Which Leupold Scope for my Model 700, 280 Rem.?
I have a Remington 700 Classic 280 Rem. It currently has an older Redfield Tracker 3-9x40mm Scope on a Leupold one piece base and medium rings. I'm going to put a Leupold VX-II Scope on it. I have a few VX-II Scopes and I really like them so that's the Leupold series I'm going to get.
I use three different rifles/carbines and two slug guns for big game hunting which includes deer, hogs and black bear.
I use my Remington model 7600 Carbine 30-06 Spr. with a Leupold VX-II 2-7x33mm Scope as my main, all round rifle. I use it when I'm sitting and for some still hunting where my shots will be 2 to 200 yards. It shoots 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards (where it's zeroed) with Fusion 165 gr. PSP factory ammo. I use this rifle probably 70% of the time, it works great for it's purpose, nice and handy while still shooting flat enough for any of my woods hunting.
I use my Marlin model 336C 35 Rem. with XS Ghost Ring Sights for thick brush, deep thick woods, still hunting, drives ect. where my shots will be 75 yards or so. It shoot minute of deer at that distance with Remington 200 gr. Core-Lokt RN factory ammo. I use it about 10% of the time.
I use my Remington model 11-87 12 or 20 ga. with the cantilever scope mounts. The 12 ga. is mine, the 20 ga. is my dads, he doesn't hunt anymore so I can use which ever one I want. I have a Leupold VX-II 2-7x33mm Scope on the 12 ga. and a Nikon Pro Staff 2-7x32mm Scope on the 20 ga. I like the VX-II better. I use them when I hunt in counties where rifles aren't allowed. I hate slug guns and wouldn't have them if I didn't have to use them. They shoot 2 to 3 inch groups with sabot slugs at 100 yards. I use them about 10% of the time.
This leaves me with my model 700 Classic 280 Rem. My favorite rifle in my favorite cartridge.....wish I could use it more, just not pratical for most of my hunting. I'm going back and forth on whether I should go with a VX-II 3-9x40mm or a 4-12x40mm AO. I use it for watching fields, power lines and clear cuts where my shots will most likely be over 200 yards, out to 300/350 yards. It shoots an inch group with Remington 140 gr. Core-Lokt PSP factory ammo. I have it zeroed about 1 1/2 inches high at 100 yards which puts it right around zero at 200 yards. It also shoots 165 gr. Core-Lokt RN to the same windage but right on at 100 yards.
Here's the deal. I have a VX-II 4-12x40mm AO (fine cross hairs) on my Remington 700 BDL 223 Rem. and really like it. I'm seriously thinking of taking it off my 223 Rem. and putting it on my 280 Rem. and buying a VX-II 6-18x40mm AO Scope for my 223 Rem. I'd kind of be killing two birds with one stone. I only use my 280 Rem. for long open range hunting so I don't have to worry about FOV and that kind of stuff. The game I hunt with my 223 Rem. is a lot smaller and I target shoot with it as well. I wouldn't mind the add magnification the 6-18x40mm scope would give me. I'm not a "bigger scope is better" kind of guy. As you can see by my above mentioned rifles/carbines/slug guns, my scopes and sights match them pretty well. What do you guys and gals think?
Thanks, NYH1!
