Scope Recommendation - 400 yards

Joined
Jun 2, 2024
Messages
37
Location
Yale, Michigan
Hello Folks,

I am looking for a new scope for whitetail hunting (up to 400 yards) and have the following scopes identified. Does anyone have any input on them? I currently have a 5-25x56mm and while it can definitely zoom out to 400 yards, it gets grainy and the light quality is low.

Included:
  • [$1799 USD] Zeiss LRP S3 6-36x56mm FFP, 34mm Tube
  • [$4100 USD] Zero Compromise Optic ZC840 8-40x56mm, 36mm Tube
  • [$3600 USD] Night force ATACR 7-35x56mm, FFP, 34mm Tube

Excluded:
  • All SFP Scopes
  • March, Trijicon, Vortex, Leupold, Valdada, Maven, LEICA (although I really did like the PRS 51200), Swarovski, Kahles, Tangent Theta, Schmidt & Bender, Steiner, EOTECH, MEOPTA, Burris
I look forward to your opinions!
 

Macintosh

WKR
Joined
Feb 17, 2018
Messages
2,912
1) no way in hell Id want anywhere even remotely close to that much magnification for a 400 yard wt deer hunting rifle.

2) your “exclude” list is highly questionable in my opinion.

I think you are fundamentally on the wrong track in your search. Theres some that belong on an exclude list imo, but youve also excluded all of the brands I would have suggested.

The only feedback I have on your choices is that atacr is a great scope for 1000++-yard practical precision type shooting.
 
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ihatetaxes
Joined
Jun 2, 2024
Messages
37
Location
Yale, Michigan
1) no way in hell Id want anywhere even remotely close to that much magnification for a 400 yard wt deer hunting rifle.

2) your “exclude” list is highly questionable in my opinion.

I think you are fundamentally on the wrong track in your search. Theres some that belong on an exclude list imo, but youve also excluded all of the brands I would have suggested.

The only feedback I have on your choices is that atacr is a great scope for 1000++-yard practical precision type shooting.

1) Duly noted. You probably think my 5-25x56mm is already too much! But hey, this is what I'm looking for.

2) I've checked out all of the brands on the Exclude list in super detail. A lot of it comes down to the reticles, and I'm not a fan of them.

I hear a lot of good things about the ATACR though!
 

TxLite

WKR
Joined
Sep 6, 2018
Messages
2,077
Location
Texas
I’ve always heard 10x zoom per 100 yards. While I don’t necessarily agree with it, anything over a 15x/16x max zoom is overkill for 400 yards. You can do it in the 3-9 or 4-12 range.

If you’re dead set on an Atacr, why not the 4-16x42?
 

jfk69

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Feb 27, 2023
Messages
214
Why on earth would you want ANY of those three scopes on a 400 yard or less deer rifle? 15-18x MAX and even then I’d likely keep it at 6x 98% of the time.
 

06 SB

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Mar 19, 2024
Messages
151
Location
AL/GA Line
Put me down in the “your nuts” camp for your magnification range for 400yards. I do a lot of 900yd shooting and generally are around 16-18x. Hey, it is truly your choice and your money. Spend it how you like.

I would look at the Athlon Cronus BTR Gen2 UHD 4.5-29x56 with the APLR5 reticle if going MOA or APRS6 if MIL. There are some good sales and you can regularly get it well below MSRP.

Good luck with your search!
 

nksmfamjp

FNG
Joined
Feb 26, 2021
Messages
95
Wanna know a secret??

If you need a >$1500 optic to do a thing…..you know what you need from actual experience with high end optics. You won’t need the advice of an Internet forum to guide you.

I’ve looked through plenty of high end optics. I don’t need them…..maybe I will soon, but not yet.
 
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