Scope For Leopard Hunt

What you want is a scope that will maximize light transmission. A bigger objective lens helps (a lot), but like Red Leg, I can't stand seeing something like that on my rifle. A 50mm objective also won't substitute for night vision in the dark, and is more than you need (cost and weight) for day hunting. So a 42 mm objective, or similar, will do the job, and be more practical, in a scope with good light transmission. I think a night vision scope would be fun, but my guess is you wouldn't get to use it very often, so it would be more of a nice to have - expensive and not terribly practical, but could be lots of fun.

Any of the better brands will offer you pretty much the same. I have Swarovski and Leopold on my guns, and Swarovskis are better, without a doubt. I'd say the Swarovski is in the same league as the Schmitt Bender, and the best Zeiss scopes. All are better than Leopold, but Leopold is a very good scope too. Whether the European scopes are worth the extra price is a question only you can answer. As for the Leica, I use Leica binos and cameras, but don't have any experience with the scopes. Up until the current versions I always had the feeling that they weren't up to the standards of the others, but that's probably wrong.

Then you need to think power. You won't be shooting leopard at long distances, so you don't need to look at the more powerful scopes. I use the 1.7 - 10 x 42 Swarovski scope, and it pretty much covers the range of what you'd need. Again, if a 6 scope is too much, you can certainly look at a 3-9x in other brands.

Lastly, I think you should have an illuminated reticle. Some hate it (see some threads on this site!), but in my opinion it's a great option to have, and really comes into its own in low light. You can turn it off most of the time, but to have it when you need it is certainly a plus.

So, putting all of that together, any of the better brands of scopes with a 42mm objective, and something topping out at 10x or less, with an illuminated reticle, should give you what you need.

I took the only leopard I've shot from about 70 yards, without about 5 minutes of legal shooting left, using a .300 Win Mag (and crappy bullets, but that's another story). The scope was a Swarovski 1.7 - 10 x 42 Z6i. I could barely make out the leopard when the PH nudged me to say he was there. I won't say it looked like daylight when I looked through my scope, but it was bright enough to give the confidence to take the shot.

I used a 1x4 Trijicon on my 375 ruger.One shot and one Leopand in the salt.Thank you Jaco,John

The best scope for hunting Mr. Spots? How about a spotting scope?

On a more serious note, the science behind "light gathering" as many have already mentioned on this thread has to do with the combination of objective lens size and magnification. The resultant term is "exit pupil" which is the objective lens size in mm divided by the magnification. Low magnification is a more dominant factor than objective lens size. Any scope that gives you more than 5 to 7mm exit pupil is beyond the human eye capability.

I've never used the newer illuminated reticles (Firedot, Trijicon, etc) but I have to believe they would certainly help in low light situations.

Here's a quote and a link to a good article by Randy Wakeman on ChuckHawks.com that explains the subject well:

http://www.chuckhawks.com/picking_riflescopes.html
BRIGHTNESS AND EXIT PUPIL

You've likely heard all the largely meaningless terms before: good glass, good optic, super image quality, and so forth. Yet, fully multi-coated lenses all function within a fairly narrow range. A large exit pupil, the objective lens in millimeters divided by the magnification, is the biggest factor in delivering a bright image. In Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, March 1994, Vol. 35, No. 3, exploring how maximum pupil size decreases with age, even 67 year old eyes can dilate past 4.5 mm and younger eyes can dilate past 5.5mm. If you want the brightest scope, you want about 5mm exit pupil. A 50mm objective riflescope at 10x magnification yields a 5mm exit pupil. Yet, a little 1.5-5x32mm scope will transmit more light, producing a 6.4mm exit pupil at 5x.

Another article: The Advantages of a Large Exit Pupil
http://www.shootingtimes.com/optics/optics_opticpupil_061907/

So what I'm reading, according to the science being quoted above, one could assume a DG scope such as a VX6 1-6x24 or Trijicon 1-4x24 will yield as much exit pupil light at 4x as a 1.7-10, 2,5-10, or 2-12 with a 42 or so objective will at 7x power.

That then begs the question of the PH's and experienced leopard hunters... How much magnification do you typically suggest having the scope set at in a leopard blind?

My go to thought is to use my 375 with the Leupold VX6 2-12x42 illuminated. The rifle I've shot more big game with than any other.. So there is that confidence factor as well. But am open to a different rig if really worth it, that is when I get around to hunting leopard.

@Red Leg do you think it is worth buying another scope and going through the remounting and rezeroing to switch from the VX6 2-12x42 to a Leica or Swarovski? I mean that is a small additional cost compared to a leopard hunt... but still not sure it is worth the hassle. I do own a Swarvski Z6i in 2-12 x 50 but fully agree with you that a 50 mm objective has no place on a bolt gun, or at least any bolt guns I own... It is well suited to an AR though.

Great post by the way!

Apropos of 375 Ruger Fan's comments on exit pupil size, and with all due respect to his other comments in that post, a larger exit pupil translates to a greater latitude of eye relief, i.e. a bigger eye box in the modern vernacular and is, therefore, not wasted on the user because it makes it easier to quickly mount the rifle and make an accurate shot. A 4x32 makes a good daytime hunting scope but a 4x40 is a much better scope for night time possum hunting (or equivalent) with a spotlight.

Decades back, some anonymous gun writer wrote that any exit pupil over 7mm for a younger shooter (and/or midday sun) or 5mm for an older shooter was wasted and many an idle gun writer has reiterated this nonsensical assertion. It can easily be disproved, by comparing several scopes of similar specification but different objective size, at the same magnification.

I rarely buy gun magazines, mainly because I have become reasonably competent at recognizing poorly researched articles and outright printed lies. There are some good writers on telescopic sights. They tend, in my experience, to be either professional gunsmiths or competent mechanically minded shooters who combine serous outdoor target shooting with regular hunting or professional hunters of one type or another.

ActionBob said:

So what I'm reading, according to the science being quoted above, one could assume a DG scope such as a VX6 1-6x24 or Trijicon 1-4x24 will yield as much exit pupil light at 4x as a 1.7-10, 2,5-10, or 2-12 with a 42 or so objective will at 7x power.

That then begs the question of the PH's and experienced leopard hunters... How much magnification do you typically suggest having the scope set at in a leopard blind?

My go to thought is to use my 375 with the Leupold VX6 2-12x42 illuminated. The rifle I've shot more big game with than any other.. So there is that confidence factor as well. But am open to a different rig if really worth it, that is when I get around to hunting leopard.

@Red Leg do you think it is worth buying another scope and going through the remounting and rezeroing to switch from the VX6 2-12x42 to a Leica or Swarovski? I mean that is a small additional cost compared to a leopard hunt... but still not sure it is worth the hassle. I do own a Swarvski Z6i in 2-12 x 50 but fully agree with you that a 50 mm objective has no place on a bolt gun, or at least any bolt guns I own... It is well suited to an AR though.

Great post by the way!

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I think your VX 6 will be just fine. I would set it at 4x with parallex at 100 meters and shoot the bugger when he shows.

Red Leg said:

I think your VX 6 will be just fine. I would set it at 4x with parallex at 100 meters and shoot the bugger when he shows.

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Red Leg that is exactly what I intend to do! I expect to hear a thud!

I would also seriously consider Trijicon Accupoint and Accupower hunting scopes. I have two 2.5-10x56 Accupoints and the image quality is amazing. Better then the Zeiss Conquest I had (with out the goofy on/off for the lighted reticle) The Accuipower use the same glass as the Accupoints but use battery power instead of Tritium.

I can really see the difference when I compare to my Leupold VX-3 (My eyes have gone down hill this last year) And it is almost the same image uality as the 50MM VX-Rs I have. I like the VX-Rs as well.

The Accupoints can be found well under retail at places like Amazon and Ebay.

markferrigno said:

I would also seriously consider Trijicon Accupoint and Accupower hunting scopes. I have two 2.5-10x56 Accupoints and the image quality is amazing. Better then the Zeiss Conquest I had (with out the goofy on/off for the lighted reticle) The Accuipower use the same glass as the Accupoints but use battery power instead of Tritium.
.

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I have heard good things about the 56 mm Trijicon for low light conditions.It seems like a good choice for a specific type of use.
"Horses for courses" as they say[/QUOTE]

SHOEDOG said:

I have heard good things about the 56 mm Trijicon for low light conditions.It seems like a good choice for a specific type of use.
"Horses for courses" as they say

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It is great for low light but if don't mind the huge objective it works great in all conditions. I know a lot of folks do not like large objectives.

I use 3 - 9 x 42 MeoPro.
Witold

Witold Krzyżanowski said:

I use 3 - 9 x 42 MeoPro.
Witold

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Excellent scope

no1waterdog said:

I used a 1x4 Trijicon on my 375 ruger

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markferrigno said:

I would also seriously consider Trijicon Accupoint and Accupower hunting scopes.

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I have a Trijicon Accupoint 1-4x24 (not the latest version) with the German #4 reticle with the amber dot on a Ruger M77 Hawkeye in 375 Ruger that I turned into an Alaskan style rifle for bears, moose, etc. I am really impressed with the glass on it. I wanted something with a little more magnification however, but I didn't want the large objective of the Accupoints with more magnification. However, in general, the Trijicon scopes are fantastic, and right around the same price point as the Leupold VX-6, Zeiss Conquests, Leica ER(i) scopes. A step up in price, and quality I suppose, would be the Swarovski Z6, S&B, Zeiss Diavari and Victory's, etc. I don't think you would go wrong with the Trijicons for sure. A big plus is no need for batteries.....

As far as glass quality and value, another optics manufacturer I have been really impressed with is Vortex, especially their Razor HD line. I was able to find a great deal on a Swarovski ATS 65mm spotting scope, and wide angle 50mm eyepiece for a backcountry and mountain hunting spotting scope, but was seriously considering a Vortex Razor HD 65mm spotter. However, when I was looking for a pair of 10x42 binoculars, I compared the Vortex Razor HD binocs vs the Swarovski EL 10x42 binocs, and to my untrained eye, I couldn't really tell a difference. Some of the big mountain hunters I have talked to all say go with Swarovski or don't bother, but at around $1000 less, and with the unbelievable warranty Vortex has, along with being made and assembled in Wisconsin I believe, it was a no brainer for me. When I let my Alaskan guide look through my Vortex Razor HD binocs on my Dall sheep hunt this past August, he couldn't believe how good the glass was. His comment was, "I wish I had looked though a pair of these 6 months ago before I sank $2000+ into these Swaro EL's of mine"... Don't get me wrong, Swarovski makes glass that's second to none, but you have to pay for it for sure. I love their stuff. However, when you're looking at "value", it's hard not to consider the Vortex Razor line as some of the best glass for the money out there. I only wish their rifle scopes weren't marketed toward the tactical and long range shooting crowd. Their scope glass is great, I just don't fancy the Mil-Dot and tactical reticles for a hunting scope......probably because I don't know how to really use them well........and I'm not a military sniper........Their spotting scopes and binoculars are great however.

I've had the luxury of guiding 130 hunters over the past 12 years, and have oogled over their glass while in camp and in the field hunting. All of the scopes mentioned in this thread would likely work, and pure optical quality is obviously important, but there is more to a top shelf scope than just optics. I've had a couple of VX6's, one being the 2-12x42 with firedot duplex, and it takes a back seat to nothing made by anyone, anywhere. Yes, a S&B may be slightly superior optically, as may a Swaro Z6 or Diavari, but none of them can match the user friendliness of the VX6's eyebox, as it is superior to all of them. It is the easiest scope to get behind of anything I've seen hunters bring in, or that I've personally owned, and I've personally owned Swaro and S&B. The illumination system is fanastic as well.

I use a Trijicon 3x9 with a tritium red dot on the cross hairs

I have never hunted "Old Spots" but I hope to one day, how ever I have spent may hours in the dark hunt wild boar. In my opinion a lighted recital is a must for night time hunting, confidence in your equipment is a must and having a lighted recital gives you that confidence to make a well placed shot at night. Your spending 10K plus for your leopard hunt an extra $500 is a small price to pay for a successful.

I've not hunted leopard, but I've hunted plenty of animals at the same range at dusk. I've been 100% satisfied with my Z6i 1.7-10 x42.

People with less capable scopes have been consistently amazed with what they can see through my scope vs theirs in low light conditions. And it is ergonomically brilliant.

Steve Scott who is an AH member, showed a leopard hunt of his, on one of his shows. The leopard came in at dusk. The leopard was silhouetted. You could see the crosshairs against the horizon at the perimeter of the reticle. You could not see the crosshairs against the black of the leopard. He shot. The rest of the show was spent following up a wounded leopard that they eventually lost.

I bought a Leupold with the Fire Dot and used it on my leopard because of that show. My leopard was spotlighted and I probably could see the crosshairs fine. However I don't remember because I had a little red dot to focus on, and had no concerns as I pulled the trigger. Would I have felt comfortable with the shot without an IR? I have personally thanked Steve a couple of times for producing that show.

Hunting a leopard is not cheap. There is a lot of good glass out there to choose from. Choose whatever you like and fits your budget. My only recommendation is to get an illuminated reticle!

Look forward to reading about your successful hunt.

Wheels,

I saw that episode as well. It certainly brings home the point of how difficult it can be picking a leopard up in the fading light........

It looks like everyone agrees that a illuminated center dot is desireable as we can assume it will be either a low light situation or a case where a spotlight will be used and fast target acquisition will be necessary.

The whole exit pupil thing is a bit confusing and I think I need to study it some more.

I think we are lucky today to have such a wonderful selection of glass available to us.

I am leaning toward either the Leica Eri 2.5-10 42 or the VX6 2-12 44.

It has been really great to hear everyone's opinions and experiences I don't think there is anywhere else you could get such a wealth of information simply for the asking.Thanks and keep it coming if you think of anything else.