I will be going antelope hunting this fall. Would a 8.5X25 Leupold scope be too much for this hunt? I used a 2.5X10 bushnell for the last hunt but I would like to use the target knobs on the leupold for range adj. The antelpoe I shot in 06 was at 244 yards with the scope set on 10X.
JDY
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While it will work, a 3-9, 4-12x or 4.5-14x would be -- in my opinion -- better suited to the task at hand.

Obviously the 2.5-10 you used last year to make a successful 244 yard shot did the trick...

With most modern calibers, trajectories are relatively flat out to 300-350 yards, so simple holdover is generally a better proposition thatn fiddling with target knobs during a hunt.

My advice: use a good rangefinder and practice extensively during the off season so those longer shots which may require a bit of holdover become almost instinctive.

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My advice: use a good rangefinder and practice extensively during the off season so those longer shots which may require a bit of holdover become almost instinctive

2nd & AGREE

Mr. Tomek gives wise advice. I have used everything from a 3-9 to a 4.5-14 and never felt the need for more power. I generally have the scope set on 5 or 6x, and invariably forget to move it when I see animals. I would truly be as well off with a straight 6x.

jy
Should work fine.

I have killed several with a fixed 6x on a 308.

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Would a 8.5X25 Leupold scope be too much for this hunt?

Yes.

Put a 4x Leupold on your rifle and shoot a lot at varying ranges for practice, then hunt with it and kill an antelope or two.

Leupold, Kahles and Swarovski need to produce 4x's with a ranging reticle, like Leupold's Boone and Crockett. No extra knobs or dials, just the best glass and coatings available.

Funny how when I kill a big game animal with a variable scope it's usually set on 4x or less.

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Originally posted by joe25/06:
Mr. Tomek gives wise advice. I have used everything from a 3-9 to a 4.5-14 and never felt the need for more power. I generally have the scope set on 5 or 6x, and invariably forget to move it when I see animals. I would truly be as well off with a straight 6x.

I find a straight 6 power pretty darn handy also...

even practice small targets with a 22 LR at 100 yds, do that a lot, and you'll be surprised how large an antelope will look at 300 yds...or more..

Hey JY,

Sure, it will work fine. As usual, Bobby posted some good advice.

You neglected to mention what rifle you are scoping. I would give you a different answer for a go to hunting rifle like my 7mm-08 than I would for my 7mm STW long range rifle. It sounds like you may be scoping a long range rifle. In any event, I personally think any scope over 14-16x power on the top side is overkill for a hunting rifle. The only thing I would use 20+x for would be for extreme long range hunting or prairie dog/ground hog shooting.

Good Hunting,

Bob

FWIW-I took my Texas northern panhandle pronghorn last season with my 7mm STW sporting a Sightron SII 4-16x42 set on 10x at 292 yards. DRT. It is zeroed at 260 yds. and shoots point blank to 300 yds. I just put the cross hairs on him and squeezed the trigger. Go get 'em.

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Originally posted by jy:
I will be going antelope hunting this fall. Would a 8.5X25 Leupold scope be too much for this hunt? I used a 2.5X10 bushnell for the last hunt but I would like to use the target knobs on the leupold for range adj. The antelpoe I shot in 06 was at 244 yards with the scope set on 10X.
JDY
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I just bought a 257 Wby for the smaller, potentially longer range stuff and plan on putting a Nikon Monarch 4-16x42 on it. That gives plenty of useful mag range for just about any hunting the rifle will ever see plus some long work at the range.

Ken....

It's all a matter of personal preference. I like high mag scopes and have never been hindered by them in any way. I would use a similar scope as you would use shooting a prarie dog at long range.

Hopefully I'll draw WY this year and plan on taking a 6-18x40AO Leupie and probably a 6-18x40SF Nikon.

I've only taken 3 antelope and they were all past 300(one at 455).

Good Luck

Reloader

THe 6-18x Leupold is a great scope. I have one myself and used it extensively just this last weekend -- for prairie dogs. A hunting scope it is not. Why haul around the extra weight and bulk when the magnification you need for the longest shots on game-sized animals can be had in a much more compact, portable, and durable instrument? Your 2.5-10, as well as any straight 4x, 6x, or low-to-medium power variable is a much better choice for antelope hunting than a varmint scope.

quote:

Originally posted by jy:
I will be going antelope hunting this fall. Would a 8.5X25 Leupold scope be too much for this hunt? I used a 2.5X10 bushnell for the last hunt but I would like to use the target knobs on the leupold for range adj. The antelpoe I shot in 06 was at 244 yards with the scope set on 10X.
JDY
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I have a 3-9X Leupold on a 7mm magnum, a 4-14X on a 6mm-284. I've used both at fairly long range but the last few trips have been shorter shots, mostly under 150 yards. I should have taken my 6x45mm last time, it would have been plenty with its 2-7X Weaver.

I started the 6mm-284 out with a 6.5-20X Leupold, thought it was a little much and put it on a .22 LR for targets.

If you like long-range shooting there's plenty of it to be had, but antelope can be bamboozled into much shorter shots without a lot of trouble. Part of the entertainment last trip was watching some teenagers in a shortbed truck racing around; they told us they couldn't get within 800 yards of any antelope and needed bigger guns. Later in the day we shot one from about 75 yards with the 6mm-284, in some sense a waste of about 20 grains of IMR7828 as a much smaller case would have been enough. Alas, I have this habit of preparing for the worst...

Contrary to what many believe, all antelope are not shot at long range, many if not most are shot at 100 or so yards...

I think any fixed 4X is plenty for antelope at any range, but most would opt for large varible..I have one 2x7 on my 300 H&H, mostly because its there and been there for years.

I can hit an antelope as far away with a 4X as I can with a 20X...I have a secret method, I put the X on his shoulder and SQUEEEEEZE the trigger...

+1 to what Ray said. I don't live out west but I've hunted out there quite a bit and killed quite a few goats. And, for what it's worth, I've never had to shoot one twice. My most powerful hunting scope is a 3x9x40. If you'll spend a little time learning how to range using the plex in your scope and practice, practice, practice, you can leave a lot of the gadgets home.

You guys should just hunt with opens sights or better yet, just remove the sights and point like a shotgun

Magnification isn't needed anyway

Have a Good One,

Reloader

Well, this is something I actually feel I have a qualified opinion on having shot dozens, at least 60 last count, of antelope over the years.I've also guided and/or hunted with others putting my total seen killed into 3 figures.

First get over the idea that you will be blasting away at 400 to 600 yds. The vast majority of anteope I've killed have been well under 300 yds and quite a number under 100.

Next get real about the conditions, you are probably going to be hunting in open country where the wind will be a major factor. No sorry, WIND WILL BE THE MAJOR FACTOR. My 270 will drift about a foot per 10 miles per hour of wind at 400yds with a wind steady perpendicular to the shooter. A 10 mile per hour wind where I hunt is a "dead calm" day. Varilable gusts and odd angles will make exact windage holds at over 300yds a total guessing game. Example, exactly what is the hold for a 435yd shot with a gusting 20 to 35 mph wind varying 30 degrees away or towards from the shooters left side? Try shooting prarie dogs with your antelope rifle, yea-haw. I usually bring it along on p-dog trips for days that are "can't stand up windy". I've had days when the wind was so strong that gusts moved me physically so that the scope jumped several feet off target from a prone position. I've had days when I've held yards into the wind to get close to a p-dog at 300 to 400 yds. This is simply NOT ETHICAL with antelope.

Next up magnification: The word here is heat mirage. I've tired 12 and 14 power scopes and they work fine in the cool of the early morning, 75 degrees plus out on the flats and I've had 9x be too much. I used to carry a spotting scope but found it nearly useless once the heat was up. Very good 8 to 10 power binos are fine.

Range finders: I use a Leupold 8x rangefinder bino, works well most of the time. Surprisingly it can be very difficult to get consistant readings on antelope. They are relatively small, and there is a lot of "noise" out in seemingly barren country. Unless you have good elevation on the animal interviening grass and brush can give you some squirrely readings. It is also tough to get a clean reading while laying prone on some ridge-line trying to avoid having the antelope see you. I've had the machine be off over 100yds. I knew because I know the "gaps" on my scope, Burris with a ballistic plex, and didn't trust the rangefinder. Crawled closer and got a reasonable shot. Learn your gaps.

Rifles: What the thing does in a computer program doesn't mean shit. Can you actually stand to shoot the rifle enough to become good with it? Frankly, if you can't shoot it from a prone position because the recoil makes you flinch like mad after 3 shots, do the antelope a favor and get a rifle you can actually shot well. Example: I know a guy that got a 300 wildcat something or other, basically a 300 RUM that weighted in at 8&1/2 pounds. That's right, kicks like hell. He can't hit crap with it dispite the 4x-12x Swarovski scope. My 270 weighs in at 10 pounds ready to go. Heavy? No, very comfortable to shoot, 20 rounds prone is fun. 500 to 600 yd p-dogs and marmots, its been there. 300yd antelope or mule deer, no problem.

My advice: Get a rifle you can actually practice with, not some bench/safe queen that impresses and/or scares your friends out at the range. Put a good quality 3x-9x scope on it. Again, learn the gaps on the scope. Load up 500 rounds and shoot it under whatever conditions present themselves, especially wind. Don't think about how to make a long shot, think about about how can I get closer. It's called antelope HUNTING not antelope shooting.

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It's called antelope HUNTING not antelope shooting.

Not just you, but many on here often say things similar. That's a quote that bothers me. It doesn't matter how far the animal is, your maximum consistent accuracy range is what matters. If you can't shoot long range, don't tell an experienced long range hunter he's not hunting when he places a precise shot on an animal in good conditions at 500-600+ yards. It takes much more skill and self control to be effective at long range than it does at short range.

I bow hunt, MLer hunt, handgun, and rifle hunt. All have their limitations in my hands and may have a vast difference of limitations in another mans hands. Yet, I don't down him for his ability.

Ya'll have a Good One

Reloader

I think it's ill-advised to hunt antelope with low power scopes, that doesn't mean it can be done, but I prefer the maximum effectiveness while in the field personally. I may have only taken 3 antelope to date and been in on 1/2 dozen others, but I've killed over 150 big game animals, many of which where in vast open areas, so I think I know a little about hunting and shooting. When you are hunting in antelope country a high mag scope is much more effective period. Where we antelope hunt in WY, it's so dang open a shot closer than 300 is rare for our group. We've filled our tags and we've taken plenty of them from 300-500. Sure, the wind is a major concern, but even though the wind is fierce in antelope country, there are many times when it dies down, especially late evenings and early morns.

If low magnification was so effective hunting where potential long range shots were possible, all of our Benchrest shooters would be sporting straight 4xs on their long range rigs. I don't think that'll happen anytime soon. I'll bet anyone on this forum that they WILL be beaten on paper at 3-4&500 yards by someone shooting a high mag scope vs them shooting a low mag. Heck, I'd even go as close as 150. High mag scopes are more precise at longer ranges and allow for more ethical shot placement plain and simple. Can't see why some of you don't try to use the best advantage you can....

This could probably be in a thread by itself, but I'm tired of hearing folks say that a high mag scopes will cost you game, that's total BS. If you are a rookie or completely incapable of finding things in a scope, then yes, high mag may not be for you, but in the hands of an experienced shooter it doesn't matter if you have a 1.5x or a 6x on the low end, a game animal at very close range can be effectively taken with either and the higher power on the high end is much more precise and effective at longer ranges. I used to hunt/shoot with low power scopes until I saw the light. My target aquisition timing and long range accuracy improved tremendously when I switched over to high mags. Will not be going back any time soon, low mag scopes belong on DG rifles as well as low velocity short range rigs IMO.

Ya'll all Have a Great weekend,

Reloader

HunterMontana:

Thanks for injecting some real-world sense into this discussion.

We all recognize that some amount of magnification is useful in seeing and hitting a given target. Your observations about mirage, wind, and unknown and unknowable distances amply illustrate the fact that unnecessarily high magnification in your optical gunsight is a solution to nothing.

Reloder: Increasing from 6x or 8x to 18x or 24x with a bench gun, fired from a bench position at a known target at a known distance in controlled atmospheric conditions will certainly help shave .03 MOA from the size of the average group. This is very important to benchresters. Doing the same thing on a hunting rifle shooting at a vital zone of 100 square inches at an estimated distance from an improvised rest does nothing to improve the chances of hitting that 100 square inches.

quote:

Not just you, but many on here often say things similar. That's a quote that bothers me. It doesn't matter how far the animal is, your maximum consistent accuracy range is what matters. If you can't shoot long range, don't tell an experienced long range hunter he's not hunting when he places a precise shot on an animal in good conditions at 500-600+ yards. It takes much more skill and self control to be effective at long range than it does at short range.

I was just waiting for the usual self absorbed, arogant, BS about long range shooting to show up and there it is! Ah Yes, the SKILLED, deadly long range "Marksman". Reason #1 Why I don't guide anymore: Having to put up with the total vomit that simply flows non-stop out of the mouths of idiots.

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I think it's ill-advised to hunt antelope with low power scopes, that doesn't mean it can be done, but I prefer the maximum effectiveness while in the field personally. I may have only taken 3 antelope to date (I SHOT 3 LAST YEAR, AND IF I ROUGHLY ESTIMATE HOW MANY I'VE KILLED COUNTING THE ONES AS A KID IT PROBABLY CLOSER TO 100 THAN THE 60 I HAVE OLD TAGS FOR!) and been in on 1/2 dozen others (GO FIGURE, 6 AND HIS "EXPERIENCE" TRUMPS THE CLOSE TO 250+ I'VE EXPERIENCED, WHAT THE HELL, ENLIGHTEN ME OH WISE ONE...), but I've killed over 150 big game animals (SORRY TIGER, I'VE SHOT MORE MULE DEER DOES IN MY LIFE, YOU WANT TO COUNT BUCKS AND BULLS AND COW ELK TOO?), many of which where in vast open areas, so I think I know a little about hunting and shooting. When you are hunting in antelope country a high mag scope is much more effective period. Where we antelope hunt in WY, it's so dang open a shot closer than 300 is rare for our group. We've filled our tags and we've taken plenty of them from 300-500. Sure, the wind is a major concern, but even though the wind is fierce in antelope country, there are many times when it dies down, especially late evenings and early morns.

My only question is how many do you and your sniper team buddies LOOSE each year? Oh, wait no, no there ALL one shot kills right? "Cause You Da Man". What a load of crap. And I'll just bet that after driving all the way from Louisiana you and your friends call it a day if the wind picks up and you never hunt between 10 and 3? Please, spare me. Save the rationalizations for someone that actually buys your BS.

How many wonded animals have you seen in the field over the years? Unfortunately, I've seen plenty, likely the result of idiots taking long shots that "were well within their comfort zone" because they punch paper at 500 yds under idea conditions "all the time". Last year I AGAIN had the warden in the area I hunt ask me to put down a antelope doe some ass had gut shot. He knows I buy doe tags BECAUSE I ACTUALLY EAT THE ANIMALS!

I regularly practice at 500 yds, not because I take shots at game animals at that distance but because it is challenging, AND VERY INFOMATIVE. The most important thing I've learned is just how little needs to go wrong to make a killing shot not just a miss, but far worse, a wounding shot.

I shoot at a little range in a little town infamous for its winds. I know something about shooting in the wind and what I know is that self-proclaimed expert riflemen are just talking out their ass when they spurt crap about 500 or 600 yd shots on antelope. UNLESS OR COURSE YOU JUST DON'T GIVE A DAMN IF YOU WOUND AND LOOSE AN ANIMAL.

We are not at war with game animals 500 yds (Or often times lesser) or longer shots at unwounded game are simply NOT ETHICAL PERIOD. You may want to argue otherwise, but you will not change my mind and I will still think of you as a slob hunter and a discrace and embarasment to the sport. You want to launch bullits at live targets over 500 yds? Try Afganistan, I've sure the Army is just waiting with baited breath for the Second Coming of the "Marksman".

All of my rifles have 3x9x40 scopes which I've used for Mule Deer,Columbian Blacktail Deer & Elk.Never needed any higher magnification since 9 power worked perfectly at over 600 yards on a mule deer.

quote:

It's called antelope HUNTING not antelope shooting.

+ Another.

I've lived in antelope country and hunted them for over 40 yrs. I've antelope hunted in Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana, all DIY hunts on public or Block Management land (private land open to public hunting). I have never not killed the buck that I was after. Sometimes it's taken more than one day, and several stalks to get close enough for a clean kill. I kill a buck and maybe a doe every year, many times out of the same herd. All have been shot at under 250 yds, and most were one shot kills.

My first few antelope were killed with a .30-06 topped with a 3-9x scope. My favorite antelope rifle for the last 30 yrs is my .257 AI topped with a 6x Leupold. I practice and am comfortable shooting out to 450 yds, but I have never needed to shoot that far at an antelope.

I have occasionally hunted antelope in the second or third week of the season. It is a sad number of these fine animals that I have found late in the season that have been wounded and not recovered.

A one MOA accuracy at 500 yds is a 5" circle. Add to that wind, heat waves, steadiness of the shooters rest, excitement of the shooter, and time of flight of the bullet and the result will be a wounded and maybe lost animal.

A good hunter makes a one shot kill on an antelope at under 100 yds. Someone who makes a one shot kill on an antelope at over 400 yds made a lucky shot.

Well I probably shouldn't, but what the heck, I like higher powered scopes. Not necesarily for shooting farther but for seeing farther. I can always turn my 6.5 x 20 down to 6.5 ( and damn near all the time it is on 6.5x ) but you just can't turn a fixed 6 up to 20x. If the 4 or 5 ounces make that much difference start drinking diet beer and give up cheesburgers for salads.
With a scope turned up to 20x I don't need a spotting scope either.

Okay, flames on.

Geez, for me, a good portion of the fun is GETTING closer.

Now granted, I'm no expert, but that surely doesn't seem to keep folks from spouting off here.

We PURPOSEFULLY hunted the most broken terrain we could find on the ranch we hunted last fall in WY on a DIY hunt. WHY? TO GET CLOSER!

Took mine inside 200yds (165) after a LONG, half-stooped run up a dry wash, then a long belly crawl.

'06, Leopold 3X9
My brother used '06 with Leopold 4X-he took a buck at about 260 and a doe at 45yds!

And we both passed on CLOSER animals!

Next time, it's MLs!

Point being, take a gun you can shoot accurately, and PRACTICE. Not just practice, but practice in a variety of field conditions, from REAL positions, not just the bench.
PRACTICE estimating ranges.

We saw tons of folks skid to a stop, jump out and lay Old Killer across the hood, hastily lob a few rounds in the antelope's general direction,at some outlandish (to me) range, then drive off in search of another bunch.

That ain't why I'm out there.I want to feel dog tired at the end of the day. Get wind and sun burned, sand in my shoes, and yes, reek of sage from crawling in it all day.
I want to EARN my animal.

Good luck ,and no matter what you choose, ENJOY every second of your hunt: from the early planning, to the pulling of the trigger, to the people you meet and the sights and smells, and to a thousand retellings around a thousand campfires!
DAve

quote:

Originally posted by HunterMontana:
My advice: Get a rifle you can actually practice with, not some bench/safe queen that impresses and/or scares your friends out at the range. Put a good quality 3x-9x scope on it. Again, learn the gaps on the scope.

Load up 500 rounds and shoot it under whatever conditions present themselves, especially wind.

Don't think about how to make a long shot, think about about how can I get closer. It's called antelope HUNTING not antelope shooting.

I was at the range a couple of years back and a guy set his stuff up on the bench a few positions down from where I was. When he was through setting up he started jogging in place. He looked like he was in pretty good shape, but I could not resist asking why he was running in place.

He said the last time he was elk hunting he had to climb a pretty steep hill and on the other side was a large herd of elk. He got set up to take a shot, and his heart was pounding (from the exertion and excitement) so bad he could barely keep the crosshair on the animal. He said it had never really occured to him beforehand to actually raise his heart rate before shooting.

????

As for the scope, I personally would not go much above 14X on the top end. It really becomes more a point of uselessness about half the time from mirage, and the extra bulk. I had a couple scopes over 10X on hunting rigs and they almost never went over 10X.

I have a few high magnification scopes on varmint and PD rigs, but my hunting rifles all pretty much carry 3X9 or 2X7 scopes.

Just never found anything over 10X really very useful while game hunting. During the heat of the day, especially.

Next time you're at the range, preferabily a day when there are few other shooters, and you have to go and tape up your target, RUN the 100 yds or better 200 or especially 300 yds, both ways. ASAP shoot for a group at that range, your confidence about how well you can shoot might just suffer a big "go to hell", especially the 300 yd target, but the 200 yd one can be just as depressing.

What does this have to do with anything? Well, nothing if you hunt from a tower blind with coffee and donuts at hand BUT it might be a factor if you are humping 5 to 10 miles a day in warm weather.

I remember years ago we had a pre-hunting season "fun-shoot" at a range I belonged to. The test? Run the 100 yds to the target and run back, immediately take 3 shots, off-hand. Funny, some guys didn't even hit the BACKBOARD, let alone the target!

All of my rifles have the same scopes:

Leupold 4.5x14.

Works for me and has for 20 years.

Looking back, I've never hunted in 75 degree weather with a rifle, and have never experienced a mirage through the scope.