A
Anonymous
Guest
Pardon me for a bout of overthinking...
I've decided to scrape the SWFA 10x42 off of my Barrett 6.5CM. It's a fine scope, but ultimately its just too big and heavy for my near term use of the rifle. Don't get me wrong- it's wonderful for exploring the capabilities of the rifle at distances near or far but for my style of hunting it just catches and knocks on everything. For winter hunting- a more compact option is likely a better bet.
I got on a gang of caribou this weekend...down in the trees. The range was under a 100yds but I never got anything remotely shootable. The scope was too powerful and the intervening brush just too obscuring for a moving shot. I'd have made the shot easily with an iron sighted gun or my Scout.
In keeping with the ultralight theme of the rifle, I want a scope that is light and compact that mounts low to the action. I'm not much into long distance shooting at animals, likely 300 yards is the max under all but the most ideal conditions and most of my hunting shots are 200 and a bit of change. In years past I've done quite well with fixed powers in 2.5x, 4x and 6x for that kind of work.
In truth, I could be quite happy with a fixed lower powered scope. I've had a 3-9x on my .300 since 2010 and have shot all but perhaps 3 or 4 animals with the power ring on 6x- a couple at 400ish and a couple at 80 yards.. everything else was 6x. I've gone whole seasons with the power ring on 6x.
For the 6.5CM...I'm thinking a 2.5 or 4x would get me about as far as I'd typically shoot in the winter and I'd have a scoped rifle in the sub-6lb range that's be perfect for skiing or
I realize this sort of thinking is running counter to what everyone else is doing with modern optics and I sometimes wonder if I shouldn't just stick another 3-9x on it and call it a day.
Thoughts?
I've decided to scrape the SWFA 10x42 off of my Barrett 6.5CM. It's a fine scope, but ultimately its just too big and heavy for my near term use of the rifle. Don't get me wrong- it's wonderful for exploring the capabilities of the rifle at distances near or far but for my style of hunting it just catches and knocks on everything. For winter hunting- a more compact option is likely a better bet.
I got on a gang of caribou this weekend...down in the trees. The range was under a 100yds but I never got anything remotely shootable. The scope was too powerful and the intervening brush just too obscuring for a moving shot. I'd have made the shot easily with an iron sighted gun or my Scout.
In keeping with the ultralight theme of the rifle, I want a scope that is light and compact that mounts low to the action. I'm not much into long distance shooting at animals, likely 300 yards is the max under all but the most ideal conditions and most of my hunting shots are 200 and a bit of change. In years past I've done quite well with fixed powers in 2.5x, 4x and 6x for that kind of work.
In truth, I could be quite happy with a fixed lower powered scope. I've had a 3-9x on my .300 since 2010 and have shot all but perhaps 3 or 4 animals with the power ring on 6x- a couple at 400ish and a couple at 80 yards.. everything else was 6x. I've gone whole seasons with the power ring on 6x.
For the 6.5CM...I'm thinking a 2.5 or 4x would get me about as far as I'd typically shoot in the winter and I'd have a scoped rifle in the sub-6lb range that's be perfect for skiing or
I realize this sort of thinking is running counter to what everyone else is doing with modern optics and I sometimes wonder if I shouldn't just stick another 3-9x on it and call it a day.
Thoughts?
