speed, dot for more precise

 

[Ratamahatta]

https://imgur.com/R8mozN4

Leupold FX-II 2.5x20mm Ultralight Riflescope

 

[BjornF16]

I have/really like the Trijicon 2-10x36 FFP.

SWFA 1-6 would work well for your purposes (have one on back order along with a 3-9).

Trijicon 1-8x28 calling your name.

 

[ZackP]

I have no dog in this fight. I do not hunt white tail at short ranges, or white tail at all for that matter. HOWEVER I do hunt elk in a short range hunt every so often. With a shotgun. Yes a 12 gauge with rifled barrel.

FWIW the Nikon slug hunter has been phenomenal and can still be had cheap. It’s still holding zero after 3 bulls and the glass is pretty good for what it is. It is literally my last scope I don’t feel the need to “dial in” every year prior to the hunt.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I’ve used the Leupold VX3 class scopes since the 90s and have never had one lose zero.

I have VX3 3.5-10x40 scopes on my 7-08 and 308 and shoot out to around 400 yards with no issue. These have regular duplex reticles, cause I don’t like clutter in my hunting scopes.

 

[Moose83]

Bushnell engage 1-4×. No. 4 reticle with illuminated center dot. 30mm tube. Adjustments in mils. It tunnels a bit on 1x but 2-4x works really well. I think it was designed for the European driven hunting market, but I don't have any problem keeping bullets on an 8 in plate out to 400 yds. Seems very reliable so far... but I'm also not in the habit of dropping my scopes on the ground to find out.

 

[Acidbraker]

I love my Blackout with a Monarch 1-4x20 sitting on it for the MN woods. I'll prolly replace it with a Trijicon 1-6 someday, but it just works.

 

[Formidilosus]

I'm interested in the SWFA 1-4 or 1-6 for a similar application. I searched a bit but didn't turn up a ton. @Formidilosus - any experience with these scopes? Do they hold zero like the 3-9 and 6x?

The 1-6x HD SWFA scopes are generally very reliable and durable scopes. The 1-4x Classic is an “ok” scope. They generally work ok on lighter recoil rifles, but have seen/heard issues in heavy recoil rifles such as .375’s.

90% of my big game hunting has been done in thicket and no way would I pick a 6.5mm for that. You’re just asking for deflection which is a miss or a wound. No bullet is going to track perfectly straight after a twig but the more mass and more blunt it is the better chance it has.

That has been proven to be false repeatedly. There is no appreciable difference in calibers, bullet weight, or bullet style when impacting branches/twigs.

 

[KenLee]

I have the Trijicon Credo 3-9x40 and 2-10x36. Either would work well with bonus points to the 2-10 for FFP. If short range and low light are the concern, the 2.5-10x56 might be a good play. Often considered one myself but haven’t pulled the plug yet.

Hard to be an Accupoint 2.5-10x56 for the $.
I have 3 with the simple little amber dot.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

That has been proven to be false repeatedly. There is no appreciable difference in calibers, bullet weight, or bullet style when impacting branches/twigs.

Care to share some data points to back that up? My actual experience says otherwise.

 

[KenLee]

I THINK a flat or round nosed heavy bullet would deflect less than a light pointed tip bullet. Makes sense to me and that's why I usually carry a 45-70 or shotgun in thick woods.
It matters whether you have confidence in your equipment, however misguided that confidence may be .

 

[Formidilosus]

Care to share some data points to back that up? My actual experience says otherwise.

You have “tested” shooting lots of different cartridges and bullet types through brush or brush simulator and seen that some don’t deflect and that others do?

It’s a google search away. There are as many “tests” and articles that say a 458WM is the best in deflection as there are that show a 243 with 100gr bullets is.

All bullets deflect, you can not know where any one will go, and trying to “bust brush” is a very poor way to deal with the issue.

 

[Macintosh]

Re: brush busting. Totally off topic and Im still interested in following the optics discussion since this is 100% how most of my rifle deer hunting goes down.
Here is some experimentation on brush deflection from one of the many peer-reviewed scientific journals dealing with ballistics (note sarcasm):

The Best Brush Busting Bullets Put to the Test

Brush rifles and brush bullets have been a topic of conversation for decades, but how effective are they at punching through thickets?

www.outdoorlife.com