What’s your favorite leopard scope . Reticle? Illuminated or non illuminated. Best scope for low light conditions

Im satisfiedwith a simple 3X Leupold with the standard duplex. Have been for a couple of centuries!

Tom,

You don't need high magnification but a lighted reticle will help. I used a 3-9 Trijicon on my last lion and it worked great. I don't think I could have made the shot with a standard duplex.

Mark

Schmidt Bender Polar 2-10x50 with an illuminated reticle. I believe it was, and still is, the best low light hunting scope made.

Swaro PH or PV 1.5-6x42. First focal plane and a nice heavy reticle.

Also used a Swaro PVI illuminated 1.5-6x42. It worked well also.

For me, the Swarovski Z6-i 2.5X15 44mm BT Plex has been my favorite.

Any low range, variable powered S&B illuminated reticle scope.

I think S&B have the best and most user-friendly IR scopes out there. Plus, they're far more aesthetically pleasing than those scopes, like Swarovskis and Leupolds, with those unsightly knobs and dials on their ocular ends.

In my direct and ample experience, it never pays to be penny wise and pound foolish when buying rifle scopes.

It's always better to pay big once, and then cry once, than to pay small repeatedly, and never stop crying.

Leupold 2-8X.

Been using it for many years, and shot many leopards, and all other game animals with it.

How far after dark can Leopards be legally shot? Seems many are wanting illuminated reticules because of the low light conditions encountered when Leopards are most likely coming to bait.
Why not a thermal imaging scope in this case, or dare I suggest, a spotlight?

I'm always a little amused to read of the abhorrence to shooting animals from a hide at a waterhole and yet everyone is quite happy to deliberately set up a bait animal in a tree, construct a hide nearby to take cover in, then proceed to snipe Leopards out of the tree when they arrive for their evening meal

I think it is 30 minutes.

In my experience, if it is too dark to see the cross hairs, I won't shoot.

It also depends on the location.

I have sat in some blinds where it was light enough to shoot 30 minutes later.

And I have sat in blinds where far too dark 30 minutes later.

I think the Leupold VX5HD in 2-10 with the Firedot reticle is excellent. You can turn on the red fire dot, set it to an appropriate brightness and simply put that red dot where you want the bullet to go. I thought it gave me an extra 10-15 minutes. Combined with a 30mm tube, it’s very good in low light.

Lots of good scopes mentioned. I personally am a fan of the illuminated reticle wether it be cats in low light or buffalo in deep midday shade. My 2 cents - Don't cheap out on the scope on a expensive Leopard safari, give yourself the best opportunity to make a good shot, following a wounded leopard ranks amongst the worst -- it happens but don't let it be because of your equipment!

quote:

Originally posted by Doug Duckworth:
Lots of good scopes mentioned. I personally am a fan of the illuminated reticle wether it be cats in low light or buffalo in deep midday shade. My 2 cents - Don't cheap out on the scope on a expensive Leopard safari, give yourself the best opportunity to make a good shot, following a wounded leopard ranks amongst the worst -- it happens but don't let it be because of your equipment!

This is something I have never been able to understand.

Wounding a leopard or a lion, when most are shot from a blind.

The distances are short with a steady rest??!!

Mark has it correct IMO. I've used the Trijicon 3-9 on leopard and lion. No batteries to worry about but a nice lighted reticle.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by Doug Duckworth:
Lots of good scopes mentioned. I personally am a fan of the illuminated reticle wether it be cats in low light or buffalo in deep midday shade. My 2 cents - Don't cheap out on the scope on a expensive Leopard safari, give yourself the best opportunity to make a good shot, following a wounded leopard ranks amongst the worst -- it happens but don't let it be because of your equipment!

This is something I have never been able to understand.

Wounding a leopard or a lion, when most are shot from a blind.

The distances are short with a steady rest??!!

Buck fever and Leopard moves during shot Poor communication in the blind.

Agree! I've talked to several PH's about why leopard hunts go wrong. Just seems that leopards rattle the Hell out of some hunters.

Mark

I like the Swarovski 1.7-10 with illuminated reticle for general use on African hunts.

The illumination is most useful with night hunting, but it can help at the last light times as well- generally I don’t bother to turn it on.

The cat shots are not generally technically challenging, but can be much more emotionally stressful. Good communication with the PH is important, as they need to be sure it’s a male and that you are on the right thing.

I would get something with a bit more light gathering than the usual 1-4 or 1-5 “dangerous game” scope for cats. You don’t need a lot of magnification, but a wider field of view also helps.

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
Im satisfied with a simple 3X Leupold with the standard duplex. Have been for a couple of centuries!

Me too!!!

I had Leupold scopes on one or more of my rifles in the 20th century, and now have them of a bunch of my rifles here in the 21st century.

As to the OP's question, I shot my one and only leopard with a Leupold VX 3i 4.5-14x40 B&C Reticle, set on 4.5x. 50 yard shot, and my PH's flashlight illuminated the cat perfectly for my shot.

quote:

Originally posted by buffybr:

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
Im satisfied with a simple 3X Leupold with the standard duplex. Have been for a couple of centuries!

Me too!!!

I had Leupold scopes on one or more of my rifles in the 20th century, and now have them of a bunch of my rifles here in the 21st century.

As to the OP's question, I shot my one and only leopard with a Leupold VX 3i 4.5-14x40 B&C Reticle, set on 4.5x. 50 yard shot, and my PH's flashlight illuminated the cat perfectly for my shot.

So you can use a spotlight? The advantage with a spotlight is that if the shot does go wrong at least with the area illuminated you have a better chance of seeing if the cat is wounded and in which direction it went.

Thermal imaging scopes are also great for poor light or night shooting although of course in the case of the cats there is the issue of identifying if it is the correct sex and age before shooting. Not sure how successful this aspect is through thermal imaging scopes or binoculars.

Hard to beat the Swarovski Z6-i 1.7—10X42 with 4A-i reticle.

eagle,

There are areas where you can hunt leopard with a light at night and there are others areas where you can't. Thus the importance of the illuminate reticle.

Mark

Here’s my thoughts - after 5 leopard hunts between my wife and myself. We have used Leica and leupold, 30mm tube, 3-10 or 12 power range.

Disregarding the power question, (1) illuminated reticle that you like and is simple to operate (2) large objective lens might be a difference maker, say 50mm (3) same with 30mm tube, but less important (4) very clear glass from reliable maker with reputation for toughness.

Like the man said, don’t scrimp on quality. And FWIW, we always take an extra scope and mounts, just in case.

I used a leupold vx6 2x12 firedot and like it very well!

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Tom,

You don't need high magnification but a lighted reticle will help. I used a 3-9 Trijicon on my last lion and it worked great. I don't think I could have made the shot with a standard duplex.

Mark

I used a Trijicon 2.5 to 10. The illuminated reticle was critical.

Surprised H T is the only one who noted the 30mm tube (a must in my opinion). Never had an illuminated reticle but the few times I needed one thought it would have been nice….

Osprey scope

I think leopards are near sighted so a pistol scope to give them long eye relief is what they need.

I used a Scope with a 30mm Tube and a Lighted Reticle. I am glad I did and would Highly recommend it.

The Scope and Rifle I am most familiar with!!

That is a pre-64 Mod 70, formerly a 300H&H, chambered to 300 Weatherby,blue-printed action, Pacific Research stock, 210 gr Trophy Bonded Federal Premium ammo, topped with Leupold Vari-X III 2.5 to 8!!

Everything from Sheep to Moose...and African Plains game too!! One shot, 40 yards on Leopard, like struck by lightning!!...just before dark, no lights, this scope lights up a low light situation!!

I think it is the combination of ALL OF THE ABOVE that makes the difference!! You better know everything by touch n feel when it gets dark!! Total confidence in a tried and proven package!!

The rifle doesn’t matter as much as the scope. Leopards are not hard to kill IF you hit them in the right place.

Never hunted Leopard.
For a low light scope I acquired a Meopta R2 1.7X10X42. It has a heavy #4 with a DOT.
The dot is non illuminated and has 8 different levels of illumination as well. Very visible in broad day light.
Only Meopta I own but would buy another.
Always have been big on dots!

Great Optics as well.

Amazing!!

Opted for a Schmidt & Bender illuminated reticle Polar 3-12x54. Cant wait to get it and get it mounted up.