Well, the CFO (wife) approved 300-350 for a new scope for my ruger 358. Leaning towards a fixed power Leupold with a post and duplex, German 1 or German 4 reticle. I've a German 4 on my 375 and really like it, although the post and duplex is intriguing. My biggest conundrum is whether to get a 4x or 6x. The vast majority of my hunting is woods in the northeast. One spot on a farm in upstate newyork that I hunt yearly presents some 250-300yd shots over fields, but that's about the max. I'm thinking the 4x will be the most flexible for me, given a number of the areas on that farm and various other properties I hunt give shot opportunities at 15-20yds, also.

What are everyone's thoughts? Where's the best place online to order from that I can specify my reticle? I've only run across optics planet so far with that option.

I had a .350 RM - I'm guessing yours is a 358 Winchester.

My first thought: used Leupold VX3 2.5-8x36. About $350 on the market.

Second thought: Fixed 6x36 FX2.

Third thought - I had a 6x42 FXIII on my .350 and it felt like overkill. It just...didn't feel right. Then again I was in a blind that limited most shots to 80 yards and the far shot was 160...

Just my opinion, If your shots are 150 and under I'd go Loopy fixed 4x and call it a darn good day. If 200-250 are the norm I'd go 6x and be done with it.

PS: Having seen the trajectory on the 358 with 225 gr. bullets...and the BC on the .358 bullets...I really wouldn't bother much with anything over a scope to handle 250 yards max.

I'd say a 2.5 or 3x scope or maybe a small variable should be plenty for your hunting. Our ancestors often made long shots with iron sights and if you have to shoot at a running animal, high power is the last thing you need. The 358 Win is hardly a long-range cartridge and deer are not small - you don't have to aim at a particular hair on their chest.

I'm in the small variable camp, mainly because there are so few low powered fixed power scopes.

I have tended toward variables to get lower power, not higher.

Field of view is simply too small for me with the fixed 4x and is usually well under 30ft at 100yds. This under 6ft at 20 yds. The 6x is worse. The justly popular 2.5/8 Leupy is, for me, too narrow in its FOV for your application.

If your finances can do it, the 1.75/6 Leupy works well on its lowest setting, with 50ft FOV. The bigger objective, as compared with the 1.5/5 provides a bigger exit pupil, which is very helpful for fast target acquisition at power settings above about 2/2.5.

Despite being in the low power camp, I have occasionally found 3x to 5x very useful on stationary targets at under 100 yards. The low powered variables give this flexibility.

How about a VX2 1/4 or 2/7 ? Just a fraction outside your budget but either would do the job for you.

I too am in the Low-Variable camp-
check EBAY- for a used Burris Signature 1.5-6 or Leupy-- both with lifetime warranty- both usually available for yor CFO's planned outlay