40mm vs. 50 mm scopes

LouieT · Jul 1, 2007

I am going to put a Leupold scope on my new remington and I was wongering if I should bet the 40 or 50 mm version. I am leaning towards the vxIII 3.5-10 in 50mm or the vxII 3x9 in 50mm. The gun is a .270WSM. Do the taller mounting rings that the 50mm requires hurt anything as far as shooting is concerned. Thanks for the guidance.

Louie

RACKMASTER · Jul 1, 2007

believe it or not 5mm is a lot on Dia... I chosen Leupold 2.5x10 LPS with an 45mm obj...
its a great scope for deer hunting on mid range rifles..
rm

D13er · Jul 1, 2007

The 50mm is big and annoying. If it has any light advantage it is overshadowed by the inconvenience in size. It won't fit in any scabard or guncase easily. You might be like me and have to find out for yourself but I wouldn't own another on a hunting rifle.

JB

mtmuley · Jul 1, 2007

Listen to D13er. mtmuley

junior · Jul 1, 2007

I like the big objectives...I think it makes things alot clearer because of the light it gathers....I also like power...a rifle shooting out to 600 yards very often needs a scope with power and a big objective...if you get the 50mm you will be able to see 20 minutes later than a person with a 40mm and 10 minutes earlier....makes a difference in my part of the world

muleymaddness · Jul 2, 2007

I don't think the 50mm adds too much to the quality. I have a Leupold VXIII 4.5-14x40 and it's great; especially at dawn and dusk. What you do in the evening late and early in the morning; just turn down the scope to about 6 power or so and your fine. I'll admit, early in the morning and late in the evening, your not going to want it on 14 power.

I have a Zeiss conquest 3-9x40 and can see at night with that scope when the moon is out. That goes to show you that you don't need the 50mm - just my opinion.

Gator · Jul 2, 2007

50mm leaves a bigger cut over the eye, LOL

upmuley · Jul 2, 2007

Go with the 40mm. If you have high quality glass (Leupold, Zeiss, etc) you will see in low light conditions well past legal shooting time. The small positive of light gathering is negated big time by loss of functionality. The scopes just sit too high to be natural to look through. One alternative may be the VXL line of Leupolds.

gahunter · Jul 2, 2007

I would also reccomend the 40mm. I have a Leupold VX III 4.5-14 in 40mm, and gathers more than enough light.

"Easy now, keep the croshairs right behind his shoulder & squeeze the trigger"

tooele · Jul 2, 2007

Tested both in the field. As long as you haven't hunted with 40mm you will be fine. Thumbs down on the 50mm very little advantage at all with high quality glass. Disadvantage of weight, size, affecting rifle balance are all enough to never put one on a hunting rifle. Now some will argue otherwise, but unless you have a horse or 4 wheeler to hunt and then you shoot with a bench rest you will wish you had a 40mm. Just my 2 dollars.

T

257Tony · Jul 2, 2007

The only 50 I currently own and recommend is the Burris Black Diamond, this is a very long scope so the bell sits over the barrel, not over the chamber. This allows the use of medium hight rings. There may be some other brands like this also, but my other rifles wear 40-44mm bells......

Somebody didn't like bouncing betty

cpugsie · Jul 2, 2007

I went through the same thing a few years back. I ended up with the Leupold 40mm objective but went with the 30mm tube instead of the 1" tube which is 25.4mm. I was told by several people that the tube diameter helps out more than the objective. I'm not sure if thats bunk or not but I do love my scope. Go with the 40mm.

Triple_BB · Jul 2, 2007

50mm is more marketing than anything. I've read a few articles about the mathematical limits and there doesn't seem to be much gained from a 50mm obj. I mulled a 50mm Schmidt&Bender a few years ago and opted for a 42mm version instead. The high mount thing really annoyed me...

junior · Jul 2, 2007

LAST EDITED ON Jul-03-07 AT 05:43AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Jul-03-07 AT 04:57?AM (MST)

Its all what you are looking for....the 50s are bigger and heavier...I have a 8x32x50 and we use to shoot alot of crop damage permits...most shots were at the break of dawn and dusk...we always had guys wanting to go and took alot of friends..I don't know how many times I have had to hand a guy my rifle so he could see the target...mine has the 30mm tube.. beleave me in low light they are better...
What people don't understand....when the light is low and the scope is about to give up...those 40s would be down to 3 to 4 power...were i would be at 8...thats a huge difference at even 300 yards!
I have not looked thru a 40 with a 30mm tube...so It may be as good....I would atleast get the bigger tube!
I know guys, we don't want to admit Bigger IS BETTER..but ask any woman...lmao!

bogey · Jul 2, 2007

The 30mm tube has the same internals as a 1", they only allow more adjustment range.

270longshot · Jul 3, 2007

I have both a 3-9x40 leup and a 3-9x50 leup and I can see an easy 10-15 minutes longer with my 50mm. I wish I would have known that before i put them on. My brother shot a buck last year and he only had a 40mm out at 350yards it was low light fading very fast. I had my rifle with the 40mm on it so not much help there. With the 50mm it would have been way easier. I dont like to judge things until I see the difference in the field for myself and I was sold then, and I would only buy a 50mm for these reasons. The benefit way outways the hassle of a bigger scope. Just my opinion

LouieT · Jul 3, 2007

Thanks for all the reply's. I think the 40mm will suit my needs. The 50 would be nice, but the height concerns me. Thanks again.

tmbrlinewarden · Jul 3, 2007

RE: 40mm vs. 50 mm /shooting light

"if you get the 50mm
>you will be able to
>see 20 minutes later than
>a person with a 40mm
>and 10 minutes earlier...."

Just a reminder- (In NM)legal shooting hours starts 30 minutes before "Sunup" and ends AT "Sundown". Not trying to preach, just hate to have to load your buck in my truck.

I'm with the majority here, with optics it's quality over quantity plus If you can't see it through an ol' Weaver K4, probably still too early to shoot it anyway.

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NM Operation Game Thief 1-800-432-4263
?I want as game protectors men of courage, resolution, and hardihood, who can handle the rifle, ax, and paddle; who can camp out in summer or winter; who can go on snowshoes if necessary; who can go through the woods by day or night without regard to trails" Theodore Roosevelt-1899
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jdbfair · Jul 3, 2007

If you are a bigger guy, having to mount a 50mm higher isn't a problem. I mount my scopes with high to super high rings. The extra height fits me.

deerhuntr4885 · Jul 7, 2007

I have a Vari X III in 4.5X14 with the 44mm on my .280 and love it. I would highly recommend this scope. I just bought the 4.5X14 with the 50mm (30mm tube) for my .300 Weatherby. I have not shot it yet. But it is mounted with medium rings. It does not feel any higher when I shoulder it. You guys have me a little nervous about it. But I feel like I got a pretty good deal on the scope. I guess I'll find out when I get in the field.

Good luck to all,

Mike Henne