Scope selection

[thelefthand]

Curious what optics are holding up these days. I have an old Bushnell Elite series 3-9x40 on mine and it has held up well over the years. I'm starting down the path of doing a 45 cal build and have no idea what scopes will hold up to the abuse these days. 20 years ago, it was Zeiss, Bushnell Elite, and Sightron SII or SIII, but that information and experience is a more than a little dated. I guess this is what happens when you stumble across a combination that works well for a really long time

[savagebeast]

I'm using a Sightron S-Tac on mine, 3X16X42, good glass and built like a tank, very pleased so far.

[thelefthand]

I'm thinking about a Vortex Diamondback 4-16x44, but I'm just not sure it will take the abuse. Hankins gives the vortex a thumbs up, and I have a couple on other rifles, but nothing that generates nearly this much recoil.

[encore50a]

Nightforce or Leupold VX5HD.

I highly suggest using a Harrell's FG rail.

[billc]

I have a Burris Fullfield II 3x9 on my 10MLII. A Minox 2x10 on my 45 cal. A Vortex Viper 2X10 on my 40 cal

[rambler]

I've got a Sightron Stac 4-20 X 50mm scope on my break open with an EGW steel base that I bedded with JB Weld. Works like a champ for my needs. Got about 1 1/2 lbs of I4198 thru it using a DI plug. Hasn't budged and still holds zero like a champ. No complaints.

[dannoboone]

I have a Vortex Viper (for around 10 years) on a 10MLII and an
Athlon Argos on a converted 700ML (for 5-6 years). Both have
stood up well to the loads I shoot. My personal limit is 2800fps
with 275gr bullets, so cannot say if they would hold up with
the T-Rex loads some shoot. The glass in the Argos is the
clearest of any scope I have ever looked through. Prior to
purchase I emailed Athlon about how it would stand up to the
recoil of SML and the answer was that they did their testing
on a 50 BMG rifle and had no failures.

[thelefthand]

Dec 15, 2023 12:42:15 GMT -5 dannoboone said:

I have a Vortex Viper (for around 10 years) on a 10MLII and an
Athlon Argos on a converted 700ML (for 5-6 years). Both have
stood up well to the loads I shoot. My personal limit is 2800fps
with 275gr bullets, so cannot say if they would hold up with
the T-Rex loads some shoot. The glass in the Argos is the
clearest of any scope I have ever looked through. Prior to
purchase I emailed Athlon about how it would stand up to the
recoil of SML and the answer was that they did their testing
on a 50 BMG rifle and had no failures.

That's good to know. Obviously the etched glass reticles found in most scopes these days are going to be a lot more durable than the wires that I grew up with. I just wasn't sure how the rest of the scope was holding up on them. I have an Argos BTR, Ares BTR, and and Ares ETR and love them. I can tell a difference in them when shooting prairie dogs past 400 yds, but the glass in the Argos is as good or better than the stuff that's in my '90s vintage Leopold VariX III 6-20 which cost me twice as much in used condition. I'm glad to hear that they are holding up to the recoil so far. Its' nice that Athlon and Vortex have lifetime warrantees, but it would still suck to have to use the warrantee.

All of that said, I am a little disappointed in both Athlon and Vortex because of their product offerings. It just doesn't seem like either of them understand what's actually useful in a deer hunting scope. I need to double check the vortex options, but neither of them offer a 4-16 FFP optic with parallax adjustment and an illuminated reticle. I don't really want to pay for magnification range that I don't need and that includes anything below 3x and anything over 16x. Even a 4-12 would be adequate, but the illuminated reticle is extremely beneficial at the very beginning and end of legal hunting hours.

[farmallm51]

I've had a Zeiss Conquest 3.5-10x44 on my 10MLII for 15 years with no problems.

[hatchetjack1]

Dec 14, 2023 16:39:23 GMT -5 thelefthand said:

I'm thinking about a Vortex Diamondback 4-16x44, but I'm just not sure it will take the abuse. Hankins gives the vortex a thumbs up, and I have a couple on other rifles, but nothing that generates nearly this much recoil.

You should have no problem with that scope. I have 4 of that exact model on 4 different rifles and they hold up just fine.
One is on my Encore smokeless, my single shot 45-70, my 270 win and an Encore 300 win mag. I have had no issues with any of them.

[GMB54-120]

If your budget is tight and you want a scope that will take abuse.........Look at the SWFA SS 6x42 or 10x42. $300 bucks and made in Japan. Great reticle too. The S-TACs are nice too.

[mike.dawson]

Since I hunt in the woods and hills, a 1x4x24 Vortex works great. Most deer shot less than 50 yards and leave it on 1 power. I have this scope or 1x6x24 on all my muzzleloaders. Vortex has never failed me. Their lifetime warranty is a great thing. They handle the recoil just fine!

[lbahunter]

Dec 14, 2023 14:09:42 GMT -5 savagebeast said:

I'm using a Sightron S-Tac on mine, 3X16X42, good glass and built like a tank, very pleased so far.

What I got on mine. I don't shoot heavy loads in my Scout, though, just N110 loads and =/<
225gr. bullets.