Scope for light weight rifle

[duckhunter175]

Great thread, im in the process of putting together a mountain carbon for LR shooting and hunting. Here is what im putting together.
Im in the process of building a light 6.5 PRC. The rifle weighs in under 6lbs. Im considering the VX5HD [email protected] W/Talley rings@4oz. OR VX5HD 3-15x44mm@ 19.7 oz w/Leupold back country [email protected]. Im of the opinion that quality glass is a must. I see people spend 1k-3k on a rifle then buy a cheap scope. I will add and carry half to three quarters a pound more for the better glass, adjustment, and reticle options.
If light weight is the only goal, then you will need to sacrifice some quality options. My rifle will be under 8lbs with either option. Personally, I would consider a rifle under eight pounds to be light weight.

Bob- I would strongly encourage you to check out Hawkins Hybrids if you want a solid lightweight mounting platform (roughly 3.4oz for lows)-- I will take them everyday over Talley or Leupold.

As for the scope options-- explore the VX6HD-- they are getting closed out at a really good deal all over and they offer better reticle choices (Illuminated Impact29, TMOA, etc) than the VX5HD. The VX6HD 3-18x44 weighs under 22oz WITH throw lever and alumina caps.

 

[COBrad]

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.

After a disappointing experience with a leupold VX6HD I put this NF on my 5 1/2 lb .284 Winchester. Have shot out to 835 yards with it, and 1K with a previous one. The rifle is light enough I don't notice the extra few ounces but I sure notice turrets that are right.

 

[graywolf]

The best weight/optics combination with a mil reticle is the Swaro Z3 3-10x42. It has superb clarity, 0.5 mil holdovers up to 4.5 mils, and weighs 12.7 oz. It doesn't have parallax adjustment with that, but it's set for 200 meters and the eye box is excellent.

 

[AkBirder300]

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.

Same here, or an older 2.5-10x32 will work for 600 and in. Just can't beat the confidence that a NF brings to dialing and returning to zero every time.

 

[Jim’s Hunt]

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.

Swarovski z5 3-18 is under a pound and Talleys 1 piece rings

 

[nicholasjohn]

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 just got a 4-12 Leupold VX-Freedom, and it's very light -I think it scales well under a pound. It's a 30mm tube; 40mm objective. I got it mainly because I need a lot of eye relief, and it has around 5". Haven't shot it yet, but I'm sure looking forward to it. You might take a look at that one, since you seem to like Leupolds.

 

[Lenny Foffa]

Hi I shoot a Weatherby ultra light in 270 Win! 5 3/4 Pounds with 24 Inch Bbl! Most of the time I have a Leupold VX3 2.5X to 8X On it ! I think that scope is approx 12 to 14 Ounces! Shot several Deer in West Virginia with that Set up! Want To Shed an extra 6 to 8 Ounces ??? Good , I took off my Big Fat Invicta Wrist Watch !!!! Try that

 

[Weatherby Fan]

If you want the best option for a lightweight/long range shooting and hunting scope go with a Leupold VX3i 4.5-14x40 30mm ZL-CDS this and Talleys adds 1 lb to your rifle.
This is my go to scope on my ultralight rigs for hunting, if I go heavier I use the Leupold Vx5 3-15x44 or my fav is the Zeiss V4 4-16x44 !

 

[A guy named Bob]

Bob- I would strongly encourage you to check out Hawkins Hybrids if you want a solid lightweight mounting platform (roughly 3.4oz for lows)-- I will take them everyday over Talley or Leupold.

As for the scope options-- explore the VX6HD-- they are getting closed out at a really good deal all over and they offer better reticle choices (Illuminated Impact29, TMOA, etc) than the VX5HD. The VX6HD 3-18x44 weighs under 22oz WITH throw lever and alumina caps.

Will do, thanks.

 

[Chas1]

2nd Leupold

 

[Nate T]

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.

Hard to argue any of these options!

 

[308ghost]

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 like the vx5 3-15x44 or the razor LHT 3-15x42. I ordered the razor. Should ship any day! Going on top my tikka super lite 300wsm.

 

[CBH Australia]

Swarovski z5 2.-12x 50 is what I hope to get.
25mm tube I think but it's a compromise on low to high magnification, low light performance and weight. Leupold are light for class . Most others are upwards of 4oz more

 

[Hand Skills]

That would be a great scope if it had a parallax control