AusVarmint

If we could have a range of rifle scopes designed for Australian shooters specifically what would we ask for ??

Would it have 25mm or 30mm tube ?

40mm, 44mm or 50mm objective lens ?

Adjustable objective (side focus objective on 30mm) ?

Fixed power or variable ?

What variable power ? ... you can't have everything so what would we need ? ie 2-7, 3.5-10, 4-12, 6-24 or 1.5-5, 3-9, 6-18 you get the drift.

What fixed powers ? ie 4x, 8x, 12x, 24x, 36x

Reticle ? which one or two ie fine, standard or thick duplex, range finder type, mil dot, target dot, post pick 1-3.

Finish black matte or gloss, silver matte or gloss, matte camo ??

Adjustments finger type or friction, tall turrets or short, 1/4 or 1/8 ?

Any other features ie lock rings, illuminated, built in ash tray ????

There are no wrong answers here just a discussion so have a say .. what would YOU like.

cheers
Rinso

I think it might vary depending on use, but for me I guess if I had to have one scope it would be:

40mm objective
4.5-14 variable
short turrets, finger adjustable with 1/4MOA clicks
illuminated fine duplex (!)
matt finish
25mm tube
non-AO
non-varying eye relief
locking diopter adjustment

This would give enough power for longer range bunnies and foxes, but when the power is wound back it still gives 8mm+ exit pupil. Fine duplex for daytime, but with illumination for spotlighting or dusk/dawn work. 25mm tube, because 30mm just adds weight and with a 40mm objective strength is not an issue. Non-AO because the parallax error is too small to worry about for hunting, and AO is just something else to go wrong or need to be set. Non-varying eye relief enables me to keep my cheek weld constant throughout the scope's range of adjustment. Finger adjustable with clicks, so I don't need a tool (coin) to set up the scope, and can wind up or down and get back to zero. Short turrets because this is a hunting rifle and long ones get bashed! I wouldn't mind the turrets covers on the new Leupold "7's", the ones that counter rotate, pull up and then act as the adjusters, so there's no cap to lose. Matt finish because I don't like gloss rifles and I like the scope to match. I would also like it to come with flip up lens covers (Leupold/Alumina style). I would like a locking eyepiece focus system that actually locks, and fast or slow focus does not worry me because once set it, hopefully, will never move.

I would like the scope to have good contrast, be consistent from edge to edge and transmit as much light as possible (obviously). Equally it should be rugged and have a good warranty.

I would put such a scope on my HMR and .223Rem. If the same scope was also available in 50mm objective it would be good for my 25-06 which is more dedicated to dusk and spotlighting work.

Given the choice I would also consider a steel tube rather than an alloy one, because steel is more durable and my rifles do get used a lot.

How's that?

I think fixed eye releif is one of the most important things (for me anyhow) find it seriously annoying when trying to take a quick shot and you can't get the reticle "up" so to speak.

guys,

maybe I did not owrd that quite right .. I meant a range of scopes not a single scope ..

zzsstt good points but what would have as a range of scopes re magnifications ie 2-7, 4.5-14, then what ???

cheers
Rinso

A 1.5 - 4.5 variable for the scrub and deer rifles.

A 3-9X40 variable with either side focus or AO (probably side focus for lower mounting) for all round centrefire and rimfire use.

A 4 - 14X40 or similar with side focus for the varminters.

zzsstt's scope description would fit the majority of my shooting (with the 223) but i would have some slight changes.

Probably look at a variable 6-20 with side adjustable objective. A simple ranging reticle so you could line up on max point blank, then hold over easily at maybe 2 distances further out ie 300 and 350 essentially a more calibrated Leupold LR duplex

I would also opt for 50mm lens with a VX-L style low mount as most of my shooting is done at night.

for the bigger stuff I think again steel 25mm tube, 40 mm lens with a 6x zoom basically 1.7-10 as per the new swarovski z6 with a fine duplex reticle. All of the other points would be as per zzsstt

Rinso,
I'm not qualified to make a suggestion for a range of scopes. But on my "wish list" are:

Some quality straights that wont break the bank balance ...4x32 (not 40!! ), 6x36 or x42, 8x40 and a 12x40 ... 26mm tubes, non AO with a choice of reticles. Duplex, German post in the lower magnifications, fine crosshairs with dot and a Mil-Dot in the higher magnifications.

Ultimately my two favourite scopes are a Leupold 4x32 and 6x36; light, slim and tough. But I cant justify the current cost of them new.

Prefer a matte finish and an eyepice that's trim so that the scope can be mounted low.

Distances between turrets/eyepices/objectives are getting shorter thanks to the short action craze which is making it much tougher to fit and adjust some scopes on the standard or magnum length actions.

There's certainly a dangerous game market for someone to reproduce the old Leupold x3 with a length of tube EQUAL to the originals. Leupold has had numerous requests but continues to dither on it.
Cheers...
Con

All sounds good to me ...

Con,

I'm not qualified to make a suggestion for a range of scopes.

Yes you are mate .. you shoot and you use a scope thats all the qualifications you need to make your choices and thaye are a valid as anyone else's.

fenring,
the 1.5-4.5 sounds good but what size objective would you want on it ?

Dr G,
Something similar to this reticle ?

NP-2DD:
Field tactical, varmint, big game, light hunting, benchrest and 1,000-yard shooters can benefit from the design of this double-dot reticle.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
Favored by two classes of shooter, the NP-2DD is the reticle most preferred for predator hunting in low light conditions. When measured at 22x, tapered horizontal bars reaching 4 M.O.A. from the center and a floating .1875 M.O.A. center dot draw the hunter’s eye to center for quick target acquisition with minimal illumination flare around the center aimpoint. This reticle is also highly functional for benchrest shooters when combined with Nightforce Precision Benchrest models.

A secondary .125 M.O.A. diameter dot is located 4 M.O.A. below center at 22x. This dot is a 500-600 yard holdover point for most flat shooting cartridges. This simple and effective reticle performs in long range situations while maintaining quick target acquisition capability for short distances.

1,000 yard benchrest competitors prefer the NP-2DD reticle when selecting the 8-32x56 and 12-42x56 models in the Precision Benchrest series for its optimum dot subtension. The unobstructed field-of-view allows the shooter to observe the wind flags to detect a change of condition.

cheers
Rinso

Rinso wrote:Dr G,
Something similar to this reticle ?

NP-2DD:
Field tactical, varmint, big game, light hunting, benchrest and 1,000-yard shooters can benefit from the design of this double-dot reticle.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
Favored by two classes of shooter, the NP-2DD is the reticle most preferred for predator hunting in low light conditions. When measured at 22x, tapered horizontal bars reaching 4 M.O.A. from the center and a floating .1875 M.O.A. center dot draw the hunter’s eye to center for quick target acquisition with minimal illumination flare around the center aimpoint. This reticle is also highly functional for benchrest shooters when combined with Nightforce Precision Benchrest models.

A secondary .125 M.O.A. diameter dot is located 4 M.O.A. below center at 22x. This dot is a 500-600 yard holdover point for most flat shooting cartridges. This simple and effective reticle performs in long range situations while maintaining quick target acquisition capability for short distances.

1,000 yard benchrest competitors prefer the NP-2DD reticle when selecting the 8-32x56 and 12-42x56 models in the Precision Benchrest series for its optimum dot subtension. The unobstructed field-of-view allows the shooter to observe the wind flags to detect a change of condition.

That looks like it would fit the bill nicely. But i dont think i would take a shot on an animal at 5-600m.

Dr G,

Just an example mate .. say the central dot was you 100m zero and the lower dot was 250 or something along those lines.

cheers
Rinso

No worries

But yes IMHO this would be an ideal reticle in any cat/fox gun scope. Unfortunatly my buget is unlikly to ever extend into the nightforce/swarovski standard of optics. If it did it wouldnt be long before one or maybe both were sitting on rifles i own.

Rinso.. Get them to make a Scmidt and Bender 5-25X56 Police II with fine P4 reticle please!

Cheers
AI

something like a 6-36x56 on a 30mm tube with enough internal adjustments to be able to use the one scope from 100 to 1000Y comps.
for me a varmint hunters thin wire with holdover dots type reticle on a 30mm fixed 10 or 12 power for culling under the light.
a 1.5-8x42 for a DGR- not sure what reticle though- again on a 30mm

A magnum springer proof airgun scope 3.5-12x56 with holdover dots as well- 30mm

LAter
P

Rinso,
A reticle I really enjoy using is the one found on my G&R scope on the HW97K. Basically a fine duplex but the crosshairs dont meet at the centre ... instead there is a dot there.
Reason I like it is that I figure the dot is really easy to use on game plus its easy to use on a target. The crosshairs dont meet ... so where the bottom crosshair ends is a fine point for taking shots that require some elevation.

If the reticle was done "more" properly ... the side bars could be made heavy (for use in dark conditions ... though I'd not like that on a varmint scope) with a sharp definite taper to the fine crosshair section (looking at 100m ... make it 6" below the dot) ... the fine crosshair to end at 3" below the dot with a 0.5MOA dot. I could use a reticle like that on say a varmint rifle a bit better than multiple dots/hashes etc etc... Make the central dot larger and it's more applicable to larger game ... but I dont mind the duplex reticle at that game.
Cheers...
Con

I'll have the same as AI thanks Rinso