What scope

[Tarheelpwr]

This is sort more for my knowledge. How useful is a custom turret to hunt those vastly different AOs? I would assume elevation and atmospheres would be different enough to make the dial be off.

 

[AkBirder300]

My friends and I use a middle of the road approach, but none of us have shot anything past 625. We set up the turret around 3k elevation and it will definitely be "minute of moose" accurate. That's using the Leupold CDS system. I typically hunt between 3-5k elevation so it's not as extreme a spread as others face

 

[Deviant]

I am looking to put together a rifle and scope for a mountain gun hunting primarily out west and Alaska I have the gun picked out itt weighs roughly 6.5 lbs. I want a scope that I can have custom turrets made for and must be light. Would like to get optimal yardage out of rifle as possible but I want the gun to weigh between 7.5 lbs and 8 lbs. any suggestions

March 2.5-25x52.

 

[vancewalker007]

I am even considering the vortex razor hd LH. It is right at 16 oz. but the turret is a bit different to get on it

I'd stay away from any of those Chinese Vortex scopes that you're relying on tracking right. I have bad luck with them and you really don't need to risk screwing up s hunt for it. Of course any scope can go wrong but with Zeiss, Leupold, and Swaro you hedging your bets as those brands have really low failure rates. If you're trying to stay around $1K, The Zeiss V4 line is really nice and as you said the Leupold VX5 line is really nice. I don't know what caliber you're using but for 95% of all big game hunting a 14-16 power scope is gonna be way more than enough. If you're including Coues deer a 20 might be better.

 

[Hirschi1]

Leupold VX-5hd 3-15x44 is a good option also. 19 oz I believe, that plus tally rings would get you there.

The Leupold custom turrets are awesome. I bought the cheap VX2 models with CDS for two of my kids rifles. Developed a load, chronographed, filled out the form on the Leupold site. My kids are hitting steel at 600 yards. The ZL2 turrets excite me.

 

[Hand Skills]

I'd stay away from any of those Chinese Vortex scopes that you're relying on tracking right. I have bad luck with them and you really don't need to risk screwing up s hunt for it.

The razor LH is manufactured by LOW in Japan. (the same people who make scopes for Nightforce, among others). The clicks are I'll defined, and the eye relief is unusually long (almost 4"), but they beat the pants off a Leupold vx3 or zeiss hd5. I have a 3-15x42 that is missing a bunch of paint. In fact it has some battle scars that are borderline embarrassing - still holds zero and dials precisely though - surprisingly good scope in my experience.

 

[vancewalker007]

The razor LH is manufactured by LOW in Japan. (the same people who make scopes for Nightforce, among others). The clicks are I'll defined, and the eye relief is unusually long (almost 4"), but they beat the pants off a Leupold vx3 or zeiss hd5. I have a 3-15x42 that is missing a bunch of paint. In fact it has some battle scars that are borderline embarrassing - still holds zero and dials precisely though - surprisingly good scope in my experience.

Sorry I misread the post. But I still say those Chinese scopes are iffy. The Japanese made stuff is very good.

 

[vancewalker007]

The razor LH is manufactured by LOW in Japan. (the same people who make scopes for Nightforce, among others). The clicks are I'll defined, and the eye relief is unusually long (almost 4"), but they beat the pants off a Leupold vx3 or zeiss hd5. I have a 3-15x42 that is missing a bunch of paint. In fact it has some battle scars that are borderline embarrassing - still holds zero and dials precisely though - surprisingly good scope in my experience.

And I did say specifically Chinese in my original message. The person asking the question on this scope issue is also looking for a light weight scope. If memory serves those Japanese Razors are pretty heavy. And I also said any scope can go bad, but those Chinese Vortex scopes will likely have more issues than some of the other mention. And granted the $2000-$3000 Razors are as good as anything on the market in that price range or less, but I don't think that fits the posters needs for his ultra light weight rifle.

 

[RemHutch50]

And I did say specifically Chinese in my original message. The person asking the question on this scope issue is also looking for a light weight scope. If memory serves those Japanese Razors are pretty heavy. And I also said any scope can go bad, but those Chinese Vortex scopes will likely have more issues than some of the other mention. And granted the $2000-$3000 Razors are as good as anything on the market in that price range or less, but I don't think that fits the posters needs for his ultra light weight rifle.

The Razor they are speaking of is NOT the heavy weights that you are thinking of. The Vortex Razor HD LH (think "Light Hunter"). It weighs 16.5oz. Lighter/as light than most of the scopes being mentioned here.

As far as all these fails you speak of, I wonder how many these fails have you had with one of these Vortex scopes?

 

[codyadams]

I believe the only scopes of vortex made in china are the crossfire series, just going from memory however. The Vipers are in the Phillipines, and the Razors are made in Japan. The Razor LH as mentioned is light, that is what the LH represents, "Lightweight Hunter". The AMG is in America

 

[vancewalker007]

I believe the only scopes of vortex made in china are the crossfire series, just going from memory however. The Vipers are in the Phillipines, and the Razors are made in Japan. The Razor LH as mentioned is light, that is what the LH represents, "Lightweight Hunter". The AMG is in America

The fails I've experience were with the viper line.

 

[codyadams]

The fails I've experience were with the viper line.

Ya, quality is a good bit less than the Viper line vs Razor. We did have an issue with the compact 11-33 Razor spotting scope, the eye piece power ring stopped working and wouldn't adjust the focus. I guess that is a weak point in design, instead of screwed together or some other form of permanent attachment, they are glued? So it has happened with a few. As usual, customer service was great, and the new eye piece works fine. Just a hassle. The glass is great though.

 

[The Hock]

This is on topic if you follow me a bit...
I'm putting together my hunting rifle. After my neurosurgeon telling me I need back surgery again I'm lightening up literally everything. MY 338RUM will get an 18 ounce carbon stock from Oregon Gunsmithing and a lighter sighting system. Currently it weighs 8.1# but after the change it'll be roughly 6.5#. The brake from rossbrakes.com was cheap but extremely effective allowing me to even consider the change! The Leupold VX5HD 3-15 Fire dot with CDS is getting swapped for either a Leupold VX3i 3-9 (11 ounces), Swarovski Z3 3-9x36 (12 ounces) or a Swarovski Z3 4-12x50 LRH (14 OUNCES). My thought is it'll be nicer this fall when I hike around here at 8600'+ and still be able to kill an elk out to 600 yards or so. It is also the rifle I'll take to Alaska as it'll kill anything the walks on the continent.

 

[Gills]

What kind of failures are people seeing with the vortex my only bad experience is that they seem a bit soft you definitely don't want to tighten rings past the 18" pound mark I have I longed a couple tightening them to 22 before I knew they recommend 18. I am pleased with their replacement and customer service but not sure I want the chance of a break in a hunt or how much I want to be replacing g them when they break.