Rifle scope for Elk Hunt

OkieElk

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Jan 24, 2016
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I just purchased a new rifle for longer range shooting and looking for a scope. Ive already landed on brand and type, but Im wondering what the seasoned "elk hunters" would recommend, as far as, magnification. I've been leaning towards the 6-24X50mm, but wondered if its 6X is just too magnified if you got into elk in the close quarters in the timber. I have friends you have hunted elk in the mountains at longer ranges 300yds. plus and vouch for a scope that is built for those longer shots.

Im looking for those with actual experience please. Thanks!

PS - This rifle and scope setup will also be used for other types of western hunting such as black bear, mule deer, moose, etc.(wanting a good "all around" setup)
 
I'm old school 3X9 but that's way out of fashion these days. Most people want super duper new stuff with higher magnification, custom ballistic turrets, etc. which is fine if that's your bag. I tend to figure out what works for me then stick with it.
 
I guess it depends just how far you plan on shooting. I can hammer the 8" gong at 600 yards with my 3x9 scope on my 7mag, but if I was shooting at twice that distance I'd want something with more zoom.

For timber......I don't even like the 3x....would prefer less. Having said that, in 25 years of rifle hunting elk I never had to shoot one past about 250 and many of those came at less than 100. I would never use a 6x24 unless I knew ALL of my shots would be well out there.
 
I'm also a fan of less magnification. All my hunting guns wear either 3-9s or, my preference, 2-7s
I've shot whitetail out to 430yds with a 2-7x34 Redfield with no trouble at all & centering a 12" gong at 700 is not too difficult.
As 5miles says, unless you're dedicating yourself to long range, less is more. You can always get closer, but it's real tough to make a critter calmly walk from 20yds to 100!
 
You can always get closer, but it's real tough to make a critter calmly walk from 20yds to 100!

The last bull I shot with a rifle was from 20-25 yards in the timber. Even at 3x I had to keep looking around to make sure I was actually aiming in the right spot. And I consciously said to myself "My goodness, I should have a bow in my hands right now". The next year I did.

And worse than that, after the first hit he ran directly towards me and just off to my left. The second shot was from the hip at about 8 yards.
 
my experience matches the last posts. at my age it probably wont change.

and i have high magnification scopes in the safe up to a 18-40 leupie.
 
High magnification scopes are great off the bench, but my experience is that the bulk and weight are more troublesome.

At a shooting course a few years ago, I shot 12 inch gongs out to 700 yds dialed down to 4x (on a 4-16x50).

Since then, I have become a 3-9 kind of guy. Recently I got a Zeiss HD5 2-10X42 which is awesome from timber to plains.

FWIW, my go-to-rifle wears a 3-9X36

No matter what you decide, you can always change it.

Good luck.

Picture: Zeiss HD5 2-10X42 on Remington M700 Mtn LSS .270 Win

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I'd want no more than 3 or 4 power at the low end, its nice to go up to 12-18 on the high end. That being said, I've killed 11 elk with a 3x9.
 
Meet in the middle and get a 4-16x, with my vortex PST that's a 6-24x I don't even really shoot with it maxed out on 24x even at distances past 700 yards. I love the vortex HST, for the price point it's a great scope
 
A 3.5-10x40mm Leupold or a 4.5-14x40mm Leupold I would think would fit your needs without being overly large or bulky and the lower magnification is good for close timber shots on either one. The Zeiss Conquests are great scopes also! The 2-10x42mm or the3-15x42mm is awesome also.
 
I was in the same dilemma. Where I hunt I can have a super close shot, that 6x would be too much power and wouldnt be able get on target fast to some long shots 800+ yards. I ended up settling on a Leupold VX6 3-18x44.

Light weight for that class of scope, repeatable, great glass, had it on paper over 1000 yards and have zero complaints...
 
Thanks everyone for the input! Hearing your opinions has shifted me away for the 6-24X50mm to the 4-16X50MM. Still taking some time to make my decision but that's where I am leaning
 
Stick with the 4-16, but dial the objective down to 40mm. I hate having a big-ass 50mm scope on a hunting rifle! It's big, bulky and usually screws up your cheek weld.

BP
 
I don't know what your budget is like, but I really dig my 2-12x42 Leupold VX-6. Haven't shot any elk with it, but just messing around with it on paper and pointing at close targets, I really appreciate the 2x for up close and personal. No fancy reticle, just a crosshair. Keep it simple.
 
Time to resurrect an old thread :-) I have a 5-30x50 on my 300wm and think it is ideal for a glassing/spotting rig for the type of elk hunting I do here in Idaho. I will be going to Colorado for the first time elk hunting this next year and am questioning if I shouldn't swap out the scope for a lower magnification scope. Maybe a 2-16x50? I run a 1.7-13.3x42 on my 30-06 for mule deer. My hunt in CO will be a backcountry pack in.
I will be putting a lot of time at the range shooting from all positions prior to going so I'd like to put the time in behind the scope that will be best suited for Colorado. BTW, I use 10x42 binos and have a 20-60x80 spotter for glassing so don't need the high power on the scope.

Would you swap out or use the 5-30? The weight of the 5-30 is actually less than the new 2-16 but is an inch longer. What are your thoughts?
 
I have taken a few dozen elk over the years, most of them in Colorado during backpack hunts. I believe that the majority of them were shot with a rifle wearing a 2.5x8 scope but I have found the 4.5x14 40mm to be useful in open country. It is hard for me to imagine using a high power target scope for elk. A light and reliable scope is needed and a wide field of view can come in very handy.
 
Thanks everyone for the input! Hearing your opinions has shifted me away for the 6-24X50mm to the 4-16X50MM. Still taking some time to make my decision but that's where I am leaning
I always used a 3x9 standard duplex until recently. Most of my hunting is in high desert or plains. I seldom took it off of 9. Most of my rifle hunting has been on Pronghorn. 3 or 4 is alright for close encounters. I went 4-16x50. The ED/HD glass these days is amazing. You're gonna pay for it though. I like a fine, open, illuminated, MOA reticle that is not too busy. I like a 2nd FP. I load my rifle profile into the LRF and get MOA and yardage. I don't do too bad using just a guestimate for elevation inside of 400 yds though.
 
I took one at 30 YDs with a 4.5-14 VX3 once. That is absolutely the highest power I’d consider on the low end. If you’re hunting mixed timber and open country I think lower is better and I now have 2.5x on the low end.
 
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