What scope would you recommend for a 243?

[bignose88]

Just looking to buy a scope for my 243. Which scope would you recommend?

[Bill]

whats the intended use mate ?

is it a ute gun for roo's n foxes or a varmitter for shooting across valleys or a walk about for all game ??

[bignose88]

G'day mate, I want an all rounder however most of the time I will be walking around hunting from small game up to deer

[Stix]

Magnification wise, Id go something in the order of...

2.5/3-15...
or...
4-16

This will cover you for everything & some scopes out there these days in this mag range that are acceptable in size & weight for a walk-about...
If you got the coin, there is the Swarovski range, then you can go 3-ish - 18x 40 or 50..& have a choice of reticle thickness & style.

Although 4x is not the absolute ideal for very close in fast moving stuff or thick scrub, you can learn to use it by shooting both eyes open.

the higher end of magnification ive suggested will make for being relatively comfortable to whack a bunny in the head at 300, provided the reticle isnt too thick....

having said that, dont know how good a shot you are or how sharp your eyes are...
Also cant speak for brand or model because you've not mentioned budget...

[solarpak]

G'day mate, I want an all rounder however most of the time I will be walking around hunting from small game up to deer

I am just looking scoping a Weatherby 243 - probably the 5th or 6th 243 i have owned. All you really need is a quality 3-9x40 and nothing more for the hunting you describe.

C.

[bigrich]

G'day mate, I want an all rounder however most of the time I will be walking around hunting from small game up to deer

I am just looking scoping a Weatherby 243 - probably the 5th or 6th 243 i have owned. All you really need is a quality 3-9x40 and nothing more for the hunting you describe.

C.

+1 . for a "walk around" this is whats needed in my opinion . you can learn to use a scope that's lacking in magnification for long shots , but it's fruststrating trying to get a view on a target quickly in close scrub with a high power scope

[Blr243]

3-9. Loop or vortex

[Harrynsw]

Nothing more than x12. Buy something qaulity off the bat. Be sure to physically check it against your eye. Take your time.

[bignose88]

Any thoughts on hawke scopes? My buget is up to $600
What would you go for?

Are these sufficient?

Hawke Vantage 30 IR antage 30 IR 3-12×50 L4A Dot
Hawke Vantage 30 Wide Angle IR 3-12x56 L4A Dot
Vortex Crossfire II 3-12X56 AO Hog Hunter Scope With V-Brite reticle (MOA)

[boingk]

Any thoughts on hawke scopes? My buget is up to $600
What would you go for?

Are these sufficient?

Hawke Vantage 30 IR antage 30 IR 3-12×50 L4A Dot
Hawke Vantage 30 Wide Angle IR 3-12x56 L4A Dot
Vortex Crossfire II 3-12X56 AO Hog Hunter Scope With V-Brite reticle (MOA)

Hi mate, all of those look good but just know the 50 and 56mm sizes will be a tad heavier and need to mount higher than the more usual 40mm jobs. They will subsequently be a bit heavier and more cumbersome to handle, but th tradeoff is being better in low light and should have better field of view, too. You'd need to compared more intricate specs to get that for sure though.

I'd recommend something like the Leupold Rifleman in 4-12x40mm. Well within budget and both my brother and I have used Leupold's for years without issue. Lifetime warranty, nice clear optics... can't go wrong with a Leupold. Incidentally I'm fitting one of these very scopes to my Marlin X7VH in 223.

- boingk

[Harrynsw]

Any thoughts on hawke scopes? My buget is up to $600
What would you go for?

Are these sufficient?

Hawke Vantage 30 IR antage 30 IR 3-12×50 L4A Dot
Hawke Vantage 30 Wide Angle IR 3-12x56 L4A Dot
Vortex Crossfire II 3-12X56 AO Hog Hunter Scope With V-Brite reticle (MOA)

Large objective lenses, physically larger and heavier. I will vouch for the Vortex crossfire range when it comes to the glass and eye relief (not a vx3i but Good value) there's a 3-9x40 with BDC Reticle, roughly $350 and weighs about 15 ounces, that'll leave you a couple hundred for rings and bases.

[TassieTiger]

$600 would get you into a 2nd hand vx3 4-12 - there’s one on used right now $650 ono.

I’ve just revisited my vortex diamondback this weekend( 4-12/44 )and I do need to refit it to something decent without recoil. The eye relief is terrible - rim fire or 223 would be ok but for the extra money, I’d take Leo any day.

[Harrynsw]

$600 would get you into a 2nd hand vx3 4-12 - there’s one on used right now $650 ono.

I’ve just revisited my vortex diamondback this weekend( 4-12/44 )and I do need to refit it to something decent without recoil. The eye relief is terrible - rim fire or 223 would be ok but for the extra money, I’d take Leo any day.

Bad eye relief is a symptom of the diamondback, some reviews fail to tell you that. Thank God for this forum.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=12829

[TassieTiger]

In my experience-Trouble with the vortex range, is that the diamond back 4-12 / 44 is not the same optical arrangement as a diamond 4-16 or 6-24. I don’t know if it’s the coatings or lenses or differing glass levels but they seem to be very different quality depending on the particular config you get.

[bignose88]

Are the Hawke scopes good quality?

[Stix]

Are the Hawke scopes good quality?

I cant speak from experience--yet-- but does an answer based on someone else's opinion hold any weight for you...??

I only know of one person who has one...BentArrow from here has suggested to me in the past that they are good quality & are worthy of consideration...from what i know of his experience, id be confident taking his word for it...! (and one day i will get one).

[solarpak]

Bignose,
I am very well qualified to comment on the Hawke Range. They have the Vantage, Endurance and Frontier range (entry level to premium) and some specialist lines like the Sidewinder and Airmax (Long Range and Air gun)

I have used and still own scopes in the Vantage, Endurance and Frontier ranges and cant fault them. Yes - they are made in China but to Hawke's specifications. Similar to what many other brands do with their scopes made in Japan and the Phillipines - you pay a manufacturer to make a scope to your specs (and price point) and its all done - branded boxed and shipped.

Now on my 243 i have used a Vantage 4-12x50 with the LR-Dot reticle - for the money a decent scope which is well under $500 (from memory) with an illuminated reticle.

C.

[bignose88]

Bignose,
I am very well qualified to comment on the Hawke Range. They have the Vantage, Endurance and Frontier range (entry level to premium) and some specialist lines like the Sidewinder and Airmax (Long Range and Air gun)

I have used and still own scopes in the Vantage, Endurance and Frontier ranges and cant fault them. Yes - they are made in China but to Hawke's specifications. Similar to what many other brands do with their scopes made in Japan and the Phillipines - you pay a manufacturer to make a scope to your specs (and price point) and its all done - branded boxed and shipped.

Now on my 243 i have used a Vantage 4-12x50 with the LR-Dot reticle - for the money a decent scope which is well under $500 (from memory) with an illuminated reticle.

C.

Thank you.

I will take a closer look at the Hawke line up. Hopefully they are parallax adjustable.

[Bruiser64]

I have a Leupold VX3 3.5 to 10 x 40. It is a very basic scope, but it has nice optics. I use my 243 as a walk around rifle and also for spotlighting from my car. Overall I am satisfied with the scope and l can recommend the leupold. Having said that, I think you have a good budget and any of the scopes from the major manufacturers at that price point should be pretty good.