Good low power scope

Bearcat 74

Bearcat 74

New member
Thinking of scoping my Marlin 336 in 35 Remington and I am curious as to what you guys would suggest for a low power scope? We got into some hogs today and it is very difficult to pick up a running pig while you are running through the woods and then stopping and trying to find the running pig again while looking through a 3x9 on a 30/06. I was looking at the Weaver 1-3x20mm, the Bushnell 1.5x4.5x32mm, or the T/C Hawken Hunter 1.5x5x32mm. I have never used a 20mm scope, how do they do in low light? Are they clear? I have a 2x7x33 Burris on my BLR .358 Win, but I would like a lower power on the Marlin. The Weaver has a huge field of view, that I like. The gun shoots very good with open sights, I am just not how sure I am about myself with open sights.


Thanks!
 
What about one of the Red dot sights ? That's what I use on one of my 12 ga slug guns . I think they are a real good option if the distances don't get too far . It's very easy to pick up moving targets with one .
 
I've got a bushnell holosight on my shotgun. Can shoot it with both eyes open. No magnification, but I can see everything. As long as the target is in the circle, its dead. If you go with an Aimpoint or something like that, you can get 3X magnifiers for em...


My 500 tactical:
Christmas07044.jpg
 
I have several 1-4X20 Leupolds and am very happy with them. As long as you don't go over 3X in low light they are as bright as any scope. At 3X you still have almost a 7mm exit pupil which is as big as your eye can use.

Jack
 
I have looked at a lot of red dots but I just don't trust them. I have that bad luck or no luck at all deal going on and I can just see dead batteries and what not in my future with one. The Aimpoint's are nice, but a little more than I want to throw on a Marlin to drag around the ivy thickets. I have never seen a Holosite in person, they look fragile, what are they made from, and how do they stand up to a good beating, as I am pretty rough on equipment due to the terrain.


Thanks for the comments on the 20mm scope, I have had a couple people tell me they are terrible for lower light situations and others have said they do a good job in low light.



Thanks again.
 
Like Jack I find the 1x4x20 Leupold to be a great scope, I do like the Weaver V-3. I'm liking the Sightron 1.5x6x40 also.

PICT0032.jpg


Top one 6x45mm 1x4x20 Leupold VX-II

Bottom one 25-204 V-3 Weaver

AWS
 
I like a 3-9 Leupold compact. On the lowest setting, most of the time gives you a great field of view, but if you need a boost, you have it.
 
The Aimpoint's are nice, but a little more than I want to throw on a Marlin to drag around the ivy thickets.

I don't know what pricey is to ya. But have you looked at the ATN's? They can be had for less than $200. I don't have one but have used a few and they were "OK", Sounds like it might suit your needs.
 
If you like fixed power scopes like me. Try the Leupold 2.5 I have one one my elk gun. Never had a problem shooting out to 250 yards with them. But Elk, and Deer are big targets.
 
I looked at the ATN's, not bad but I am just more comfortable with a scope I think. Never tried fixed power scopes.


Any idea who males the T/C Hawken Hunter scopes? Is it something T/C makes in house, or are they made by someone else?


The guys with the 20mm scopes, I have read that you have to find the target with both eyes open because of the field of view? If you close one eye and try to aquire a moving target it is very difficult at close range?



Thanks again
 
The size of the objective lens has little to do with finding the target. It is much easier to find a moving target with low power large field of view. I have Weaver K-1.5 scopes w/20mm objectices and Sightron 1.5x6 with a 42mm objective. I can see no difference in getting on a closerange moving target.

The higher the magnification and hence a smaller FOV makes a close in moving target harder to find. That's where both eyes open would help acquire a target.

AWS
 
Best cheaper model is Weaver Classic 2.5x20. Spending more on the 1-3x20 is not a good move, as it is not as tough.

Leupold 1.5-5x20 is the absolute cream of the crop, at ANY price range. It's that good in ALL respects.....

I like the heavy duplex on the low power Leupys. VXII 1-4x20's are good, but they are not VXIII 1.5-5x20 by any means......
 
The V-3 has a FOV of 87' at 1x, the K-2.5 has a FOV of 36' that would be a nobrainer for me for a close in cover, yet I would have the option of cranking up to 3x for longer shots. I routinely shoot little groups at 200yds with the V-3 almost as good as I can with a KT-15 on the same gun.

The 1x4 Leopold has a FOV of 75' at 1x. The Sightron 1.5x6 x42 has FOV of 50' at 1.5x.

AWS
 
Yeah, lower powers have greater FOV's. No secret. Have dropped more game with the 2.5x20 Weaver for $99 than I can remember at ranges up to 100yds. Can easily shoot 1.25-1.5" groups with it on my 444 and 35 Rem. From 10ft to 100yds, FOV has never been an issue. It's easily tougher than any variable also. Mine has a dent on the objective "bell" from dropping a treestand on it from 20ft up. while keeping my eye on a bear sow with cubs. POI never shifted. It is also brighter than the 1-3x20 because it has less lenses in it. It's the best low power scope out there for the money, hands down IMO. As you said, it's a no brainer, unless brighter, tougher, and cheaper don't mean anything to you........
 
2muchgun you have to go back and read the original post. Bearcat 74 already has a 2x7 and is looking at something lower than that, not a 2.5x.

Another scope you might want to look at is a Nikkon Monarch 1x4x20 Shotgun scope the parallax is set at 75yds so it would work well for the 35Rem. out to as far as you'd use the 35.

As far as toughness of the V-3 I have two and one resides on a 35 Whelen and the other on a 35 Rem and it has done duty on a 375Win. and the 25-204.

I've posted this picture before (sorry) and the V-3 gets the job done.
PICT0015-2.jpg


AWS
 
I am going to be building up a .22 LR AR15 and a pink AR15 for the wife, so I just ordered a bunch of lower power scopes like the Sightrons, Weaver, and Burris. As soon as I get them, I will post up what I think of them all. I couldn't find a DMS, but most everyone at AR15.com seems to like them.
 
Thanks for the replies fellas. Still in search mode on the scope. I am waffling back and forth like crazy. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif


AWS, awesome deer!!
 
FWIW, I waited for my DMS for 2 months, and when I finally got it I was disappointed. I could have gotten a bad one, but it was fuzzy on the edges, and had a 'fish eye' effect. It is on a brown truck back to Midway (who has them on sale right now) as I type.
 
I use the Leupold 1.5X5 on a Model 7 Rem. in 17Rem and I have one on a Ruger Ultralight .223. They work great and I've never felt under scoped. Another great scope that I use on a 22mag. is the Browning 2X7. Natchez has them at a great price. They were made by Bushnell using the 4200 optics without the rainguard coating. Well worth the money.

K22
 


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