I'm goin to get a Sendero in 300 RUM and was wondering what scope you guys recommend ? I think it will be a Leupold VX 3 6.5-20x40mm adj. obj.its goin to be used for my long distance deer hunting gun

I am thinking about a Sendero as well, but the scope question is more then clear for me:

Swarovski Z6i 3-18x 50

definetly - and with the ballistic turrent...

Now still thinking about the caliber for the Sendero: .300 WM or .300 RUM...?!

I have the Leupold 6.5-20 on my 22-250. I think you may find it too much magnification for most hunting. I find the new VX6 2-12x42 to be intriguing.

Tom: I agree with Clem. I have a 6.5X20 on my 700V 223, and it is great from a bench or rest, but no bueno, other than that. I even sent it back to Leupold, because the eye relief was so critical at 6. When I got it back it was the same. Don't get me wrong, I love this scope, but not for any hunting application.

On my Sendero, a 270 winchester, I have a 4.5X14 VXIII, better for a hunting scope, and still enough power for long range shots.

I think I'd keep the power to 16X or less.

Jerry

I have a Rem700 in 300RUM that is my elk hunting set up. I have the VXIII 3.5-10X50mm. Close enough focusing and FOV for hunting in timber and enough mag for 500+ yard shooting and it works well in low light situations.

I had a 6-18X50 Swarovski on my 300WM Sendero. Used it one season for elk hunting and found that it was to much scope for the areas I was hunting. I dropped down in power 4-14x40 and am happier with it. I like the 3.5-10X40 as well.

I'll second Blacktailer. I have the same scope on my .300 Win and have had some need for the 3,5 x power on running shots.

I agree with the learned posters who prefer scopes in the 3.5-10 or 4.5-14 range for long range, big game hunting.

One aspect of scope choice for big game hunting is FOV at low magnification, should you ever get in a tight spot. Animals are seldom lost due to too little magnification, but are regularly lost due to too much magnification.

I personally prefer scopes without parallax adjustment for big game hunting. One adjustment less to fiddle with in the heat of the battle, plus scopes are (probably) more rugged without. The added precision such a feature might provide is unnecessary on targets of big game size.

- mike

quote:

I have a Rem700 in 300RUM that is my elk hunting set up. I have the VXIII 3.5-10X50mm. Close enough focusing and FOV for hunting in timber and enough mag for 500+ yard shooting and it works well in low light situations.

Couldn't agree more.

quote:

I personally prefer scopes without parallax adjustment for big game hunting. One adjustment less to fiddle with in the heat of the battle

Mike's spot-on, too.

I'll be the dissenting opinonator.

NF 2.5-10x32 with NP-R2 reticle.



Alan

I'll probably not buy another VX3. I'm disappointed with the new ones.

I have a 3.5-10x40 which is nice and light (in weight) but the image quality is poor.

I have an old 4-12x40 VXII which has better glass. And I've been a Leupold fan for a long time...

For a long range rifle like a 300 mag in a Sendero I'd get better glass if you are willing to spend the money. I also like NF, but if you ever intend to shoot up close the reticles tend to wash out against foliage as they are very fine (an advantage again at long range and you can use illumination up close I suppose).

Look at IOR (I think branded IOR Valdada in the US). I have 4.5-14x50's and 2.5-10x42 Tacticals. Both are great but the 4.5 won't focus properly closer than about 80m if that bothers you. I recommend the MP8 reticle for a good tradeoff between precision and visibility.

I love them. Heavy scopes of course as are NF (although the 2.5-10 compact is not too bad).

I find the IOR glass makes up for magnification. I can hold on 8" plates easily at 500m with the 10X. The 14X is easier though.

quote:

Originally posted by ARWL:

For a long range rifle like a 300 mag in a Sendero I'd get better glass if you are willing to spend the money. I also like NF, but if you ever intend to shoot up close the reticles tend to wash out against foliage as they are very fine (an advantage again at long range and you can use illumination up close I suppose).

Look at IOR (I think branded IOR Valdada in the US). I have 4.5-14x50's and 2.5-10x42 Tacticals. Both are great but the 4.5 won't focus properly closer than about 80m if that bothers you. I recommend the MP8 reticle for a good tradeoff between precision and visibility.

I love them. Heavy scopes of course as are NF (although the 2.5-10 compact is not too bad).

I tend to agree on a few things.

The NF NP-R2 reticle is fine and yes, you can simply turn the left knob (not a focus adjustment) and turn on the illum reticle.

In 2007 I had a 3-18 IOR on my 7.5 lb 30-06 AI running a 180 @ 3000 fps. Recoil was quite brissant. Right after this pic was taken at 818 yds, the scope internals fell apart. The scope hadn't even had 100 rds through it. IOR Valdada did, indeed, replace the new scope with a new one without any hassell but my faith in IOR, as far as holding up to recoil was conerned, was gone forever!



The NF 2.5-10x32 weighs 19 oz so it's not as light as the Leupold's but with the RUM's recoil the extra few oz might be helpful in the recoil department.

Alan

Interesting responses, just thought I would add my two cents worth.

I own several Leupold 6.5 X 20 scopes that sit on varmint rifles. I would not like them for big game hunting due to the limited eye relief, limited field of view, and thin crosshairs or reticles.

I would suggest you try the scope that several of my big game rifles wear. It is the Leupold 4.5 x 14 x 40 LR. This is a 30mm scope with a side focus. My scopes in this model all have the Boone and Crockett reticle and I find it really does work well. These scopes are bright and clear and 14 has proven to be plenty of power to shoot big game at any reasonable range.
Using this model of scope my dad and I have shot several head of game at from 400 to 600 lasered yards.

Several very good scopes already recommended. Good point raised about eye relief. Critical eye relief is not the best on a hunting rifle especially one with as much recoil as a 300 Rum. Before you spend your money take a look at the Bushnell Elite 6500 scopes. With a very forgiving eye relief the 2.5x16 power has a very good field of view for close up work and enough magnification for long shots. If you think you need a little more look at the 4.5x 30 power scope.

Interesting that ARWL, would talk of his dissatisfaction with the new VXIII.

Here's a similar story of a different brand.

I thought I had found the valhalla of medium priced scopes, with the Nikon Monarch Series. The 1st generation was excellent. Clear, easy to focus, and believeable elevation/windage adjustments which were repeatable. Then came Generation 2, aha, I thought, now they have easy adjustable ocular lens', and no tools required elev. etc. adjustments. But I really liked that one also. I was unhappy they dropped the 3X9 with Generation 3, but figured a 2.5X10 would be fine. I got one, and was very unhappy with the clarity and focus. Sent it back, Nikon went thru it, same as before. It now sits on a 22lr.

I know this is a bit long winded, but I guess newer/change, isn't always better.

Jerry

I've recently switched from Burris and Leupold to Vortex. Before anybody gets upset, I know they are made in China I have a 6.5-20x50 Vortex Viper on my 300 Wby and love the gun and scope. Next to Leupold VXII and VXIII's I couldn't tell the difference in clarity. the 6.5-20x50mm is $500 with full lifetime waranty, and the 6.5-20x44mm is $400. Half the price, not half the scope and a little extra scratch to go buy some bullets, or gas for the trips to the range. Here's the picture of the moose I killed last fall with my Vortex scope on a Weatherby Vanguard.

Nightforce

quote:

Originally posted by Tom S:
I'm goin to get a Sendero in 300 RUM and was wondering what scope you guys recommend ? I think it will be a Leupold VX 3 6.5-20x40mm adj. obj.its goin to be used for my long distance deer hunting gun

If your long distance deer hunting will allow you to shoot from a blind, a steady rest, I would stick with the 6.5 - 20. That is what is on my .270 the rifle I use for Coues deer and pronghorn and it has never failed me.

If your hunting will vary so that your are presented with the need for fast shots, and generally under 200 yards, I'd consider the
3.5 - 10.

Tom, a good friend of mine has the same rifle.
It's mounted with a Pre-M4 Leupold VX III LR.
6.5-20x. 50mm objective, 30mm tube. Side focus, M1 Knobs.
It's a good shooter.

Not to nit pick, but just to be clear in case someone doesn't know...

I'm referring to the VX3 (the digit 3) which replaced the VXIII. Reports were that the new VX3 and MK4 had the same glass. I seriously doubt that.

Just be aware that many guys here are recommending VXIII's and not VX3's. They aren't the same thing.

Maybe the experiences of others differ.

quote:

Originally posted by ARWL:
...
I'm referring to the VX3 (the digit 3) which replaced the VXIII. Reports were that the new VX3 and MK4 had the same glass. I seriously doubt that.

Just be aware that many guys here are recommending VXIII's and not VX3's. They aren't the same thing.

Maybe the experiences of others differ.

I have never owned or used a Leupold Mk4 scope, so I can't comment on the above comparison. I do, however, own both Leupold Vari-X III as well as the newer series VX-3. It is my firm belief that the new VX-3 series are better than the older Vari-X III series, which in turn always offered rugged and serviceable scopes. I believe the new VX-3 series are better at least in terms of the adjustment mechanism for vindage and elevation, I have a feeling the optics have also been improved.

No, looking through a VX-3 is not like looking through a Zeiss or Swarovski, and I like the European diopter compensation better than the "endless thread" approach of Leupold. But the VX-3 series are still excellent scopes, very dependable and with good options for ballistic compensation - a field in which most Euro scopes are "also rans".

- mike

quote:

Originally posted by Tom S:
I'm goin to get a Sendero in 300 RUM and was wondering what scope you guys recommend ? I think it will be a Leupold VX 3 6.5-20x40mm adj. obj.its goin to be used for my long distance deer hunting gun

That is an excellent choice "if" you are not Hunting during Low Light conditions(aka Twilight at each end of the day and/or heavy overcast). Then a 50mm(or larger) is worth the "additional weight".

Reticle choice makes a HUGE difference. For close-up(within 300yds) a HEAVY Duplex works much better than the Standard Duplex. For longer distances, it is difficult to improve on the old Mil-Dot Reticle, though there are some excellent choices available now days.

The Illuminated Reticles are amazing. But the Lowest Setting must be Low enough not to create so much light that it "blinds your vision" so you can not see the Game.

Best of luck with your choice.

quote:

Originally posted by Tom S:
I'm goin to get a Sendero in 300 RUM and was wondering what scope you guys recommend ? I think it will be a Leupold VX 3 6.5-20x40mm adj. obj.its goin to be used for my long distance deer hunting gun

I would get a March, NightForce or Leupold with the front focal plane reticle for a flat shooting long range rig.

i have a sendero 300 rum. i put a bushnell elite 6500 tactical 4.5x30 power on it. it has a very wide field of view on 4.5x and it is still very clear on 30 x. excellent scope.

How far are you planning on shooting? If you are shooting less than 500 yards 10x makes for pretty usable sight picture for wistle pigs on up. I love Nikons Monarch Gold 2.5-10x50. These are still made in Japan and they are very durable, movement is consistant, and lowlight usability is as good as any for 1 or 2 thousand less than some of your similar German optics.

NXS 5.5-22x50 or 56mm with your choice of reticle and matching turretts. My preference is for a mil reticle and mil based turretts.

If money is no object a 5-25x56 PM11 SB with P4 or P4 fine reticle and .1 mil adjust turretts

what do YOU consider long distance?

nightforce is right out, due too short eye relief... seen lots of cut eyes on them

IF you're serious about shooting a long way well....Nightforce NXS Scope 3.5-15X 50mm (Zero Stop) or higher magnification.

And spend the rest on practice ammo, and a Swaro spotting scope.

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
what do YOU consider long distance?

nightforce is right out, due too short eye relief... seen lots of cut eyes on them

LOL...Funny how this goes,... My experience is the opposite. The guys I know who have used them love them, and the only one with a new "eyebrow" was crawling the stock and should have been spending money on a shooting coach.

I think once you start getting out beyond 600 yards the scope quality will be pretty noticeable. The scope may be better than the rifle at these ranges anyway unless it's massaged.

I thought Doug at Cam-Land had a couple of Leica 3.5-14x42 scopes on clearance for $850. I have two of the 2.5-10x42's and they are flat out superb. The No. 1 reticle is on my .375 H&H and is the finest piece of glass I've ever used.

PS: eye relief is a solid 4" on my scopes - absolutely no threat of scope-eye.

I find the 4.5x14 range just about perfect on a hunting rifle that will be used on possible long shots. Although I have scopes by Swarovski, Zeiss and S&B, my "go to" scopes are the Leupold 4.5x14x50 30mm tube with the ILL reticle. If you can't get a good aim point at 14 power, you shouldn't be shooting at it, unless its paper.

I just went throught the same scenario buying a scope for a 338WM.

I narrowed my options down to 3: Leupoldt VX3, Nikon Monarch and Vortex Viper. I ended up settling for the Leupolt VX3 4,5-14x40. My biggest consideration was eye relief, and secondly the "size"/thickness of the crosshair.
In SA (from what I found) prizes on Vortex and Leupoldt was more or less the same, and Nikon was cheaper/less expensive.

I have used the 6.5-20x40 Leupold on a 300 Weatherby and it was great, Later on I had the opportunity to use a Ziess Conquest in 6.5-20x50 and it was even better. The retical was easier to see and sight picture was much faster. Those are both on p-dog guns now and the big guns all have 2.5-10 and 1.5-6 on em with 2 having 4.5-14s. The Nikon Golds are stellar scopes. The 4.5-14s are Mark 4s with M-1 dials and still offer more than enough Magnification for 500 yards plus.