I am getting a new 300PRC and will be using it on an upcoming Elk hunt. I've seen the reliability testing on Rokslide, and am curious on if anyone has any recommendations on a scope. I am wanting a more standard reticle, in second focal plane, the less going on inside the scope the better. I am leaning towards the Leupold VX6HD Gen 2 4-24x52, but there is no reliability testing on this scope. I looked into Nightforce and Trijicon, but they do not offer basic reticles on these. The Swarovski scopes did not do well at all on the reliability testing, some said that was due to plastic components inside the scope. Let me know if y'all have any recommendations, Budget is ~$2,500, but would not be mad if I can get a solid setup for less.

If you want a basic reticle that is drop proof, Nigthforce SHV with the foreplex will fit the bill perfectly.

Nightforce NX8 with Mil- C is simple or Leupold Mk5

When you say basic reticle, do you just mean a standard crosshair or do you mean something without a Christmas tree reticle with crap everywhere?

A lot of those scopes will have windage and elevation markers on the crosshairs but if you can make field adjustments, you don't have to really worry about using them and they're not in your way if it's just on the crosshairs

In the last couple of years, I have picked up a VX5HD, VX6HD, Trijicon Tenmile HX, and. NightForce NX8....

Leupold is by far the best on eye relief. When I pull up with it, it is perfect every time for me. and bright/clear.

Trijicon and NF are close to me, but reticles are different. I like the Trijicon reticle better. Zoom and clarity is great. Eye box isn't as easy to dial in on at high powers.

I think the Rockslide test is good to read, but not sure I trust it all. I think it is honest, but I haven't had any issues with my Leupolds. And they rate them lower on that test.

EuroOptic by far has the best deals on the NF and Trijicons. And if you call, you will get a better price. especially on NF as they seem to deal on them more.

Nightforce SHV if you want to dial. I own all versions of this scope.
Trijicon Accupoint if you don't want to dial. I own the 1-6 and 2.5-12 version of this scope.

Both are available with a standard duplex.

You have the budget for an NX8 or other pricier scopes, but I'd spend the balance on ammo.

I don't understand the hatred for Leupold on Rok Slide… I promise you I'm rougher on my deer lease scopes than anyone on that forum and I've never had a single issue, less a nipple or two from a throw lever falling off (and they sent me new ones for free).

I'm not saying they're the best option but for most hunting applications, they're a damn fine choice. I wish they had more options in VX5/6 with FFP and MIL… seems like all have shifted to MK4/5 now.

Clearly you haven't actually read the drop tests or listened to the guys that have done it.

Their whole point is that they are mountain hunters. Or hunters going on once in a lifetime hunts. The two guys that do the drop tests don't hate Leupold. They just have repeatedly failed the tests.

If you are going to go on a 2 week long moose hunt in Alaska, pick something that can survive a fall out of your pack on to rocks.

Man I know, I have a safe full of all different variations of Leupold scopes. It is basically all i have for scopes. I have a VX6HD that is by far the clearest scope i have looked through. I am pretty rough on my guns, most stay in the can am or truck between hunts. Those reviews made me want to stray away from the gold ring, I will be shooting longer ranges and dialing, so the SHV sounds like a rock solid scope. The VX6HD Gen 2 went up ~$500 in price compared to the older model, so I was hopeful that it had better components from the MK5 installed.

And I'm telling you that I've dropped rifles on rocks and bouncing around rangers and all sort of hell and had no issues on any of my rifles that have Leupolds. Again, I'm probably rougher on my actual hunting rifles than anyone given the terrain and just running through the brush chasing Aoudad. I've got Leupold glass on my elk hunting rifle and had no problems bringing it in the backcountry.

Their tests and what I have experienced, along with the other 3-4 guys I hunt with that almost exclusively run Leupold, do not align.

Ok.

You can't go wrong with a Leupold. They can take a lick and hold their zero better than any other scope I have ever come across.

I bought a VX5HD for my elk hunt a few years ago. I think it's a pretty darn good scope. It's clear and has good relief. It's certainly going to be a trade off on weight if you want something that can withstand a significant drop. At least for me, I found out about 15 minutes into my hunt that weight savings is a big deal. Our first trip back to the mules had me leaving a bunch of stuff behind for our next hike.

Verified false. But ok.

Man I agree. I don't get it either.

I have two very nice scopes on my primary deer rifles, but my range toy/projects/kids guns etc get either Leupold or Vortex 3x9x40s in the $300 range. I was reading a comparison of those two the other day on Rockslide and apparently my relatives and I, and you, are the only people in North America that do not have to re-zero our rifles with Leupolds every time they ride in the truck. One guy went so far to say that he would rather shoot iron sights than buy any Leupold or Vortex at any price range.

I can think of three Leupolds that have been on top of deer rifles since at least the 90's that have never been adjusted. I bet the rings are frozen in place. And those rifles hunt every year. One lived on the back of a mule for 20 years.

Best podcast on the planet.




I have never used anything above their $300 line but if I was going on that hunt I would check them out. One thing I can say with absolute certainty is you can get plenty of glass for less than $2500.


And if you go a different direction still check out the podcast. They are the best outdoor crazy podcasters I have listened to. Especially their ten minute cartridge talks. Really good stuff.

If you're going to be shooting longer ranges and dialing, how are you going to consistently apply wind holds without anything but a simple crosshair?

2nd vs 1st final plane doesn't matter if you have nothing to adjust off of on the reticle, but once you do, sfp starts to suck for hunting use out west.

ttha_aggie_09 said:

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And I'm telling you that I've dropped rifles on rocks and bouncing around rangers and all sort of hell and had no issues on any of my rifles that have Leupolds. Again, I'm probably rougher on my actual hunting rifles than anyone given the terrain and just running through the brush chasing Aoudad. I've got Leupold glass on my elk hunting rifle and had no problems bringing it in the backcountry.

Their tests and what I have experienced, along with the other 3-4 guys I hunt with that almost exclusively run Leupold, do not align.

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Judging from your posts, it seems like you take hunting and shooting pretty seriously.

Would you be willing to start season by confirming zero with a 10 shot group with the rifle that sees the most use, and then not touch it at all, and after all your hunts are over, shoot another?

Edit: I'd offer to do the same, but no tags and 2nd son being born in a few weeks means I'm unlikely to get our after much this season.

I'm hoping that the 300PRC will drift less, I've target shot out to 1,000 yards, but in a hunting situation I don't see myself trying a shot much over 600. Hopefully there won't be much winds in Idaho when we go, but if there is, I'll have a printed dope chart and shooter app that has been pretty spot on for my 6.5PRC.

I guarantee that answer is going to be no lol.

As long as I get to the range in the next two weekends before teal season or maybe first weekend of October before I head out for bow hunting, I can do that.

You want a 10 shot group at 100?

meggy09 said:

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I guarantee that answer is going to be no lol.

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I don't know what crawled up your ass to make you so butt hurt

ttha_aggie_09 said:

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As long as I get to the range in the next two weekends before teal season or maybe first weekend of October before I head out for bow hunting, I can do that.

You want a 10 shot group at 100?

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Yes, 10 at 100 would be ideal. IIRC you shoot PRS or nrl hunter, right?

It'll be good for others to see a realistic 10rd group from someone I assume is a well above average shooter vs a cherry picked 3 shot group.

This rifle will be a B14HMR in 6.5 Creedmoor

NightForce C433, C624, C625.
Chrony your preferred ammunition.
Custom turret.
You'll be amazed at what you will accomplish when you practice.

On my bolt guns I have Leupold vx5HD's vx6HD's and NX8's for the rifles that I'm not in load development on I know where they are right now. All exactly where I left them and if they aren't then it's a me problem and not my equipment! It's the reason I use quality reloading components as well as quality rings, bases and scopes. I don't have a question at all as to where any of my rifles are and I hunt my rifles hard and shoot them a lot and dial out to 1k with the rigs that are setup for that.

For the rifle you are wanting to set up and the power and reticle you are wanting to go with, the vx5HD gen 2 4-20x52 with the fire dot duplex would be what I'd be looking at. That's actually the exact scope I'm going to swap onto my proof elevation 300wm before too long. The NX8 that was on it is going to my 6.5prc, only reason for it is I like the duplex SFP for hunting when you have a real chance of close shots over a FFP.

I love my Trijicon Accupoint

Oh, yeah! I heard about a guy that shot a .275, with a Tasco 2x8, and an oil filter full of used toilet paper for sound deadening. He could hit an elk on the other side of the mountain!

meggy09 said:

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I guarantee that answer is going to be no lol.

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I'm pretty glad ttha is open to the idea of posting his shooting publicly. I'm ecstatic he's not quibbling over 10 shots vs 5 vs 3.

In the spirit of posting actual shooting for others to see, I shot this today with my 18" AR wearing a swfa 3-9. Getting ready to try and take a turkey in a couple days since Colorado lets you hunt them with a rifle in fall.

10 at 100 shooting prone off a pack from the back of a short bed Tacoma. Adjusted up. 2mil left .1 and called it good.



I don't think this rifle will see much abuse this year, but I will let this serve as a starting point too.

smstavinoha88 said:

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I'm hoping that the 300PRC will drift less, I've target shot out to 1,000 yards, but in a hunting situation I don't see myself trying a shot much over 600. Hopefully there won't be much winds in Idaho when we go, but if there is, I'll have a printed dope chart and shooter app that has been pretty spot on for my 6.5PRC.

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What ammo are you using for each?

Looking at Hornady ELDX for 300 and 6.5 PRC, you aren't going to see much difference between them assuming stated velocities. For 8k ft, 40*F, 10mph cross wind, there's .05 mil/ 1.5" of difference in wind drift at 700 yds. Both have enough velocity to upset at that distance and the 6.5 PRC has a bit (5") of advantage for less drop.

I'd be very leery of taking a rifle I hadn't shot and validated data for in the field in differing conditions.

ttha_aggie_09 said:

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I don't understand the hatred for Leupold on Rok Slide… I promise you I'm rougher on my deer lease scopes than anyone on that forum and I've never had a single issue, less a nipple or two from a throw lever falling off (and they sent me new ones for free).

I'm not saying they're the best option but for most hunting applications, they're a damn fine choice. I wish they had more options in VX5/6 with FFP and MIL… seems like all have shifted to MK4/5 now.

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I think most of the Leupold hate comes from the VX3 and lower tier scopes with the CDS system. I personally had tracking issues with CDS on a VX3. It would do what it was supposed to when increasing the elevation turrret, but would stay high when going back to zero at a 100% rate. I put the original turret back on and got zero again and sold it. I have other VX3's that I don't dial with because I never shoot them past 150 yards and they hold zero fine.
The Leupolds in the OP's price range are not known to have issues.
Of the scopes I own, I like the Swaro Z5 best. According to many reviews Swaro has one of the most durable erector systems of any brand, and the glass is phenominal. For 2500$, you could even step up to a Z6 or Z8 if you get lucky and catch them on sale.

In the 6.5PRC, I shoot the Berger 156 grain elite hunters, haven't decided on the 300PRC yet. Once I get it, I'll buy a few boxes to see what it would like. The gun will have a 1-9 twist, so I'm thinking 200 or 205 grain, but we will see what it likes.

Love the 156, used it for a season in my 6.5x284 and would've kept using it if availability was better.

I don't think you're going to gain much, if anything, in the wind unless you step up to 220gr+ bullets in the 300 based off BC numbers.

Definitely not just the vx3. The last round of vx5s tested were off a uspsa target at 100 yds after the drop test, and I think one didn't even adjust correctly when being zeroed. The mk5 series was better, as in rounds stayed in the target, but still bad.

I wouldn't say rokslide hates Leupold at all, there was a ton of genuine excitement when the mk4 showed promise.

My opinion is false? Please explain

I am certain I know what my opinion is.