Hunting rifle scope

[Alex.Sm]

Hello,

After some struggles with the hunting permit (I failed the exam once and took it the second time - was in finnish BTW) I also got the purchase permit from police for a .308 caliber rifle.

Now my question is about scopes and more exactly about magnification, objective lens size and so forth. I will guess in Finnish forest the distance is short so the magnification should be quite small but please let me know your opinions

Thanks!

[onkko]

http://forum.eralle.net/ seems to be active, cba to register to browse subforums but in Tähtäinlaitteet ja optiikka there is about 39 000 messages.
I have no idea what kind of scope my father had on his .308 but we shot from 100-150m for fun. Main weapon in hunting (e.g. always ready) was shotgun, that was bird hunting tho. I dont know what you plan. That was over 20 years ago tho and i do not hunt, own guns or plan to own gun

[akaquaman]

Have you tried a general search yet using questions like "how to select (choose) a rifle scope? Here's a couple of links that I found for you just now, for example.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Riflesco ... 533100.uts
http://www.opticsplanet.com/howto/how-t ... scope.html
Then there's all sorts of hunting and shooting sports forums, blogs, etc., so no lack of information - just takes time to check them out and figure out what fits your requirements best.

I've hunted deer in southeast Alaska since a kid (am 65+ now) with the same rifle (Savage 30-06) with just iron sights as the terrain is very brushy and weather wet and cold (think foggy rifle scope just when you need it) , but had to pass up a very nice buck last winter at about 90 - 100 meters because I didn't trust my sighting at that range. So I think it's probably about time for me to start the same search too .
Onnea!

Rich

[Alex.Sm]

Have you tried a general search yet using questions like "how to select (choose) a rifle scope? Here's a couple of links that I found for you just now, for example.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Riflesco ... 533100.uts
http://www.opticsplanet.com/howto/how-t ... scope.html
Then there's all sorts of hunting and shooting sports forums, blogs, etc., so no lack of information - just takes time to check them out and figure out what fits your requirements best.

I've hunted deer in southeast Alaska since a kid (am 65+ now) with the same rifle (Savage 30-06) with just iron sights as the terrain is very brushy and weather wet and cold (think foggy rifle scope just when you need it) , but had to pass up a very nice buck last winter at about 90 - 100 meters because I didn't trust my sighting at that range. So I think it's probably about time for me to start the same search too .
Onnea!

Rich

Hei,

I actually don't need a scope because I can shoot very well without. With a good rifle, I hit 400m just with the iron sights with no problems. The thing is that I was advised so many times by so many people to take a scope, and the reason is to not cause unnecessary pain to animals (hurting them) but put them down immediately.

I know the finnish forest is quite tick and the visibility can be at some point 100m or more if there has been some trees cut-down or broken by storm, otherwise is under 100m maybe that's why the shooting test is done at 75m.

However based on my own knowledge for the finnish forest I will say a rifle scope with a magnification starting maybe from 1 or 1.5-6x42.

[akaquaman]

Alex,
I agree with you entirely, that's why I passed up my shot last year - hitting the animal was not the question, but where. I prefer an upper neck or head shot that connects accurately for a one-shot kill, but for that a good, properly sighted-in scope is normally required. So I, too, will be looking to get a scope before next season for similar terrain - brushy, short shots usually within 50 - 100m.
Best regards,
Rich

[Karhunkoski]

I prefer an upper neck or head shot that connects accurately for a one-shot kill, but for that a good, properly sighted-in scope is normally required.

For any new hunters reading this post and considering moose hunting, please note that:

a. Headshots are more suited to COD than moose hunting. A moose's brain is so tiny that you have a large chance of missing it. We spent a large part of last season (days!) tracking a wounded moose because some clot tried for a headshot and put a hole through it's snout. Poor animal.

b. Ditto neck shots. The spinal cord is in the neck and the neck is hidden in a lot of hair. The risk of causing a painful wound is too large.

c. Heart/lung area is the best aimpoint in 99% of situations. It's the size of an oven door, you should get a blood trail and a clean death is much more certain.


Back to your scope. Swarovski Z6i 1-6x24. You get the illuminated reticle to help you and at 1x you can shoot with both eyes open. Don't but anything cheap. Have a look through it before you buy it (eyes are different, some people see tramlines on some reticles). Most shots are within 70m, you don't need a lot of magnification, if any. A lot of guys just use an Aimpoint H1 or similar. Choose a quality bonded cartridge, e.g. Norma Oryx, rather than old fashioned soft nose. There's expensive but you won't use more than five a year.