[cheatermk3]

CZ American/Simmons Whitetail classic 6-24X50 AO. Nice glass especially for the $125.00 it cost me.

NEF hummer/Bushnell scopechief 3-9X40 wide angle--bright, clear low $$.

 

[VarmintGuy]

LightForce/NightForce Stuff

ReidH: I used to run with the two guys that did all the importing and distribution for NightForce when they were headquartered on Aurora Avnue in North Seattle. They were above Jim Clowards Guns Shop then. Then they moved to Kent, Washington and I was to that facility many times. I traded Guns and Varminting stuff with them back then. I have shot through several of my friends NightForce scopes and shot them both in the field and at the range! They are superb performers and reliable. I just can't push myself over the edge of that cash cliff! Loto bucks for them. I like the styling of the new models over the older style and they have lots of reticles to choose from.
If you have a Hunting buddy then the hand held can be operated easily by him if you Hunt alone then get the scope mounted light. I have both and the lights are not that expensive. The battery pack is where the rheostat is located. Great equipment I feel. I have not been to the new facility in Orofino Idaho. That is fantastic country!
I may get down there this winter and renew acquaintances. They were the best of folks - they are Hunters and eager to please their customers.
Ron Kesselrings sells their stuff in Burlington, Washington call them first to make sure they have some in. 360-724-3113.
Good luck if you get some of their gear and if I win the Lotto I will try a couple of their scopes to let you know more about them. My friends with them all love them! The new models all have the three turrets - side focus for parrallax adjusting at the turret position! Neat looking scopes also in my opinion.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

 

[ReidH]

Thanks VarmintGuy, I've always wanted to go to Kesselrings, but never thought I'd be able to afford the debt I'd find myself in if I went to the kid-in-a-candy-store place! Now I've got an excuse. I've done all my dealings with Adventure Sports on Aurora, just northwest of me.

Thanks for the info, it really helps {me spend money}. As soon as I get he Fusion figured out (Scott sent it back to me saying it shot well for them) I'll mount one on the 4200 6-24x40AO. But their 4 targets were 1/3 inch grps at 65 yards!!! Not 100 yds. So I guess I'll either see if Adventure will give my money back or figure it out myself. Shot almost 1/2 inch groups today (3), then it started going wild on me again.

Maybe a Cooper is in order.

 

[T Picard]

Reidh, I sure hope you figure out your fusion. My is shooting great. I just picked up a Zeiss 4.5X14 mil-dot at Kesselrings. I felt the Zeiss Conquest was a bargin at 650,mil-dot and sidefocus, it is clear,very clear. They are worth a look.And I did I did a lot of looking, the side focus is something I wanted. It should be handy in the gofer patch when shooting from 30 to 150 yards. Thats my excuse anyway! lol... A Cooper is always in order, that will be my next rimfire. Good luck on the Fusion.

 

[ReidH]

T Picard, Thanks for the temptation on the Zeiss -- side focus is only thing the 4200's lack. It's pretty awkward reaching way out front to focus when your support hand is doing something else!
Congrats on one fine peice of glass!

I'm wondering what kind of 100 grouping you're getting with your Fusion. If you're getting 1/2" groups are most of them 1/2 or just a few?

 

[T Picard]

I havn't shot the fusion on paper in a while, the last 5 groups on paper were -5/8". That was with a Weaver GS 6x20, great scope but no side focus. It went home to rest on the 257 wby.. I will get it on paper shortly with the Zeiss and I'll bring the calipers, lol... My Fusion shoots better than I do, and it's a gopher misting machine, so I can't ask for more than that. I wish you luck getting yours straightened out.

 

[ReidH]

T Picard, I noticed you're from the NW too, at least part of the time. Where do you mist the gophers? So far I've only punched paper and am getting real itchy to splatter some hide, hopefully in WA.

 

[T Picard]

Sorry my gophering has been on my family's place in MT. (I'm just working in WA. to buy guns and ammo LOL)My bro. still can't believe the arsonal I bring just to shoot gophers. It the funnest hunt I have done, none stop action. I don't think I will miss another Mem. day. If you are board in the spring most anyone in our area will let you shoot to hearts content at gophers. They are really a vermin in some areas. 100 gophers = 1 cow so a village of them will devistate a hay or grain field. Good Luck

 

[huck70]

When I asked this question a couple of weeks ago I never thought that I would get this many responses. I think there is enough info in here to write a book! Thanks for all of the insight.
Huck

 

[DPete]

Are you confused yet??

 

[7226]

Go With High Magnification!

Bushnell 4200 6-24 x40 Love it!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BigRemFan]

Hi Huck 70. I've been readin' the responses to your question asking what scope folks have on their Hummers. I'm totally lost! I have never even thought of using such high powered scopes on a rimfire! Heck, I only have a 3x9 on my 22-250! Has anybody out there tried to hunt squirrels with those scopes? I couldn't even find a squirrel in such a contraption. I guess I see now how you guys are shooting tight groups at 200 yards. I kinda been thinking the Leupold M8 6x fixed power was all I would need on my .17 HMR. I reckon I'm too old to see the advantages of a 6x to 24x on a rifle like this. Seems to me everybody is overscoped for this caliber.(I thought I was wrong once before, but I found out later I was right).

 

[barbwire]

my experience so far...

I bought my 17VS to hunt nothing but gopherz. I chose a Weaver KT15. It is straight 15 power. Excellent scope but nearly useless when trying to hunt with a flashlight. For its intended purpose it works great. You learn to adjust to the higher power, and target acquisition becomes easier. It is a good $200 dollar scope. Target turrets with Weaver quality clicks.

I did not know at the time that I would get addicted to this gun. Now I want to hunt everything with it (within reason).

A relative of mine hooked me on the 17, and the high power scopes. I was skeptical too. I don't think I would want any more than 15 power, but then I only tried 32x one time. My research came up with 15x as a good starting point and I am happy with it.

Trying to shoot a young gopher at 120 yards takes a good scope just to see his head peaking over the mound. There is nothing about shooting a 12 inch pie plate here. Magnification is everything.

My next scope will likely be a good 6x24. I just can't see spending more on the scope than the rifle. My problem now is that I am over scoped for night hunting and I am going to give the laser a try. Now I wish I could drop down to 6 power, or even 4, to shoot raccoons and jack rabbits at night.

What I'm really going to do is just get another hummer and dress it for night hunting.

Hope I didn't ramble too long.

barbwire

 

[BigRemFan]

Hi Barbwire.
I guess I was thinking kinda narrow-like on this one. I said in one of my other posts everybody ought to buy and use whatever they want. Then I go and make a silly statement like I did. Please excuse my narrow-minded view. I think it comes from gettin' old. I don't see as well as I once did, and while more power would certainly help, I just ain't steady enough to use it these days. Heck, if I get over 9x I can't shoot near as good because of the shaking. Before the whole world responds negatively to my previous statements, I thought I'd better back off a bit. I meant no offense to anybody. I'm still thinking the Leupold M8 6x would work well for me, though. It would probably make a dandy nightscope too. Good luck and happy hunting.

 

[farscott]

BigRemFan,

I sorta agree with your statement about "overscoping". I look at my 6-18X VX-II on my VQ Fusion and think, "That is a lot of magnification for this round". When I was shopping for a Leupold scope, I had a list of features that I wanted, and it seemed that the only the high magnification variables had all of the things on my list. I wanted a fine Duplex reticle, target knobs, an adjustable objective, a one-inch tube, and multicoating on the external lenses.

Perhaps I should have bought a lower-magnification scope and had Leupold change the reticle. It seems that most of my shooting with this scope is down between 6X and 12X. I think I could have gotten by with the fixed 6X or 12X that Leupold offers in the M8-series. With a 42mm objective, the 6X has a 7mm exit pupil. With Multicoat 4, this scope should make an excellent low-light scope.

 

[Moonshine]

When I was shopping for a Leupold scope, I had a list of features that I wanted, and it seemed that the only the high magnification variables had all of the things on my list. I wanted a fine Duplex reticle, target knobs, an adjustable objective, a one-inch tube, and multicoating on the external lenses.

Or another option would have been to go with the VX-II 4-12x40 AO, fine duplex, and have Leupold add the target knobs. I had a similar list of desired feutures, so that's the scope I bought, and I just added the Stoney Point target knobs. I find 12x on the top end to be more than enough for this cartridge.

 

[farscott]

Moonshine,

Yup, the VX-II 4-12X40 AO would have worked. I ended up with one on my T/C Contender Carbine in .17 HMR.

I really wish Leupold would make an 8X or 10X fixed power with a 40mm adjustable objective, a fine duplex reticle, and click adjustments in the M8-series.

 

[mutwagn]

Moonshine,

Yup, the VX-II 4-12X40 AO would have worked. I ended up with one on my T/C Contender Carbine in .17 HMR.

I really wish Leupold would make an 8X or 10X fixed power with a 40mm adjustable objective, a fine duplex reticle, and click adjustments in the M8-series.

Just curous, how do you like the 17 Contender carbine barrel?
I keep on looking at them,and may want to pick one up sometime.
How is it grouping?
Did you get a 21" or the new G2 23" barrel?
Thanks, Andy

 

[1300]

My 77/17 currently wears a Bushnell Scopechief 6-20X40AO.

I have also used a Simmons 44Mag M1048 6.5-20X44, Simmons M800116 8-32X44.

The Bushnell is my pick for the best scope of the three.

:t

 

[6972]

I haven't seen much mention of the Nikon scopes? Are they not good ,problems withe them , price is about right for a cz or sort. Looking through them they look pretty clear and bright from side to side with little or no distortion, AO and target knobs??What gives?