Which Scope?

[khoffnbud]

Need a scope to put on my mark v ultra lw in 257, this will mainly be my sheep and mountain gun. My brand of choice is leupold, model will be vx3 (please no one try and talk me out of this as i have been extremely happy with my previous and current leupolds). Now main question is, 3.5-10x40 or 4.5-14x40?

[BCBRAD]

If you don't use the low end much , then the 4.5x14.

[rcar]

Personally I would shoot the 4.5-14x40.

[hunter fisher]

4.5-14 . you wont hardly notice the x1 power if your scope is on low, but youll be glad you have the extra x4 power when your making a long shot!

[gerrygoat]

I like the 3.5-10x40 better since 10x is plenty for any shot out in the field but the 4.5-14x40 would be good as well.

[khoffnbud]

Ok, b&c reticle or duplex?

[gerrygoat]

That's a tough one, the 257 Wby shoots so flat I'm not sure you need the B&C reticle unless you want to shoot out to extreme ranges (like say 500 yards +) then I would say consider it.

[bc_buckshot]

I have the B&C on my 3.5-10x50 and had it for 4 years now and still dont know how to use it right. With the book you get with it, it goes based on the gun you have with certian grain and bullet that use towards it. I use a 162 hornady and it doesnt state for that grain what lines arnt ment for distance. I dunno maybe someone and teach me but would say get the B&C. What do you have to lose

[Citori54]

I would say the 4.5-14 and the B & C reticle. I have that combination on my 7mm Rem Mag and the aiming points work great for my caliber/load combination.

[Weatherby Fan]

Either one in VX3 you will be very happy with as I have lots of them and never had an issue,
I have just mounted the B&C VX3 3.5-10x40 on my 300wby mark v ultralight so looking forward to trying it out and I have a VX3 3.5-10x40 duplex on my 7mm wby mag Mark V ultralight, I used Talley lightweight mounts on both.

You will be very happy with your combination.
WF

[todbartell]

Im a big fan of the 3.5-10x40 Vx3. Have two of them right now, one is B&C reticle and the other is the CDS. I've shot out to a bit over 600 yards on 10x with the CDS and it's money. I can't like the 4.5-14x40 Vx3 with 1" tube, just get too much tunnel effect I get when looking through them on low power, lots of black around the outside and very critical eye placement The 30mm Long Range model doesn't have this...I don't mind them and have used one quite a bit, but probably not the best choice for a ligher mountain rifle.

[todbartell]

I have the B&C on my 3.5-10x50 and had it for 4 years now and still dont know how to use it right. With the book you get with it, it goes based on the gun you have with certian grain and bullet that use towards it. I use a 162 hornady and it doesnt state for that grain what lines arnt ment for distance. I dunno maybe someone and teach me but would say get the B&C. What do you have to lose

Good way to sight in the B&C is this :



Zero rifle at 200y with main crosshair
Set a good sized target up at 400y and set scope to top magnification (big triangle on power ring)
Aim at bullseye with 2nd line down from center, shoot 3 rounds
Go inspect impact on target, measure average impact from center, disregard windage variation
Go back to scope and if you hit 3" high, make 3 clicks down in your elevation. Every click is 1" at 400y
Shoot another group to verify impact change. Adjust if necessary and retest
Double check impacts at 100y & 200y with main crosshair
Check impact at 300y using first line down from center on top power (big triangle)
Check impact at 450y using small hash mark below 400y line, again on top power
Check impact at 500y using tip of bottom post


Works for me. You might find you'll be +/- 1" or so at 200y from dead on, and same with 300y, 450y........But close enough for big game hunting needs. Your 400y line will be bang on. Try it!

[khoffnbud]

Thanks for the input guys, seems like half like the 3.5 and half like the 4.5. I have a 3.5-10 on my 300 win mag and it's great, perhaps I'll go with that as I know what to expect out of it

[gerrygoat]

I have a 3.5-10 for probably 20 years now that I have beat the crap out of goat and sheep hunting, it looks awful but still works. It's pretty hard to go wrong with them.

[BRvalley]

4.5-14 with duplex and turret from korth group maybe

[cfree]

I have the 4.5-14x40 on my Tikka t3 30-06, like the extra viewing power when needed and the B&C reticle makes longer shots simple.

[khoffnbud]

thanks again guys, i'm not really sold on the cds dials as being 100% reliable as for ME they are just something exposed to get bumped and damaged and something else to forget about when about to pull trigger

[pescado]

You do realize that if your going to use the B&C reticle that you will have to keep your power setting in mind before pulling the trigger if you are going to use the hash marks. The reticle is in the second focal plane.

[khoffnbud]

You do realize that if your going to use the B&C reticle that you will have to keep your power setting in mind before pulling the trigger if you are going to use the hash marks. The reticle is in the second focal plane.

to tell you the truth, i have no idea how the b&c reticle works. i understand the concept of it but i cant seem to find any specific info for caliber and load anywhere

[paw325]

4.5 - 14 x 40, B&C reticle, zero at 300yds and let er buck....

[todbartell]

to tell you the truth, i have no idea how the b&c reticle works. i understand the concept of it but i cant seem to find any specific info for caliber and load anywhere

http://www.leupold.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/BAS_Inst_Manual_17July12.pdf