Scope upgrade advice.

[gonhunting247]

Ive been eyeballing the vx-3hd and vx5hd wondering if you get $400 worth of improvement with the vh5

For me the VX3 would be just fine, but I'm not one for all the extras. I just like a scope that has great eye relief, good FOV and stays put when I'm dragging through the brush in the rain. I have never had a top end Leupold or any of the other scopes that have been recommended. I'm sure they would be great, but for the money the mid tier leupolds have been good to me.

 

[Neckbone]

I had a VX3 for 15 years before recently putting the SHV on my rifle. Moved the VX3 over to a different gun. It served me well. You eventually get smaller and smaller returns on the dollar as you move up the cost ladder when it comes to the glass. I wanted something more rugged, reliable and the option to dial.

I like to stop the spending when I see diminishing returns.... I feel like a $3,000 scope cant be all that much better than a $2,000... now a but a $200 vs $1000, oh yes!

How much of an upgrade is the SHV?

 

[Neckbone]

For me the VX3 would be just fine, but I'm not one for all the extras. I just like a scope that has great eye relief, good FOV and stays put when I'm dragging through the brush in the rain. I have never had a top end Leupold or any of the other scopes that have been recommended. I'm sure they would be great, but for the money the mid tier leupolds have been good to me.

Im very similar....I'm not interested in dialing in turrets, dont want an illuminated reticle or fancy buttons. I was good low light gathering, good eye relief, durable/stay zero. Simple and dependable, less to fidget with/break/be out of adjustment.

 

[gtriple]

Im very similar....I'm not interested in dialing in turrets, dont want an illuminated reticle or fancy buttons. I was good low light gathering, good eye relief, durable/stay zero. Simple and dependable, less to fidget with/break/be out of adjustment.

I've gone through this process recently as well. Going forward, all of my scopes are either going to be a Nightforce or a SWFA.

As someone else already mentioned, this subforum has a lot of amazing info on which scopes are actually reliable. https://www.rokslide.com/forums/forums/rifle-scope-field-evaluations.133/

Just because you don't want to dial turrets now does not mean you won't want to dial them later. Once you have a scope that dials, you'll never go back.

If you can find one of these for sale, buy it and never think twice.

3-9x42 | SWFA

Sports Optics, Hunting Gear, Hunting Supplies and Accessories

swfa-ss.com

If you truly do not ever plan to shoot past 300 yards, this is the scope to choose.

SHV - 3-10x42mm

Explore precision optics trusted by the world's best hunters and tactical shooters. Nightforce riflescopes offer unmatched clarity, durability, and accuracy.

www.nightforceoptics.com

 

[ToolMann]

I like to stop the spending when I see diminishing returns.... I feel like a $3,000 scope cant be all that much better than a $2,000... now a but a $200 vs $1000, oh yes!

How much of an upgrade is the SHV?

Upgrade over the Crossfire? Huge. Over the VX3? Not much if any in glass, but much more rugged and added functionality.

 

[dreamingWest]

The 3-10 SHV is a great dialer for over 300 yards. Just take the cap off and have at it.

ETA: Since I read the OP and see you don't care about dialing. The SHV 3-10 is still a great option, but I think a Trijicon Accupoints are my favorite to use for a "set-it forget-it" scope. I love the no battery illumination. Take a look at the 1" 3-9 for a lightweight option, or the 30mm 2.5-12.5 for a good versatile choice. Both would be great hunting scoped on a 30-06.

 

[OXN939]

Def seems like a heck of a discount... a lot of bells and whistles on that thing.. illuminated reticle, turrets, adjustable parallax..

Yeah from your post, you probably don't want any of that. You want something like this:

Trijicon Huron HR940 3-9x40mm Rifle Scope, 1" Tube, Second Focal Plane (SFP), Color: Black, Tube Diameter: 1 in, Up to 30% Off w/ Free S&H — 3 models

Shop Trijicon Huron HR940 3-9x40mm Rifle Scope, 1" Tube, Second Focal Plane (SFP) | Up to 30% Off Be The First To Review Trijicon Huron HR940 3-9x40mm Rifle Scope, 1" Tube, Second Focal...

www.opticsplanet.com

The answer to your other question is that you will see much greater visual quality and, more importantly, not risk losing your entire hunt to a scope failure. Riflescopes should NEVER need to be re-sighted in, and you almost certainly won't have any issued with that if you get something like that Trijicon or an SHV.

 

[DHoover]

A year before my sheep hunt in 2021 I upgraded my scope to a Leupold VX6HD 3-18 x 44 and could not be happier. I believe it was the single best purchase I made before the trip. I was not a scope dialing guy before but I am now. The higher magnification helped me out on the ram and caribou and I used it 2 weeks ago on Utah elk. Even on Elk the extra power really helps. I also shoot on a bi pod now and it has improved my accuracy immensely.

 

[Hausser]

I have a leupold VX6, I also own a Swarovski Z3. The information below is my opinion with what I currently own.

The leupold VX6 is a 3-18X44 a great scope and I love the aluminum scope caps. I have had zero issues with the scope other than the rear scope cover keeps loosening up while ridding in my back seat or walking around the woods. If I buy another leupold it will only be the VX6 and not a VX5 or VX3.

The Swarovski Z3 4-12x50 is very light and great glass, just wish I had more than 12 max power. Zero issues with the scope. I will probably remove this scope from my 6.5 prc and put on my 243 and put a different scope on the 6.5prc.

I am also looking for a new scope for my 300 prc and right now I thinking about leupold VX6 4-24x52, need to look at the NF. My big thing with all scopes is the weight and the simpler the reticle the better. I have never owned a nightforce so I cannot comment on the NF. I have owned and currently own a couple old vortex scopes and would not buy another even though their warranty is good. I have heard rumors about NF blaming mounting of the scopes and now wanting to warranty them, I have also heard people having issues with leupold warranty peoples scopes. I personally don’t always trust rumors unless it is directly from the person. Good luck with your scope hunting as it is a pain to find the perfect scope for your application.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

There are several threads on other forums right now where vx6 4-24s failed in less than 60 rounds. Give it a Google before you plunk down the $

 

[Outdoorsman12b]

That scope is no more reliable than the Vortex you currently have. A NF SHV 3-10x with duplex reticle, or S&B Klassiks especially in fixed powers are however, a massive upgrade.

Is there any advantage to the 30mm over the one inch 6x Klassik?

 

[Neckbone]

Assuming this is a 110apex, it came with a 20 moa rail.. I would also consider upgrading those rings as well. Anything with a 2-3 x on the bottom end and 10 on the top. 42 or 44mm lense. I have a handful of 2.5-10x44 viper hs. They’ve served me well and I like them. I use their pro series rings as well with great results. Swaro makes a z3 that fits this but is a 1” tube vs 33mm, it is also priced competitively

110 Apex Storm XP, 0 MOA rail per the Savage webpage. I did a little reading on MOA rail and seems as tho having 20 (or more) MOA rail will only come into effect on longer range shots well over the 400 yard mark (or if you have a scope with low adjustability in elevation. In practical terms....for shots under 400 yards, should make no difference in scope selection?

 

[gtriple]

110 Apex Storm XP, 0 MOA rail per the Savage webpage. I did a little reading on MOA rail and seems as tho having 20 (or more) MOA rail will only come into effect on longer range shots well over the 400 yard mark (or if you have a scope with low adjustability in elevation. In practical terms....for shots under 400 yards, should make no difference in scope selection?

What is your actual budget? I think you are overthinking this...

 

[Neckbone]

What is your actual budget? I think you are overthinking this...

Likely am. Just so many options out there and so much gadgetry. Under $1,000.

 

[gtriple]

Likely am. Just so many options out there and so much gadgetry. Under $1,000.

Don't get caught up in the gadgetry and the options. Do you want a hunt you worked hard for all year to go wrong because you bumped your scope when you set your pack down and lost zero?

One of my favorite YouTubers is a guy from South Africa. He's a hell of a shooter. Sponsored by MDT. Uses Vortex on all of his guns. He just went on a hunt a couple months ago and missed a handful of shots because his Vortex got a little bump and totally lost zero. That is unacceptable.

The single most important thing for a scope to do is provide a reliable aiming point. There's only a handful of manufacturers that actually do that.

Nightforce across the board. Most SWFA scopes (except the Ultralight). Trijicons and S&B do mostly okay, but aren't as bombproof.

What I would do is buy the best Nightforce that you can afford and call it a day. The SHV line is more affordable (just as durable) but has slightly worse glass than the NXS IMO.

 

[Neckbone]

Don't get caught up in the gadgetry and the options. Do you want a hunt you worked hard for all year to go wrong because you bumped your scope when you set your pack down and lost zero?

One of my favorite YouTubers is a guy from South Africa. He's a hell of a shooter. Sponsored by MDT. Uses Vortex on all of his guns. He just went on a hunt a couple months ago and missed a handful of shots because his Vortex got a little bump and totally lost zero. That is unacceptable.

The single most important thing for a scope to do is provide a reliable aiming point. There's only a handful of manufacturers that actually do that.

Nightforce across the board. Most SWFA scopes (except the Ultralight). Trijicons and S&B do mostly okay, but aren't as bombproof.

What I would do is buy the best Nightforce that you can afford and call it a day. The SHV line is more affordable (just as durable) but has slightly worse glass than the NXS IMO.

These brands seem to keep coming up time and time again. I want a bullet proof simple scope without all the fancy bling...thanks again for the info

 

[gtriple]

These brands seem to keep coming up time and time again. I want a bullet proof simple scope without all the fancy bling...thanks again for the info

SHV - 3-10x42mm

Explore precision optics trusted by the world's best hunters and tactical shooters. Nightforce riflescopes offer unmatched clarity, durability, and accuracy.

www.nightforceoptics.com

 

[Waterboy]

I purchased a savage 110 in 30-06 a few years back for my WY elk hunt. It came mounted with a vortex crossfire 3-9 40. I have a few successful hunts under my belt and am ready to upgrade the scope. (Seems like this thing is always needing to be sighted in).

I want something that can stand up to mountain hunting and also have good low light performance. This last UT mule deer hunt really showed me how important low light performance is… I spent a lot of time looking at deer through the scope close to dark and couldn’t see much.

I currently don’t have the practice to take anything beyond 300 yards, and really 300 isn’t with my comfort zone. I do hope to spend more time shooting longer ranges and getting comfortable out to 400 max, I’m just not there yet. Not interested in dialing in shots.

No fixed budget per se, but I am a price point shopper. Willing to spend how much it takes to get a quality scope but don’t want to throw large amounts of money for the top of the line… not a high end rifle build, a dependable mountain hunting tool.

Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. I’ve got my eye on the classifieds here as well. Thank you in advance.

The zeiss v4 at red hawk is a good deal and good glass.

 

[30338]

I have found that buying Nightforce open box specials or used has basically made my scopes free. Meaning that I can buy one, use it a year or two. Don't like it? Sell it for within $100 of what I paid and move on. I haven't sold any of my Nightforces though.

So spending hours and hours researching and sweating details is a no for me. Same with SWFA. Have a 3-9 I'll list soon and it'll bring about what it cost a couple years back on a Black Friday sale. Just seems weird to get so wrapped around a scope buy.

Seekins, ARC, Nightforce all make solid 30 mm rings. Many others too. Guy can get those used as well for good prices. Good luck and hopefully the OP bought a scope and is shooting already.

 

[NevadaMike]

There are several threads on other forums right now where vx6 4-24s failed in less than 60 rounds. Give it a Google before you plunk down the $

I just bought 2 VX-6 scopes the Cabelas Black Friday sale. I mounted the first one on my 300 PRC and it failed at round 18. The scope was blurry and parallax quit focusing. When I went to zoom back to three it got stuck at 5X. I have only owned Leupold scopes but I returned them both.