Scope for light weight rifle

[Bater]

There is no free lunch when it comes to scopes. If you want reliable turrets the 19oz LHT 3-15 and SWFA 3-9 are as close as you will get. Zeiss V4 and March compacts are probably next closest. I like my scopes to track, hold zero and return to zero every time so I'd pass on the Leupold VX3/5/6.

You never specified but if you are using the windshield for holdovers this will open up your options to lighter weight scopes, but 800 is quite a poke using the reticle alone.

 

[wyoalfafarm]

The reason I said I prefer 30MM is I like the side focus but after reading all your comments the Swaro looks very interesting.
Hopefully in this crazy world we live in I can find one. Thanks for you input.

 

[308win]

There is no free lunch when it comes to scopes. If you want reliable turrets the 19oz LHT 3-15 and SWFA 3-9 are as close as you will get. Zeiss V4 and March compacts are probably next closest. I like my scopes to track, hold zero and return to zero every time so I'd pass on the Leupold VX3/5/6.

You never specified but if you are using the windshield for holdovers this will open up your options to lighter weight scopes, but 800 is quite a poke using the reticle alone.

Don't be scared off by all the Leupold nay sayers on here. I have 2 scopes in my stable that I trust to turn true.....1st is my NF ATACR and the other is VX3i 4.5x14 (40). Never let me down and the glass is just as good as anything I look through. Oh yea, IT'S LIGHT WEIGHT!

 

[Troutslayer2]

Don't be scared off by all the Leupold nay sayers on here. I have 2 scopes in my stable that I trust to turn true.....1st is my NF ATACR and the other is VX3i 4.5x14 (40). Never let me down and the glass is just as good as anything I look through. Oh yea, IT'S LIGHT WEIGHT!

Up until today I would say the same thing. My old gold ring with the parallax adjustment on the objective VX3 4.5-14 crapped out on my today. Rifle and loads that normally shoot .5 or better were all over the place. The only explanation is that it's not holding zero anymore. The mounts are all torqued to spec and it feels solid. It's seen some abuse, I wonder if they will fix it.

 

[308win]

Up until today I would say the same thing. My old gold ring with the parallax adjustment on the objective VX3 4.5-14 crapped out on my today. Rifle and loads that normally shoot .5 or better were all over the place. The only explanation is that it's not holding zero anymore. The mounts are all torqued to spec and it feels solid. It's seen some abuse, I wonder if they will fix it.

VX3i is hard to beat, just saying. Weight, glass, tracking....Ill buy another one. Also always had good experiences with support. Only support I've ever had to use was to change reticle, no problems otherwise.

 

[MtnTrax]

Another vote for the Vortex LHT, a few ounces heavier but twice the scope IMO

 

[DeadmansPoint]

That swaro z3 is really light. You can get one with mil holds if you don't want to dial
Edit: just saw he was looking for 30mm. Disregard

Which swaro reticle has mil holds?

 

[tomsd]

First off, What caliber? That's going to make a difference when opting for a lightweight scope. Are you planning to dial with that Leupold or just set your zero and hold over?

Just what I was thinking.

 

[vortech347]

Swaro all day every day. Absolutely love my Z3 4-12x50 BT.

 

[Stammster]

Leopold make 2 versions of the VX3i in 4.5-14X40. The 1" tube is a fixed focus and the 30mm is a side parallax focus. I've got both, and prefer the 30mm for long range, open range and target shooting. The fixed is fine as an all around 50-400 yd scope with one less thing to worry about, but the focus is not as clear unless between 100-200 yds. Noticeable in paper, not so much in the field.

 

[slickyboyboo]

The ones that jump to my mind are:

Leupold VX3i 4.5-14x40, windplex, CDS-ZL (15.6oz)
Swaro Z5 3.5-18x44 BT/4w (15.9oz)-- 1" tube
Swaro Z5i 3.5-18x44 BW/4w (17.4oz)-- 1" tube

Going up in weight by 4oz gets you into the Razor LHT, the VX5HD or the Swaro Z6 which are probably better options.

I'm building a lightweight 6.5x47 Lapua currently as well. I opted for the VX-5HD 3-15x44. I've got a VX-3 4.5-14x40, and a VX-5HD 3-15x44, and the VX-5 is worth the extra few ounces.

 

[TexHunt]

I went thru the same dilemma, I wanted to dial elevation, best I have found is the 2.5-10 Nightforce compact. Is 20 oz, not the lightest option, but I will sacrifice the 4oz for the confidence it brings. Interested in what others think on this, I am always looking for light weight options.

 

[Dialing Long Distance]

I put a Sig BDX set up on a new Tikka Roughtech in 7 mag this past fall for hunting. It's a 4.5-14x44, came with the kilo1000 rangefinder. For a budget minded hunting scope, I'm super happy with it. It's not a target scope, not intended to be, but for hunting, I've had very good luck with it so far. I use hand loads that are consistent, so the ballistic app works really well for its intended use. I used this to take a whitetail at 377 yards a few months ago. It will range out to 800 yards, which, for hunting, is plenty far enough for most folks. You can usually find them on sale at Cameraland NY. That's where I got mine. At the time, the combo was on sale for about $480 shipped. I liked it so much, I bought another one for my daughter's Creedmoor.
Not sure if the scope weight, but the Tikka, loaded, with the scope is 9.3 pounds on the bathroom scale, without the bipod.

 

[DJ Fergus]

I'm building a light weight 5 1/2 pound rifle and wondering what the best scope is that weighs no more than a pound. It doesn't make any sense to me to spend more money to go light only to put a heavy scope on it. I'm looking at a Leupold
VX3i 4-14 30mm tube with a windplex but if there is something better out there that isn't over a pound I'm interested. I don't shoot over 800 yards.

I dont know what your budget is but there are a a couple of lower budget options. If you can find one, the bushnell 4.5-30x50 weighed around 23 ounces. Clearidge makes an ultra XP5 4.5-22x50 30mm that is 23 ounces. Those scopes are L.O.W. made in japan for around $440. Some of the sightron 6.24x50 SIII weighed around 26 ounces. All three of those scopes have a good reputation for tracking & holding zero. Leupold is probably going to be the lightest 30mm scope you will find other than March.