Scope Recommendation for First-Time 35 Whelen Project

[alexaib]

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

 

[dchum]

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.

 

[Albert GRANT]

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.

 

[alexaib]

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.

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.

 

[alexaib]

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.

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.

 

[Albert GRANT]

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.

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.

 

[coreydb]

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.

 

[USMA84DAB]

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