Short range optic for heavy woods whitetail

[nighthawkf-117]

Hi all!
I recently built a full custom 6.5 PRC that is amazing and is now the only rifle I want to shoot long range. I have a Weatherby Vanguard in 308 that I am thinking will become a short range deer rifle. I hunt a lot of thick swamps, tamarack woods, cattails in northern WI and MN. This style of hunting I've only had one shot opportunity over 100 yards which was because I set up in a sole tree in a large area that had just been logged.

Currently I have a Vortex Diamondback tactical 3-9 on that rifle and I'm not a fan. Along with putting this rifle in a new stock I want to switch up the optic. I am thinking of something like a 1x red dot, LVPO or even a red dot with a magnifier. Quick target acquisition is very important to me and the ability to have 1x magnification would be very helpful. Anyone have any ideas or do something similar?

 

[JDBAK]

Vortex Razor 1-6, NF NXS 1-8 or ATACR 1-8 should fit the bill if you want 1x on the low end. The 8x image quality isn’t too that great though.

I used to use Leupold 1.5-5 Vari-X3 for a long time. The quality is not in the same league as the above, but it worked well for SE AK rainforest hunting, with quick shots as close as 20’.

 

[hereinaz]

I think an illuminated LPVO works best in that scenario. I played with red dot, LPVO, and low power scope 3x low power at the range. All will work, but I felt most confident and precise with the LPVO in the 0-100.

8x LPVO has the same long range potential as a 3-9 (past 600 yards confidently). Illuminated has essentially the same effectiveness as a red dot.

I have the heavy/inexpensive Arken 1-8 FFP LPVO for the 1-150 yard gun. They have a 1-6 SFP LPVO as well.

I only feel like my red dot is good inside 50ish effectively. It is on my shotguns and 300 blackout home defense. It is barely quicker to acquire and shoot.

 

[onlybrowning]

If you don't mind a little weight, the NF NX8 1-8 is a nice optic.

I've used the Leupold 1.5-5X20 with a lot of success as well, but you know that is not necessarily a popular, or highly recommended choice here.

 

[Marshfly]

I'd be looking hard at a Trijicon Credo or Huron 1-4x24 for that use case.

 

[06 SB]

Look at different manufacturers and their reticles to see what you like and what is in your budget. Meopta would be the first place I look then probably Steiner, Athlon then Vortex. If your budget is on the higher end Zeiss, Swarovski, Kahles are all good ones. To me it would come down to budget, glass quality, weight and reticle rather than manufacturer.

 

[RepeatPete]

I really like the few 1.5-6 options for the thick woods as they have larger objectives and seem to do better than LPVO’s in low light.

 

[Macintosh]

Trijicon accupoint 1-6 x 24

This isnt quite on theme with most of the scopes here, but its come up a number of times so figured Id post, and anyone interested or with relevant experience can chime in. Just picked up a 1-6 accupoint. Was choosing between the 1-6 credo 2fp, this, and the S&B zenith 1.5-6x42. Chose this...

rokslide.com

I have not been back to the range to test zero retention yet, but will within a few weeks, likely after jan 1. I have not found light gathering to be a problem, even in very dark woods on cloudy days. If I was hunting out of a blind it might be different, but at least for a foot hunter I think this is the best scope for the purpose I have found so far. I did consider a S&B 1.5-6 with a larger objective, but for me I felt this was a better option mostly due to this reticle being better for the large majority of conditions I see. I was not able to find a low-power scope with a full sized objective that I was willing to consider, that didnt have a pretty fine (ie harder to see in brush) reticle.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

I have used many LPVO’s over the years. I think the best bang for buck is the Delta Stryker 1-6. Daylight bright dot, good reticle and glass without being a tank in the weight category.

 

[Choupique]

I'm not a fan of red dots for hunting. I did it for a while and I prefer a regular peep sight to a red dot. Both suck in low light but I find the peep easier to shoot accurately at 100 yards.

For a long time my short range gun had a 2-7 Nikon on it. Scope is broken now but I think that magnification range is excellent. 2x is plenty low enough for spitting distance shots. I have done it a few times. I dont know if any of the "reliable" brands make scopes in that mag range but if they do, I'd consider that.

 

[rookieforever33]

LPVO with an illuminated red dot in the center of the reticle. Pretty much the same as a red dot on 1x. Can still crank it up when needed. Many manufactures do something like this so pick your flavor. Mine is a vortex pst 1-6 and has worked well.

 

[Kurts86]

I use a Vortex Razor 1.5-8x32 for this case. It’s now discontinued but it’s a great package if you can deal with it not being bulletproof.

 

[Johnwell]

I run a holosun 509t on a 357 mag lever gun for my tight woods gun. I vastly prefer the red dot over lpvo’s for the image/parallax at 1x; it just seems easier to get behind quickly. It’s not great at low light; but works perfectly to the limits of legal light in our area (30 minutes before sunrise, 30 minutes after sunset) even in thick woods. The dot seemed too bright on the auto setting, so I put some tape on the solar panel to dim it down to where I wanted it.

I can usually hold a 2” group at 100 yards; not sure if that’s limited by the gun, the optic, or me. It seems plenty good enough for 100 yard shots. If it was a flatter shooting, more powerful rifle I wouldn’t hesitate to use it out to 200+.

Only thing I would change is that I wish I would’ve gotten the green dot as it is slightly less tinted than the red. These sights are meant to ride on a pistol slide, so they seem to be able to handle some serious abuse. Haven’t drop tested it though.

 

[onlybrowning]

I'm probably in the minority on this, but I wish NF or Trijicon made a LPVO non-illuminated. I'd be fine with ffp or sfp. Basically copy an NX8 1-8X24, but ditch the illumination and have it be on the capped turret model. I feel like I can see the reticle just fine on my current NX8 1-8 at 1X with the illumination off. The only experience that I've had in low light with illuminated reticles is that they make the dot visible, but the intended target less visible. It would save some weight, too.

For those suggesting a 2 or 2.5 on the low end, I find this option totally fine if you do not intend to take shots on fast moving animals at close range. The increase in FOV on most scopes between 1 or 1.5X compared to 2 or 2.5X is, in my opinion, a significant advantage in the time it can take to acquire the target.

 

[Macintosh]

@onlybrowning trijicon makes a couple non-illuminated 1-4x lpvo’s. Huron and maybe ascent? But not with the higher mag.
Also theres the accupoint 1-4 and 1-6, the accupoint series is also not “illuminated”, its a fiber optic that picks up and focus’s the existing available light, so it naturally dims as it gets darker. I have not found the dot on my duplex accupoint to be blinding in very low light the way I have with some illuminated reticles that dont have a low-enough setting. If you havent looked thru one it could be worthwhile to check out.

 

[onlybrowning]

Thanks for that. I have not looked through the 1-4 that Trijicon offers with the post, but I'd like to. I've eyed them online several times. I do really wish they went up just a bit over 4 as a max magnification, though. I am glad to hear the post dims enough not to overpower the view to the intended target.

 

[JCMCUBIC]

I really like the few 1.5-6 options for the thick woods as they have larger objectives and seem to do better than LPVO’s in low light.

I'm the same. If it was always good light, the NX8 1-8 would be a good fit, but the 1.5-6x42 are noticeably better in low light to me. I really like the S&B 1.5-6x42, reliable, good glass, and light.

 

[Wolfshead]

I have a vortex Diamondback 1.75-5 x 32 on my Tikka compact .308 win.
It is my close woods rifle.
It usually is dialed to 1.75 and is very quick to acquire a sight picture.
It is good out to 300 yards for me and has shot softball sized groups that far.
Is it the “best” optic out there probably not, but it works very, very, well for the price point and has been going strong for three years of pretty hard use.

 

[keystone112]

Trijicon Credo HX 1-6x24 is worth a look.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

For a dedicated thick woods gun with shots under 100 yards as stated, why wouldn’t you just use iron sights?