The Accurate Reloading Forums
Which Leupold Optics for .243 Win?

This topic can be found at:
https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6711043/m/5211010502

16 October 2014, 15:33
Manyathelo
Which Leupold Optics for .243 Win?
Looking for opinions for the best/most suitable of the current Leupold range to be mounted on a Winchester all Weather Extreme in .243 Win.

Rifle will be used for walk and stalk hunting with shots out to maximum 350 metres

Thank you
16 October 2014, 15:55
p dog shooter
I put a 3x9 rifleman scope on my 243 coyote rifle multiple aim points out to 500 yards.

Works well if not that a VX-III with long range reticle in 3x9 or may be a 4x12 or so.
16 October 2014, 16:05
Samuel_Hoggson
Have VX-3 3.5-10x (40mm) on our Wby UL .243. Think it about right. Sam
16 October 2014, 16:52
drm-hp
My daughters 243 Win. has a 2.5x8 on it. She has never needed more. Terrific optics.
She hunts Deer and vermin with it. Hopefully Bear this upcoming Spring.
Doug
16 October 2014, 17:34
matt salm
Three suggested so far and all within the same 'range' and about right I would think. I prefer the 2.5-8X36. Add a B&C reticle and you'll have a handy ballistic reticle that will take you to 500 yards if wanted.


Shoot straight, shoot often.
Matt
16 October 2014, 18:27
505ED
Don't know your price range, but a 3x9 40 mm is popular for this very reason

http://www.bearbasin.net/product_p/leu110800.htm

VX2 with a Leupold dot retical...

Ed


DRSS Member
16 October 2014, 20:49
Snellstrom
All good answers, my preference is the 3-9x40 VX I or II or the 3.5-10x40, VX III.
I'm very accustomed to the standard duplex crosshair and know my rifles drop so holdover to 400 yards is relatively easy.
Good luck with your rifle
16 October 2014, 21:19
SR4759
4X12 if used for varmints

2X7 if used for game animals

3X9 to split the difference
16 October 2014, 23:34
HondoLane
I would personally choose the 2-7x Ultralight, given these parameters.
17 October 2014, 01:39
ramrod340
VXII 3x9x40


As usual just my $.02
Paul K
17 October 2014, 06:56
carpetman1
All good choices and Leupold anything is always good. I put a 2x-7x on a .308 Win 88 I gave my grandson and you couldn't ask for better based on results he has gotten.
17 October 2014, 12:18
Manyathelo
Thanks for all the feedback

All of those mentioned were the ones I narrowed it down to, being a smaller rifle I will line them up and see which fits best
17 October 2014, 21:32
Stonecreek
There is no practical difference in the VX-I and VX-II (or "1" and "2"). Buy the "I" and put the savings into more/better ammunition. If you really do intend to use it as far out as 350 meters (382 yards), then you'll probably be a bit better off with the 3-9X. That said, the 2-7X will serve about as well and is a bit lighter and more compact. As others have said, you really can't go wrong with any of these Leupolds. Just be sure to mount it as low over the receiver as practical.
25 October 2014, 08:40
Bren7X64
I like and use VX1 2-3x33 a lot, but I personally prefer the VX3 2.5-8x36, but have always been too cheap to spring for one.

Either will do whatever you want up to small game at 300.

Editted to say that if you can see and shoot small game at x yards, you can certainly do the same for big game (calibre and bullet placement permitting, of course).


--
Promise me, when I die, don't let my wife sell my guns for what I told I her I paid for them.
25 October 2014, 09:08
Sagebrush Burns
My 243 wears a Leupold 4-12 and gets used for pronghorns and prairie dogs. It has proved to be the right combination. It started off with a 2 1/2-8, but I wanted more magnification for varminting.
25 October 2014, 11:45
Bren7X64
I agree, but I like my scopes low, so 32 - 36 mm objective is better for me.


--
Promise me, when I die, don't let my wife sell my guns for what I told I her I paid for them.
29 October 2014, 06:57
AggieDog
I d put a 6x42 Leupold VX3 on it.....


Socialism works great until you run out of the other person's money......
30 October 2014, 06:18
SMACK!!!!
VX3 2.5-8 is a excellent scope. Ran one on a .375 H&H for years. Took my share of Elk & Bear with the combo.


--------------------------------------------

Nothing like a trail of blood to find your way back home.
30 October 2014, 06:41
TexKD
You cant hardly go wrong with the VX-6 2 x 12. There is not much it wont do.
30 October 2014, 10:46
416Tanzan
I used a 2.5-8 for years and consider it a standard for any practical, all-purpose hunting rifle.

The 243 doesn't generate too much recoil for needing more eye-relief than 3.5" or needing a stronger scope. (On a 416Rigby, I've gone to the 2-8 Nikon Monarch: great glass, slightly better price than the 2.5-8Leupold, 4" eye-relief, and tougher for recoil.)

So for Leupold, the 2.5-8 would be great, especially if you can get short rings. For medium height rings, the 3-9 combos.


+-+-+-+-+-+-+

"A well-rounded hunting battery might include:
500 AccRel Nyati, 416 Rigby or 416 Ruger, 375Ruger or 338WM, 308 or 270, 243, 223" --
Conserving creation, hunting the harvest.
31 October 2014, 00:31
Stonecreek
quote:
Originally posted by TexKD:
You cant hardly go wrong with the VX-6 2 x 12. There is not much it wont do.


. . . including bankrupt you with its price, at approximately five times the price of a VX-I 3-9.
31 October 2014, 02:56
Biebs
Mine wears a 4.5x14x50 ILL.
31 October 2014, 20:15
JGRaider
quote:
Originally posted by TexKD:
You cant hardly go wrong with the VX-6 2 x 12. There is not much it wont do.


Amen brother! Fantastic stuff.
22 November 2014, 11:32
Fuchs
quote:
Originally posted by TexKD:
You cant hardly go wrong with the VX-6 2 x 12. There is not much it wont do.


I just got one. Fantastic scope. It is clearly ahead of the VX-3 series which I have on other rifles. Clearer and brighter picture. wider field of view and at last a quick focus.
23 November 2014, 02:08
Dogleg
VX3 3.5-10 or 4.5-14.
27 November 2014, 22:13
Harry
When I first built daughters Sako action, Rimrock stock, Douglas air gauge bbl. 243 I put a straight 4X Luepold on. That saved any question about turning the scope up or down or ?????
Just stuff it full of the Federal 100 grn. Sierra Game King ammo and put the duplex crosshair on the deer. Now squeeze trigger and go get dead deer downrange. I did all that on the KISS principal. So far in all these years she has missed only one deer and that was because the wind was blowing a gale and I doubt the buck never knew he was shot at.
If you use the 2.5 - 8 or the standard 3 - 9 it will make a great combo that way too. When I did the above it was her first rifle and I was just trying to keep things simple as possible. She has kept it the same way all these years.
Happy Turkey!


You can borrow money but you can not borrow time. Go hunting with your family.
27 November 2014, 23:44
Greg K
Most of my rifles wear either a 2.5-8X or 3.5-10X Leupold. I'd lean to the lower power one if you're just after big game and the higher power if some varmints will be hunted as well.