Good Scope Power for Backcountry or Mountain Rifle

[RugerHawg413]

I am looking to get a lighter rifle setup for hunts in the mountains, and was wondering what was a good scope power for that.? I know that weight is a big talking point when hunting in the mountains and since I have never hunted in the mountains that why I was wondering what is a good scope power for that. Thanks for the info and wisdom! Have a good one!

 

[Big Sky Guy]

I really like my 3-15. Some would probably correctly say 15 is more than you need at 2-300 yards, but I’ve always preferred to have a bit more than a bit less. I don’t shoot past 300 at game, and usually not past 400 at the range but having a little more power can help you shoot farther when practicing which I think helps make the closer distances seem “easier.”

 

[Buckyranger42]

I really like my 3-15. Some would probably correctly say 15 is more than you need at 2-300 yards, but I’ve always preferred to have a bit more than a bit less. I don’t shoot past 300 at game, and usually not past 400 at the range but having a little more power can help you shoot farther when practicing which I think helps make the closer distances seem “easier.”

3-15 is exactly what I was going to suggest as well. There are lightweight scope options out there with top quality glass in that magnification. I'd recommend investing in better quality glass with a smaller objective (42mm) as it will be lighter and more compact, especially if the scope has capped turrets.

 

[antelopedundee]

I really like my 3-15. Some would probably correctly say 15 is more than you need at 2-300 yards, but I’ve always preferred to have a bit more than a bit less. I don’t shoot past 300 at game, and usually not past 400 at the range but having a little more power can help you shoot farther when practicing which I think helps make the closer distances seem “easier.”

Exactly. One doesn't have to use all of the power, but tis better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Make sure that it shoots to the same POA at various powers. A few months ago I took possession of a Rem 700 with a 26 inch barrel and an old H-S stock and the rig seemed fairly light. Adding a Leupold VX5-HD made it noticeably heavier.

 

[TheJason]

3-9x is all I’ve ever used.

 

[belshawelk]

I used to use 3-9 but have now changed to 4-14. all with 50MM. they allow more light in. It does make a difference.

 

[Mtnhunter1]

I'll second the 3-9 or 2.5-10 or 6x for the heavy lead throwers, like the 35 Whelen

 

[MTLabrador]

I don’t like too much magnification, even on the rifles I use at longer ranges. 3.5-10, 2.5-8, fixed 6, or 2-10.

 

[BuzzH]

Mostly 3-9x40's but did buy a new Leupold scope last year from Schmalts, 4-12x40 and I really like the extra magnification and also the adjustable objective. Just a pinch heavier than the 3-9.

 

[406dn]

Back when I was a puppy, more than a few variable scopes would not shoot to the same spot when you changed magnification. So,,,,,,, I got a fixed 4 power Redfield. I used it for forty plus years. The scope's image was not as crisp anymore,, so maintaining my prejudice against variables,, I got a Leupold FX3 6x42.

I prefer a fixed power,,,,,,,,, obviously. I cannot think of a single time where it was a handicap.

 

[elkhnter]

Depending on the rifle, they wear Leupold 3.5-10, 4.5-14 or 3-15. Most of the time you’ll find them all set at 6 or 8, adjust from there.

 

[buffybr]

For many years my deer, pronghorn antelope, and mountain sheep rifle was my .257 Ackley with a 6x Leupold on it.

I recently "upgraded" it with a 4.5-14x40 Leupold with their B&C reticle. I really like the 4.5-14x40 Leupolds and have one of their VX 3i models with their CDS turrets on my .300 Wby and 7 mm Rem mag rifles.

One of my longest one shot kill shots of 348 yards on a Gemsbok was made with my .375 RUM wearing a Leupold 2-7x30 scope and shooting 270 grain Barnes TSX bullets and is shown here with a Vaal Rhebok.

 

[TheJason]

@buffybr how do you like the B&C reticle relative to the CDS system? I've been waffling on this for over a year now, saving pennies and wallowing in decision paralysis.

 

[Don Fischer]

Quite a number of years ago I got a Mod 70 Featherweight in 6.5x55 thinking it would be my grand daughter's some day. Got one of the then pretty new Redfield/Leupold 2-7x scopes for it. Made a super hunting rifle. Most my life I've hunted with fixed power scopes. great set up I had and used for a lot of years was a Rem 660 in 308 with a very old 2 3/4 scope. Got the scope brand new and no it's on my 30-06 as somehow my son ended up with the 660!

 

[buffybr]

@buffybr how do you like the B&C reticle relative to the CDS system? I've been waffling on this for over a year now, saving pennies and wallowing in decision paralysis.

I like the CDS system much more. I had a custom CDS turret made for my 180 grain Barnes TSX load for my .300 Wby and so far I have only shot one animal with that combination, a Dagestan Tur that I shot in Azerbaijan. I ranged him at 327 yards, dialed the turret to that distance, shot, and when we got to him we found that the bullet had hit almost exactly where I had aimed.

I have VX 3i 4.5-14x40 CDS turrets with their Wind plex reticles on 3 of my rifles, and a VX Freedom 3-9x40 scope with a duplex reticle on my Wby Vanguard .223 rifle.

The past few weeks I have been range verifying my rifles with the CDS turrets and the B&C reticle with targets at 100, 200, 300, and 430 yards at our range. Other than the custom turret, I have been painting white marks on the top of the turrets where my load for each rifle zeros at each of the above yardages.

With my .257 Ackley shooting 117 grain Sierra Spitzer bullets with the B&C reticle, the closest zero I can get is with the main horizontal crosshair my bullets hit 3" high at 100 yards and 2 1/2" high at 200 yards, with the first lower hash mark the bullets hit center at 300 yards, and with the lower hash mark the bullets hit 1 1/2" high at 430 yards.

 

[HandgunHunter]

I run a 1-5 vx5 cds illuminated. Does everything I need to do to 600 yards on this 6.5-284

 

[rwc101]

I upgraded to a VX 3i 4.5-14x40 and love it.