Scope Recommendation for First-Time 35 Whelen Project

Hi All,

I've recently acquired a RJ Renner "Old African " Ruger M77 in 35 Whelen from an esteemed forum member. I have a collection of African rifles (Dakota 76s and Model 10s mostly) wearing Swarovskis, and I've got a Leopold VX-5HD on my Tikka 30-06, but I don't really have any other experience with optics.

This is my first 35 Whelen (!) and the idea for the rifle is a classic American "workmanlike" rifle, despite the RJ Renner name for the upgrade package. Something recalling the classic Griffin & Howe rifles, perhaps. My ideal scope would be something like a Swarovski Z8i 1.7-13.3x42, but obviously that's not terribly "workmanlike" or budget conscious.

Essentially, I'm looking for a great scope in the $750-1.5k range to mount on a rifle in the $2-3k range. Putting a $2-4k scope on this rifle doesn't feel right for this project. Tell me if you think I'm being utterly silly about that...

The use case for the rifle is primarily focused on North American big game (bears, moose, bison, elk, etc) at short to medium range (not shooting past 400 yards or so). Planning to shoot 200gr TTSXs and 225gr TBBCs. I appreciate a scope with large magnification range because my eyes aren't exactly great, but want to have something useful for close work in timber.

I've been seeing Trijicon Accupoint 2.5-12x42 and Meopta Meostar R2 1.7-10x42 scopes in the $900 range. I have heard amazing things about both, but also some not-so-amazing things recently about Meopta (not sure if it applies to the Meostar line).

Anyone have strong opinions on these two scopes? Any other options I should consider to get Swarovski Z8i 1.7-13.3x42-like performance/magnification range on a bit more of a budget?

Thanks for your time!

-Alex

Glad you got that rifle! I almost couldn’t resist it!

Have you thought about maybe a quality “vintage” scope? Sure would look slick on the RJ renner rifle

Something like this maybe? https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1151345175

I’ve looked through many “west German” zeiss scopes and they are very very good. Also older gloss S&B benders can be had. A nice fixed 4x would be very serviceable.

A vintage scope would certainly fit this rifle, but if you don't care about that, the Trijicon would likely be perfect. I find myself wishing I had something that topped out at 12x on my 35 Whelen at times, lately.

dchum said:

Glad you got that rifle! I almost couldn’t resist it!

Have you thought about maybe a quality “vintage” scope? Sure would look slick on the RJ renner rifle

Something like this maybe? https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1151345175

I’ve looked through many “west German” zeiss scopes and they are very very good. Also older gloss S&B benders can be had. A nice fixed 4x would be very serviceable.

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Very cool, and thank you for the link @dchum! Can’t wait to take the 300 H&H and the 275 Rigby out to Khomas in May!

We’ll have to do a Classic American Calibers on African Game hunt at some point in the future. I love a theme lol.

Albert GRANT said:

A vintage scope would certainly fit this rifle, but if you don't care about that, the Trijicon would likely be perfect. I find myself wishing I had something that topped out at 12x on my 35 Whelen at times, lately.

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Thanks for the reply! It is certainly a trade off between FOV and magnification (unless you get a Z8i, of course). It always blows my mind when people say they take 400 yard shots with a 6x scope. Not with my eyes. Or maybe I just need to practice more.

alexaib said:

Thanks for the reply! It is certainly a trade off between FOV and magnification (unless you get a Z8i, of course). It always blows my mind when people say they take 400 yard shots with a 6x scope. Not with my eyes. Or maybe I just need to practice more.

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A decade ago I could do it with 9x and did it then in Africa, and might be able to pull it off today still, but I wouldn't have much of an idea how big the animal is. I found this year at only 100 yards with 9x I could make the shot no problem but had a hard time verifying it was the big buck I was after. Of course in that case I was looking specifically at the antlers to judge so it might be a bit different for most other cases.

Any scope 3-9x; 3-12x. Doesn't need to be high speed, just durable. Red dot at the center of the reticle for limited light shots.

Your loads would allow you to reach out past 300 in a pinch - if you know your ballistic curve - OR if you chronograph the load and get a Custom Dial System (CDS) cap from Leupold.

Something that most people neglect is to get a reticle that matches well with the anticipated target. A bull elk is going to linger in deep woods until very last light - a lit reticle (Leupold firedot) would be the perfect recipe - same for a dark colored bear or a moose. Trijicon are lit also.

Trijicon 3-9x40 - light weight, $700 range, sack of hammers tough, and very nice glass

Leupold VX6 2-12x42 - this gets your higher magnification desire, good glass, CDS, firedot reticle - not a pig on weight

Leupold VX5 2-10x42 - same glass as the VX6, CDS, firedot

I put a Leupold Mark 4HD 2.5-10x42 on my 35 Whelen. So far so go. Keeping fingers crossed I don't get bit by the Leupold quality bug.

Functionally the scope is everything you could want on a short to medium range rifle and the optical quality is great.

Fixed 4x glossy Leupold would be pretty cool

I have a Leupold VX5 2-10, firedot on my 35 Whelen. It would fit in your budget if you can track down a Gen 1 version.

I own a half dozen Meopta's, and I love them all. I have been slowly replacing all of my Leupold's with Meopta's - they are significantly better optics in low light conditions

Meopta Meostar R2 - 1.7-10x42mm - nearly identical to the Swarovski


and a review for you:

Trijicon Accupoint 2.5-12x42 would be my pick of those two for a Whelen. The German #4 reticle is fantastic for low-light timber work, and the fiber optic illumination (no batteries!) just works. The glass is excellent—maybe not Swarovski-level, but damn close.

Swaro z3 3-10x is right at $1k

Zeiss Conquest v4 2-12x is about $650

This would be my 1st and 2nd choices in your price range…

For what it’s worth I think the Zeiss 2-12x is by far the best scope in the 2-10/2-12/3-9 range under $800… super rugged, super clear.. looks good… etc…

I’d only drop more coin on the swaro if I just had the money to spend and wanted ever so slightly better of a product..

I have Swarovski older ones with TDS reticle on my 35 wheel AI and my 330 Dakota really like them 200 gr.ttsx work really good also 225 accubonds

Lots of great scopes have already been recommended by some very experienced shooters. Nothing wrong with a Swarovski or Zeiss!

Aesthetically, I would go a different direction. Placing a 10x or 12x in a 30mm tube with 42mm or 44mm or larger objective bell on top of a sleek, classy rifle profile is, to my eye, out of proportion. Additionally, the venerable 35 Whelen shines at close-to-medium range hunting, for which lower magnification is well suited or even ideal.

Were it my rifle, I would look for a 2-7x36 or even a fixed 4x, in a 1-inch tube, keeping the scope low mounted and in proportion with the slender, oil finished Renner stock. No exposed turrets, and classic QD lever rings (assuming you have iron sights on the barrel).

Vintage Gun Scopes is a great resource, or go with a new model Leupold, Swarovski, Leica, etc… but either way keep it sleek.

Do not pass go, do not collect $200. Trijicon. Ascent or Huron, Accupoint or Credo if you want a lit reticle. Bounce it off the ground, still holds zero, as long as your mounts do. The 1" tube seems to be just as tough as the 30mm but not much lighter. They are a little heavier across the board, that's the penalty for great durability. You'll read about a short eye relief. They must measure things differently from the others, because it's a non-issue.

This is my experience banging them around in boats, while living in some of the wettest country in North America. I've never sent one back, I cannot comment on customer service. I've read that it was lacking but has improved over time as they have diversified into the sporting market from their tactical focus.

I put the Leupold VX5 HD 2-10x42 CDS Firedot on my Ruger Hawkeye African 35 Whelen. Works great

.30-06 180 gr. 2700 FPS, 100 yard zero - 300 yards -14.4"; 400 yards - 32.2"; 500 yards -58.7"

.35 Whelen 200gr. 2650 FPS, 100 yard zero - 300 yards -15.1"; 400 yards -33.7"; 500 yards -61.4

(Both cartridges shown with Hornady manual fastest loads for each bullet weight.)

Please, for the love of rifles, stop with the "short to medium range" tag!!!!

The Whelen throws 20 grains more bullet - in a larger frontal area projo - at undetectable differences (for field hunting) to the .30-06 180 grain. I guess you could call a .30-06 "medium ranged" if you are sniping at 1,000 yards. However, for hunting at ethical distances - my thought is 400 yards and under - it is right there with the .30-06.

In addition, the trajectory of the projectile is mostly a moot point when one adds in the custom dial system with the Leupolds. Granted, I would not want to try a 500 yard shot with a .45-70 and a CDS dial. 350 yards across a valley with .35Whelen and a CDS dial seems pretty doable to me, however.

Also, Alexaib specifically stated that he wanted MORE magnification due to aging eyes. Therefore, a 1-6x24 or a sleek 2-8x32 would not be enough magnification, and maybe not even a 3-9x40 would make him happy, but his call.

I tend to overlook the Hurons and Credos, having grown up on Accupoints and ACOGs, so good observation GBFLYER. Some viable candidates there as well!

Yes, eye box is important. Leupolds have pretty large eyeboxes. Hunters carry the scope on the rifle 99% of the time, fire it 1% of the time. Scopes as heavy as a pig are just extra PT. If that is your goal, fine. I separate my PT from my hunting.

Hopefully, I have stirred the pot adequately now! YMMV!!!!

You can get a lot more velocity out of the whelen and with bigger bullets it tips things over!!