I have a Dakota 10 and am trying to decide on what scope to use on it. What do you guys think?

Leopold VX3i 4 x 14 x 40 CDs wind ret

Nightforce 2.5 x 10 x32 mil dot ret

My #10 is in 7x57. I use a Leica ERi 2.5 x 10 that has the IBS reticle

I think it is an excellent combo. It is the first shot that counts with any game so I want to be able to see it and see exactly where I want to hit.
If I did not use the Leica then I would go with Zeiss.

There's a Dakota Alpine in 257 AI headed my way.
It's getting a Leu 2.5 x 8.
The # 10 is even lighter.

I'm leaning toward the night force just to add a little weight to the rifle.

If your main concern is looks, I think the 40mmm objective Leupolds like the 3.5-10X40 VX-3 and the slightly cleaner look of the FX-3 6X42 look nice on my Model 10. I have mounted both. I put a Meopta Meopro 6X42 on just to try it out and although the clarity is decent, I like the look of both Leupolds much better. The older Bushnell Elite's with the gold lettering on the objective would look nice too.

I have a Dakota 10 and found that it required a scope with a long mounting span and reasonable eye relief to position it properly avoiding shifting one's head forward. The Leupold 3.5-10X40 worked fine but is about at one end of positioning. Good luck...

quote:

Originally posted by Rsm458Lott:
I have a Dakota 10 and am trying to decide on what scope to use on it. What do you guys think?

What is the chambering, and how do you intend to use it?

George

It's is in 25-06.

I enjoy hunting with my model 10 and it's extremely accurate.
The two scopes I've liked most are:

Leopold (mk2) 2-7 compact. This is also a very tough scope. I suspect it is tough because of the way the scope is assembled.

Another scope is also a Leopold (mk3) 1 3/4-6. They made two version of that scope. The second version I think has the letter "E" following the power setting. It is extended because the first version of the scope was so amazingly small.

I like both scopes but for what ever reason the 2-7 seems very strong.

I should have added.

The Dakota model 10 is a small rifle. Many many scopes look too big on the gun.....in my opinion.

I have a Hagn single shot - not a Dakota but similar. Mine wears a Swarovski 3-9x.....I wouldn't put a BIG ole scope on it. The joy of a single shot is they are a joy to hunt/carry as they are so trim. Another good choice would be a Leupold vx3 2.5-8x......would stay with a 1" tube.

How do you intend to use it?

Varmints?
Deer?
Sheep?

George

It will mostly be used for deer both south east and western hunts.

Al Freeman nailed it in my opinion. 6X or 7X is enough for any big game in the west, and the 1-3/4X or 2x is great for heavy cover. The rifle will carry and point better with smaller scope.

I put a Leu 2.5 x 8 on my Bradshaw which IS as small as a #10.
Works and looks very good.

quote:

Leopold VX3i 4 x 14 x 40 CDs wind ret

I just mounted the Leupold you are talking about. My Dakota is in 300 H&H. It has the Talley detachable rings. One issue is that the scope has the parallax adjustment opposite the windage adjustment. This limits you on how far you can move the scope back as the rear lever will hit the parallax adjustment knob. I found that I would like to move the scope back another 1/4 inch as it is a little too far forward when cranked up to 14x. Other than that issue I like how the scope looks on the gun. I also like that this is a very light scope. If you do not have fixed sights then this will not be an issue.

2x7x28 would be my choice for a variable..For a deer rifle I like a 3X or 4X..Big scopes on nice trim rifles turn me off, and Ive never seen the need for big scopes on large animals..On a varmint rifle I use 3x9..

How about a Vortex Razor in 1-6 x 24? 6 power is enough for most big game shots unless your are shooting across canyons out west here. Then you should have a longer barrel than your model 10 has anyway.

Ended up installing a VX3I 2.5 X 8 X 36 with the B&C reticle. It looks perfect on the rifle in low Talley rings.

The Leupold VX3i 2.5-8X36 is the combination of light weight, long eye relief and sufficient power for practically any big game hunting. I have several of them.

You made a nice choice, I've seen some lovely single shots with "oversized" scopes &

IMHO, it kind of ruins the lines of the gun. I put a 42mm Leica ERI on my Soroka

single shot & wish it were a bit smaller (36mm?)

The Leupold with the 36mm objective should be a perfect match, love to see a pic?

Jim

You made the best choice.

I too would like to see a picture. The scope you chose has 4.5" of eye relief at 2x and only 3.6" eye relief at 8x. That would suggest that either the scope is mounted way back or you have a fairly short length of pull.