I have an accurized .257 Wby w/ 26" barrel & it needs a scope.

Normally, I am a Leupold fan, but I'm considering taking it a bit further, since enjoying the 8x32 EL Swaros I just got, they spoiled me.

This rifle is set up for mid to long range shooting. (300-800yds) For Hunting, 100 to 300ish yds.

Here are some scopes I've been looking at:

Leupold VX-6 (2-12x42)B&C ret.
Leupold VX-3LR (4.5-14x40SF)B&C ret.

Valdada IOR (3-18x42 w/ 35mm tube)M8 ret.
Heavy scope @ 28 oz!

Meopta Meostar (4-16x44) Mil-dot ret.

Swarovski Z-3 (3-10x42) ML ret.

Any advice, suggestions & what you have on your 257 WBY set up would be greatly appreciated. Other brands & models of scopes suggestions are welcomed.

I am used to B&C style ballistic drop reticles, may convert to ballistic turret w/ plex reticle just for this rifle, which is better for what?


-CMJ

I really only have Swaro and Leupold so that is all I can comment on.

I use the Swaro AV Plex on most of my hunting rifles. Something in the 270 range I have the 3 x 10 and on something like the 338 4 x 12 Swaro but had to go to the 50mm and it helped to have a bit higher mount on mine to clear the irons too. On high mag you dont see them of course.

These Swaros perform great to the 100 - 300 or more yards for the hunting you refer too. Maybe these perform almost perfect in that role.

For the really long distance target or vamint style shooting something with more magnifiation might be in order.

I eventually got a separate rig for a long range gun and it is scoped with the Leupold 6.5 x 20 x 50 LR Target. It is quite good for the price and holds up. Price aside, it is just good at what it does. I just cant help but wonder though whether the Swaro is "better." And how much better, if any. I see them so much better now that my eyes are "older." But that again is just for me. It is likely that when I was younger the difference, ever how small, was smaller. But for $2500 or so for a Z6 I am looking for some both real and felt improvement and I suspect most of us would be too.

The Leupold is very clear and seems like it has good "light" on the target. But at higher mag I need to have my eye in just the right position to see perfectly. So eye position and a rock solid steady mount become critical. The Weatherby comb can either help you here, or not. It may get your eye higher if you need, but it may reduce the head lock on the stock.

Beings I find I generally hunt on about 6X then you can see why I have the scopes I do in the Swaro.

But I am looking maybe at a Swaro Z5 or maybe a Z6 $$$$ for the long range gun. It is just a thought. It is not something that I have to do today.

That Z6 3 x 18 might really be for a rifle like yours though. I dont really think going past 18 or 20 X real magnification is truly of any hunting value though. Again that is just for me and my experience.

I find reticle choice is personal. I wish that Premiere and Leupold had not had the falling out. Now that Leupolds glass is improving, but not up to Swaro, but very good again, I would like to have a single hash below the reticle in the Leupold, as I had in some older Leupolds done by Premiere. That way I could have a 200 zero and a 300 already sighted, or a 400 and a 525 etc.

It is just me personally, but I dont want so much clutter, or busy-ness, in the sight picture of a hunting scope. In some kind of tactical situation the other additions make more sense to me, but that is just me.

If You want to shoot that long range, I would go with a higher magnifition scope! Plus a Ballistic Turrent, so you could compensate the bullet´s drop.
I would take a Z6(i) 2,5-15x44 or maybe a Z6(i) 3-18x50 - both with BT and I guess You will be surprised about those optical qualities - your EL 8x32 was just the beginning - you would be definetly get hooked on those if You try...

By the way: the new Z6i scopes of the second edition are nearly out now:
http://www.titanium-gunworks.d...6i-ii-3-18x50-p.html

They look not only great - they are superior!

Klaus

Nickel are well worth some investigation:

http://www.nickel-ag.com/

I realise that there is no way you'd spend Swaro type money without giving the scope a try and there are nor many Nickel scopes around so that might be difficult. Even so it is worth the effort to see if anyone you know has one. Just be careful though - looking through a Nickel scope can become expensive :-)

Thanks guys for the good responses so far, I'm taking my time on this project & want more feedback.

Nickel: geez, I'll be challenged if I go further than Swaro pricing, hunt financing comes FIRST!

I just bought a Trijicon 5-20X50 for my long range .308 It will have the Mil-Dot with illuminated center dot. At 300 yards the illuminated dot is 1/2". Trijicons have a great reputation. I'm looking forward to using mine for 300 yard "F" Class.

Look at a Vortex Viper PST in a 4-16x or 6-24x. They come in Front Focal Plain or regular Second Focal Plain. The adjustments are MOA/MOA or MIL/MIL on the reticle and turret. Vortex also has a custom turret option for these scopes on their website. Just put in you data and you can get one ordered.

I have a friend that just put one on a FAL 308 and it is one of the finer scopes out there for the money.

Zeiss 3.5-10X Conquest on mine and I like it a lot for antelope and deer

Camerland has a Minox 6 x 30 x 52 on sale now for $649.00. Just got mine in and so far so good. Like most medium priced high magnification variables it seems to have a comparatively narrow range of eye relief but then few of us snap-shoot at very long ranges. Resolution is very good.

Trigger does anyone sale target turrets for those scopes. It's a toss up between th 5-20 nikon monarch and 4-20 minox za5. The nikon is on top right now because I can order custom cds turrets. Any help are advise from everybody will be greatly appericated.

You know you really want a Schmidt & Bender!

Or maybe you could just settle for a Nightforce!

Bubba 'Squatch

What I want and what I can afford are two diffrent things.

quote:

Originally posted by mdvjrp93:
What I want and what I can afford are two diffrent things.

Pay that !!

In my little world, we judge scopes with a universally stable target. About 700 yards from my front deck is a water tower. It has a circular access plate on it, held together by a ring of bolts on it's circumference. We simple take note of how easy it is to clearly define those bolts with each scope, with the various settings and under differing light conditions. This is how poor people play. We were very surprised that each scope seemed to be dependent upon the eyes attached to it. One of my boys actually preferred a lowly Bushnell Trophy, and the 350 dollar Nikon I had purchased was a favorite of nobody. My BIL had several medium priced scopes (expensive to us) and his VX3 Leupold was top finisher, and the easy winner in low light at dusk. He had a Zeiss Conquest that was OK with everyone, but not at the top. The ugly truth is that for us poor folks, the bang for the buck was Leupold followed closely by Bushnell. Surprised the hell out of me. Swaro and things like Nickel are out of our league.