Hunting with "Heavies" in 308 etc

Hello Guys

Been working on a new "strictly hunting" 308, it'll have a 21" barrel and as I'm aiming for a weight of 3.2Kgs (7.0 lbs) all up - its going to have a light scope with a 25.4mm tube. Currently I have in mind a Leupy VX3i in 2.5-8x36 with duplex reticle and an S1 SOD.

My self imposed limit for shooting animals like tahr and Reds is 400 to 450M, and thats in ideal conditions.

If you hunt with high BC rounds in the 2400 fps - 2500 fps class I'd be keen to hear your ideas on scopes and reticles - keep in mind they need to be light, and with good eye relief for those steep uphill shots.

A vx2 3-9x33 ultralight is another excellent option


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Sounds like a similar set up to myself but I’m running a lot heavier with only a 20in barrel. Your limit is pretty similar to mine of 500yards.

I’m running the 195 TMK at 2520. Shot about 8 animals with em and so far have been happy with the performance. At the moment I’m running a bushnell AR but I just brought a 6500 which I’m still in the dog box for .To me the big thing I wanted was a wide magnification range as I like to zoom right in when shooting past 300 but I take a few animals under 100 too.

If it had to be 1 inch the VX3I 3.5-10 in windplex as I hold for wind and don’t like a cluttered reticle for in close shots. But personally I’d rather a bit more weight to get better glass and better magnification range like the VX5.

So.....where does the 8x57 figure in all this? Special trips only.

Have you been looking in my safe? Sounds a lot like my rifle, Leupold VX3i 2.5-8x36 with S1 dial, main load 178gr ELD-X doing 2560 fps, though I have a 24 inch barrel, and I think I'm at 3.6kg.
I quite like the 2-7x33 I have on another 308, I like smaller scopes as I had a 2.5 fixed power on the 308 for about 25 years.

The 8x57 doesn't takedown, have no fear it'll still get taken up the hill when I'm doing "real" hunting - the 308 is for "armed tramping" missions . . . .

Hahaha - I get to look in lots of safes, but there's not a lot of other people's stuff I covet!

Don't know why but 30mm scopes just make rifles feel clumsy to me . . . each to their own eh! (I do run them on a couple of range rifles)

Suggestions are appreciated!

Go with the Leupy Vx3i, you won’t be disappointed. I have the 3.5-10 CDS on my 308. Nice size scope and doesn’t look out of place. The 2.5-8 will be good.

I use the 2.5-8 vx3 on a 21 inch barrel mod 700 for Sambar at times. Carries nice and is reliable. Get 180s partitions at 2650 fps from it. W748 and a mag primer. I stay under 250m If I wanted to go further a turret mod would be the go.

Can you get a dial up turret thingy for a 2.5-8X36 VXi?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dama dama

Can you get a dial up turret thingy for a 2.5-8X36 VXi?

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Yes S1 fits the later vx3 and all vx3i

I run a VX3 4.5-14x40 Boone and Crockett reticle gives hold overs from 200y zero out to 500y, and 10mph Wind holds - would like to add an S1 later as well

its not about the rifle, its weight, etc,,,,,,,,,, its more about you.....what went wrong on the last or a previous hunt; try to figure it out ............most of my hunts to 300 yards are done with open sites......hate to quote Oprah , but its all about your frame of mind.....not the rifle

The new Vixen scope range are value for money with illuminated reticles for day time and low light hunting

find the gun you want and practice with it.......doesn't matter on the cost, scope, etc .........that said once yo dial in your rifle at 100 and you want a scope the go for a 4x variable and practice. the gun is up to it.......are you?

I run a vx2 3x9x40 CDS on my 308. Windplex and zero stop. It is a demon out to 500 slinging the 165 BTs at 2650. I do however hunt the bush 99% of the time and find 3 power ok for this job.

Light, small and glass is ok. Ultimately want to put a vx5 2x10 or better yet a vx6 2x12 on it one day. I am now a 1 gun pony and am loving it!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gibo

I run a vx2 3x9x40 CDS on my 308. Windplex and zero stop. It is a demon out to 500 slinging the 165 BTs at 2650. I do however hunt the bush 99% of the time and find 3 power ok for this job.

Light, small and glass is ok. Ultimately want to put a vx5 2x10 or better yet a vx6 2x12 on it one day. I am now a 1 gun pony and am loving it!

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Boring Gibo, bet you have more than one bloody fishing rod :D

VX3 all the way, light, reliable and capable. Ive got the 1.75 - 6 x32 on my bush gun. Threw the S1 dial on there for shits and giggles but its actually fine to use. I prefer dialing to holdovers so even with the 6 power works for me at my 350 max range

Only been using 308s for 16yrs.Hornady SSTs 165gr flying at 2840f/s,22inch barrel.Not much dialing up to 500yds needed.Point n shoot to 300yds.Just taken off a 32oz Millet scope and putting on a vixen 3x12 weighing 12 ozs.The millet scope getting to heavy for my 66yr old sholder.

Well the project rifle (TC Encore) is home and assembled, exactly 3.5 Kgs with scope and suppressor and a 21" barrel.

A visit to good old Elio's in Dunners on the way home today saw a secondhand Weaver Grand Slam 2-8x36 follow me out the door for a very modest sum. Its a nice compact scope for way less $$ than a VX3i (of which he had the 2.5-8x36 in stock at a good price) and the reticle is a better weight (anyone else finding the latest Leupie reticles too fine these days?? the AR Mod1 3-9 that I waited a long time for is the bloody same, not a practical "field" scope at all I feel).

Optically we both thought the Weaver was as good if not superior to the VX3i and my mate immediately tried to subvert the sale to swing the Weaver his way!

I'll give the Encore a try tomorrow with the 165 Targetx load that I shoot in FTR, it runs at 2740 from 22" and shoots amazingly well in the LA102.

Once I have it shooting OK it'll get a specific load dedicated to it.

Thanks for the advice so far!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nick-D

VX3 all the way, light, reliable and capable. Ive got the 1.75 - 6 x32 on my bush gun. Threw the S1 dial on there for shits and giggles but its actually fine to use. I prefer dialing to holdovers so even with the 6 power works for me at my 350 max range

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pics?