Author Topic: Scope choice? (Read 1263 times)

RandyWakeman · « **on:** December 17, 2003, 06:35:39 PM »

Some folks top their smokepoles with .22 scopes, others go for Leupold or even Zeiss glass on their smokepoles. There sure is a lot of room in between.

What is a solid choice in scopes that you would happily recommend to a friend? How about bases and rings, as well?

big6x6 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 18, 2003, 02:22:46 AM »

Omega .50 - Leupold Vari-X III 2.5-8X36 in Maxima QR mounts
Omega .45 - Zeiss Conquest 3.5-10X44 in Maxima QR mounts
Austin and Halleck .50 - Leupold Vari-X III 3.5-10X40 in Maxima QR mounts
Knight Disc Extreme .50 - Nikon Monarch 3-9X40 in Maxima QR mounts
Black Diamond .50 - Bushnell Elite 3000 3-9X40 in Leupold QR mounts

I really like the Vari-X III 2.8-36. Good glass, repeatable adjustments, great eye relief, and small stature make this a fine choice for any muzzleloader. Everything above can also be said about the Nikon except it is a little longer and may require rear sight removal on some models.

I can't recommend the Warne Maxima bases/rings enough. They are quality thru and thru and function as advertised.

bukfevr · « **Reply #2 on:** December 18, 2003, 05:55:30 AM »

I just got my Warne Maxima QD rings and they look and FEEL stout. So far I'm happy with them. As for a scope, I put a Bushnell Elite 3200 3-9x40 on my Encore and I'm very pleased with my choice. I've had a Bushnell Banner dusk to dawn on my Knight for about 8 years and it has given me excellent service. Caps haven't been off it since initial sight-in. Several deer and a handful of turkeys later, and it's still dead on.

Flatland Hunter · « **Reply #3 on:** December 18, 2003, 09:09:06 AM »

Knight Mag DISC - Burris Fullfield II 3-9x40mm
White M98 Elit Hunter - Sightron SII 1.5-6x44mm

I would highly recommend the Sightron SII line... I love mine! Gives wide enough FOV at 1.5 mag while giving great clarity for those long shots at 6x. The quality of the scope is magnificent for the price!

If I could I would outfit all of my ML's and rifles with Sightron.

Underclocked · « **Reply #4 on:** December 18, 2003, 01:14:43 PM »

If you want to save a few bucks and still buy an excellent scope, the Millett 3x9x44mm at Graf & Sons is an excellent value. I'm amazed at the clarity and solid build. Lifetime warranty. Better hurry though, the word is getting out and the price keeps inching upward.

RandyWakeman · « **Reply #5 on:** December 19, 2003, 07:14:50 PM »

. . . which would be the Millett "Buck Gold" series.

The price has gone up, UC- - (ir IC)MIBK00705 MILLET 3-9x44mm BUCK GOLD MULTI COAT MATTE MED-PLEX $141.99, as they were $119 earlier this year.

Flatland, how does your Sightron compare in image quality to your Burris?

Flatland Hunter · « **Reply #6 on:** December 19, 2003, 07:52:29 PM »

I find the Sightron SII to be superior, so far, in every way to my Burris FFII. I am comparing a 1.5-6x44mm Sightron with a 3-9x40mm Burris. Image, clarity, distortion on the edges... the SII is clearly above the FFII. I am actually able to see a 100 yrd target more clearly with the SII at 6x than with the FFII at 9x!! Amazing scope, I believe the 1.5-6 was a good choice for my ML and would purchase it again.

I did not realize that I had a slight distortion ring on the edge of my FFII until I put the two scopes side by side to compare them. Never really noticed before that time. Like my Sightron!

Robbie

RandyWakeman · « **Reply #7 on:** December 20, 2003, 04:18:17 AM »

2.5-8X 42mm Black Satin
SII2.58X42
$229

Hard to beat that scope for a ML.

sheephunterab · « **Reply #8 on:** December 20, 2003, 06:19:42 AM »

Hey guys, this Sightron SII is a new name to me but it sounds very interesting. I used to do a lot of testing on optics a while back and the first test I did on every scope was to place it in the deep freeze for several hours (usually overnight) and then take it out into a warm room. If it fogged inside, it didn't make the grade. I never had one of the higher end scopes do this but I had plenty of the low end scopes do it. Have you ever tried this test with the Sightron? I'd be interested to know how it makes out.

woodseye · « **Reply #9 on:** December 21, 2003, 04:55:57 AM »

I use Zeiss Conquest, Leupold Vari x lll, and Bushnell 4200 Elites.

I bought a Burris FF ll and returned it without using as the blurriness around the outer edges of the lens was unacceptable (fish bowl effect).

Would try a Sightron and am looking forward to checking out one of the new VX lll's after the first of the year to see what I think of them.

woods

Firehawk · « **Reply #10 on:** December 21, 2003, 11:56:59 AM »

I just put a Burris 1x compact scope on my Wolverine 209. In Utah where I live, you can't have a scope the magnifies during the ML hunt. I have a TC Firehawk and a Cabelas Hawken that I built from a kit that I have just installed a peep sight on- no scope. I have found that even just a peep sight helps me to shoot far better than when I am using the standard sights.

The scope seems to allow me a little more precision. I think I might mount a 4x scope on it for fun this Spring to do load develpment. Any help I can get is worth it.

Good topic. FWIW, I have thoroughly loved my Weaver V9 scope that I put on my 7mm-08. Nice looking little scope that is very bright and seems to hold zero perfectly so far. I have used it for about two years now. A lot of time on the range, not so much hunting with the rifle as I primarily hunt with the ML. I also shoot the old style Fullfield on a Win 70 in 7mm Rem Mag and I have been happy with its performance. Just my $.02 worth. Firehawk

sheephunterab · « **Reply #11 on:** December 22, 2003, 06:38:51 PM »

Has anyone stuck their Sightron in the freezer yet? I'm really curious to see how it fares.

RandyWakeman · « **Reply #12 on:** December 22, 2003, 08:28:33 PM »

I did on my first 3 x 9 x 42 SII, then dunked it is a pan of water just off a soft boil. No de-gassing, no internal fogging.

At one time, I used to do this as a matter of course-- but now, really see no great benefit to it-- as no hunting situation will give you a 200 degree temperature swing in a few seconds. It also does not mean that it will withstand the same punishment 10, 20, or 30 times, nor 4 years down the road. The only scope that has ever degassed on me in the field was a Leupold Vari-X III.

The same questions are asked over and over again regarding scopes, regarding "will it take the recoil?" Yet, recoil is never defined-- as there is no such thing as ".375 H & H" recoil in reality. In a 7 lb. gun or a 14 lb. gun-- there's a 50% swing to consider.

The only thing I can tell anyone about a "one incident / one example" scope when asked "how long it will last?," it that it is until it breaks.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/scope_death.htm

sheephunterab · « **Reply #13 on:** December 23, 2003, 04:55:04 AM »

The test of taking the scope from a freezer to a warm room is a "real world" test that I devised a couple decades ago. It's similar to being outside, jumping in a warm truck and then heading outside again. If the scope fogs inside, it is useless, at least in this country. I've done extensive testing on optics in the past and not all passed this test. I just wondered if the Sightron would.

bigbore442001 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 23, 2003, 05:29:26 AM »

A Burris 2.5 x fixed power with look under mounts. I know some dislike them but where I hunt shots can go from 10 feet to 100 yards. Actually, most of the deer I shot in New England would probably average out to 20 yards, bow or gun. That is the nature of it here.