H-i Mag scopes

wingtip

I was wondering is there anyone out there who can give me some advice on what make of high magnification Varmint scope they would recommend for my .223 centrefire.. At present I am using a S & B 8x50, but due to failing eyesight lately I am missing too many red fellows, so HELP??:(

Cass

Have you a budget in mind?

Was looking at the Zeiss Duralyt 3-12x50 for €795. My mate actually bought one 3 weeks ago and they are excellent. He got the illuminated model. Perhaps you are looking for more than 12 power.

Any idea how much mag you would be happy with?

wingtip

the way I am putting them out at the moment, maybe 20x lol,thanks for the guidance:)

De_Tomaso

For .223 Varmint rifle I would be choosing the following scopes:

500 -750€:

Vortex Viper PST 4-16x50 FFP
Nikon Monarch III 4-16x50
Bushnell Elite 4200 4-16x50
Minox ZA5 3-15x50 SF

750 -1000€

Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16x50
Nikon Monarch X 4-16x50
IOR 4-14x56

1000 - 1500€

IOR 3-18x42
Kahles K418
S&B Klassik 4-16x50 /P
Swarovski Z5 3.5-18x44

1500 - 2000€

Premier Heritage 3-15x50 Hunter
Schmidt&Bender PM II/P 4-16x50
Swarovski Z6 3-18x50
Vortex Razor HD 5-20x50

Above 2000€:

Zeiss Victory FL
Swarovski Z6i
Schmidt&Bender PM II
Premier Heritage Light Tactical
March


Magnification is not everything, quality matters more.

Cass

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Excellent list of choices.

endasmail

nail hit squarely on the head

zeissman

My choice would be a zeiss conquest 6.5-20x50

Comeraghshooter

zeissman wrote: »

My choice would be a zeiss conquest 6.5-20x50

+1

De_Tomaso

Zeiss Conquest is not sold in EU, so if anything goes wrong there is a lot of problems with warranty. Also with 6.5x magnification on the lower side can cause a lot of problems if you have to shoot at anything closer than 50 yard/40 meters. And this can often be a case with fox hunting, so you have to be prepared for anything between 50 and up to 300 meters.

zeissman

De_Tomaso wrote: »

Zeiss Conquest is not sold in EU, so if anything goes wrong there is a lot of problems with warranty. Also with 6.5x magnification on the lower side can cause a lot of problems if you have to shoot at anything closer than 50 yard/40 meters. And this can often be a case with fox hunting, so you have to be prepared for anything between 50 and up to 300 meters.

Warranty is not valid outside US but I buy mine from www.theopticzone.com so if anything goes wrong I can send it back to them and they will get it sorted.
I think 6.5 to 20 mag is ideal. I have owned 3 to 12 mag scopes before but never used them below 6 power.

De_Tomaso

There is no Customs between Ireland and US? In the rest of EU shipping the used scope back and forth across EU zone border is not such a nice experience. It sure goes but why bother.

About magnification I have different experience, I need 3x or 4x a lot when hunting foxes. Specially when I am calling they can come real close and I need lower magnification. I also almost never need more than 20x when hunting, even if I lie down before making a shoot.

wingtip

Fellas, thanks a million for all your help, looks like I sparked some debate, lol, again lads, cheers:D

zeissman

wingtip wrote: »

Fellas, thanks a million for all your help, looks like I sparked some debate, lol, again lads, cheers:D

You will have to decide what will suit you best.
I know a guy who shoots foxes and rabbits at over 300 yards with a 6x42 scope with a heavy plex reticle and another guy who keeps his scope set at 25 power all the time.

Constab2

Had both of the Elite's(4200 on the HMR & 6500 223) & changed them both for Zeiss Conquest's no experience with anything else bar the S&B Klassic have that on my 308 Remmie.I would not change them for anything excellent optics.

FISMA

wingtip wrote: »

I was wondering is there anyone out there who can give me some advice on what make of high magnification Varmint scope they would recommend for my .223 centrefire.. At present I am using a S & B 8x50, but due to failing eyesight lately I am missing too many red fellows, so HELP??:(

Wingtip,
At what distances are you taking Mr. Fox?

An 8x magnification is fine for deer but a bit skimpy for smaller targets at distance.

I would go with a 6.5-20x magnification for lamping. Also, get a big bell, like a 50mm - gather as much light as possible.

ejg

Pity the conquest isn't really available here, the 6.5-20x50 is hard to beat.
I know of no other scope that could match the performance at the same or less weight. I have two rifles set up with the conquest.
For lamping alone a 12 mag would normally be good enough.
edi

Tackleberrywho

5.5-22x56NXS N-PR2 Nightforce or Zeiss 6-24x56 30mm Tube Illum**

Myself and Paul compared scopes recenty in very low light and impossible to say which gathered more light.

Both bought second hand around the same money

FISMA

ejg wrote: »

Pity the conquest isn't really available here, the 6.5-20x50 is hard to beat.
I know of no other scope that could match the performance at the same or less weight. I have two rifles set up with the conquest.
For lamping alone a 12 mag would normally be good enough.
edi

We can get them cheap enough States side. Ironical, huh?

However, I still have not gotten one, I just do not like the reticle on the cheaper ones. The rapid z's are nice, but you pay a price.

I think they are still selling the 3-9x40mm Conquest for $400. One of the better values out there.

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

5.5-22x56NXS N-PR2 Nightforce or Zeiss 6-24x56 30mm Tube Illum**

Myself and Paul compared scopes recenty in very low light and impossible to say which gathered more light.

Both bought second hand around the same money

I'll have to see these NightForces to determine if the dosh is worth dropping, given my particular needs.

I did see a Sightron the other day, nice piece of glass.

Glensman

Hi WingTip,

I think it was me who originally advised you to buy the 8x56. I still think it is the perfect lamping scope due to the clarity and the lack of fiddling around in the dark...

I got rid of my S&B 6x42 lately and moved to a Conquest 6.5-20x50 I think it's a great job. Certainly better than my Leupold 6.5-20x40.

I tend to come back to about 8x to find the fox and double check backstop; then crank right up to 20 to take the shot, even if only around 100 yards I will still go most of the way to 20x.

shaft666

Swarovski PVI-2 Illuminated Dot 6-24x50. I keep mine on max power all the time, no problem picking up a fox and shot plenty at over 300 yards (measured)

tommyboy26

FISMA wrote: »

I did see a Sightron the other day, nice piece of glass.

+1

Have a sightron would recommend them to everyone

Norwayviking

tommyboy26 wrote: »

+1

Have a sightron would recommend them to everyone

Agree on that one +1

I have have a sightron 6-24x50,great glass,and a 8-32x56 coming from the states shortly.
Hard to beat,both in quality and price:D

Norwayviking

Glensman wrote: »

Hi WingTip,

I think it was me who originally advised you to buy the 8x56. I still think it is the perfect lamping scope due to the clarity and the lack of fiddling around in the dark...

I got rid of my S&B 6x42 lately and moved to a Conquest 6.5-20x50 I think it's a great job. Certainly better than my Leupold 6.5-20x40.

I tend to come back to about 8x to find the fox and double check backstop; then crank right up to 20 to take the shot, even if only around 100 yards I will still go most of the way to 20x.

Hope its working out great for you Glens.:D
I just got my SII sightron 6-24x50,and reason is because its a mil\mil scope,i prefer that with the mildot,and more magnification for long range,and its a 30mm tube.:)

Glensman

Norwayviking wrote: »

Hope its working out great for you Glens.:D
I just got my SII sightron 6-24x50,and reason is because its a mil\mil scope,i prefer that with the mildot,and more magnification for long range,and its a 30mm tube.:)

I would prefer a 30mm tube myself.
But there's no doubt the Zeiss is quality beats my leupold hands down.

There was a delay in getting my licence through, so all I've done with it is zero and then shoot 2 foxes. I might try it on a few long range crows over the weekend. No doubt she who must be obeyed's brother will be looking for a few shots with it!

Norwayviking

Glensman wrote: »

I would prefer a 30mm tube myself.
But there's no doubt the Zeiss is quality beats my leupold hands down.

There was a delay in getting my licence through, so all I've done with it is zero and then shoot 2 foxes. I might try it on a few long range crows over the weekend. No doubt she who must be obeyed's brother will be looking for a few shots with it!

she who must be obeyed's

Ha ha know that one to well myself:D
Anyway managed to get a new tikka t3 anyway for my birthday from she who must be obeyed.
So applying when i get home in the weekend.
Will be at the range in the weekend if you are around that part of the island,and we could shoot a few rounds there if you like.
Need to chrony a few rounds.;)
And with a new sightron SII 6-24x50 that needs zeroing.:D

Glensman

Norwayviking wrote: »

she who must be obeyed's

Ha ha know that one to well myself:D
Anyway managed to get a new tikka t3 anyway for my birthday from she who must be obeyed.
So applying when i get home in the weekend.
Will be at the range in the weekend if you are around that part of the island,and we could shoot a few rounds there if you like.
Need to chrony a few rounds.;)
And with a new sightron SII 6-24x50 that needs zeroing.:D

I actually might be about alright. Would love to see the range. I'll PM you to avoid thread spoiling...

pm.

zeissman wrote: »

My choice would be a zeiss conquest 6.5-20x50

+1 have one on my .243 and its top class

zeissman

Seems to be a good few zeiss conquests around.
If your conquest has target turrets you can get a custom turret made from
www.kentonindustries.com
I have one and it works well.
They make them for other popular scopes as well.

tac foley

If you don't have a VAST amount of money to spend, and some don't, you might have a look at MTC scopes. They are gaining in popularity over here, and the few I've seen in the club have been uniformly bright and can 'box' with great repeatability.

They have a number of models in your area of interest, too.

tac