I just ordered my new Kimber Montana 84 in .257 Roberts(Yea!). Now I need advice on what to top it with.
I plan to use it for Antelope, Sheep & Goats, but mostly as a deer rifle.

I have been a Leuie guy with many VX3's but now have a couple Zeiss conquets(2.5x8 & 3x9) available. I looked at the Leuie VX2 compact and didn't like the small field of vision.

quote:

Originally posted by GDOG:
I just ordered my new Kimber Montana 84 in .257 Roberts(Yea!). Now I need advice on what to top it with.
I plan to use it for Antelope, Sheep & Goats, but mostly as a deer rifle.

I have been a Leuie guy with many VX3's but now have a couple Zeiss conquets(2.5x8 & 3x9) available. I looked at the Leuie VX2 compact and didn't like the small field of vision.

I have a Kimber Select 257 Roberts. It wears the Zeiss Conquest 2.5x8. Great scope, fits the rifle perfectly.

Here is pic so you can see the proportions.

thank you. That looks just about perfect. I was worried about the scale of the 3x9 being a little off. the 2.5x8 looks perfectly proportioned.

Leupold 2.5-8 or 3-9 would be a nice fit too.
I have a petite .257 Bob on a 96 action and have a 3-9 Leupold compact on it, magnification is perfect wish it had the field of view of a 2.5-8 or a full size 3-9. Mines used for Antelope, Deer, Coyotes and I'll probably tag an elk with it someday.

Leupold 4x or 6x. No more power is needed for big game.

Don't put a heavy scope on a light rifle. Messes up the handling.

Bruce

+1 to what Scottfromdallas said.

I don't think you can go wrong with a 2.5 x 8 (my favorite) or a 3 x 9 in the Leupold, Nikon Monarch or Ziess flavor. They look balanced on a rifle such as the Kimber, plenty of magnification/vs. field of view, excellent low light scopes, can be picked up used at excellent prices.

GWB

Have you considered going up a step in optics ?
If you have, the Kahles 3.5-10x50 offers excellent field of view and low light 'brightness'. It is also quite light and does not have the bulky occular lens of the conquests. You may need medium height rings but you can't shoot what you can't see and the Kimber appears to have very little drop at comb or heel.

quote:

Originally posted by Code4:
It is also quite light and does not have the bulky occular lens of the conquests. You may need medium height rings but you can't shoot what you can't see and the Kimber appears to have very little drop at comb or heel.

He's right about the large ocular on the Conquest. I needed medium rings for the bolt to clear the ocular comfortably. Mine has a leupold rings and basis. I have a Leupy 2x7 on my 77RSI. It has a much smaller ocular.

although my choice wouldn't make the price range club set on by others on this thread, my choice would be the new Redfield.

Either 2 x 7 or 4 x 12 depending on the range that the firearm would be used in...

I like their reticle, besides the regular cross hair set up.

I have choosen an old Zeiss 1.5x6X36 Diavari for my 257 Robert. It is mounted very low. I hope the rifle will be soon back from engraving.



Regards
Robert

Robert-

I have a couple of questions. Your scope dos'nt look like it has a very large objective lens but I'm not familar with a Zeiss 1.5-6x with a 36mm objective. All the ones I've seen had 42 mm objective lenses. what model is it?


Very nice rifle. Who's building it for you?

I guess my first question would be, how mush do you want to spent. $300 to $1500. i have never been a big fan of the expensive scopes. all mine are in the $300 range. and they do just great.. 3x9x50

Vines-I agree. I bought my first rifle scope in 1972 and back then you really got what you paid for.

My first scope was a bushnell scope cheaf. It was so bad it was all you could do to hit the papper at 100 yards.

At a very young age I swore I would never buy a cheap scope again and certanly never a Bushnell.

Since that time a lot has changed and probably mostly due to moderan manufacturing the bottom end scopes are as good as the mid and some upper level rifle scopes from 30 years ago. I have bought a couple Bushnell's in the last couple of years since they came out with the elite serise.

I do have to say though that my rifles with Zeiss and Swarovski scopes do still make me feel all worm and cuddley when I use them.

Vines,
I almost never pay retail for scopes. I buy them used. Vari-X3 and Vx3's Leupolds can be purchased used from $275 to $325. Used 2.5 x 8 and 3 x 9 conquests can be picked up from $300 to $350.
Just picked up a used Ziess Conquest 4.5 x 14 X 44, side focus for $440.

Used Nikon Monarchs in the 3 x 9 flavor can usually be had around $250 and used Weaver Grand Slams, Sightrons and Elite 3200's around $200.

When I first got started I bought "cheap" glass.

No more.

GWB

Akshooter,

The scope is an old 1.6-6x36mm Diavari, and is 30-40 years old. If I listen to experts it is on of the best ever build by Zeiss. This one has been completely refurbished and restored at the Zeiss facility– for a fortune of money. Used scopes are once in a while offered in the internet for example at Egun.

http://www.egun.de/market/item.php?id=2599872

The rifle is build for me by Hartmann & Weiss in Hamburg. The picture was taken a few weeks ago when I visited them just after Christmas to discuss the engraving. Currently the gun is disassembled at the engraver.
The rifle is a .257 Roberts build on an H&W short Mauser action. The scope is mounted in a traditional Mauser 3 feet claw mount.

Best regards
Robert

Back in the old days I had a Leica 35m/m camera. I think they make the best glass if the budget allows. I'm a Leupold fan, and believe they're almost impossible to beat when one is budget conscience.

Robert,

That's a beautiful gun, but I'm afraid that even with the mild recoil of the .257 Roberts I would be having to extract the scope's ocular bell from my eye socket!

I have the same set up as scott from dallas,
except my rifle is a .308. The ziess is good, but my little ruger Rl in the Roberts has a leupie 2.5X8.
I like it as well, as the ziess. The american company would get the nod now.
...tj3006

quote:

Robert,

That's a beautiful gun, but I'm afraid that even with the mild recoil of the .257 Roberts I would be having to extract the scope's ocular bell from my eye socket!

Hello Stonecreek,

I am not afraid about the scope position at the moment as there is plenty of space to move the scope foreward. The gun was in the white, and the action was not even case hardend, as it was diassembled after my visit for engraving.
So no round has been fired yet. To cover the waiting time while at engraving I have taken some picture and the scope was mounted just to please me for that purpose.

Best regards
Robert

As far as I am concerned...there is only ONE brand of scope...Leupold. I used to say "Leupold don't make no junk" but they have begun to in recent years...so get a VX III or better! VXII's are stil OK.

I like a 3.5 X 10 for the "Bob".

I built my .257 AI in the late 70's and topped it with a 6x Leupold. It's been my favorite deer, antelope, and sheep rifle ever since.

Whatever you get, make sure it has finger adjustable target knobs.

Chrono your load
print your data
put it on your gun
practice at the range out to whatever range you are comfortable with

When you hunt, you can range, dial and shoot accurately.

Holding over is just guessing.

I'll never own another scope without target knobs...

Scott from Dallas that is the exact set up I have on my Roberts! Also on my 300WSM but I use the talley low aluminum one piece mounts!

2.5 x 8 conquest on Robert and WSM, also a 3 x 9 Diavari on the 308 montana.

also use the talley LW low mounts

Jimmy,

Those are some nice rifles.

Scott, Do you have the 338 Federal? My latest trend has been Kimbers for some reason..

quote:

Originally posted by Jimmy P Coaltrain:
Scott, Do you have the 338 Federal? My latest trend has been Kimbers for some reason..

I have a Ruger 338 Federal that I bought before my Kimber 257. The Kimber spoiled me so I'm having my Ruger outfitted with a new stock from Accurate Innovations (I was able to choose the rifle blank). I'm also adding NEC sights, a trigger job and having the action polished. Should be sweet when it's done.

I am starting to get the itch for a Montana.

Yes! Wish I had got the roberts in the montana now!

quote:

Originally posted by Jimmy P Coaltrain:
Yes! Wish I had got the roberts in the montana now!

Guns multiply. I can totally see your rationale for buying your "rain gun" in 308. It's right in the middle of 257R and your 300WSM and the 308 will do just about anything in the world except for DG. We just always forget that we'll want more. You are probably talking yourself in to a 257R in a Montana because the 257 will probably do 95% of the hunting your likely to do.

I decided to sell my Steyr 300 Mag and buy a Ruger 308 77RSI about 2 years ago. I loved full stock rifles and though this would be good for anything I'm likely to hunt. Then I convinced myself to buy a 338 Federal because it would give me a little better performance on CXP3 game. I logically deduced that my 18.5" barrel 308 would lose just enough velocity to make it borderline for CXP3 game.

About 6 months later, I thought "I have a CXP3 rifle (338F) and a CXP2/3 rifle (308) but I'm lacking a CXP1/2 rifle." I convinced myself that I needed 260 Rem for coyotes and antelopes. I really wanted a Kimber Select but could only find a 257R. I bought it and I'm happy I did. I love the rifle and the cartridge.

Now, because of some of your posts, I think I may need a "rain rifle"....a Montana. After that, it will probably be a DG rifle although I doubt I will ever get a chance to hunt DG. I'm telling you it never ends.

I have a Kimber 84 Longmaster in .308 Winchester. Has a Leupold 4.5 X 14 LPS on it in Warne mounts.

Just wish it would shoot!!! Otherwise a nice rifle!

My daughter's Model 70 is topped with a 2x7 Leupold compact, I have an older 3x9 Leupold VX-I for mine on a G33-40. Both work great. Basically, for your use most of the suggested scopes are appropriate.