Olliesims Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 I know this topic has been done too death but I'm looking for a few recommendations on scopes for a .243 for deer and fox, it will be used for fox more than it will be deer, I don't want a fixed mag so s&b 8x56 is a no no, I've seen 2 that have caught my eye, the nikon monarch 4-16x50 sf with a bdc reticle, I can't find any info on low light performance tho I also have been looking at the zeiss duralyt but it will be the non ill ret and the only thing putting me off is the reticle as it has no hold over points, has anyone else got a scope they can recommend or any info on the nikon monarch Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Essex Hunter Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 (edited) I have a Kahles 3-12x56 4a on my 700, it was £899! £300 more than the gun! A friend has a Zeiss 6-24x56 on his 22-250 that was 2k. It is very nice and has the edge out beyond 250 + on a red filter because of what it is, however the bare bones are, we only shoot out at that distance when a fox that will not come for what ever reason. The field craft bit is calling them and the prize for your work is the shot from my point of view. Milldots are not my thing at all because I have set my gun for 200 yards and found out through practice how flat the rounds I use are. You don’t get a lot of time on foxes so adding a calcification of hold over would not work for me. Also you have to know how far it is to add hold over…..!! Each to there own, but I am very happy with my scope and reap the benefits of practice and the investment I made. TEH Edited March 31, 2013 by The Essex Hunter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 I have a Kahles 3-12x56 4a on my 700, it was £899! £300 more than the gun! A friend has a Zeiss 6-24x56 on his 22-250 that was 2k. It is very nice and has the edge out beyond 250 + on a red filter because of what it is, however the bare bones are, we only shoot out at that distance whe a fox that will not come for what ever reason. The field craft bit is calling them and the prize for your work is the shot from my point of view. Milldots are not my thing at all because I have set my gun for 200 yards and found out through practice how flat the rounds I use are. You don’t get a lot of time on foxes so adding a calcification of hold over would not work for me. Also you have to know how far it is to add hold over…..!! Each to there own, but I am very happy with my scope and reap the benefits of practice and the investment I made. TEH I have a S&B Zenith scope on my .243, and it's excellent. I also use a Kahles scope on my .22-250 and this too is an excellent scope. Another good scope for the money is a MTC Genesis. I use this one on my .17HMR and it's very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 I know this topic has been done too death but I'm looking for a few recommendations on scopes for a .243 for deer and fox, it will be used for fox more than it will be deer, I don't want a fixed mag so s&b 8x56 is a no no, I've seen 2 that have caught my eye, the nikon monarch 4-16x50 sf with a bdc reticle, I can't find any info on low light performance tho I also have been looking at the zeiss duralyt but it will be the non ill ret and the only thing putting me off is the reticle as it has no hold over points, has anyone else got a scope they can recommend or any info on the nikon monarch Cheers My honest opinion is get over this holdover points thing. Zeroed at 200 yds with say a 55 grn Nosler your only going to be placing the cross hair over a foxes spine as regards drop at 300 yds. its unusual you will just get to account for drop at such a range and windage will be your worry and how many darn lines can you cope with?- they are never going to be in the perfect place anyway! have you actually shot at extended ranges? I should buy the Ziess out of the two no question but if you cannot keep 1/2 moa at 300 yds confidently and understand wind and drop the 8 x 56 S+bender is a really great scope for killing deer and fox with a .243 out to 200yds or so which is actually still beyond most users ability / competence levels. Don't believe all you read Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddoakley Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 12 mag is more than enough for me on my .243. I use a meopta 3000 3-12x56 which apart from the ret that I dont particularly like, is a great scope. Not sure of new cost but second hanf £400 is about right. It usually stays on 8mag for most things but as you said its not always ideal so I wouldnt have a fixed mag. Tomorrow I will be stalking in some dense wood and it will prob be on 3-4mag, if I get to the edge of thw wood and have no route to deer (or a fox for that matter) that are in the surrounding fields it may go up to 12 for shots of maybe 200+ yards. I use the .243 for everything so a variable scope suits me better. Any of the top european brands will perform well and opinion will always be divided due to the fact that everyones eyes are different. Try as many possible in all conditions before you splash your cash.. Edd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olliesims Posted March 31, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 Thanks for all the comments, I think it will be the zeiss at the end of the day, I know the 8x56 is rated highly but I want to have variable mag, just want to buy something quality for the new rifle if I'm going to spend 800 on a rifle I want to stick something decent on top, I don't shoot at extended ranges so that proves I have no need for hold over points. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 Just be a little careful about the fine reticles I struggled in low light and under the lamp with one, swapped for illuminated and no problems since Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stan68 Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 You wont go far wrong with the Duralyt. Had one on my .243 for 18 months or so. Fantastic scope for the money would still be on the rifle if I hadnt have come into a bit of money and treated myself to a victory Diavari! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olliesims Posted March 31, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 Just be a little careful about the fine reticles I struggled in low light and under the lamp with one, swapped for illuminated and no problems since I won't be able to afford the illuminated ret, is the ret hard to see under the lamp with out the illumination? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 If you get the very fine one then personally I had a problem missed a couple of foxes under the lamp just lost them on dark backgrounds, that's why people have the thicker lines for stalking or illuminated. It's all personal though and a chunk of money so see if you can try one first before parting with the cash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 Hunting reticules are thicker for good reason. I have never been a big fan of illumination even at the top end were things are radically better than the cheaper scopes normally seen on airguns and the like (not mentioning names coz 50 members will start saying how good they are). I used a NF for quite a while but although a great competition scope I honestly believe a good 3-12 x S+Bender or similar with a decent reticule thickness and in an un-complicated format is hard to better in the field, batteries never fail either. Under a good sky and a clear grass field on the full moon you can wait out without a lamp for fox, but you will have to wind the mag back some to adjust to your exit pupil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeyoakey Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 Olliesims Before you splash out check out the Sightron range from Aimfieldsports, give John a ring, top quality scopes for alot less money than the Swaro, Zeiss, S&B's etc. I took my S&B 8x56 off my 243, swapped it fora Sightron 8x32x56 LRMD but apparently the 6x24x50 is very good, i just went for a little bit more mag because if you aint got it you cant use it and also ive been on 24x cranked it up a bit awesome Good luck with whatever you choose as there is so much quality out there but often with a heavy price Smokey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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