The perfect hunting scope.

[Ryh314]

Anyone using the Riton Conquer 4: 4-28x56?

 

[pathnz]

The March F 3-24x42 is actually pretty close to perfect I believe

I have experienced good zero retention (tested) in several years of hard field use (my scope has remained on the same zero on the same rifle for several years now. I have not had to reset the turrets. This has been used for recreational and professional hunting, thousands of rounds. I check zero regularly and it simply does not shift).
Features are about right
Adjustments are accurate and repeatable
Light and very compact
30mm tube, not 34 or 35
Low pro adjustments
Excellent zero stop design
FML1 reticle is good - simple, clear, precise yet functional at lower magnification. Thick outer bars are only 6MRAD from centre on windage and above centre and very visible in low light at low power, 0.1MRAD centre dot is very precise and the "floating dot" is uncluttered.


What stops it being perfect?
March insist on making everything an 8x or 10x zoom ratio. I understand that this compromises some aspects of the optical design - the eyebox etc are more finicky than would be necessary were it a 3-18x. This is only a problem in comparison - you get used to it and it doesn't hold you back.
It is rarely usable over 18x anyway.
Windage is not capped
Elevation is not locking (although mine has never shifted)
Parallax is a little finicky (probably due optical compromises)
Thin inner portion of the reticle could be 0.1mrad rather than 0.07 which would increase visibility in low light
Japan-based company with a poor quality importer in NZ means service is less accessible if required
Cost

 

[WKR]

The March F 3-24x42 is actually pretty close to perfect I believe

I have experienced good zero retention (tested) in several years of hard field use (my scope has remained on the same zero on the same rifle for several years now. I have not had to reset the turrets. This has been used for recreational and professional hunting, thousands of rounds. I check zero regularly and it simply does not shift).
Features are about right
Adjustments are accurate and repeatable
Light and very compact
30mm tube, not 34 or 35
Low pro adjustments
Excellent zero stop design
FML1 reticle is good - simple, clear, precise yet functional at lower magnification. Thick outer bars are only 6MRAD from centre on windage and above centre and very visible in low light at low power, 0.1MRAD centre dot is very precise and the "floating dot" is uncluttered.


What stops it being perfect?
March insist on making everything an 8x or 10x zoom ratio. I understand that this compromises some aspects of the optical design - the eyebox etc are more finicky than would be necessary were it a 3-18x. This is only a problem in comparison - you get used to it and it doesn't hold you back.
It is rarely usable over 18x anyway.
Windage is not capped
Elevation is not locking (although mine has never shifted)
Parallax is a little finicky (probably due optical compromises)
Thin inner portion of the reticle could be 0.1mrad rather than 0.07 which would increase visibility in low light
Japan-based company with a poor quality importer in NZ means service is less accessible if required
Cost

Yeah if they made it a 3-14 instead of 3-24
And capped the windage
And had better customer support....
Then it would be great but thats a whole new scope we are talking about now

 

[Beetroot]

Yeah if they made it a 3-14 instead of 3-24
And capped the windage
And had better customer support....
Then it would be great but thats a whole new scope we are talking about now

What's wrong with the customer support?

Seems like the guys who bought the dual focal plane 1.5-15 didn't have any issues getting their reticles replaced recently.

I've not heard anyone having issue with March CS.

 

[pathnz]

In NZ the importer won't send things back for repair work - you have to do it yourself and it's a pain to send firearm related optics via courier or post, especially to Japan and back. I heard of someone destroying a March that needed repair and claiming insurance to replace it rather than trying to send it back.


Anecdotal of course.

 

[X0311]

I voted no. However, I am very happy with the NF NXS 2.5-10x scope. I have them on my four "serious" lightweight hunting rifles. The size and weight is good and it fits neatly on both my two Barrett Fieldcrafts and my wife's Kimber Montanas. FFP would be nice but any distance shooting would be at 10x so it really does not matter. It is a shame that NF is phasing them out. I did just order a NF NX8 4-32x F1 mil-c scope for a long range rifle in 6.5 PRC. It will be my first experience with a higher end FFP mil scope and it will interesting to see how it plays out.

 

[z987k]

I voted no. However, I am very happy with the NF NXS 2.5-10x scope. I have them on my four "serious" lightweight hunting rifles. The size and weight is good and it fits neatly on both my two Barrett Fieldcrafts and my wife's Kimber Montanas. FFP would be nice but any distance shooting would be at 10x so it really does not matter. It is a shame that NF is phasing them out. I did just order a NF NX8 4-32x F1 mil-c scope for a long range rifle in 6.5 PRC. It will be my first experience with a higher end FFP mil scope and it will interesting to see how it plays out.

Where did NF say they were phasing them out?

 

[X0311]

The last NXS 2.5-10x scope I ordered from NF (in 2023), I was told the scope was in "limted production" and it would take 3-6 months to get one. The scope was shipped in 4 months to the day. The NX8 I just ordered is supposed to ship in 30-45 days. No one at NF said they are completely stopping
production of the NXS 2.5-10x, I am just reading between the lines.

 

[Floridave]

Perfect for me for hunting at the moment is a Leupold vx5-hd 3x15 wind plex retical with a custom CDS dial.


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[cocky84]

A vx5 3-15x44 cds-zl2 with ffp windplex and firedot made by Nightforce or Trijicon would be perfect scope.

 

[KenLee]

A vx5 3-15x44 cds-zl2 with windplex and firedot made by Nightforce or Trijicon would be perfect scope.

Now that's just crazy talk

 

[z987k]

A vx5 3-15x44 cds-zl2 with windplex and firedot made by Nightforce or Trijicon would be perfect scope.

The trijicon accupoint 2.5-12 with the moa or mil reticle is pretty close. Not quite there but closer.

 

[jamesmc8]

The Updated Gen 2 SWFA 3-15x42 is very close:

Hold Zero - Check
Return to zero - Check
Durable - Check
Zero Stop/Lock Elevation Turret - Has Zero Stop
Good optical quality (B+ or better) - No top tier glass but I would give it a solid B/B+
Magnification low end 2-3, max 20 (3-15, 3.5-18 etc) - Check
Max objective 42 mm (to save weight and keep scope low) - Check
Capped windage - Check sort of.... You can run the windage with a cap but the cap is tall and can result in ejected shells hitting the cap. Does not affect function but kind of annoying.
Under 20oz ish weight, max 22oz - Near miss weight is 23.4 oz with low-profile turrets run without caps
FFP - Check
Simple hash mark reticle (no trees!) - Check
Don’t require a second mortgage to pay for - Check $750

 

[Quandary]

Zeiss V6 3 to 18, 'nuff said

 

[KenLee]

Zeiss V6 3 to 18, 'nuff said

They fitna drag ya

 

[Rams horns]

SWFA, Leupold, and the Zeiss for me. I'm not really a fan of large scopes with big objectives for hunting. Exception might be for mountain goat or sheep hunting but even then a smaller one at 10x magnification or less can get it done. I like his simpler is better attitude for hunting scopes.

 

[Dobermann]

Perfect? Meh, lots of personal preference and context makes this unlikely.

However ... between the following, there's nothing you can't really do - and all are 1) reliable and 2) have good reticles for hunting (unlike many of the scopes listed in this thread so far):

• SWFA 3-9 x 42 (19.84 oz / 562 g stated weight)
• Maven RS1.2 2.5-15 x 44, SHR-MIL reticle (26.4 oz / 748 g stated weight)
• Minox ZP5 5-25 x 56, THLR reticle (32 oz / 907 g stated weight)

Until we get this scope: https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/would-you-buy-this-scope.373983/

 

[rcook10]

I’m surprised the SB klassik 3-12x42 with mil reticle and elevation turret hasn’t been mentioned. Seems to check all the boxes and has more than enough elevation for hunting ~600yards. Thats probably my next scope.

Have a small horde of 6x42 leupolds covered in dings and with m1 turrets and alumina lens covers that have all dialed and held zero and been worked hard. Wish leupold would bring a reliable 30mm 6x with ZL turrets, alumina covers, and some sort of THLR esque reticle. It would be great.

 

[Tl15]

Steiner H6Xi 3-18x50 after a few months of diet and exercise. Aside from being obese, they nailed it with this scope, so I bought 3. Just need someone to abuse it and see if it holds up.

 

[basdpikl]

That maven 1.2 is going to be my next scope. If I could eliminate the illumination just the shave some weight and bulk of the scope it would be perfect.


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