Most of the time I dont even go as high as 40mm. Under 40mm is almost always the way to go for general hunting. IMO

I almost always used a 40 but since I bought one with a 50 the last couple of years I have really gotten used to the big picture and I like it. Plus I like the way the bigger bell looks.

LaRita and I have 4 rifles, we have 4 3.5-10x40 Leupolds. They've worked so far.

I've never been hamperec by 36-40mm scopes. I just can't se the trade off of weight/size to the extra light gathering they offer in the very late evening. Doesn't get much better than 2.5x8 for general hunting needs IMO.

For Non-dangerous Big game I prefer the Leupold 2.5 X 8 or the S&B 1.5 X 6. I find that this is more than enough magnification, and also is astehicly far more attractive to my eye on sporting rifles.

I like a 7mm exit pupil as much as the next guy but I absolutely prize the ability to mount a scope as low on the action as it will go. I managed once to fit a 6x 42mm Leupold in Dual Dovetail mounts and Superlow rings on a short action M700 (that combination won't work on a long action). Otherwise all my objective lenses are smaller and none have ever failed to deliver enough light.

I own several Leupolds with the 40 mm objective one with a 36mm and one with a 50mm objective, for the life of me at all hours of the day or evening I can't tell the difference!
I won't spend the extra cash for another 50mm objective plain and simple, no difference to my eyes.

I'll never again get anything over 40MM.....just too much and for no apparant reason.

I'm now looking at the Leupy 3-9 X 33 ultralite.

40 MM on a rifle that I am being mobile with...

50MM objectives are okay on stationary varmint rifles....

cheers
seafire

Hey Hugh, Where I normally hunt the legal hunting hours begin 1 hour before sunrise and go until 1 hour after sunset. During the Twilight periods on each end of the day, when there is not enough light to distinguish color, the 50mm is a HUGE advantage for " me ".

We also shoot a lot of Does and the higher power scopes allow me to get close enough to see if they have small spikes. This is even more helpful for me in the shadows of our swamps where the background can easily make the Deer look as if it has no spikes at all.

And I still shoot a good bit at distance. Here the actual power of the scope is more important that the Objective size, unless it is Twilight.

I've also gotten spoiled by having HEAVY Duplex reticles in most of my scopes. Had to pass on a HUGE Trophy Buck a long time ago because I could not see the crosshairs. It was still legal shooting time, but dark enough that I couldn't see his antlers against the disked corn field with the Deer about 30yds from me.

But he was in that slow steady gait with his head down, obviously trailing where a Doe had walked earlier. If I'd had a Doe Tag with me then, I still could not have shot because of not being able to see the crosshairs.

I finally picked up my binoculars and watched him cross the field. As he got to another set of woods about 200yds off, the clouds parted and the moon illuminated right where he was walking. Now I could see the WHOPPER's rack and it was absolutely amazing. Got the rifle back up and still couldn't see the crosshairs. So, he lived to breed.

So, to a good extent " my " scope selections are based on Deer sightings that would have turned out differently with the proper scope.

But I can see why people would want smaller scopes. Fortunately all sizes are available and we can use what works best for each of us.

Good hunting and clean 1-shot kills.

Hot Core,

Thanks for your reply. Obviously, you understand what I am looking for, a deer rifle that will primarily be used in stand hunting. I should have been more clear on that point. Thanks. Hugh

If you need 50mm for game you are hunting after legal hours. Tactical situations where night vision is not available it buys you 15 more minutes, not much. Cheek weld to the rifle is more important to me in hunting situations.

Perry

Perry not always is one shooting after hrs.

I have seen many a cloudy, rainy, snowy day where it got plenty dark before shooting hrs ended.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
Perry not always is one shooting after hrs.

I have seen many a cloudy, rainy, snowy day where it got plenty dark before shooting hrs ended.

Excellent post and right on the nose.
---

Hey Hugh, That being the situation, I can sure recommend the 50mm Scopes of the Leupold HEAVY Duplex persuasion.

However, one of my " good buddies(?) " got a Leupold LPS mentioned above and it is quite amazing for the cost.

We took his LPS, a VariX-III, a VariX-II and an inexpensive Burris outside one night and looked across a pond into the woods on the far side.

The VariX-II and the Burris Fullfield II were about the same. The VariX-III was noticably better. But when his LPS came up, you could look " into " the woods beyond the pond.

I noticed your other Thread about the S&B, Kahles, Zeiss etc. One of my buddies also has a Zeiss and it is nice, but the Objective is small and for "my" old eyes does not seem any better than a VariX-II. Haven't messed with an S&B or a Kales.

NOTHING matches a NightForce. But they are as heavy as a Sledge Hammer taped to the barrel and normally require really HIGH Mounts.
---

I've been really tempted to get one of the Illuminated Leupolds or an Illuminated Burris Signature with a 50mm Objective. The Leupold uses an illuminated " + " and the Burris illuminates a " dot ". I can see where the Leupold would help prevent "canting" the scope in a low light situation, but at the distance I'm apt to use it, it probably doesn't matter which one is used.

If the batteries go dead, you still have the HEAVY Duplex, so not all is lost.
---

All that said, I still understand why some folks would prefer the smaller scopes and have no argument with them. Plenty of different Models to go around for everyones taste.

Anything bigger than a 40mm and there is great difficulty mounting it low enough to allow a good "cheek weld" with most stocks.

I have a 44mm on my 223, but that's the biggest I have or want.

AllanD

Deer stalking during the crepuscular period does bring problems. I have found that the post and rail is a good reticle for this form of shooting. The thick post stands out even when the low light has robbed one of ones ability to see other reticles. I used to use the German no 1 reticle but found that the point was difficult to see in the gloom.

As for objective size, I have never had a scope with an objective larger than 36mm and have not found this a problem. Any scope with an objective over 40mm is, in my view, for long range work. I go down the woods stalking where my varible scopes are set around 2 1/2 to 3x magnification, when wound up to 6x or over then the world looks big and scary.

Just my 2c.

I shoot a .300 Win Mag with a Bushnell elite 4200 2.5x10x50mm. Used to shoot an Elite 3000 with a 40mm tube. The two are not even comparable. Same can be said for my Vari X II 3x9x40mm's. I'll take the 50mm anyday.

Lens coatings do make a huge difference.Comparing my 3x10x42 swarovski scopes side by side with a friends vxiii 3.5x10x40,I find that my scopes are just as bright despite having a smaller objective lens.My scopes are also lighter,more compact,and can be mounted lower.

50mm is just too goby for anything to be taken afield. If your into punching holes exclusivly then Id say sure to the 50, why not. Make mine 40mm though..

40MM for me too. I like light and compact scopes.

For big game 32 mm is enough for me.

For daylight walking hunting I use a 40 mm as twighlight factor is not necessary. However for dawn/twighlight deer hunting from a stand the 56mm is indispensable as you can go right up to the end of legal shooting time.

Regards

Mark

I voted 40mm but I usually prefer an even smaller objective. I have several 20mm Leupolds and like them. I also like the Leupold 2.5-8x Vari-X III 36mm and the Leupold 2-7x VX-II with the 33mm objective. I have one Leupold 3-9x VX-II 40mm and that is the largest objective size I own.

-Bob F.

Hunting around here in New England starts a half hour before sunrise and by then almost any scope will do. On top of that deer hunting in CT ends at sunset and that burns me. I don't like to shoot a deer late anyway as it's just work then.

The next scope that I will get is the 2.5-8 Conquest and thats a 32mm. I used to have a straight tube scope at 3X and somehow I did not like the resolution to identify the game. I do have 8X56 Hesolt Nacht Dialight binoculars and I do admit that as old as they are they see way better than the Leu 8X42 Pinnacles. I wonder at those Pinnacles and am taking them down to Cabelas and compare them to what they have there.

I'm on the deer stand before dark and I get off of my stand 'till I can no longer see. I need a scope that will draw in as much light as possible therefore I choose a larger objective.

I've got 2 Leupolds for hunting at 40mm.

I've got 1 Leupold at 50mm for Varmints.
A 3200 Elite Bushnell at 50mm, for varmints.

half a dozen others, all at 40mm with an exception for a real cheapy NC-Star, I think it's called is a 50mm

I built a fixture a couple years back that held 3 Leupold Vari X III scopes two where mine one was a friends they all were 3x9 but differed in that one was 33mm one was 40mm and the last was a 50mm all mounted in the wooden jig that compleatly blocked the shooters view of the objective lens. The scopes all look the same from the shooters point of view and every single person I handed this to could not tell whitch scope had the 50 or the 40 ect. when they didn't know what they were holding. So in my testing that humbled many of my shootin ........MOST people in a blind test CANT!!!! tell the differance when asked to pick a card....any card!

I will say this: last early spring I was on a pig hunt, with my .270, and a Leupold 3.5 X 10 Vari-X III in 40 mm. (Lots of times, pigs come out very late, right at the end of daylight.) Well, to make it short and sweet, there was still plenty of light to shoot when the guy came rolling up on me in his 4- wheeler, signifying the end of the hunt. I can't imagine a 50mm being of any more use.

I would say try to understand just what a larger objective will actually give you, then determnine whether or not you feel it is woprth it. This, along with parallax adjustment are the two most misunderstood aspects of scopes. I have sold them for many years and honestly not 1 in 100 people can explain what both really are about. Too many urban legends regarding scopes in my opinion. Matter od fact, Zeiss is the only manufacturer whi even explains what parallax even is in their literature. How can anyone make an informaed decision based of a lack of informnation. I rather like to think the manufacturers like it that way, because then, buyers will just believe whatever they are told without ever double checking or taking the time to fully understand a product.

For my mnoney, Leupold VXIII's.

_BAxter

My Zeiss gets it done! It’s as bright as many 50mm scopes I’ve looked through and has a great objective.



My old 10x50 Redfields are bright but they aren’t really any brighter than my Zeiss scope.

quote:

Originally posted by Savage99:
For big game 32 mm is enough for me.

Yep! One of my favorite scopes is an old Weaver KV 3X5. It resides on my Whelen and the post recticle with low magnification makes fast aquisition a snap. Its really a fun combination and quite effective at range as well. Nothing wrong with a good 32mm scope, especially for a lightweight rig.

For dusk to dawn deer hunting I prefer a Bushnell Trophy or Legend. Excellent optics for the money or for any price. Better than Leupold VX2 IMO.