Reliable Short Range Whitetail Scope

[turbine1]

I don't think you could go wrong with a Leupold 2-7

 

[Monty3006]

The scopes I have and use for similar purposes are NF SHV 3-10, Trijicon Accupoint 3-9 with the triangle post, and a S&B 6x42. They’ve all work well for me.

 

[Iron ghost]

Given the SWFA 1-6’s take so long to get, and wanting to stick with ffp mils/MRAD…I’d probably go with a Trijicon Credo (not Credo HX) 1-6x24.
If your normal range is 10-60 yards, with 200-300 max a possibility… I just don’t think it makes too much sense to go with the larger, heavier 2-10x36, especially if you’re likely to just leave it on 2x or 3x.

 

[morgaj1]

Several of our fields are exactly as you describe and I use a Trijicon AccuPoint 3-9x40 with a duplex reticle. I have both Amber and Green and like them both. They hold zero, have good glass and are relatively light weight.

 

[robby denning]

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 ran Vortex’s LH 1.5-8x on a muzzleloader. Great little scope. Not sure if it’s still available


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[General RE LEE]

Quality non ballistic turret 2-7 power scope. Dialing is going to be irrelevant unless you plan on having fun at the range beyond 300 yards.

 

[JustSomeGuy35]

I ran Vortex’s LH 1.5-8x on a muzzleloader. Great little scope. Not sure if it’s still available


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They're hard to come by now since being discontinued and blown out at stupid cheap prices a few years ago. I have one on a .308 and love the reticle! Haven't hunted with it yet but it's been great on the range.

 

[robby denning]

They're hard to come by now since being discontinued and blown out at stupid cheap prices a few years ago. I have one on a .308 and love the reticle! Haven't hunted with it yet but it's been great on the range.

Sometimes companies discontinue the strangest things. I guess it gets to the bottom line.

 

[JustSomeGuy35]

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.

I wouldn't call this scientific or conclusive by any means, but it's an interesting video from Iraqveteran8888 on the subject.

Part 1

Part 2

 

[Shraggs]

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

Years ago outdoor life I believe actually did an article on this - their conclusion was no Bullet size weight or speed defies hitting branches.

 

[Shraggs]

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?

Think Form already answered but I have 3 1-4s. Swfa and credo. Unfortunate they are both sfp both very similar but I’d give edge to credo based on reticle for hunting. They are both on slug guns and MZ so time will tell but accept the swfa may not be the equal if the rest of their product lines. Maybe credo edge. The accupoint would be my pick for durable as I’ve had one a long time and slug guns. Not dialers tho.

Also have the credo 1-6 in mil ffp and the swfa. I dial both. Fov and light gathering go to credo but the reticle and exposed turrets to swfa. U pick between to excellent scopes. Both better than 1-4 I think.

I shoot target without issue to 800 on 6x and no worries to 500 with this guns as far as magnification

 

[JustSomeGuy35]

Years ago outdoor life I believe actually did an article on this - their conclusion was no Bullet size weight or speed defies hitting branches.

If you watch the 1st video that I posted, you'll see a 45-70 chop a shrub in half and still hit the target. I don't know how repeatable that is, nor do I think someone should shoot stuff thru brush. All I'm saying is, the slower heavier calibers were clearly better at punching thru brush than light, fast moving rounds.

It's all on the Iraqveteran8888 videos that I posted.

 

[Shraggs]

ill watch it - i just didn't because i just won't shoot thru obvious brush with any gun or arrow. the probability just goes up to high for a deflection and a bad hit or worse for my tastes.

judge me or not --- i am haunted by the sounds of a some father (later learned) dying and crying for help from a few miles away as his young kid shot thru the brush at what he thought was a deer...

ill add, i was 12 i think on our farm. the incident was several miles away and no wind so it carried. the muskegon river bordered ours and it was two farms over. this was long before cell phones existed, i was placed in a spot deep by my father - so i didn't know what to do, but i damn near cried because at that age it seemed i knew.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

I've got a cheapo Bushnell 1-4 auditioning for basically this same role this year on my inline, which gets 6 weeks of open season each year. The 1-4 credo got yanked and replaced due to crap eye relief and a super faint reticle.

The Bushnell took some decent tumbles in the raim with me today, it'll be interesting seeing how it does holding poi. Swfa 1-6 or a nf lvpo would obviously be better, but this one might be good enough.

 

[Shraggs]

i did watch it, informative and all. thanks for that justsome

don't want to go down a rabbit hole - an not steer anyone away from their values at all!

but i could point out flaws in his methodology before i would draw any firm conclusions

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Tikka T3X Battue model. Little 20” barrel and fantastic factory open sights.

 

[JustSomeGuy35]

i did watch it, informative and all. thanks for that justsome

don't want to go down a rabbit hole - an not steer anyone away from their values at all!

but i could point out flaws in his methodology before i would draw any firm conclusions

I'm glad you found it informative like I did. Its not a perfect test but still provides some data for consideration. I'm definitely not promoting anyone to start shooting thru brush but it's good to see what the possibilities are. Especially for those who hunt brushy shit in bear country.

As to your other post: I can see how a memory like that would stick with a guy for a lifetime.

 

[Shō[t]gun]

I have a Burris Signature HD 2-10 on a Savage 212 slug gun that has shocked the crap out of me. Other than the initial wiggle with the locking turret, it has performed flawlessly and is bright and crisp. That gun has taken a beating shooting over 50 3" sabot slugs with no shift in the zero and tracks perfectly. Its super light but you can still dial for distance if you want for further shots without having a tall turret. I'm amazed these scopes aren't more popular.

 

[wind gypsy]

Quality non ballistic turret 2-7 power scope. Dialing is going to be irrelevant unless you plan on having fun at the range beyond 300 yards.

That’s the problem, I expect to build a tack driver or it will get new barrels until it is and I’ll still want to burn plenty of powder at longer distances at the range so I would like something more than just a capped turret point and shoot scope.

 

[BAKPAKR]

I have done quite a bit of close range whitetail hunting. I would suggest a 2.5-8 Leupold or a 3-9 Trijicon Accupoint. I have both. I also have a 1.5-5 Leupold but I could imagine a situation where a buck was in thick timber and I would be wanting a little more magnification to make it out.