Best long range/lightweight rifle scope?

[Bustercluck]

Taking in all considerations, weight, fov, ruggedness, elevation adjustment, glass quality… whatever else I can’t think of at the moment. What’s your guys thoughts on the ideal backpack mountain scope?

I think the leupold vx3hd model with a 30mm tube and windplex reticle would be a good contender. I own a vx5 3-15 that’s a really nice scope, but I’ve barely used it and the erectors broke. From what I understand this is likely to happen again. I’m going to keep it and keep using it, but I have another project on the go in 7saum and I’ll need to put some glass on it.

One of the features I like about the leupold is the zero lock.

[375shooter]

A solid contender is the NF NXS 2.5-10x42. A little heavier and less magnification, but with a stellar reputation in the durability department. Exactly what you need for a backcountry scope.

[warnniklz]

Why not get ahold of Korth, get the mark 5 fixed or replaced, then sell it and use that money for something else.

Or sell it cheap as is.

[Bustercluck]

Why not get ahold of Korth, get the mark 5 fixed or replaced, then sell it and use that money for something else.

Or sell it cheap as is.
It’s already been repaired and I have it back. I’m going to keep using it, but I have a second rifle I’m putting together.

[Wood butcher]

I'm curious why you think the scope will fail again.
Taking in all considerations, weight, fov, ruggedness, elevation adjustment, glass quality… whatever else I can’t think of at the moment. What’s your guys thoughts on the ideal backpack mountain scope?

I think the leupold vx3hd model with a 30mm tube and windplex reticle would be a good contender. I own a vx5 3-15 that’s a really nice scope, but I’ve barely used it and the erectors broke. From what I understand this is likely to happen again. I’m going to keep it and keep using it, but I have another project on the go in 7saum and I’ll need to put some glass on it.

One of the features I like about the leupold is the zero lock.

[Squire]

The Swarovski Z5 3.5-18X 44 mm BT 4W would be my recommendation. It’s lightweight, has a 1” tube, its ballistic turret allows you to preset 3 rings on the dial for distances past your zero, and the 4W reticle has windage hash marks like the Leupold Windplex. Once you figure out the ballistics of your particular load you can order a custom dial to replace the rings on the ballistic turret.
The Swarovski has a ‘zero lock’ as well in that it doesn’t turn past your zero once you have set it.
It is comparable in price to the same magnification in the Leupold VX-5 but weighs a few ounces less.

[Bustercluck]

I'm curious why you think the scope will fail again.
Reading a few other forums and hearing other people’s experience. I read a few reviews on erectors breaking before I bought mine, but thought it was a low odds thing that likely wouldn’t happen to me. The people who said they had theirs break said they broke again and again. Like I said, I’m going to keep using it to see what happens, but I’m not buying another one.

[hawk-i]

How 'bout a Leica Amplus 6, 3-18x44i ... its slightly heavier than the VX5HD but its a pretty solid optic.

I personally haven't had any problems with my VX3HD's, VX5HD's or VX6HD's...is there a serial number range where problems were occurring?

[300rum700]

Long range and lightweight don't belong in the same sentence. Sorry to burst anyone's bubble but it's just the way it is.

Zeiss V4 will be the best all around and still perform as needed.

[todbartell]

I think the leupold vx3hd model with a 30mm tube and windplex reticle would be a good contender.

What do you define as *long range*? This scope has the CDS ZL and limits you to dialing up past 15MOA, which will be 700 yards or less with a 7SAUM

[KodiakHntr]

So far, I have Bushnell LRHS/LRTS and Arken EPL’s on light weight rifles (Kimbers) that get shot out to 1000 yards regularly. And treated harshly. Nothing has failed to hold zero and has tracked repeatedly. Neither of which the Leupolds that were originally on those rifles could do.
Only Leupold I still use is on a light 22 rimfire.

I’ll pay the weight penalty of a 20+ ounce scope to KNOW that the rounds are going to go where they are supposed to.

Rokslide has a very extensive thread on scopes, 100’s of scopes with thousands of rounds under them, with extreme drop tests in between. One or two models of Nightforce survived, as well as the SWFA. Worth looking at.

[Weatherby Fan]

The best compromise in a lightweight hunting/long range shooting scope is the Leupold VX3 HD 4.5-14x40 CDS-ZL 30mm tube scope,
next in the lightweight class would be the VX5 HD 3-15x44, my favourite which imho is one of the best and toughest scopes for the money Zeiss V4 4-16x44.

[Bustercluck]

What do you define as *long range*? This scope has the CDS ZL and limits you to dialing up past 15MOA, which will be 700 yards or less with a 7SAUM
Yeah, that’s where I’m looking at. My other gun I built is a 6.5-284. I built my expectations around 600 yards and maybe pushing slightly further on a good day. I chose the cartridge based on a 6.5-140 grain accubond travelling above 1700 fps at kill distance. There is other bullets out there that’ll do the job out further, but I figured that’s a good baseline. I think that’s reasonable for a sub 6 pound gun

[Bustercluck]

I’m going to start narrowing down the Zeiss line. I tried to go through the lineup before but had a hard time narrowing down the features I was looking for.

NF would be nice but the only scope remotely light enough is only 10x zoom.

I’ve never seen an Arken… I’ll have to check them out.

[high horse Hal]

light weight is an issue?

how much water do you pack ?

[high horse Hal]

The Swarovski Z5 3.5-18X 44 mm BT 4W would be my recommendation. It’s lightweight, has a 1” tube, its ballistic turret allows you to preset 3 rings on the dial for distances past your zero, and the 4W reticle has windage hash marks like the Leupold Windplex. Once you figure out the ballistics of your particular load you can order a custom dial to replace the rings on the ballistic turret.
The Swarovski has a ‘zero lock’ as well in that it doesn’t turn past your zero once you have set it.
It is comparable in price to the same magnification in the Leupold VX-5 but weighs a few ounces less.Not sure why Swaro went with the 1" tube for N.A. market, that fact turned fans away

[Bustercluck]

light weight is an issue?

how much water do you pack ?

1 litre max most of the time… lol. I could leave some booze at home if I was really concerned about weight though.

[Bustercluck]

The Zeiss v4 4-16-44 or 50 definitely looks like direct competition for the leupold vx3 or vx5