Scope selection for whitetail/range

[jdl25]

I'm having fun with a new rifle. I got a R700 in .243. I think it is a 1997 mountain rifle. Very pretty rifle. All of my experience (30 years) has been with Browning Bars so this is new. Most of my shots hunting are inside of 200 yards.

It came with a scope that I thought was awesome, and it was great, but I wanted something better so I sold it. It was an older Meopta that had good glass but the eye relief was not as good as I was used to.

Budget for new scope is $650 ish. I can always save more but hope to be ready this fall.

I am looking hard a Trijicon Credo 3-9x40. I am also looking hard at a Leupold vx3hd 3.5-10x50 (let me hear it).

Anything else you like for this application? I mostly want to shoot deer, but I would love to stretch out at the range for fun.

Thanks,

 

[Booolitz]

I went with the Credo. I use it in the same scenario you describe. No complaints. I don’t have any experience with the Leupold.

 

[Macintosh]

Depends on the level of priority you assign to “stretch out at the range for fun.”

A credo (or a huron if you dont need illumination) are good scopes. I own several and would buy another without hesitation. The eye relief is not as good as the leupold, but its not bad. But they are more reliable in my experience.
But if you plan to do a lot of shooting beyond 250-300 yards I think the scope options are limited at that price. I havent used one but Id look hard at a swfa 3-9 if that was a requirement, afaik its the only option in that price category that has 1) a good durability reputation and dialing turrets, 2) is ffp, and 3) has a reticle that most folks still find very useable at 3x. The other good options I have had good experiences with that meet those requirements are significantly more money.

You could go with a mil or moa dot reticle in the trijicon, although I think its not ideal (I find the reticle dots hard to see on the trijicon scopes Ive looked thru with those reticles), it would see you through moderate range practice, etc.

 

[jdl25]

Depends on the level of priority you assign to “stretch out at the range for fun.”

A credo (or a huron if you dont need illumination) are good scopes. I own several and would buy another without hesitation. The eye relief is not as good as the leupold, but its not bad. But they are more reliable in my experience.
But if you plan to do a lot of shooting beyond 250-300 yards I think the scope options are limited at that price. I havent used one but Id look hard at a swfa 3-9 if that was a requirement, afaik its the only option in that price category that has 1) a good durability reputation and dialing turrets, 2) is ffp, and 3) has a reticle that most folks still find very useable at 3x. The other good options I have had good experiences with that meet those requirements are significantly more money.

You could go with a mil or moa dot reticle in the trijicon, although I think its not ideal (I find the reticle dots hard to see on the trijicon scopes Ive looked thru with those reticles), it would see you through moderate range practice, etc.

Do you have experience with both?

Credo eye relief listed at 3.5 in. - 3.7 in CR940-C-2900042
Huron eye reliefe listed at 2.5 in. - 3.7 in. HR940-C-2700005

That is an entire inch of difference somewhere, and it's why I've never considered the Huron.

I am spoiled with Leupold eye relief; it's really good. It is what I am used to, so this is a big deal in this decision.

 

[Macintosh]

I think its a typo. I own both, I cant tell the difference in eye relief. Neither is as good as a leupold in eye relief. But none of my trijicons have let me down, either.

 

[jdl25]

I think its a typo. I own both, I cant tell the difference in eye relief. Neither is as good as a leupold in eye relief. But none of my trijicons have let me down, either.

Do you find yourself moving your head trying to find the sweet spot? I can't stand that.

 

[Pilsner]

Since this is RokSlide I'll be the first to suggest either a SWFA 3-9x or a fixed 6x. Either will work quite well out to W-A-Y out there!
I would also watch the classifieds for the occasional old school Leupold fixed 4x or 6x that pops up. About the only non-mil spec Leupolds that hold their zero reliably.

 

[glock233]

SWFA 3x9. The trijicon is fine too.

Skip the leupold. Too many men have showed you the way to let yourself pull that rookie move.

 

[Luke S]

I don't get how Trijicon measures their eye relief but it's never been an issue for me. I had a 1-4;Accupoint on a 375 Ruger and a Huron on a 308 theater was pretty light. Should be fine. Nice clear scopes. I feel like i shoot a tad better with them just because my point of aim is so dang clear.

 

[Macintosh]

Do you find yourself moving your head trying to find the sweet spot? I can't stand that.

No. That only happens if the scope isnt mounted in the right place. It’s a small-ish scope so on a long action it could benefit from a rail maybe—have had issues with some scope/gun/ring combos GETTING it in the right place. But once there it is not an issue for me.

 

[UnckleBob]

I have slightly different versions of the Leupold and the Huron.

In terms of durability, I expect the Huron to have the edge because it is built like a tank. To my eye, the Leupolds are much easier to see through.

For regular deer hunting, I'll take the Leupold over the Huron.

If you get the Leupold, get a version with a 40mm version objective lens. I had a 50mm Leupold for a while. All it did was force me to mount my scope higher.