Hello,

I have a very specific question about a rifle I would like to purchase. While I know people might tell me to ask it in the gun section. I feel it would be better answered here in the big game forum.

I live in Colorado, and plan to go elk hunting with my wife family in fall of 2015. We will be hunting above 10,000ft.

A friend of mine has a gun that I am interested in buying. The gun is a savage 111, .30-06. While I know the gun is sufficient, what I am concerned about is the scope.

It is a Leopold vari-x iii, 6.5x20x50. It has an adjustable ring to really get a clear focus on it. I know that it is a great scope, but the concern that someone brought up to me about it, is that it is too powerful, and if I have to shoot into the trees, that there won't be enough light to see the elk. Some people try to tell me that you will see your elk within 100yds, while others say the shots are usually 200-300. I know that it can be varying distances.

Is this a reasonable scope for hunting elk in the high mountains, or would I be better off with buying a new savage 111 with the nikon 3x9 scope?

I like the idea of being able to zoom in and really get up on the shot, but I don't want to hinder my ability if its too much scope to hunt up to a 300yd distance with.