r/canadaguns • u/peiboy96 • 23d ago
Buy recommendations Scope recommendations
Hey, I'm looking for scope recommendations. I want something that'll be good for a beginner long range shooter but that's also good for hunting. All my scopes previously have just had the normal crosshairs.
1 feature I know for sure I want is turrets with a zero stop.
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u/Wiggum13 23d ago
For long range competition. I’d go with dirty Christmas tree. Never heard it called that. But it’s hilarious. It’s usually quicker for me personally, to just write holdovers on my dope card Instead of dialing in some situations.
For just general long rang. Where you don’t need to do lots of holdovers I’d say clean range estimating.
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u/SecureNarwhal 22d ago
long range scopes are heavy and large with large zooms to see the smallest target
when hunting, people normally prioritize weight and simplicity, you're aiming for vitals which are very large in comparison to competition shooting targets
unless you're getting into long range hunting, I wouldn't mix up a long range scope with a hunting rifle
and look up a long range shooting association, they go over everything you need to know to get into long range shooting
here's an Ontario example: https://ontariorifleassociation.ca/
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u/Hot_Cheesecake_905 22d ago
For long range, the Christmas Tree reticle works well. You will want to avoid scopes like the L4A that have few markings, as those are more suited for hunting than precision long-range shooting.
A good starter scope would be the Arken EP5 Gen II or the Bushnell Match Pro ED, but both are too heavy to carry for hunting.
It is better to get two scopes.
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u/peiboy96 9d ago
I don't do much walking when I hunt so I don't really care how heavy it is. I was looking at a heavy barrel tikka T3X 6.5 creed in a MDT Worker chassis.
Most of my hunting now is 150-250yds but mainly because I was using.223. I won a savage axis 6.5 creed and I plan to use that for the next couple years while I save up to buy the fancier gun
My main scope I use now for hunting is a Bushnell elite 6500 4.5-30
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u/umbellus 22d ago
What kind of hunting? What animal in what environment? Will you be using a stand/blind or hiking around?
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u/peiboy96 9d ago
Field. Mostly blind. I plan to pick up a tripod as well. Currently using bipod or just the nearest tree lol.
Currently 150-250yds but I was restricted by caliber (.223) have a cheap 6.5creed but I plan on buying a nicer one in a chassis down the road
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u/TheArchitechs 22d ago
I love my christmas tree, wouldnt want it any other way. Really easy to get my friends who arent experienced to ding steel at 400 with it. Super super simple to tell them where to hold especially on a first focal plane optic
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u/epnk420 22d ago edited 22d ago
Those are two different beasts, hunting u don’t want a crazy reticle taking up your view. Out of those choices I’d probably go BDC (calibre specific). The dirty Christmas tree would be my other choice, but it makes seeing game harder, that’s what I have on my long range rifle. My hunting rifle is a basic reticle not even listed here.
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u/RoundBottomBee 22d ago
BDC is (usually) specific to a particular calibre and to a specific ballistic profile (bullet BC and velocity). If your rifle and choice of cartridge match up with the BDC, then you're golden. Otherwise you'll forever be remembering offsets.
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u/Defiant-Bass9034 22d ago
Those are two very different requirements. Hunting rigs prioritize light weight and simple second focal plane reticles. Long range rigs are heavier and usually have more complex first focal plane reticles for wind and elevation holds, range estimation and so on. A scope that can do both will have a basic and fairly fine, preferably illuminated crosshair or center dot, and really good turrets for dialing in wind and elevation holds. But you have to strike a good balance of not over magnifying game, while not under magnifying long range targets, so like a 4-24ish magnification range, give or take. If you don't mind a tight view angle on the low end, you can do 5-30 or 6-36. You can use a first focal plane Christmas tree reticle scope for hunting if you want, but it's not ideal. Honestly, the best way to go is to just buy a budget rig for hunting and buy a better setup for long range.
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u/osmda 22d ago
athlon argos btr gen 2 6-24 x 50 FFP, served me well, i think i got mine for $450. works well, good glass, cheap, big objective lens, zero stop, parralax to infinity. no complaints. i think you could do better but for the money its hard to beat and what i settled on as a broke college student long range shooter.
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u/Remarkable_Vanilla34 22d ago
For hunting you probably just want a simple medium power second focal plane scope with a simple reticle. Your most likely going to be shooting around 200 and in a your just going to hold and shoot.
Long range you want a high power, large scope with external dials, zero stop and first focal plane.
But here is the thing, and I've said this a thousand times, and I'll say it a thousand more. Your hunting rifle is not a long range target rifle! Just but two guns.
A hunting rifle is supposed to be light, reliable and easy to shoot, it will only make a few hundred shots in its entire life. Get a rifle you like, in caliber you like, and a simple optic you like. I know guys that are far better hunters than myself using savages from Canadian Tire that came with a cheap optic on them. Its one tool used in the sport of hunting.
ELD rifles are expense, their heavy, they have big optics and shooter choose calibers for their ballistics, not the energy their delivering. If you want to get into ELD, get your hunting rifle set up and then put your money into a range rifle.
Can you build a rifle that will do both, yes, but it will be expensive and it won't be ideal for either, you'll spend more money and waste a lot of time and energy vs just getting a decent hunting rifle set up now and then worrying about ELD stuff later. There no reason you can't taking your hunting gun to the range except the cost of ammo.
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u/ItchYouCannotReach 23d ago
Budget? Hard to make a recommendation without knowing if you want to spend $200 or $8k