Guys - hav friend needing advice around scopes

She will be shooting long range and wants to know what is best and simplest scope for bringing in lite late and not having to fool with complexity of things like turents. So what is the best long range light gathering scope and the simplest and let’s not factor in price - spend what u need to - thanks!

Buy one of these...

https://www.eurooptic.com/Swarovski-5-25x52-P-L-Riflescope.aspx

Don't worry about the price.

The best scopes, for light gathering, that I own are Meopta with 30mm tubes.
I can't offer advice about the higher end scopes because, unfortunately for me, price is a factor.

All are great low light scopes in 56mm but I would rank them in this order with my eyes. I currently have the T96, Z6i, R2 and Magnus but have tested the others extensively as well.

#1 Schmidt Bender Polar T96
#2 Zeiss V8
#3 Swarovski Z8i
T-4 Schmidt Bender Klassik
T-4 Meopta Meostar R2
#5 Leica Magnus
#6 Swarovski Z6i

Your definition of long range and ours may be drastically different. What do you consider long range. I'm assuming since you are referencing late light, it is a hunting situation????

Long range shooting and no turrets don't jive. People are scared of "turrets" but they're ridiculously easy to use and you really cant accurately shoot long range without them. If she wants to try and shoot long range without them then she's going to be using the reticle for holdover, but to do that she's going to be doing the same math she would with turrets anyway. 400yds and in she may not need them. Go over 500 and they sure do make life easy.

Tell her to save her money and frustration and watch a 5 minute video on how to shoot with a turret scope.

I've been impressed with the Leupold Mark 5, Vortex RazorHD and NF scopes. You said not to worry about $...

I may be wrong and I'm just totally guessing here but I'm betting the "long range" as defined by the OP is more like 200-300 yds. Over 500 and turrets are definitely needed, especially if you are trying to get clean kills on live targets.

I try to get as close as I can to them stupid pine goats and then shoot ‘em in the ear hole. Long range, low light, & trying to kill a deer seems like an awfully bad combination.

She can pick any scope she wants and with enough range time the questions she’s asking will answer themselves. No substitution for burning powder.

^^^^^^^Best advice you'll get right here^^^^^^^

Thanks guys - I was supposed to put distance in there but forgot - 400 to 1000 yards. She is thinking of some out of state hunts and long range shootin as hobbie - I could not tell u nothin about a terrent

I shoot all mine within 200 and price matters - I got a meopta 30 mm tube and conquest 30 mm tube that I like - would love to get one of the really high end but just can’t do it. Will forward her info

at 400-1000, she needs to learn to use turrets. She owes it to the game she is planning to shoot. Burn alot of powder and see what her gun actually does. I'm not a huge fan of taking exceptionally long shots at live game. Too big of a chance of wounding the animal. Gust of wind, animal takes a step, etc, just too many variables. It's a matter of personal choice but I will not shoot at a live animal past 400 even though I can hit steel considerably further than that.

Good ole Leupold has served me well for going on 4 decades. It’s all I have on my rifles. Sure, there are higher quality scopes out there but I do just fine with these.

Dr. B

Fixed 8x56 Schmidt&Bender with 30mm tube. Can't get more simple than that.

Anything over 400, Leupold Mark 8. Best there is. Simple to use.

I’m with ya brother.


So lets say for average budget prices a 6x42 Leupold is like being an owl, just how far is far as the color green fades?

I say 75 yards or so on an open greenfield on a clear day at last light (40 min after sunset)

Magnification and long range are about useless in these conditions to me,

I'm fine with shooting at game at "reasonable" ranges. However, 400 to 1000 yards???????

Nope, I'm not a proponent of those distances. YMMV

If we're using the green scale, I'm screwed. Green, red and some blues, appear black to me, regardless of the lighting.🤔

Let me just say that nobody that hasn't shot or reloaded enough to know which scope to use or how to use turrets has any business shooting over 300 yards. Up to 300 and maybe a bit farther there are all kinds of hold over reticles that will work.

Green is the last color to fade for me at about 40-45 min past sunset. I seldom push it anymore as I hardly hunt for racks these days. I also very seldom sit on a green patch or box blind unless its raining either.

If one is shooting a game animal at 1000 yards at 30 minutes past sunset they have skills beyond my set.

Those folks, guys AND gals that you see on all the vids making the 6-800 yard shots DRT on camera all have a crew with them, you’ll notice. Camera and sound, guide, and a spotter with the dope already on the scope. That’s TV stuff.

NOTHING takes the place of lots of practice and equipment confidence. It ain’t something you just wake up and decide one day.

I won’t even address the ethics with long shooting on a live animal. That’s up to the individual.

As one other pointed out, anything over about 400 even with a laser round will require the same arithmetic.