Optimum magnification range on scope for elk rifle?

[Dr. samuel_284Win]

Both of my parents have a Weatherby rifle in 300 Win Mag and both rifles need a scope. In your expert opinion, what is the "sweet spot" magnification range that you prefer for your dedicated elk rifles? Would like to hear your specific scope setups too if you have found a solid setup for larger caliber rifles. We don't still hunt through thick timber so scopes with ultra low magnification stops are not really needed.

 

[brocksw]

3-9

 

[Potsie]

4-16x

 

[Schaaf]

3-9 or 3-12. I would wager more animals have been lost as a result of too much magnification rather than not enough.

 

[El Jason]

3-9ish or 4-16ish. I leave it on 6x when I’m still hunting. I may or may not remember to turn it up for a longer shot. I killed a deer last year at 405 yards on 6x.

 

[nrpate05]

For a .300 Win Mag I'd go a little higher mag. I really like the Vx-3HD 4.5-14x

 

[338win]

I can’t see any scenario where a 3-9 or 4-12 won’t work, unless you need a 20 moa base. I wouldn’t have a scope with more than 4.5X on the bottom end.

 

[Don Fischer]

My elk rifle is a 30-06 and the scope on it is an old Denver Redfield 2 3/4x 4 plex CCH.

 

[brockel]

Really like my leupold 3-15x44 for a straight up hunting scope

 

[hank4elk]

My 3.5 x 14 x44 Zeiss Conquest was made for the 30-06 and 300 WM . Out to 600 good and so far I have taken a cow @ 405 and in.

 

[klampson]

I have two rifles in 300 Win, one has a Swarovski Z5 3.5-18x44, and the other a Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x44. Both are awesome scopes. I like scopes with good glass and lot of eye relief.

 

[Elkmagnet]

Vx 5hd 3 x 15 44mm is really about perfect for 300 wm

 

[LongCut]

3X - anything. I have found over the years that a lower low end is way more useful than a higher high end. I don't even like using my 4.5-14 anymore after getting into the Leupold HD lineup with the 3X low end.

My buddy insisted on a 6-24 for his first elk hunt. He missed an opportunity because even at 6X, he couldn't tell for sure which animal he had in his scope

 

[Bsquad]

3-9 is very comfortable and s plenty for inside 300yds, 4.5-14 is the upper end.

 

[El Jason]

He missed an opportunity because even at 6X, he couldn't tell for sure which animal he had in his scope

Then it’s his own fault. You have two eyes, open them.

 

[rjthehunter]

3-9 is very comfortable and s plenty for inside 300yds, 4.5-14 is the upper end.

I've been really eyeing up the Athlon Ares 2.5-15x50. Seems like the optimal zoom for a hunting rifle out to as far as you'd want to shoot.

Top Rifle Scopes | Ares BTR 2.5-15×50 APLR4 FFP IR MOA

The Areas BTR top rifle scopes offer HD Glass and advanced fully multicoated optics deliver crisp bright images for taking long range shots.

athlonoptics.com

 

[kiwi hunter]

I've been really eyeing up the Athlon Ares 2.5-15x50. Seems like the optimal zoom for a hunting rifle out to as far as you'd want to shoot.

Top Rifle Scopes | Ares BTR 2.5-15×50 APLR4 FFP IR MOA

The Areas BTR top rifle scopes offer HD Glass and advanced fully multicoated optics deliver crisp bright images for taking long range shots.

athlonoptics.com

It's an anvil unless one hunts from a bike.
I've found the best money for bang to be a vixen,
Either the 3-12x40 or the 4-16x44 which has the parallex on side. Both under a pound and way shorter than the modern trend. I've used a 2-7 on wallabys out to 328 yards and they are no comparison in size to a wapiti

 

[OntarioHunter]

Keep in mind the more magnification, the higher the scope will sit above the receiver. Then it may take a bit too long to find the crosshairs. For forty years my 30-06 wore a 3x Weaver and I could be on an animal in it in a split second. I moved up to a 3x9 Nikon a few years ago. Now I'm using "low" Warne QD (quick detach) rings that are slightly higher than the "medium" Weaver rings that were formerly on it. I notice the difference. In my opinion, for field hunting it's best not to have a real tight cheek weld to find the crosshairs ... or a real loose one. Just be on the gun comfortably without having to hunt for the crosshairs. This can be important if shooting long distance where parallax becomes an issue. A loose cheek weld can be a problem then. And a scrunched cheek weld can make fast shooting difficult. Go for the middle of the road.

Long distance shooting is for the experts. A lot of guys (like my brother) think because they have a magnum rifle with a fancy high power scope, they should be able to shoot animals in the next zip code. There's more to it than just the equipment!.

My 3x9 usually sits on 5x. I will turn it up at the range or to study an animal in the field. If I'm tracking something in heavy cover or close quarters, it's turned down to 3x or comes off and I pop up the iron sights.

 

[ImBillT]

You don’t need much power to make hits. I’ve upped my power for judging antlers after shooting the wrong muledeer with a fixed 6X. Judging a muledeer and picking the correct one out of a group at 300+ yards can be difficult without quite a bit of glass. Elk on the other hand have bigger antlers. On top of that, a mediocre elk is less likely to disappoint than a mediocre mule deer(at least for me). Even more on top of that, I’m more likely to hunt an elk in the thick than I am going I hunt a deer in the thick.

2.5-10
3-9
4-12
4.5-14
5-20

All of the above should be quite serviceable.

 

[Gulf of America]

Another vote for the VX5 3-15x44. Open country, I keep it at 5 unless I’m really stretching a shot. But I love having 3x when I’m still hunting timber.