Scope for a .257 Roberts
- Thread starter gmarr
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Fla_dogman
New member
My vote is variable. The ability to zoom in to get a better look has its benefits
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Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk
Scopes of different quality have different performance.
I have a 6x 42 mm Leupold on my .257 Ackley.IMO,its perfect.
I would not put a different scope on it.(Theres always SOMEBODY!!!
)
Just to verify up close performance,in a dim room,no lights on,I picked up that rifle and sighted on a small flower pot at 20 feet.No problem,I could easily place a shot,prairie dog to deer.
It might make a difference that the scope is mounted very low,and at the right eye relief.
If I look at a target,close my eyes,bring the rifle into position on my cheek,and open my eyes,I have full field,crosshairs on target.I do not have to find anything
For me,that scope,setup the way it is,is as fast and easy as irons.
I have a 6x 42 mm Leupold on my .257 Ackley.IMO,its perfect.
I would not put a different scope on it.(Theres always SOMEBODY!!!
)Just to verify up close performance,in a dim room,no lights on,I picked up that rifle and sighted on a small flower pot at 20 feet.No problem,I could easily place a shot,prairie dog to deer.
It might make a difference that the scope is mounted very low,and at the right eye relief.
If I look at a target,close my eyes,bring the rifle into position on my cheek,and open my eyes,I have full field,crosshairs on target.I do not have to find anything
For me,that scope,setup the way it is,is as fast and easy as irons.
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I agree,GT !. For 20 ft shots, 2 1/2 x is even better!! But I did not build it for 20 ft.That's my antelope rifle,too. I've used it in excess of 400 yds,which is plenty far for a .257.(I did not need more power).
I can see well enough for prairie dogs to about 300.
The Duplex is two mils,tip to tip.Thats handy.
Its always on the right power.
CarJunkieLS1
New member
A plain jane 3-9x40 or a 2-7x33 will be all 99% of hunters will ever need... I have rifles with 3-9x40's with 4-12x40's and even 4-16x44 and where I hunt the max distance shot I could possibly take is 217 yards.
Every time I go into the stand my scope is on 3x or 4x. NOT ONCE have I needed more magnification. But I use it when I'm sighting the rifle in or punching paper.
Every time I go into the stand my scope is on 3x or 4x. NOT ONCE have I needed more magnification. But I use it when I'm sighting the rifle in or punching paper.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
2-7 or 3-9, plenty good. I'd prefer a fixed 4X over a 6X, though. Quite adequate for deer or antelope to 400 yards and a wider field of view for close-in shots.
Fixed power scopes used to be cheaper and more reliable but not now.
For the range and game size for which the 257 is suitable, I'd suggest the 2-7x.
My 257R carbine has a 2-6x32 which is perfect in both size and target enhancement.
FWIW
My 7mm08 carbine has a 1.5-6x32 for similar reasons.
For the range and game size for which the 257 is suitable, I'd suggest the 2-7x.
My 257R carbine has a 2-6x32 which is perfect in both size and target enhancement.
FWIW
My 7mm08 carbine has a 1.5-6x32 for similar reasons.
Sure Shot Mc Gee
New member
Straight 6 power. I would think its eye relief is better.
603Country
New member
Sure, a 4 or 6 power scope will work, and so will a 2x7 or 3x9. But, since I punch a lot of paper at 100 yards, I like a scope that will let me see the bullet holes. A 4x12 will allow that, but I've gotten fond of 4x16-40 scopes. That's what I recommend, and that's what I use. Don't need no stinkin spotting scope...
Why I prefer a variable such as the Leupold Vari-X III 2.5 x 8 I have on three rifles: On a hunt in the Bob Marshall Wilderness on the west slope of the continental divide I got my largest elk ever at about 25 yards and my first (and only) black bear at about 400 yards with my .300 Win Mag with this scope. There are a couple of brands that are better, e.g., Swarovski and Kahles (the brands of my best binoculars), but they are quite expensive.
I have a mildot version of tha 2.5-8 VX 3 on an AR.I agree.its a great scope.
To each his own on the spotting scope,603.
My Kowa works every time at 300 yds.That is the range I sight in,precisely,with my spotting scope.I can keep my shots in the orange diamond of a Leupold target at that range.
All up,WITH the 6x42 Leupold,the rifle I built on a Mex 98 small ring weighs 7 lbs.
It works low crawling through sage and cactus or at 9000 feet.
With a 115 gr Nosler BT at 3050 fps,I get a 100 yd zeroon the upper duplex post,300 yd zero center crosshair,and a 435 yd zero lower duplex tip.
An antelope is in the ballpark 14 in whithers to brisket. Two mils is real close to 7 in.Mildot ranging principle,antelope fits my duplex? 200 yds.Center to post tip? 400 yds.Out to 400,trajectory is good enough,I don't need a laser rangfinder.
I can interpolate from there.
I've been shooting it as my main hunting rifle 25 years. It works.
Not one animal lost with that rifle.
Exit pupil 7mm.Gives all the light the human eyeball can accept.
Compact,light(compared to larger variables) .Has not failed me in 25 years.
And everything in the view is exactly the same,every time.
To each his own on the spotting scope,603.
My Kowa works every time at 300 yds.That is the range I sight in,precisely,with my spotting scope.I can keep my shots in the orange diamond of a Leupold target at that range.
All up,WITH the 6x42 Leupold,the rifle I built on a Mex 98 small ring weighs 7 lbs.
It works low crawling through sage and cactus or at 9000 feet.
With a 115 gr Nosler BT at 3050 fps,I get a 100 yd zeroon the upper duplex post,300 yd zero center crosshair,and a 435 yd zero lower duplex tip.
An antelope is in the ballpark 14 in whithers to brisket. Two mils is real close to 7 in.Mildot ranging principle,antelope fits my duplex? 200 yds.Center to post tip? 400 yds.Out to 400,trajectory is good enough,I don't need a laser rangfinder.
I can interpolate from there.
I've been shooting it as my main hunting rifle 25 years. It works.
Not one animal lost with that rifle.
Exit pupil 7mm.Gives all the light the human eyeball can accept.
Compact,light(compared to larger variables) .Has not failed me in 25 years.
And everything in the view is exactly the same,every time.
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A fixed 6X scope is too much scope for the majority of your uses. Out to 150 yards you don't need more than 3X.
I've found that for close work a 1-4X variable is ideal. On 1X it is faster than irons and 4X is enough for 200-300 yards.
For general use a 3-9X40 scope is hard to beat. I rarely take it off 3X and have taken shots well over 150 yards with it on that setting. Generally speaking this is the sweet spot for value. You'll get more scope for your dollar with a 3-9X than any other configuration.
I used to like a 2-7X, but lately find they are a lot bigger and heavier than a 1-4X and not enough smaller than a 3-9X to matter.
I've found that for close work a 1-4X variable is ideal. On 1X it is faster than irons and 4X is enough for 200-300 yards.
For general use a 3-9X40 scope is hard to beat. I rarely take it off 3X and have taken shots well over 150 yards with it on that setting. Generally speaking this is the sweet spot for value. You'll get more scope for your dollar with a 3-9X than any other configuration.
I used to like a 2-7X, but lately find they are a lot bigger and heavier than a 1-4X and not enough smaller than a 3-9X to matter.
Jack O'Conner
New member
I've had good luck with the 2 -7X option.
Jack
Jack
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
My own opinion is that the .257 Roberts is more of a hunting cartridge than a target-shooting cartridge. Any scope should be selected to meet the most likely usage.
With the light recoil, eye relief is not a critical matter. In hunting, field of view is.
With the light recoil, eye relief is not a critical matter. In hunting, field of view is.
Not sure I'd go with the 6X if you're limiting your shooting to 150 yards.
Best scope I had on my M-70 Win. Featherweight in 257 was a Leopold 2.5 Fixed power and it was good much further then that.
I don't like High Power scopes for short range, Too slow in finding the target.
The 2X7 would give you the best of both worlds for the type of shooting you mentioned.
Yeah the 257 Rbts isn't considered a target round, BUT, don't underestimate its abilities. When the bullets out there today, it can be a long range round.
The Hornady IB or BTSP, and the Berger 115 gr. bullets are good (for hunting deer/antelope size animals) for 600-750 yards.
Best scope I had on my M-70 Win. Featherweight in 257 was a Leopold 2.5 Fixed power and it was good much further then that.
I don't like High Power scopes for short range, Too slow in finding the target.
The 2X7 would give you the best of both worlds for the type of shooting you mentioned.
Yeah the 257 Rbts isn't considered a target round, BUT, don't underestimate its abilities. When the bullets out there today, it can be a long range round.
The Hornady IB or BTSP, and the Berger 115 gr. bullets are good (for hunting deer/antelope size animals) for 600-750 yards.
A 6X might limit close in focus. A 2X-7X will not. However, most hunters with variables set the thing on one magnification, like 4X, and leave it there. Rarely will you have time, even in a blind, to fiddle with the sights.
FOV is decidedly different between 6X and 2X though. 6X Leupold FX-3's is 17.3 ft at 100. 2x runs 44.6 ft.
"...eye relief is better... " Will be very close to identical. 6X Leupold FX-3's is 4.40". 4.2 for their VX-2 2x-7X.
FOV is decidedly different between 6X and 2X though. 6X Leupold FX-3's is 17.3 ft at 100. 2x runs 44.6 ft.
"...eye relief is better... " Will be very close to identical. 6X Leupold FX-3's is 4.40". 4.2 for their VX-2 2x-7X.
603Country
New member
I shot a lot of deer using 4 power optics. Same with 6 power optics. Then on to 3-9. Now, as I mentioned earlier, I use either a 4.5-14 or a 4-16. Normally I leave the scope set on 5 if I'm in the woods, or set on 8 if I'm hunting a right of way. Got no problem finding a loping coyote at 8 power. I also have no problem changing magnification if I need to.
I sold the 6 power. Gave away a Zeiss 3-9. Boxed the 4 power and stored it away somewhere. Put the 2-7's on the rim fires. Unless weight is a serious consideration, I just don't see the joy in limiting myself to low magnification scopes. If I see a coyote out on my hay field at 400 yards, I'm dialing the scope to max and shooting his fawn-eating b___. Explain to me why I need to use a 2.5 or 4 power scope to do that if I don't need to.
Buy what you want. I did.
I sold the 6 power. Gave away a Zeiss 3-9. Boxed the 4 power and stored it away somewhere. Put the 2-7's on the rim fires. Unless weight is a serious consideration, I just don't see the joy in limiting myself to low magnification scopes. If I see a coyote out on my hay field at 400 yards, I'm dialing the scope to max and shooting his fawn-eating b___. Explain to me why I need to use a 2.5 or 4 power scope to do that if I don't need to.
Buy what you want. I did.