How often windage adjustment during hunting?

[AllOutdoorsman]

Long time reader, new to forum and getting into hunting big game. I have some scope questions for you veteran hunters. I'm looking to scope my new Tikka 300WM. I'm torn between two scopes I narrowed down. I was planning on spending about $1200. I also considered Meopta, Vortex, Leica, Steiner, Athlon, but only my two choices have most of the turret features I liked. I wish a scope manufacturer would make exposed, but locking turrets on both elevation and windage. This will be for all capable ranges for the rifle as my skill and confidence improves.

Leupold VX5 3-15x56 metric. Locking elevation. Capped windage. I was thinking of metric to match my tac rifle. The 44mm's don't come in metric (Not a deal breaker). I'm not used to scope caps and don't want to lose it or fumble with it on a quick shot. I am used to checking my scope dials before pulling the trigger.

Zeiss V4 4-16x50 moa. Open turrets, but at least the windage is locking.

How often do you actually adjust your windage on hunts? If often, I'm leaning toward the Zeiss. If not, I'm leaning toward the Leupold.
Are most of your shots early morning or late evening so the wind is usually calmer than mid day, so you don't adjust windage often, at least for closer range?
Do you usually have time to adjust windage or do you hold over?
Am I overthinking this or am I missing something?

Thanks for all your advice and experience! I've learned a ton from this forum.

 

[StanleyActual]

Long time reader, new to forum and getting into hunting big game. I have some scope questions for you veteran hunters. I'm looking to scope my new Tikka 300WM. I'm torn between two scopes I narrowed down. I was planning on spending about $1200. I also considered Meopta, Vortex, Leica, Steiner, Athlon, but only my two choices have most of the turret features I liked. I wish a scope manufacturer would make exposed, but locking turrets on both elevation and windage. This will be for all capable ranges for the rifle as my skill and confidence improves.

Leupold VX5 3-15x56 metric. Locking elevation. Capped windage. I was thinking of metric to match my tac rifle. The 44mm's don't come in metric (Not a deal breaker). I'm not used to scope caps and don't want to lose it or fumble with it on a quick shot. I am used to checking my scope dials before pulling the trigger.

Zeiss V4 4-16x50 moa. Open turrets, but at least the windage is locking.

How often do you actually adjust your windage on hunts? If often, I'm leaning toward the Zeiss. If not, I'm leaning toward the Leupold.
Are most of your shots early morning or late evening so the wind is usually calmer than mid day, so you don't adjust windage often, at least for closer range?
Do you usually have time to adjust windage or do you hold over?
Am I overthinking this or am I missing something?

Thanks for all your advice and experience! I've learned a ton from this forum.

I don't dial for windage. Dial elevation hold for windage. Wind changes so much it's quicker and easier just to hold what it's blowing when you're ready to torch one off

Do you have a scaled reticle?

 

[PNWGator]

Never.

Dial elevation and hold for wind.

 

[Recon$$]

Use holds for wind as well.

 

[whatnext]

Metric? Do you mean Mil?

 

[ButterBean]

I don't dial for windage. Dial elevation hold for windage. Wind changes so much it's quicker and easier just to hold what it's blowing when you're ready to torch one off

Do you have a scaled reticle?

X-2

 

[LRNut]

I agree with others; I dial for elevation and hold for wind. I use my side parallax to see mirage, and when I get the prevailing condition, quickly spin to focus and shoot; no time for dialing.

 

[Painless300]

Never

 

[Taylorbok]

In a hunting situation always hold.

 

[AllOutdoorsman]

Metric? Do you mean Mil?

Yes. Leupold refers to that Mil scope as metric on their website.

 

[AllOutdoorsman]

I don't dial for windage. Dial elevation hold for windage. Wind changes so much it's quicker and easier just to hold what it's blowing when you're ready to torch one off

Do you have a scaled reticle?

The Zeiss has a basic scaled reticle, which I like and am leaning toward with the advice from everyone. The Leupold does not in the 56mm mil scope, but has some options in the 44mm scopes.

 

[Triple BB]

I have a Zeiss V6. Last year at first light I pulled the rifle out of the scabbard and set up on a deer about 700 yards out. The windage turret was out 4 MOA, so I turned it back to zero. Shot like 8' - 10' to the right. It was then I realized the turret had spun all the way around when I took it out. I wish it came with a cap. Now it's cowboy'd with tape to keep it from moving...

 

[vancewalker007]

I have a Zeiss V6. Last year at first light I pulled the rifle out of the scabbard and set up on a deer about 700 yards out. The windage turret was out 4 MOA, so I turned it back to zero. Shot like 8' - 10' to the right. It was then I realized the turret had spun all the way around when I took it out. I wish it came with a cap. Now it's cowboy'd with tape to keep it from moving...

That happened to my son's rifle but on the elevation turret about 6 years ago. It had moved and we turned it the short distance not knowing it had turned the other way. We killed the deer once we realized what happened but all new scopes I have bought from then on have zero stops and either covered or locked windage.

 

[jakeSCH]

Locked windage and hold...why I really like the VX5HD in windplex reticle.