novice looking for scope advice

while I’ve been fishing my entire life, I just recently starting hunting, and have been using my grandfather’s Winchester model 94 with iron sights in .32winchester special. while I liked using it for ‘luck’, the fact that you were required to pull the trigger and hold the hammer to uncock it bothered me so I purchased a Remington 700 to use in place of it. While this new gun will only be temporary, Id like to upgrade the scope to something higher end I can keep and shift to new gun purchases in the future. I know nothing about scopes other than what the manufacturer says, so I went through the net and found these scopes:

vortex viper 6.5-20×50
vortex viper HS 4-26×44
Nikon monarch 3 4-16×50 BDC
leupold vx2 4-12×50
leupold vx3i 4.5-14×40 side focus cds
leupold vx3i 4.5-15×50 side focus cds

So those are the few within the price range I’m looking at, with my current preference so far leaning towards the monarch 3. The main reason for that choice being lighter than the vortex’s and is priced the lowest of the group. Like most I think most of my shots deer hunting wont be out past 100yds, so low light clarity and crisp sight focus are high priorities for me personally than how far out the scope can shoot until I become more acclimated to my new rifle. If anyone has any experience with any of these, or another within the range that is of decent quality, please post. TIA

I have a Nikon Pro Staff 2X7X32mm and it provides all the light and clarity I need at 100 yards and then some. I hunt woods as much as I do open country and at 4 power or 6 this scope delivers plenty of light even very earl or late in the day but still inside legal shooting times. I also have a 3X9X40mm objective and it too is plenty bright at 4 power.

Both of these scopes use the lower rings while the 44mm and 50mm scopes you’re pondering will require high rings. For hunting in any wooded or brushy areas I avoid anything requiring the tall rings simply because the allow more hang-ups while carrying thru dense stuff because the optics sit that much further off the gun.

My own choices here are based on how/where I hunt and the fact that my maximum shot will be no more than the 100 yard mark. IF I were considering making the gun a distance shooter, then I’d opt for the higher powers ranges. Inside and out to 100 yards the higher powers probably won’t make you any more accurate or turn any more lights on. You indicate that the 700 will be a temporary weapon and you can probably find optic that will fit your needs for much less than looking in the direction of the ones you’ve brought up. The 6 you mention are all great scopes but for a short yardage gun I think you can get set up for much less money and just as much light transmission by considering a less expensive model sporting a 40mm objective. My Pro Staff 2X7X32mm has all the light I need at 100 in the woods in dusky to dark situations.

I can’t tell you what to buy, but I can outline what I think you should consider or prioritize.

I’d scratch the Vortex models off the list. Nothing against Vortex, but >20x magnification is too much for your needs IMO. At your distances, you will never need 20X magnification and, in fact, it’s almost unusable at that short of a distance. Even on varmint rifles, I rarely use 20 power or more even in the wide open spaces because the field of view is so narrow.

I also avoid adjustable objective scopes for big game. It’s just one thing I feel I don’t want to be fiddling around with when a shot is on the line. Obviously, above 12-14X it is required but see above point.

I own a VX series scope and it is impossible to go wrong with Leupold, IMO. I’m not sure I would personally ever go to a 50MM because of size and weight, but nothing in Leupold’s lineup is a bad choice.

I do own Nikon as well and at their respective price points, they are perfectly functional hunting scopes.

Overall, it’s getting harder and harder to make a bad choice in optics. There are just SO man good scopes on the market now.

Whatever you choose, you must, must, must set up the reticle focus correctly for your eyes. It ASTONISHES me how few hunters know how to do this one-time adjustment.

BTW, my heart skipped a beat when I read your post as I thought you were considering drilling and hacking up your Grandfather’s 94 to add a scope. Noooooooooo! While 32 Winchester Special is a somewhat, ummm, “specialist” cartridge these days, it shows in these days of Magnumitius just how well our ancestors got by with VASTLY less firepower.

Grouse

Thank you for the replies. The vortexs were recommended by a friend, but according to their spec sheets they weigh 2-3x as much as the monarchs or leupolds. As I know nothing of the ring mounting heights etc, I will look into the 32mm size you(Tom) suggested, as you made very valid points when it comes to carrying in the field. Grouse I could never do that to my grandfathers gun. By using the gun it was as if he was still here to hunt with me, and any modifications would just diminish the sentimental value. Now since I honestly know nothing when it comes to scopes, could you explain what you mean by reticle focus? I just assumed once it was mounted zeroing in was the only adjustment required.

They eyepiece of each scope must be adjusted for the individual user after the scope is mounted so that the reticle (crosshairs) are in focus. This process need only be done once, but it is an INDIVIDUAL adjustment.

To avoid re-writing the whole process, see Step 4 of this article. The whole article is worth reading as it also explains adjustable objectives.

Buy the rings when or after you buy the scope. The scope instruction will state ring height requirements.

Your experience with your buddy recommending a poorly suited scope because it’s what he uses is sadly typical. Given your stated needs, there is no way you need or would be well served by the Vortex scopes on your list, they are to heavy and have too much magnification.

IMO, you would be very well served with a quality, versatile, variable power scoope in the range of 3 or 4X to something like 10-12X at the top magnification. Keeping to a 12X maximum magnifcation will help you avoid adjustable objectives and for your needs, there’s no reason to go there. Superior optics trumps higher magnification every time. I would suggest looking at 40-44 MM objectives in 1-inch tube sizes.

Personally, the most magnification I have on a big game rifle is a 4-12 Leuopold.

Grouse