Scope Question: 50mm objective vs. standard?
 

I am planning on buying a new scope for a custom .338-06 I am having built. The gun's intended purpose is elk hunting in thick timber. I'm sure it will get plenty of other use, as well. My question is, does a 50mm objective make a great deal of difference in the black timber? Does it really gather more light and make shooting easier?

Also, does it hinder you in wide open country when the sun is shining?

Right now, my choices are narrowed down to the Leupold VXIII in 2.5-8x36mm (standard diameter objective) or the Leupold VXII 3-9x50mm. I would even consider the VXIII 3.5-10x50mm, if you think it is a significantly better scope that the VXII.

Does the larger objective increase field of view?

Good Dogwork and Good Hunting

RE: Scope Question: 50mm objective vs. standard?
 

the higher objective the more you will see....it will be easy to find targets quiqly and will gather light better in low light conditions...it will be a fine field rifle also...most of my scopes are like 20 something objective and my leupold is 40...i love the leupold...i got on a running deer in a thicket and was on her so good i dropper her on a run in a thicket..in low light conditions...it was like i was swinning a shotgun...i never looked through a 50..that may be kinda big...but i dont know for sure...

RE: Scope Question: 50mm objective vs. standard?
 

The diameter of the objective lense determines the field of view visible through the scope; the larger the objective lens, the wider the field of view. Also, the larger the objective lense, the greater the resolution, brightness, and clearity.

The 50mm objective lense WILL gather more available light while providing a clearer image and give you a few minutes extra shootable light at the beginning and end of the day. I have a 40mm and a 50mm and there is a difference.

Your pick of the Leupold VXII 3-9x50mm is a great choice.

Happy Hunting! :)

RE: Scope Question: 50mm objective vs. standard?
 

the 50 is great in all low light conditions. it will distort somewhat in the field if very sunny. if it is adjustable you can bring it down sum

RE: Scope Question: 50mm objective vs. standard?
 

I have been looking at scopes since mid November and ended up ordering a Leupold 3-9 x 50mm European-30... Every one I talked to said that going with a larger objective lens or a 30mm main tube would gather more light for hunting at low light conditions... This European scope has both... I'm not sure why but the European-30 scopes are available for sale outside of the U.S.A. according to the Leupold web page... I had also looked at the Bushnell Elite 3200 that also had both features I was looking for but didn't like the crosshairs and the 3/8" click value @ 100 yds... I'll be trying my new scope this summer and hope I will have made the right choice.

RE: Scope Question: 50mm objective vs. standard?
 

As the others have said, the 50mm will be an advantage in low light situations. I kicked the idea around a bit myself a while back. Seemed like the 40mm was pretty much the standard. I figured if the 50mm gave that much of an improvement, more people would use them, and they'd be that much more common. Decided to go with the 40mm.

RE: Scope Question: 50mm objective vs. standard?
 

Between the VX-II and the Var-X III, I would go with the VX-II 3-9x50. You will not notice much difference between the 2, but you will not the difference on your pocket book.

Jon Jackoviak
The Optic Zone
www.theopticzone.com

RE: Scope Question: 50mm objective vs. standard?
 

Don't forget that the larger the objective the higher the mount. Also clarity & light transmission have more to do with lense quality and coatings than objective size. If you can justify the extra $$ consider the Swarovski PV 2.5 to 10 42mm. with 4A Reticle. It's amazing. gg.

"When I was born I was so surprised I couldn't talk for a year and a half"

RE: Scope Question: 50mm objective vs. standard?
 

Goodguy makes a very good point. Lens quality probably makes more difference than anything else. I have a Tasco World Class Plus 3.5X10X50mm and my son has a Leupold Vari-X II 3X9X40. His scope is quite a bit brighter than mine. The clearity is a little better also. I'm ordering a Leupold Vari-X III 4.5X14X50 in about 2 weeks. I can't wait!!!

RE: Scope Question: 50mm objective vs. standard?
 

I find my 3x10x42 swarovski's just as bright or brighter than the leupold 3.5x10x50 varix iii due to superior lens coatings.They are also more compact and can be mounted lower.

RE: Scope Question: 50mm objective vs. standard?
 

I would go with a Pentax Lightseeker II in a 3-9X42, or the Vari-X III 3.5-10X40. Good luck.

RE: Scope Question: 50mm objective vs. standard?
 

I have never had a 50mm bother me in open country and it does have a bigger field of view . But for myself I prefer a smaller scope on my hunting rifles . I own some 50mms but like the size of a 40 mm better . The quality of the optics is what is important to me as much as anything.

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RE: Scope Question: 50mm objective vs. standard?
 

On a whitetail hunt a few years back i had both my Leica 8x42 binos and was using a borrowed rifle that had a Leupold 3.5x10x50 on a it. Right at last shooting time I found a shootable deer with the binos in a little clearing about 150 yards away. Now mind you this is real thick stuff where I hunt and very dark at all times of the day . I put the rifle up to shoot, the scope simply could not resolve the deer...looked like some sort of grey blob in the scope. I had shot deer from that stand other times with a 2.5x8 and a 3x9x33 at more or less the same time and I could not see a whole lot of difference between those scopes and this 50mm leupold. I think quality of the optics has a lot to do with it and maybe you would be better off with a 42mm Swarovski ... 44MM zeiss scope or 45mm LPS or something in that order if you have to have every last bit of light. IMO the drawbacks to having it(50mm objective) outweigh any advantages it may possess ...sitting higher on the rifle it is subject to more hard knocks...you have to use higher mounts which doesn't allow a good stock to cheek fit,it has a higher center of gravity and that big objective is vulnerable to being hit in real tight places not to mention it would be pretty useless in a scabbard if the need ever arose . I think the VXIII is a tougher scope because of the one piece tube and it has better coatings on the interior of the lenses where the VXII has multicoat just on the exterior surfaces.

RE: Scope Question: 50mm objective vs. standard?
 

I have Objective lenses from 32 MM to 50 MM

I'll not buy another 50 MM lens.....I can't see the advantage over the 40MMs I have.....and I can mount the scope lower with the smaller diameter Lenz!!!

RE: Scope Question: 50mm objective vs. standard?
 

When I was young, I used to have trouble finding deer with my 32mm scope at the time. The problem was not with the scope but with my natural skills of putting my gun up and naturally being on the animal. After almost two decades of using that gun, I don't have that trouble any more. I have a few 50mm scopes, but decided I don't like them. It looks retarded on a gun. Has extra wieght, which recoil can can effect its zero. Cost a bunch more. I mean if I need to see animals, I will use my binocs. Not a rifle. Thats alot of movement for those who use thier guns as binocs. As far as 40mm scopes, thats about what I want. Its all tradeoffs. You can mount it pretty low. Have decent light gather. Decent FOV. So thats about right with me.

RE: Scope Question: 50mm objective vs. standard?
 

QUALITY NOT QUANTY THIS ISNOT ALONG RANGE WEAPON...2X8 /38 IS A GREAT CHOICE. EVEN A 40MM IN THE SAME POWER...IT WILL ALSO REDUCE THE WEIGHT. 300W.M. HAS 2X7/33 NIKON I WOULD LIKE THE 38 OR 40MMM VERSION

RE: Scope Question: 50mm objective vs. standard?
 

I have a 3x9x50 Vari-x II on my 300 and a 2x7x33 vari-x II on my muzzleloader. At anything but the extreme ranges of the 3x9, the light gathering abilities between the two are not that substantal. At some point the ability of the human eye to gather and utilize the available light reaches a point of diminished returns. Unless you feel the need for a 50mm, "in my opinion" a 40mm will do the job.