Scope suggestion

OK OK, why didnt those fish bite the last time i was fishing that part of the river

OK first off I am not a rifleman by any means, I have a Sako, it kills deer and thats about it. I am an archery guy but my father is the rifle hunter and he is going to start using a 7mm mag as we started farming beans in our brushy country and the shots keeping getting longer and longer. Now he needs a scope for this thing (early xmas present)and he will want a Leupold as every rifle ever owned around here has a had a Leupold. Now my question is between the new lense technology that gathers more light in a 40mm verses a 50mm objective without it. In a perfect world I would to go with the 50mm but he doesn’t like the higher seating of a 50mm and brush (we have lots of thick brush) is always caught between the scope/gun…we also have the cost if a 50mm is a touch higher as we would like to keep this under six bills…but the 50mm should be clearer/ brighter and handle paralex (s/p?) better. I was wondering what some of you guys thought about this.

Sure, all else being equal, the 50mm will gather more light, etc.. However, the 40mm is MORE than sufficient to cover any and all of your needs out of a hunting scope during legal shooting hours. I’d get the 40, save a few $$, go kill some deer and be done with it. People may have different opinions on this, but I do think the 50mm is overkill for most normal deer hunting situations. Plus, it sits higher, which causes some problems like you said. I have two 40mm VX-III’s that are just AWESOME. If you are thinking really long range, check out the B&C reticles. Takes some ranging/practicing/thinking, but has incredible capabilities for longer range shots.

Mike

Good post Whit…esp the B&C reticles

Jonny, I do a lot of reloading, bench rest shooting and rifle hunting…both here and out west. A 7MM Mag is a great bean field rifle… I’ve had 3 or 4 fine Sakos for that purpose (140gr Nosler Accubonds ).
I really like Leupolds and have a few on my rifles. But side by side, the Zeiss Conquest 3X9X40 will surprise you. They are noticeably brighter and sharper than the Leupies in the same general price range.

My advice…a 4.5X14X40 Leupold B&C ret on that 7 Mag Beaner. I have a one on a .280 Rem LSS for the same purpose and it is an absolute tack driver!

After these posts and a ton of research I ordered the 4.5-14 Boone and Crockett duplex in a VX III 40mm. I think it should do nicely and after using up all my Cabelas points and my special offer along with a coupon it came in just under six bills…wish I had it last night when Mr. Big Buck stepped out behind my bow stand about 75 yards. I thought “Just wait a few weeks wise guy when Pops is sitting on the other side of this field with his new bean gun, you won’t be so dang smart then”.

I did take a hard look at the Nikon line up, if it was not for years of good service from Leupold that would have been my next choice.

Congrats on the scope, I have a feeling that you will love it. Takes some practice to get proficient/comfortable with the B&C reticle (if you intent to use it to full capabilities), but its a great scope. I just put one on my new 7mm rem mag and can’t wait to hit the range!!

One more thing… A little bit expensive, but I really like the screw on aluminum flip up lens covers for the leupolds. Very nice for keeping dust/dirt out off of the lens, and flip up very easity even with bulky gloves on.

Good luck this year!

Mike

Quote:

---

Good post Whit…esp the B&C reticles

Jonny, I do a lot of reloading, bench rest shooting and rifle hunting…both here and out west. A 7MM Mag is a great bean field rifle… I’ve had 3 or 4 fine Sakos for that purpose (140gr Nosler Accubonds ).
I really like Leupolds and have a few on my rifles. But side by side, the Zeiss Conquest 3X9X40 will surprise you . They are noticeably brighter and sharper than the Leupies in the same general price range.

My advice…a 4.5X14X40 Leupold B&C ret on that 7 Mag Beaner. I have a one on a .280 Rem LSS for the same purpose and it is an absolute tack driver!

---

x2 Great scope! Retail is about 4 bills.

Guess I should have kept reading