Thread: Low power scopes.....recomendations

Need a new scope and looking at something low power. Well lower than the 3-9 which I currently have to be used mainly in the bush / small clearings etc probably 0-200 yards.
All things being equal which do you prefer ? Please poll and comments / recommendations apprecaited.

Im enjoying 1-8 power scopes these days

The first thing I think of when someone mentions low power scope is a fixed power 2 , 3 or 4 power scope , not a variable.
I shot a lot of things for a lot of years with a fixed 4 power leupold scope , looking back on it now I dont think I was ever handicapped by its magnification. Low light clarity is probably the only thing that my current scopes are a lot better at and even then the old leupold wasnt to bad .

Ken

1-4 can be used for shooting both eyes open which can be an advantage on a moving target. I found on my 223 baikal a red dot with a 2 moa dot was fine out to 200 on goats. Its gone now and a 762x39 one replaced it and know what? a 2 moa red dot is still fine out to 200. Different zero though.

I use a Weaver 3x, 2 Weaver 2.5x, and 2 Kahles 1.5-6. All are excellent scopes, particularly the Kahles. But have shot to 300 on bunnies with the Weavers, and 600 on gongs. You can still shoot a long ways with lower powered scopes.

I really really like the Leupold VX6 2-12 with a firedot reticle, works very well close range, the firedot is very easy to pick up.
12x magnification may be a bit wasted if you only hunt 0-200m, could look at a VX5hd 2-10 instead.

I have a 2-12 on my "do all" 243 that works great

usually i dont take it to 2 power. I leave it on 3 or 4
Honestly if you have a 3-9 on there at the moment you will gain very little going to 2 power
I dont shoot with both eyes open tho

loopy 1.5x5
great little scope. Handles the recoil from my 416 ok too.

Either would be fine however it's good to have the x1 option for up close. X4 power is more than enough for 200m.

I have a 1-4x20 on one rifle, a 2-7x33 on another (rifle had a fixed power 2.5x20 until earlier this year), a 3-9x40 on another and a 3-9x32 on another.
For a general all rounder I would go for the 2-7x33, but for the type of hunting you are doing I would go for the 1-4. The 2.5 I had on the 308 was fine for 200m shots and the 1-4 easily handles that and more. You may find you rarely have it on 1x though.
The 2-7 is not much different to a 3-9, the main reason I went with that option was the smaller objective to keep scope size down as I was used to the small 2.5x20 that had been on that rifle for 26 years.

I'm using a 1-4x20 on my lever rifle. have previously used a 2-8x32.
aim was bush shooting moving targets and goat or larger game out to 300 mtr.
I would love a good quality euro type 1-6 or 1-8x30 but was not ready to spend that sort of money.
I would rather have less magnification and better quality glass. Zq
with good glass i can make out details that I cant see with higher magnification on cheaper glass.

Thanks guys for your input, I've never looked through a 1-4 but my gut feeling is that would suit us best.
I have been looking at a few options online and I am intriged by the illuminated reticle, seems like a good idea for low light in the bush, especially just a dot in the cross hairs. Anyone use one ?
The only down side is most are 30mm tubes and that would mean new scope rings. Cheers

Originally Posted by Pete_D

Thanks guys for your input, I've never looked through a 1-4 but my gut feeling is that would suit us best.
I have been looking at a few options online and I am intriged by the illuminated reticle, seems like a good idea for low light in the bush, especially just a dot in the cross hairs. Anyone use one ?
The only down side is most are 30mm tubes and that would mean new scope rings. Cheers

Low power scopes and illumantaion go together like beer and more beer- eg it is just the way it should be

I have a Leupold vx2 1-4 power only couple years old I might part with,pm me if interested.

I was impressed with the new Vortex PST 1-6. Cannot comment on it's illumination though. The Razor 1-6 is nice but very big and heavy.

I have heard anecdotally that the Burris RT6 is a good budget low power scope. Comments are that it is much nicer for the money than the Vortex Strike Eagles and Primary Arms LPVO's. I was seriously looking at grabbing one off Optics Zone but snagged a Leupold Mark 4 1.5-5 for about the same money.