Scope for my new rifle

[drtony]

I will be elk hunting in Colorado with my dad and uncle this fall.  I have gone on the hunting trip in the past, but never got a tag until this year.  I thought to myself, what better time to purchase my very first rifle (to hopefully harvest my very first elk).  After a lot of research I felt I couldn't go wrong with a weatherby.  Ended up purchasing a Mark V Accumark in 300 weatherby magnum.  I plan to use this rifle for deer hunting here in the midwest also.  Now comes the next stage... optics!

I believe I have narrowed it down to a Burris veracity 3-15x50 or the 4-20x50.  I just can't decide if minimum magnification of 4 is low enough.  I have looked through both at the local Cabela's, but I don't have enough experience with optics to make an educated/sound purchase.  I would love some input.  Thank you

[HuskyMusky]

3-15x gets my vote.

to me 20x on the high end for hunting it too high in most situations.

depending on your reticle... zooming down may not be ideal... but if so then I guess it wouldn't really matter.

depending on the use 3 vs 4x shouldn't matter much, but dangerous game you'd maybe want 1 or 2x instead.

finding game in a hurry when a scope is cranked up to 15 let alone 20x can be a bit tricky.

so unless we're talking 600-1000yd shots here I think I'd go 3-15x route.

good luck.

[dubyam]

I like the 3-15x power range (or 4-16), but I prefer a 40-44mm objective, as I find 50mm too large and heavy for my use.

[terminator]

6 of one a half dozen for the other.I would go with the one that looked clearest and brightest to my eyes.

[.257]

On the low end it's 3 or 4 power, very little difference
On the high end it's 15 or 20 power, the only time l would think this would matter is if you were taking a longer shot from a rest and you have the time to adjust to the higher power, under those  circumstances the higher power is nice IMO

[PARA45]

I am more of a 3-9x50 or 4-12x50, unless it's a varmint rifle, and then I'll go bigger.  I like a quick and "light" rifle, specially if you are going up and down hills.  I personally believe that you will fine with any scope in that range, specially if you are going after elk & deer.  But, at the end of the day is what you like and what you feel gives the advantage. Good luck, and let us know what you end up buying.

[Blackbear3]

Most of my rifles sport 3-9x40 scopes and when hunting I always carry my firearms at the lowest power. On the theory that the animal will spook if it sees me adjust my scope down to a lower power, while if it's long range they usually won't see me adjust it up. So I'd go with the 3-15 if it was me.

[drtony]

Thank you to everyone who responded, I appreciate it!

Reading other forums, I found out the Burris veracity turret system on the 3x15 is the MAD custom turret (which has rotation limitations that many shooters were upset about), so I went with the 4x20 (tall knob system).  I am sure I will be spending the vast majority of my time with it dialed down to 4x, but it's better to have it and not need it than the other way around .  Shooting out 500-1000 yards at this point in the game will be reserved for range time-- not familiar enough with my gun/ammunition to take a chance at an animal that far out.  Thanks all!

Now I need a weatherby in 6.5CM or .257 wby (or both)!! This accumark opened a can of worms (shucks).

[Blackbear3]

You are infected with the Weatherby bug now Drtony and might as well buy a bigger gun safe!!!
They will be announcing the new Weatherby 7-378 Bee this fall, you might want to skip the 6.5 CM and pickup a real Long Range Thumper!!!

[drtony]

That sounds awesome! a 7mm in a 378 case-- thatll get the job done!

[buffybr]

Congratulations on your .300 Bee.  After many years of wanting one, I finally bought mine nine years ago and it quickly became my favorite rifle.

I'm not a fan of 600+ yard shooting at game animals.  Shooting steel at those ranges would be fun and I would have no problem sniping a Taliban at them, but I have too much respect for game animals to chance wounding and losing one of them with that far of a shot.

I've successfully DIY hunted elk in Colorado and Montana for almost 40 years, and all were killed at under 300 yards.  I shot most of them with rifles wearing 3-9x40 scopes set at 4x or 6x.

[sschefer]

I just ordered 3 Vortex Diamonbacks in 3x9 40mm. They have a pretty decent field of view and are actually pretty decent for the price. A popular scope is the Leupold VX-3i. I have one on my Mark V 257 in 4.5x14-40mm. I have a Burris Eliminator III on my Browining X Bolt 300 WSM and love it but it's heavy and I would swap it out on a hunting trip. My McMillan G30 Dynasty 270 WSM has a Leupold VX-6i in 3x18-50mm. It's not very heavy and great when you need to reach out. Now if you want to get stupid like me, I just put a Swarovski X5 on my new Vanguard Deluxe 270 Win because.. well I had it and and my Diamonbacks won't be hear until mid next week. Imagine that, a 2000.00 dollar scope on a 249.99 Walmart Vanguard Deluxe.. LOL.. Looks cool...