Am planning to change from my current 1.5-5 to a higher magnification and am thinking that the newer 2.5-8 would be significantly better.
Anyone out there do this already. If so, what was your opinion afterward.
Note: Rifle is a pre-64 model 70 in 30-06. The 1.5-5 is fine for shots out to around 150 yards, but beyond that the acuity and reticle became a big challenge to my old eyes.

If you do not shoot much on driven hunts or up VERY close, it will be better.

Slightly less weight, of course.

Get an illuminated reticle,if possible ... it helps your eyes also, e.g. in low light, or with quickness of action, if needed.

Hermann

1.75/6 is my choice.
I have used both, and find that the 1.75/6 gives little away to the 2.5/8 in practical terms at the top end and is way better at the bottom end

I have also used a few 1.5/5s but now prefer the 1.75/6. The bigger exit pupil makes for more user friendliness.

If you're used to the 1.5/5, you will find the skinny FOW of the 2.5/8 a big change.

The Leupold 2.5-8 may be the most versatile hunting scope made. The low end FOV is very ample for quick/close shots, and the high end magnification provides reasonably precise aiming when sighting-in from the bench and more than adequate power for long distance game shooting.

Have you been to the optometrist recently, Bob? Five-power should really be good enough for all big-game within 300 yards - you don't have to count the hairs on their rump.

New glasses would also help finding the game to start with.

I'm blind as a bat but, with new specs, I can use a peep sight until the critter disappears below a held-over sourdough.

I'm very happy with the Leupold 2.5-8.
I have them on two 375 H&H's, a 9.3x62 and a 400 Whelen. I think they are perfect, all are in quick release mounts on iron sighted rifles.
I find the 1.5-5 just not quite enough scope on the top end.

I have Leupold scopes in 1.5-5x illuminated Circle-Dot reticle (2 ea.), 1.75-6x and a new VX-6 1-6x illuminated, all set-up for DG rifles. Also have 3-9x, 2-7x and 2.5-8x on PG rifles.

While I was a true fan of the 1.5-5x, beginning at the turn of the century, age has impacted my eyesight and is the reason I recently went to the VX-6 1-6x. I am impressed with this scope and plan to get another. All are in Leupold QR or QRW rings.

An illuminated reticle is a true advantage to aging eyes, especially on dark hides like Buff and Ele in the forest or bush, but I believe they will provide an edge to any hunter.

I have hunted with both of those scopes on rifles ranging from 270, 30-06, 338 Win Mag, and 35 Whelen Improved. They are each very excellent scopes. In 90% of use, I prefer the 2 1/2-8. In really tight cover like thick P-J the 1 1/2-5 gets the nod with the huge field of view at low power.

I started out in my younger years with a 3-9x Redfield and went up in power from there. The past few years, I've settled on 2-7x/2.5-8x on most of my rifles. (Put these on grandchildren's rifles too.) Not because my eyes are bad, but because I see more around the animal and I am not trying to hit the third hair from the left of the wart. I'll admit to having a 3-12x on a pronghorn rifle, but also two 1.5-5x's on woods rifles.

I think the 2.5x8 Leupold is the best all around scope made, adequate for DG and perfect for PG. All my .375s have one and many of my deer rifles.

However, on my dedicated DG rifles (.40 and above), I really like the VX 6 1x6 Illuminated and that is what most of them have.

Butch, that's because you hunt your Buffalo at wrestling distances :-)

Oh Lord,

Biebs is into the Fanta and Vodka again.

quote:

Originally posted by BEGNO:
Oh Lord,

Biebs is into the Fanta and Vodka again.

Butch

I think Biebs uses vodka to water down this fanta cravings,

Mike

I take it straight...FANTA-MAN !

I have 1.5 x 5's on my two big Africa rifles, and a 1.75 x 6 on the light one, a 30-06. A Leupold rep told me a few years ago that scopes vary in quality, both amongst models in the line and individuals as they are manufactured. Sounds reasonable to me. I am exceedingly pleased with the 1.75 x 6, not so much so with a 2.5 x 8 I bought a few years ago. In my experience, the Leupies are tougher than wang leather, which I value very much. I've seen them take some unbelievable hits.

I am a big fan of low power and light weight scopes.

I like the Leupi 2 - 7 x 32 compact illuminated, but for a DG Rifle I would prefer:

Swaro Z 6 i 1 - 6 x 24 EE

Kahles 1 - 5 x 24 i

or the new

Zeiss Conquest 1,2 - 5 x 32 illuminated ( replaces the Duralyt scope range )

Hermann

I've got a 1.75-6, 3 2.5-8s and more 3.5-10s than you can shove down a hole. The 2.5-8 is very good, I run a couple on 30-06s and even have one on my .458. Low power is over-rated if you shoot with both eyes open.

I don't use the 1.5-5s anymore, they dont bring anything to the party.

I think the only time that a 1.5-5/6 scope makes sense is if you have to shoot driven game at close moderate distance. The real important factor is the FOV where some scopes with a 4/5 Diopter seem to narrow the FOV at all powers..but I guess that is a more a European type of hunting.

I really like that Conquest 1.8-5.5x38...here in the east, its ideal for our cover. Its light too

JonP, what exactly do you mean by "a 4/5 diopter"?

If on a hunting rifle, I'll always opt for the 1.5x5, 1x4 or 3X fixed Leupold..I did some torture tests one time, repeated them several times and found the 20 MM objective saved a world of trouble keeping a gun sighted in with rough treatment..

Sight in the rifle and give it a hard whack with your hand and watch the POI change, the bigger the objective and the further it sticks out the greater the change.

The 20mm only protrudes about one inch and it won't change unless you use a hammer!

On a DG rifle that is very important to me, but to each his own and most hunters today want magnification..I have never needed to magnify an animal, just put the cross hairs on and shoot, the rest is hype IMO..also the higher the magnification the more pronounced the wobble and one tends to grab at the trigger as it floats by the target..with a low power or irons this does not happen..a 8x magnifys wobble 8 times and a 12x magnifys wobble 12 times..Most high power scope users wobble off as much as the wobble on!

This is mostly a problem when shooting off hand, but few folks shoot off hand these days so may not be a problem.

I also am of the school that fixed power scopes don't go south as often as varibles regardless of what the manufacturer might lead us to believe..A saddle scabbard horseback is probably the hardest thing I know on a scope, that constant jogging moves things around with big scopes...