What scope do you suggest for a .338WM?? I have a couple of Swaro's that I could use.

Z6i 1.7x10x42
Z6i 2.5x15.44
Z8i 2x16x50
Z5 3.5x18x44

I have not used a .338 on game, but anticipate elk and plains game, possibly bear in AK.

Do any of you all use your .338 for long range shooting?

THanks

I use a Leupold 3.5 x 10-40 with an M1 Turret. the Turret makes ringing steel at 505yds easy as pie. BUT - if I built it again I might not use the M1 and just sight in 2" high and limit shots to 300 yds.

I use the Leupold VX3 2.5-8 on about 95% of my rifles. I love this scope power, weight & quality. Oh, and I should also add, price! I get them mostly free from my Cabelas points, but if you buy used and shop around, they run in the $280-$300 range. A lot of scope for the money, plus if they ever go down for some reason, Leupold will fix them for free or replace it for free. Can't go wrong with that policy. And they very seldom go down!

My other 5% are Leupold 1.5-5 and 3.5-10.

I would use a VX3I as well. 3.5 X10 or 2.5x8. Go light weight.

Deciding on scope magnification range relates somewhat to expected distances game will be shot.
For me, 400 yds is my limit. Apart from the 1.7 - 10 X any of those scopes should suffice. Personally I find 12X ideal for the longest shots even on scopes with higher magnification. If overall rig weight matters I would suggest your Z5, a great scope optically with user friendly weight. It's quite long but that might help on a long action. All the other models are superb optically but I'm pretty sure all weigh more tgan the Z5.

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:
What scope do you suggest for a .338WM?? I have a couple of Swaro's that I could use.

Z6i 1.7x10x42
Z6i 2.5x15.44
Z8i 2x16x50
Z5 3.5x18x44

I have not used a .338 on game, but anticipate elk and plains game, possibly bear in AK.

Do any of you all use your .338 for long range shooting?

THanks

I bought a Ruger M77 mk11 .338WM in 93-94 have had a leupold Vari X11 3x9 since new, probably 700+ rounds through it now & never any problems.
300 yds. is long range for me. I took it out of the safe this year fired 2 rounds at 100 yds. 1/2 high both touching put it away.

Z-5. I have them on nearly all of my big game rifles, along with a custom turret from Outdoorsmans in Phoenix. Can dial up to about 800 yards with the turret. Give them a call to discuss the turret, if you have the BT on the Z5.

I am not a long range shooter. I have a Kahles 1.5-6x42, first focal plane on one 338. Presently a Leica ERi 2.5-10x42 on another. I have a Swarovski 1.7-10x42 non-illuminated Plex, that I consider replacing the 1.5-6 with. But, I have not found the 1.5-6 lacking for my moose hunting. Though, I really like the Swarovski 1.7-10's as all-around scopes.

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:
What scope do you suggest for a .338WM?? I have a couple of Swaro's that I could use.

Z6i 1.7x10x42
Z6i 2.5x15.44
Z8i 2x16x50
Z5 3.5x18x44

I have not used a .338 on game, but anticipate elk and plains game, possibly bear in AK.

Do any of you all use your .338 for long range shooting?

THanks

If it were me I'd probably go with either of the first two listed. Having some field of view is a good thing especially for bear hunting. I don't do long range shooting so I can't help you there.

I have a Leupold VX3 2.5x8 on my .338 and have never wished for more magnification but I understand everybody has different tastes.

Of the 4 scopes you mentioned available to you I'd pick the second one 2.5-15x44.
My .338 Win Mag has a Leupold 3.5-10x40 on it and I couldn't be happier with it. I tend to shoot game on fairly high power unless it is very close as I like to pin point place my bullets impact and this magnification works for me. I regularly shoot small gongs with mine at 400 yards.

Forgive me for the sin of suggesting options not asked for.

However, I just picked up a 2x12 Leupold VX6 with FireDot for my new 35 Whelen. 42mm objective and 30 mm tube.

From the ones you have posted, the 2-16x would be my choice.

Ross,

Swarovski X5 with a 3-18.

I am a dialer, now that I have it figured out. So I want the bet dial turrets available.

If you really want to use what you have, I'd go with the 1.7 x 10 x 42.

Most likely the lightest weight and smallest of the 4 scopes offered.

Personally I use a 2.5 x 8 Leupold, but to each his own.

quote:

If you really want to use what you have, I'd go with the 1.7 x 10 x 42.

Seems like a fine choice I have 3x9 on mine

I actually have that same Z8i on my 338.

I have a Z6i 2-12 on my .338 (actually a .330 Dakota). I've used it on all of the ones you mentioned.

I think that given you have bears in Alaska on that list, any of the above would work fine, but I would try and stick with the lighter ones. Elk are pretty big and they are the only one of the lot that you would have to take a longer shot with, IMO.

The Z5 is the lightest of that lot, but also has the highest magnification, and no illumination... which may mean something with bear. I use that on my .300, which is the long range set up.

As Elmer Keith and some of the old-timers on AR have argued, larger scopes are a handicap in hunting big game. Not only adding weight, they carry increased risk of bumping when hunting tough country, and a decent bump is pretty much guaranteed to knock your zero out.

All of the scopes dogcat mentioned have 42mm-plus objective lenses and these usually come with higher mounts and a lot of bell extending from the front rings, the more to wrench your scope out when bumped.

So, I suggest a small, short variable (say 2-7 or 1.5-6) with an objective lens no larger than 36mm. As Townsend Whelen wrote, big game tends to be large, so you don't need high magnification to see it; long eye relief and wide field of view are much more important.

Swaro is now offering retro fit dials for most Z6i's
including the 1.7-10 and the 2-12 , sent mine in for the refit
(unfortunately not the 1-6)

as ive have gotten older, i much prefer dials to memory or interpretation of a reticle for range

I have a 2x7x28 Leupold on my Ruger no `1-S 26: barrel in 338 Win..

I have a 4X Leupold on my Ruger boat paddle 338, everything Ive shot on both was on 4X, I never seem to move it..

But I seldom shoot past 400 yards and seldom at that.

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
I have a 2x7x28 Leupold on my Ruger no `1-S 26: barrel in 338 Win..

I have a 4X Leupold on my Ruger boat paddle 338, everything Ive shot on both was on 4X, I never seem to move it..

But I seldom shoot past 400 yards and seldom at that.

The compact riflescopes look quite nice on the .338WM, and even a .375 H&H. One of my .338's has a Leupold Vary-X III 2.5-8 x 36. This is a stainless steel 24-inch barreled Ruger MKII. This riflescope would have been perfect for the other Ruger .338WM I have, which is an African model. But I got a real good deal on a Leupold 3-9 x 40 riflescope that has a #4 reticle with an illuminate dot in the middle. The scope is somewhat too large or bulky on this rifle, but I could not pass on the deal.

That said, if I were the OP, I would go ahead and mount on the .338WM rifle the most compact of the riflescopes he has at hand.

I could get by just fine with a straight 4X Leupold, in fact it has always been my favorite all around scope, and Ive never felt I needed more power...Same with the 3X Leupold I used on my 416s, 404s and all my big bores..Im strictly a big game hunter and have no need for large belled scopes tht tend to change zero on most folks, based on what Ive seen on safari over the years...NOt a sales pitch, I don't care what anyone uses to hunt with, its none of my business, but I'll discuss it with anyone, anytime!

I would go with either the second or third choice on the list. 1.7 offers no magnification advantage over 2 or 2.5 (if you can't pick it up quickly with a 2.5, I doubt 1.7 is going to be magic) but it might weigh less.

As for long range shooting, I think the .338 WM is fine to 400 but after that it suffers; it doesn't shoot high BC bullets fast enough - the Lapua or Edge (and 338 Ultra, which I have not shot) kick its butt.

I am taking a .338 bbl off one of my LR rigs chambered for an Edge and will put it on my .338WM. Not sure if I will chamber in Edge or WM.

Shot a .338 for many years as my "one gun". Always used a straight 6x with no issues.
The one piece of your statement with "possibly Alaska" leads me to go with your first choice with a low end of 1.7. God forbid it ever comes down to it, but if I found myself needing a follow-up shot in any kind of cover with a brownie, I would want it set for the lowest possible power.
My two-bits!

quote:

posted 04 January 2020 05:08 Hide Post
I could get by just fine with a straight 4X Leupold

I agree Ray. My .308 scope is an old M8 4 power.
My .338 WM scope is a variable, but has been set on 4 power for years.
Have the two rifles set up with the same trajectory to avoid confusion in the field.

I hunted deer with my 338 win mag ruger 77 tang safety for 33 years .I shot deer from 3 yards to 425 with it .I started with a Nikon monarch 3x9x40 then put a 3 .5x10x50 Nikon then a 4x16x50 with bdc on it .I like those Nikon circles for running deer .I had to have a larger 50 mm lens for my eyes as I got older .The 338 win mag is awesome .I shot coyotes deer wild hogs and black bears with it .I started hunting with it in Alaska then changed to the 338-378 weatherby up there just a faster 338!