Low Powered Scopes 1x -2x are very handy

[hporter]

There is no doubt in my mind that quality costs. "You get what you pay for" as the saying goes.

But on the other hand, not every one of my rifles needs a $1k+ scope on it either. My Savage 23 that I mentioned may get shot once a year, or once every five years. So if I were to leave a scope mounted to it, I would want something useful but reasonably priced.

I have one of the bottom end Leupold 1.5x4 scopes mounted on my 300 BO American Ranch rifle. It is bright, clear and has worked well for me over the years. Sometimes that is enough, and money well spent.

 

[Winelover]

There is always the ability to use QD rings and move high quality scopes around. Just take careful notes. Every one of my rifles wears Warne or Leupold QD rings, except for my Ruger Mark II's proprietary rings. Besides that, I like different sighting options for different situations.

 

[Missionary]

"Good enough for the military".....
I also am of a fan of certain U.S. Military equipment. Some is well tested and quality.
Once in my tank experience I was on the testing side.
Our platoon had one M60A1 at tank gunnery (Baumholder 74) blow an engine. One morning E-5 Rosco and I were told to walk down to the Battalion motor pool and retrieve it. When we arrived the BN Motor Officer (W3) told us it was an "experimental E3 Pack". He said he wanted to know how good it was and how fast would it run. He also said he had personally disconnected the RPM governor. If it blew up it was his hide.
I drove it first. Let it warm up the 10 minutes, checked fluids and off we went. Once we cleared the area Rosco intercomed me and said, " OK Mike, floor it". Normally an M60A1 would run 30-33 mph. Once we hit 30 rather quickly I started reading off the mph. At 35 it was getting fun.
At 40 I was shouting. Then 41 ! Slowly made it to 42 !! That was all it got to. Temperature was a little above normal but still in the green.
Turned it around and Rosco drove it back. On a slight downgrade he saw 43 mph !
On return we told the W3 the good news and he was all smiles ! He also reset the governor to "about 35".

 

[Jeff H]

There is always the ability to use QD rings and move high quality scopes around. Just take careful notes. Every one of my rifles wears Warne or Leupold QD rings, except for my Ruger Mark II's proprietary rings. Besides that, I like different sighting options for different situations.

Hmmm, QD rings,... "Better" scopes,...

Now that I have considerably reduced the number of rifles I have to tend to, this is something I forgot to consider. Once I free up a couple more slots in my safe, my thoughts on scopes cold possibly change as well. I've always felt a practical limit for a scope (for me) was $200, but part of the herd culling was so I could afford to tend to a few better than I had tended to too many for too long.

I've never had any doubt that more expensive scopes were better than my $200 scopes, but $200 scopes have served me well with careful selection. My self-imposed spending limit also limited my choices. No complaints on the scopes I've settled on, but I don't think I've ever bought one which was EXACTLY what I wanted in every aspect, because those were always two to four times more money.

I've always wanted to try QD rings too, and these days, with fewer combinations of sights, optics, etc., making my fewere rifles more versatile might make some more sense, AND it may be within the realm of possibility since I don't have all my "gun money" tied up in twenty rifles representing many combinations of somewhat optimum compromises.

 

[Charles Graff]

Scope choice was easy back in the day. The average deer hunter had a 2.5X. The Western hunter who shot antelope, mule deer and other long shots used a 6X. The one gun, one scope guy who might hunt under a variety of conditions used a 4X. See how easy it all was. Binoculars were for looking and scopes were for shooting.

 

[Winelover]

An example where QD rings on multiple scopes come into play for me. I mostly use cast bullets at moderate loadings. However, there are times when a jacketed is more appropriate. If one has two scopes in QD rings, it's easy to change back and forth. I do this with my 338 W Mag. Low power scope for cast and a higher power scope for jacketed.

My pistol caliber carbines, use two different sighting systems. Conventional scope in QD's or switch out to a red dot for low light, up close and personal hunting/shooting.

Anyone that has a AR pattern rifle should be aware of the repeatability/effectiveness of QD mounts.

 

[Bret4207]

The last two low powered scopes that I bought were the Weaver 1x3 and the Leupold 1.5x4 and I love them both. I just looked and the Leupold still seems to be available, but I do not think the Weaver is.

I would be interested in hearing from folks about which ones are still available new, that they would personally recommend? When I browse websites I see a lot of tactical this and that for lower powered scopes with features that I would probably never use nor value.

I like the idea of Ric's Lyman Alaskan 2-1/4 power that he mentions in the thread above. I have a Savage 23 in 32-20 that came with scope rings that would be neat to have a classic scope like that installed.

But looking through eBay for classic Weaver scopes feels like walking through a field full of land mines. The prices are going up on them, but it is hard to judge condition and a lot of sellers don't sound like they know much about what they are selling.

So if you know of decent quality currently available scopes at a reasonable price, I would love to hear about them. Christmas is coming and the wife always needs ideas!

My Savage 23 32-20 wears a very early Weaver K4, the old, old style that had no turret caps, just a spring steel friction device to hold zero. Grat old scope, maybe a little high powered for a 32-20, a 2.5 would do, but it's nice to be able to pick out a squirrels head in the high limbs. Seems about perfect to me.

 

[todd]

My serious business optics are Trijicon's. Good enough for the military, good enough for me.

just remember, this is coming from a former Army member, just because it says military grade on anything, know that the government has bought it from cheaper than the next guy.

military grade is woefully short of good to great consumer grade. tho sometimes, the government gets it right, like the Mickey Mouse boots or the Corcoran Jump boots.

 

[Bret4207]

True, there's a lot of "mil-spec" stuff out there that's not any better, or even as good, as their commercial counterparts. You gotta research what you buy. Norwegian or Swedish mil-surp wool socks- GOOD! US military surplus wool socks- no good!

 

[Rushcreek]

Drifting back to scopes- I've just scored a 1970's vintage Weaver K2.5 online. I'm going to mount it on the back door AR15 5.56mm. It ought to be just fine for that duty. I have bids in for another K2.5 and also a K1.5 from the Micro-Trac Era as well. Fingers crossed.
My 1970's K4 is clear enough to see .30 caliber or bigger holes in the target- at 100yds. It lives on my bolt action 30-30.

 

[RicinYakima]

Just bought a Lyman 4X for less than $20 on eBay. Very nice scope and will go on something!

 

[L Ross]

I believe I mentioned I put a Leupold M8 2.5X on my 7.62x39 upper and used it to shoot my venison. I've owned that scope since new some time in the 80s. Brand new it was $116.00. I took it off the M77 .250 International and replaced it with another M8 but in 4X.

 

[Winelover]

My main deer hunting firearm is the Marlin 1894 with a 1.5x 5 Leo Var III and a lighted German Post reticle. I keep it set around 3 power. For longer shots, I might need to turn it up to five, given the time.

X-Bow has a Romeo 5 red dot sight, zero magnification. Renegade has a Ultra-dot. I won't give up low light capabilities..............the reason for lighted dots/reticles.

 

[MW65]

Considering a weaver 2.5x on the 444... post and crosshair... thoughts??

 

[Winelover]

If that what's floats your boat. I prefer low power variables............best of both worlds. Weaver, so so optics. Have a Weaver 3x9, used for load testing. Can't trust it anymore. So there it sits gathering dust.

In optics you get what you pay for..........buy once, cry once. Good optics are lifetime investments.

Buddy had a Marlin 444, many years ago. I shot a few rounds of factory ammo. He didn't reload. That cartridge has some serious recoil.

 

[MW65]

...
In optics you get what you pay for..........buy once, cry once. Good optics are lifetime investments.

Buddy had a Marlin 444, many years ago. I shot a few rounds of factory ammo. He didn't reload. That cartridge has some serious recoil.

Option is a 2.5 or 3x leupold... which I know i can trust...

 

[Rushcreek]

The post reticle is great for deer and ithe K2.5 will endure the .444 experience.
The old Leupold M8 2x Compact was a great one, I wish that I'd kept at least ONE, dangit.

 

[Missionary]

Had a K-2.5 on a 336 Marlin 32 Win and shot fox with it. Very fast on those red hides.

 

[Ben]

Leupold Vari X II-C 1X-4X variable.
Super clear optics.
In the woods, this one is your friend.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

Leupold Vari X II-C 1X-4X variable.
Super clear optics.
In the woods, this one is your friend.

View attachment 31313

The only thing that would make that better would be a German #1 or German #4 reticle.