I got asked by a friend about what rifle scope he should select for his new elk rifle.
the addition of a good quality optic sight to your rifle goes a long way towards both extending its effective range and allowing the rifles operator to accurately place shots.
while a lot of newer hunters may be tempted to scrimp on the cost of a scope its almost as critical, or in a few cases more critical, to your success as a decent rifle, youll want to do the research required to select the best optic you can afford, and I'd suggest a quality variable with a compact size and good quality optics from a company with a dependable track record.
all major companys have both an economy line and a quality line of optics...it pays to do the research and have the knowledge to know the difference.. do your research carefully and check for life-time warrantees... then check customer feed-back on repair issues
high quality scopes, (Leopold, Nikon, Zeiss, Steiner ) proper install procedures and the better quality scope mounts goes a long way toward reducing problems
you don,t need to buy the most expensive mounts or rings but a decent quality mount is critical.
IVE never yet had a properly installed weaver style base and rings fail, loc-tite on clean de-greased, and properly tightened, screw threads helps
a 150/400 watt gun makes soldering much easier
BTW red loc-tite is a thermally sensitive bonding agent,
if you need to remove scope mount screws, or any screw locked in place with this thread binding agent, that were locked in place with red loc-tite simply hold a high wattage soldering iron firmly against the screw head for at least 2 minutes before you try to remove it, this allows heat to travel through the screw and melt the bonding plastic based locking agent
https://shop.brownells.com/optics/r...MI-fyIgLi12QIVmbXACh3gcQOeEAQYASABEgJTs_D_BwE
https://shop.brownells.com/optics-m...MI-fyIgLi12QIVmbXACh3gcQOeEAQYASABEgJTs_D_BwE
https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-...head-scope-ring-base-screw-kit-prod41830.aspx
torx head screws tend to be better strength and quality,
Ive seen lots of cheap mounts fail
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...hat-are-you-looking-for-in-an-elk-rifle.2368/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-favorite-and-most-used-big-game-rifle.13113/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-a-good-all-around-elk-mule-deer-rifle.12948/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/whats-a-good-light-weight-elk-rifle.3738/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ange-calibers-for-elk-are-not-mandatory.1275/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ou-so-dependent-on-your-weatherby-rifle.2403/
The question of what scope to buy, well, that questions a bit like asking what characteristics would make the best girl friend!
and with both cases the answer will be heavily influenced by what you expect to do with either one and how long you expect either to suit your expectations.
as a general rule you'll want to purchase the best quality rifle and scope you can afford to own, and while its the skill and experience of the hunter and the area you choose to hunt that will have the biggest effect on your potential results, having damn good dependable equipment , goes a long way towards eliminating equipment failure and helps to maintain your confidence with constant practice.
I don,t know a single serious elk hunter that regrets spending a good deal of cash on a quality scope, and remember recoil stress is cumulative, so having a better quality scope and mounts and rings and properly installing them with loc-tite on the screw threads, significantly reduces your chances of scope problems
now I've hunted elk and deer long enough to understand a good deal about what I've found to be important,and a clear scope that allows you to see clearly in low light conditions that will not be effected by rapid temperature swings or moderately rough treatment and one that maintains its zero year after year is something to be treasured.
heres what I feel are the basics
(1) dependability/durability
what ever you buy it damn sure better continue working because your not going to be able to easily replace or repair it, and I'll point out that the mounts and rings are a common failure point so take the time to research the three component parts of the system.
(2) size and weight, length, tube diameter,size
In any optic system the longer and to some extent larger the scope is the more likely it is too sustain damage if its dropped and physically longer length allows more leverage to be applied to the scope and the mounting system, making it easier to damage if the rifles dropped or bumps something while its carried.
the better 30 mm scopes have a slight advantage in increased lense area and light gathering , this can mean an extra 10-20 minutes of usable shooting light or the ability to count antler tines accurately at longer ranges, or the ability to see a route through dark timber to place a shot on a trophy at long range.
(3) magnification and tube diameter.
over about the last 20 years or so theres been both a shift to the larger 30 mm vs the old standard 1" scope tube size and a major increase in the quality of most of the mid and upper priced scopes.
back in the 1970s-1990s if you wanted a very good quality rifle scope it was going to cost you more than what most guys made in a weeks pay or more, the lower and mid priced scopes start at, priced in the $300-$500 range, you can now find similar quality scopes for significantly less, they are now still priced in the $300-$500 range, but thats a good deal lower in relation to the average guys pay check, top quality scopes can easily cost $2K-$4K. and yes the quality is better but you can get a very good functional scope for under $500-$700
the quality of construction and optics have improved as has the durability,
Id suggest a decent 2x-7x as a minimum and in my opinion, there,s no real use for more magnification than a 4x-12x can supply even for extreme ranges as Deer & Elk are a reasonably large target's.
a quality 3x-9x or 3.5X-10X would certainly work well in most applications
Rifle scopes ARE NOT SPOTTING SCOPES or BINOCULARS!
you'll also want a compact but quality 7x or 10x binocular, you don,t want to potentially point a rifle at other hunters by mistake, if you see un-identified movement on a slope across a meadow or canyon.
as a general guide, Id suggest a quality rifle scope that costs in the 50%-125% of the cost of your rifle , simply because you really can,t afford to have a scope fail . especially on some out of state, or on a hunt that could easily be costing you $1200-$6000 dollars, that you may only be able to afford to go on a few times in your life! trust me when I say that scope and scope mount failures are not all that rare on hunts in rough country, simply because hunters do trip, fall and drop rifles, and moisture, and temp changes can damage cheap optics,and while this does not always result in a scope failure it certainly contributes to the problem
http://www.opticsden.com/best-rifle...YqnPsqo1ksCh_cwNLPGi1xWNWVwaqIcWVdRoC1Wrw_wcB
https://www.leupold.com/resources/the-right-scope-for-you/
http://www.reloaderaddict.com/best-scope-for-300-win-mag/
http://www.goshootguns.com/best-rifle-scope-for-hunting/
http://rifleopticsworld.com/guide-to-the-best-hunting-rifle-scope/
http://authorizedboots.com/2016/02/best-scopes-elk-hunting/
(4)BRANDS
I have tried a good many brands and models you need to be aware that most scope Brands have BOTH a top quality and a bargain priced much lower quality line of products.
these are all brands Ive used or seen used that provided good service
NIGHTFORCE
LEOPOLD
https://www.leupold.com/resources/leupold-full-lifetime-guarantee/
NIKON
http://www.cabelas.com/assets/product_files/pdf/nikon_warranty.pdf
VORTEX
http://www.vortexoptics.com/content/vip_warranty
BURRIS
http://www.burrisoptics.com/customer-service/warranty
Swarovski
Kahles
ZEISS
STEINER
Schmidt & Bender
I,ve had less than good results with
WEAVER
REDFIELD
TASCO
BUSHNELL
some guarantees are not worth the time and quality SUCKS in my experience
a few mid priced scopes I found that work well
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1320183414/nikon-prostaff-5-rifle-scope-35-14x-50mm-matte
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1320260685/nikon-prostaff-5-rifle-scope-25-10x-40mm
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...le-scope-45-14x-40mm-custom-dial-system-matte
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...10-mil-adjustments-adjustable-objective-matte
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/9...ustable-objective-dead-hold-bdc-reticle-matte
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1320181347/nikon-prostaff-5-rifle-scope-35-14x-40mm
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...-scope-30mm-tube-45-14x-40mm-side-focus-matte
the addition of a good quality optic sight to your rifle goes a long way towards both extending its effective range and allowing the rifles operator to accurately place shots.
while a lot of newer hunters may be tempted to scrimp on the cost of a scope its almost as critical, or in a few cases more critical, to your success as a decent rifle, youll want to do the research required to select the best optic you can afford, and I'd suggest a quality variable with a compact size and good quality optics from a company with a dependable track record.
all major companys have both an economy line and a quality line of optics...it pays to do the research and have the knowledge to know the difference.. do your research carefully and check for life-time warrantees... then check customer feed-back on repair issues
high quality scopes, (Leopold, Nikon, Zeiss, Steiner ) proper install procedures and the better quality scope mounts goes a long way toward reducing problems
you don,t need to buy the most expensive mounts or rings but a decent quality mount is critical.
IVE never yet had a properly installed weaver style base and rings fail, loc-tite on clean de-greased, and properly tightened, screw threads helps
a 150/400 watt gun makes soldering much easier
BTW red loc-tite is a thermally sensitive bonding agent,
if you need to remove scope mount screws, or any screw locked in place with this thread binding agent, that were locked in place with red loc-tite simply hold a high wattage soldering iron firmly against the screw head for at least 2 minutes before you try to remove it, this allows heat to travel through the screw and melt the bonding plastic based locking agent
https://shop.brownells.com/optics/r...MI-fyIgLi12QIVmbXACh3gcQOeEAQYASABEgJTs_D_BwE
https://shop.brownells.com/optics-m...MI-fyIgLi12QIVmbXACh3gcQOeEAQYASABEgJTs_D_BwE
https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-...head-scope-ring-base-screw-kit-prod41830.aspx
torx head screws tend to be better strength and quality,
Ive seen lots of cheap mounts fail
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...hat-are-you-looking-for-in-an-elk-rifle.2368/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-favorite-and-most-used-big-game-rifle.13113/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-a-good-all-around-elk-mule-deer-rifle.12948/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/whats-a-good-light-weight-elk-rifle.3738/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ange-calibers-for-elk-are-not-mandatory.1275/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ou-so-dependent-on-your-weatherby-rifle.2403/
The question of what scope to buy, well, that questions a bit like asking what characteristics would make the best girl friend!
and with both cases the answer will be heavily influenced by what you expect to do with either one and how long you expect either to suit your expectations.
as a general rule you'll want to purchase the best quality rifle and scope you can afford to own, and while its the skill and experience of the hunter and the area you choose to hunt that will have the biggest effect on your potential results, having damn good dependable equipment , goes a long way towards eliminating equipment failure and helps to maintain your confidence with constant practice.
I don,t know a single serious elk hunter that regrets spending a good deal of cash on a quality scope, and remember recoil stress is cumulative, so having a better quality scope and mounts and rings and properly installing them with loc-tite on the screw threads, significantly reduces your chances of scope problems
now I've hunted elk and deer long enough to understand a good deal about what I've found to be important,and a clear scope that allows you to see clearly in low light conditions that will not be effected by rapid temperature swings or moderately rough treatment and one that maintains its zero year after year is something to be treasured.
heres what I feel are the basics
(1) dependability/durability
what ever you buy it damn sure better continue working because your not going to be able to easily replace or repair it, and I'll point out that the mounts and rings are a common failure point so take the time to research the three component parts of the system.
(2) size and weight, length, tube diameter,size
In any optic system the longer and to some extent larger the scope is the more likely it is too sustain damage if its dropped and physically longer length allows more leverage to be applied to the scope and the mounting system, making it easier to damage if the rifles dropped or bumps something while its carried.
the better 30 mm scopes have a slight advantage in increased lense area and light gathering , this can mean an extra 10-20 minutes of usable shooting light or the ability to count antler tines accurately at longer ranges, or the ability to see a route through dark timber to place a shot on a trophy at long range.
(3) magnification and tube diameter.
over about the last 20 years or so theres been both a shift to the larger 30 mm vs the old standard 1" scope tube size and a major increase in the quality of most of the mid and upper priced scopes.
back in the 1970s-1990s if you wanted a very good quality rifle scope it was going to cost you more than what most guys made in a weeks pay or more, the lower and mid priced scopes start at, priced in the $300-$500 range, you can now find similar quality scopes for significantly less, they are now still priced in the $300-$500 range, but thats a good deal lower in relation to the average guys pay check, top quality scopes can easily cost $2K-$4K. and yes the quality is better but you can get a very good functional scope for under $500-$700
the quality of construction and optics have improved as has the durability,
Id suggest a decent 2x-7x as a minimum and in my opinion, there,s no real use for more magnification than a 4x-12x can supply even for extreme ranges as Deer & Elk are a reasonably large target's.
a quality 3x-9x or 3.5X-10X would certainly work well in most applications
Rifle scopes ARE NOT SPOTTING SCOPES or BINOCULARS!
you'll also want a compact but quality 7x or 10x binocular, you don,t want to potentially point a rifle at other hunters by mistake, if you see un-identified movement on a slope across a meadow or canyon.
as a general guide, Id suggest a quality rifle scope that costs in the 50%-125% of the cost of your rifle , simply because you really can,t afford to have a scope fail . especially on some out of state, or on a hunt that could easily be costing you $1200-$6000 dollars, that you may only be able to afford to go on a few times in your life! trust me when I say that scope and scope mount failures are not all that rare on hunts in rough country, simply because hunters do trip, fall and drop rifles, and moisture, and temp changes can damage cheap optics,and while this does not always result in a scope failure it certainly contributes to the problem
http://www.opticsden.com/best-rifle...YqnPsqo1ksCh_cwNLPGi1xWNWVwaqIcWVdRoC1Wrw_wcB
https://www.leupold.com/resources/the-right-scope-for-you/
http://www.reloaderaddict.com/best-scope-for-300-win-mag/
http://www.goshootguns.com/best-rifle-scope-for-hunting/
http://rifleopticsworld.com/guide-to-the-best-hunting-rifle-scope/
http://authorizedboots.com/2016/02/best-scopes-elk-hunting/
(4)BRANDS
I have tried a good many brands and models you need to be aware that most scope Brands have BOTH a top quality and a bargain priced much lower quality line of products.
these are all brands Ive used or seen used that provided good service
NIGHTFORCE
LEOPOLD
https://www.leupold.com/resources/leupold-full-lifetime-guarantee/
NIKON
http://www.cabelas.com/assets/product_files/pdf/nikon_warranty.pdf
VORTEX
http://www.vortexoptics.com/content/vip_warranty
BURRIS
http://www.burrisoptics.com/customer-service/warranty
Swarovski
Kahles
ZEISS
STEINER
Schmidt & Bender
I,ve had less than good results with
WEAVER
REDFIELD
TASCO
BUSHNELL
some guarantees are not worth the time and quality SUCKS in my experience
a few mid priced scopes I found that work well
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1320183414/nikon-prostaff-5-rifle-scope-35-14x-50mm-matte
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1320260685/nikon-prostaff-5-rifle-scope-25-10x-40mm
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...le-scope-45-14x-40mm-custom-dial-system-matte
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...10-mil-adjustments-adjustable-objective-matte
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/9...ustable-objective-dead-hold-bdc-reticle-matte
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1320181347/nikon-prostaff-5-rifle-scope-35-14x-40mm
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...-scope-30mm-tube-45-14x-40mm-side-focus-matte
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