dodeer Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 I have the choice of 4 new scopes to put on my new Tikka .243. Will be mainly used for woodland stalking and a bit of foxing etc, ranges upto 200 yards. 6x42 Hung 8x56 Hung 7x50 hung 3-12x50 IR Ger All are 30mm. Most of my stalking friends have 8x56's and say that the very fine crosshairs on the variable can be difficult to see when it is dull, but then you can always turn the IR on. What would be your choice and reasons why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kip270 Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 Go with what you want, i have a German 3-12x50 on my .222, for fox/roe and a zeiss 6x42 on my .270, both are great for stalking. I normally leave the S&B on 6 power though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mry716 Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 I always used to use standard reticule scopes for my stalking rifles as by so doing it provided me with the widest choice of make and magnification but in recent years I have taken to buying scopes with the German No4 reticule and I must say I wish I had chosen to use scopes with that style of reticule long ago. It provides me with an extra 10 mins of shooting both morning and evening and I find the heavy posts with fine centre lines so much easier to bring onto target. I tried an illuminated scope and for stalking found it quite off putting, so much so, I felt it actually hindered my vision of cross hairs on target because of the light so close to my eye rather than enhancing my picture and target definition. This is a personal opinion for my application and NOT a condemnation of illuminated scopes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jingzy Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 I would look at the fixed power scopes if it is woodland stalking, they allow a better light transmission than the variable scopes. This means that you can squeeze out those extra vital minutes in the evening. My personal choice is a 6x42 as it allows me to do wodland stalking and is compact enough if I am out walking the hills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 I would look at the fixed power scopes if it is woodland stalking, they allow a better light transmission than the variable scopes. This means that you can squeeze out those extra vital minutes in the evening. My personal choice is a 6x42 as it allows me to do wodland stalking and is compact enough if I am out walking the hills. :o Frank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mry716 Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Wouldn’t it be a catastrophe for the scope manufacturers if we all felt the same way about what we see as the ‘best’ scope. I don’t even have a fixed power scope any more, yet I am out looking for deer 3 or 4 times a week. I like to see what I am intending to stalk at long range on high magnification then reduce the power for the shot when close enough. Unless I have 14-24x power I am unable to tell the difference between a yearling doe and a buck fawn at 1/2 a mile + and can waste a lot of time getting closer all to no avail. I also do tend to shoot - even at 100yds - at 10 + power. I find if I can hold the x hairs still at that magnification I am usually spot on target (to at least 1"). I have had fixed power scopes of various qualities in the past and not really noticed any light input variations fixed to variable at the same power if of the same quality, so personally have no qualms on the light loss score. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 I was just about to say 6x42, and 'why don't they make 7x50's as that would be perfect' and then I saw you had 7x50 listed. That is a new one on me, if they do it I would go for that. mry, I would say.... You should be spotting/indentifying deer through bino's, and then looking through your riflescope only if you intend to shoot it. But please don't take that the wrong way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mry716 Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Stuart 'You should be spotting/identifying deer through bino's' I appreciate what you are saying and perhaps in average circumstances that is usual but I tend to drive around until I find some deer - anything up to 3/4 mile away - and then check to see if they are acceptable. If so I will start stalking. My binos are 7x or 8x and neither provide sufficient vision for me to see a tassel at 1000yds but a 20-24 x scope will. I am fine in some of my woodland with a fixed power and usually turn down the magnification accordingly. In fact in dense woodland I use my Winchester 94 30-30 with open sights more like a shotgun than a rifle as deer can be taken from 20yd upwards and one has no time to see a picture through a scope - fixed power or otherwise. One always buys one's equipment to suit one's needs and so for each of us our own choice is always the 'best' option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joone228 Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 I have the choice of 4 new scopes to put on my new Tikka .243.Will be mainly used for woodland stalking and a bit of foxing etc, ranges upto 200 yards. 6x42 Hung 8x56 Hung 7x50 hung 3-12x50 IR Ger All are 30mm. Most of my stalking friends have 8x56's and say that the very fine crosshairs on the variable can be difficult to see when it is dull, but then you can always turn the IR on. What would be your choice and reasons why? 3-12x50 would be my choice i have a 3.5-10x56 zenith and it has not let me down a grate scope the best of luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v-max Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Hello to me your best would be the 3x12x50ill if im reading it's that.For woodland stalking last thing at night illumanation scope's can be great.This scope has the power if you want it 3x12 & the 50mm objective is good with a 30mm tube too.I have a S&B 2.5x10x56 & a swarovski 2.5x10x42 & both sit on 6x but i do use the power sometime's on paper or to look at thing's.I ended up with those scope's as i liked fixed but after 10yrs with the S&B i couldent go back to fixed i like the power if i need it.I would like illuminated scope's quite like the swaroaski 6x24x50ill & hope to get for both rifle's 2 mate's have them but not ill & they are great & do me for on the hill etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodeer Posted March 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Ok, many thanks guys. Think i'll go for the new 7x50 @£525. Anybody want to buy a S&B 3-12x50 ILL German 30mm in gc? Bought it in advance and just think that the crosshairs are to thin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazza Posted March 20, 2007 Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 Sam you have PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcbruno Posted March 21, 2007 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 go with 3-12 but is german a actual brand of optics or are you refering to zeiss.scmidt & bender or what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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