New Scope | 300 yards in low-light

[Mr. UML]

Hello Folks,

It's time for me to upgrade the scope on my Remington 700 LSS UML. Currently, I have a 4-16x50 scope but it has terrible performance in low-light and the zoom is very insufficient for 200-300 yard shots. I have many opportunities to shoot deer at this range but need better optics.

I'm looking for inputs on a top-notch scope. This UML is my pride and joy, as it is the only firearm I use anymore when hunting whitetails.

Key Requirements:

• Zoom: At least 40x zoom, Illuminated, >50mm Objective
• Minimum zoom can be between 3x-8x.
• Reticles similar to the one below.

Please kindly weigh in with thoughts on:

• Brand & Model, Magnification, SFP vs. FFP

Thank you folks!

View attachment 1735187275917.png

 

[millerkiller77]

Anything vortex makes will do everything you listed. Their 3-9 optics actually zoom to 59+ magnification if you loosen the set screws on the throw lever. Leave the ring caps finger tight so you can "twist dial" the long range shots

 

[Dave N]

At least 40x for 2-300 yards? That's just nuts.

 

[Mr. UML]

Anything vortex makes will do everything you listed. Their 3-9 optics actually zoom to 59+ magnification if you loosen the set screws on the throw lever. Leave the ring caps finger tight so you can "twist dial" the long range shots

I'm very hesitant with Vortex because I've purchased some of their highest-end stuff and they've been awful in low-light conditions. I sold every scope of theirs I bought shortly after I bought them because they weren't any improvements over what I was using.

Regarding twist-dialing long range shots, I'm won't adjust the turrets to take a shot. I will use the rangefinding lines.

@Dave N - I know that some people think 40x+ is extreme, but I figure if I could use twice as much magnification as I have at 16x, then 40x seems natural. I also don't like to use my scopes at "max zoom" given that they tend to distort optically at their maximum extrema.

 

[Potsie]

I shoot much further with much less. I’m
honestly at a loss as to why anyone would ever need 40x magnification for a 200 yard shot.

Good luck with your search.

 

[Mr. UML]

I shoot much further with much less. I’m
honestly at a loss as to why anyone would ever need 40x magnification for a 200 yard shot.

Good luck with your search.

Before I posted, I read a lot of threads on here about scope selections. I constantly see people saying that "they don't need anywhere near that much zoom". Well, kudos to them, but my 16x ain't cutting it and at 200 yards, I'm basically setting my crosshair on the whole deer (which is fully within the zoom of the scope) as opposed to getting a zoom on its vitals. At 300 yards, it's do your best to just get the crosshair on the deer and hope you're in the right direction. Forget about the vitals.

I hope some folks have some recommendations, but I've went through my fair share of scopes to make improvements including ones from Konus, Vortex, Leupold, and Swaro (getting more expensive each time).

 

[D_Walt]

Go see the optometrist…

 

[Mr. UML]

It's shocking how unhelpful folks are on this side of the forum. On others, I see many folks that do their best to help. FYI - I have 20/20 vision but just want more out of my optics so I can take a shot that I feel is precise and ethical.

 

[Dave N]

I just replaced the scope on one of my rifles with a 3.5-10x. I have zero problem finding the bull on my target at 300 yards. If you are covering the deer you have some REALLY heavy crosshairs. Sorry pal, this doesn't seem to make much sense.

 

[Mr. UML]

I just replaced the scope on one of my rifles with a 3.5-10x. I have zero problem finding the bull on my target at 300 yards. If you are covering the deer you have some REALLY heavy crosshairs. Sorry pal, this doesn't seem to make much sense.

Well, let me re-ask the question then:

What are some very high-performance scopes in low-light offering >50mm objectives, >=32mm tubes, illumination, and zoom >=32x ?

Brands / Models, anything helpful ...

 

[Dan O]

What is the make and model of your current scope? Sounds like your problem is a low quality scope. The 4x16 scope is plenty of power for the ranges you speak of, it sounds like you have a low quality scope. You don't need more power just better quality optics.

 

[D_Walt]

Keep in mind the higher the magnification, the LESS light will be gathered. If you are concerned about reticle thickness, get a first focal plane scope. Anything beyond 18x at inside of 300 yards and you won’t be able to see what happens to the target after the shot because you will have a very limited field of view. All the rest of the world can see crosshairs on big game with virtually all rifle scopes on the market at 300 yards and in; I stand by my original recommendation that you see an optometrist. If you couldn’t see with your Swaro (Z, X or D series?) then you have an eye problem or it was nighttime.

 

[Rie Bread]

So for perspective I shoot a fixed 4x scope from the 70’s out to 400 yards all year.
By that metric of magnitude I should be shooting at well over a mile with 32x

 

[Mr. UML]

What is the make and model of your current scope? Sounds like your problem is a low quality scope. The 4x16 scope is plenty of power for the ranges you speak of, it sounds like you have a low quality scope. You don't need more power just better quality optics.

@Dan O - I currently have a Zeiss Conquest V4 4-16x50. Previously I had a Swaro Z3 4-12x50. I increased from 12x to 16x because at 200-yards, I wasn't getting the clarity I wanted on the vitals.

@D_Walt - I'm not concerned about the reticle thickness. I'm not as concerned about seeing where the deer ran after I shoot it. These .50cal Parker Ballistic Extremes crush any whitetail pretty much where they were standing. I've never had one run more than 20 yards and I average 5 deer per year with it.

@Rie Bread - Kudos to you sir, but that's not me.

 

[Potsie]

Ya, sorry, my mistake.

You definitely need 40x magnification for a muzzleloader. No way you’d ever be able to hit the broad side of a barn with anything less than a 35mm tube and 40x magnification.

It is completely shocking how little help you’ve found thus far, and I for one am very disappointed in my fellow Hunt Talkers. You obviously are in dire need and deserve nothing less than dropping all other concerns to assist you in your query for a 40x magnification scope FOR A MUZZLELOADER.

JFC go troll somewhere else.


Oh ya, Merry Christmas.

 

[Dan O]

@Dan O - I currently have a Zeiss Conquest V4 4-16x50. Previously I had a Swaro Z3 4-12x50. I increased from 12x to 16x because at 200-yards, I wasn't getting the clarity I wanted on the vitals.

@D_Walt - I'm not concerned about the reticle thickness. I'm not as concerned about seeing where the deer ran after I shoot it. These .50cal Parker Ballistic Extremes crush any whitetail pretty much where they were standing. I've never had one run more than 20 yards and I average 5 deer per year with it.

@Rie Bread - Kudos to you sir, but that's not me.

I believe both the scopes you have tried are good quality scopes. You said you are not getting the clarity you need. Question have you tried to adjust the focus or just stayed with the factory setting?

 

[Mr. UML]

@BackofBeyond - You seem to have issue that this is for a muzzleloader. Where I'm at in the State of Michigan, it is one of the best weapons legally permitted for taking whitetail game. We also have a dedicated muzzleloader season. I have owned the alternatives - a .450 Bushmaster, a .350 Legend, etc. - and they're no match for the asswhooping the muzzleloader puts down.

Also - I wasn't asking everyone to drop everything they were doing in order to help me. I was simply saying that if they were going to chime in, it would be better if they provided useful input other than tell me to get my eyes checked and it's completely unnecessary.

@Dan O - I have the Parallax adjusted for maximum clarity, the diopter is adjusted, but even so, I'm still hovering the crosshair over the body of the whole animal (at 200 yards). In theory, I'd like to zoom in just to a section of the animal which is highly valuable in low-light conditions, especially for counting antler tines. At 300-yards, it's even more difficult to distinguish.

I can shoot the gun at 400-500 yards at a metal gong, but I'm doing that in ideal conditions when I'm target shooting and clanging the gong at that range is all I'm trying to do.

 

[Mr. UML]

Options I've Been Looking At:

• March FX D42HV56WFIMAX-G2 | FFP | 5-42x56mm with FMA-3 Reticle (link)
• ZCO ZC840 | FFP | 8-40x56mm with MOA or MPCT1X Reticle (link)
• Valdada Crusader Tactical | FFP | 5.8-40x56mm (link)
• Nightforce ATACR | FFP | 7-35x56mm FT with MOAR-F1 Reticle (link)
• Leupold Mark 5HD | FFP | 7-35x56 M5C3 Illumn. TMR (link)
• Trijicon Tenmile | SFP | 4.5-30x56 or 5-50x56 (link, link)
• March X D50V56TI | SFP | 5-50x56mm with MTR-4 Reticle (link)
• March X D60HV56TI | SFP | 10-60x56mm with MTR-FT Reticle (link)

Others I considered by have excluded thus far: Tangent Theta, Schmidt & Bender, EOTECH, Burris, Steiner, Maven, Kahles, MEOPTA, Swarovski, Zeiss

On this list, the scope I like the best thus far is the Trijicon Tenmile 5-50x56, but I've not owned any of the brands noted above except Leupold and none of those scopes were what I had wanted.

If anyone has any useful input on these, I'd be very grateful. Thank you!

 

[longbow51]

Again, gently, if you can't count tines with a Swarovski at 200 yards, something is going on with your eyes. You may correct to 20/20, but? Macular degeneration, early cataract?

Or, if you really just want the best, here you go.

6-24 x 72 - Long range telescopic sight | HENSOLDT

Telescopic sight for extremely precise adjustability and very high magnification

www.hensoldt.net

 

[ccc23454]