I don't have the flash dot. That's probably another $500. It would be nice though.

Hmm, sounds like optics for the everyday hunter are finally coming of age, the electronic age, that is. It shouldn't be long before you can get laser rangefinding display built into the telescopic sights as well.

I've been looking at the new image stabilization technology they are putting into over the counter binocs now. It won't be much longer before they have a rifle/scope combo that is image stabilized I reckon. The military has been using that technology long enough now that it should be ripe for the civilian market (vis a vis 5" 54 cal gun mount on the Spruance Class Destroyer, M1A1 Abrams battle tank, et al).

Leupolds are just fine. Have only seen a few that have fallen apart but totally backed by the company.

Burris works well and I would not hesitate to buy another.

I have been impressed with the Nikons I've seen.

Have seen to many Simmons fall apart to even consider them.

But once I found out how well european glass worked at dawn and dusk, its all I have on my serious rifles. I'd suggest the same too. After all you cannot shoot what you cannot see. No matter what whizbang magnum rifle you have it on. I"d gladly pay twice the value of the rifle on the scope. After all how much do you have invested in that once in a lifetime shot? That being said I've looked at the Leupold LPS vs one of my Zeiss at dark. It runs a fairly close race but when my hunter needed to shoot a stag at dark he took my rifle with the Zeiss.

Mind you I have a closet full of guns and only a few Zeiss. And on my 223 match rifle, the testing scope is a trashco. It works fine for that.

Bottom line, pick your serious rifle, and put a Zeiss, Leica, Swarovski,Schmidt and Bender on it and never worry again. The rest of the guns can have whatever on them. In a once in a lifetime situation I'd be much happier with a HR single shot handi rifle and a European scope, than with a 1500 buck whiz bang rifle and a lesser scope.

Jeff

This is only my second post on this forum, but it's a good subject. A few years ago I spent all of my money on a new Rem. bolt action .30-06. I didn't have enough left in my poor bank account for one of those dandy high doller scopes that everyone has been talking about. I spent $40 on a scope at Wal-mart and it worked great. My wife got me a laser sight for my pistol and with a little work I managed to mount it on my rifle. You can't beat it for short range "Quick" shots. I haven't missed anything I've shot at since. I know a lot of people will spend every dime they have to get the "BEST" but where I hunt those high dollar items just don't last any longer then the cheap ones.

What high dollar item doesn't last as long as a cheap one.

Not picking on you, but at dawn and dusk, with about the same expenditure as you paid, I could have a single shot cheapy rifle and good scope and see and shoot and kill way earlier than that expensive rifle and cheap scope.

Funny thing is that you can't always see the difference in the stores. But out in the field you can tell right away. Had one fellow feel the same as you until he went with us to Colorado one year. At dusk he couldn't tell a buck from a doe, while I could still count points.....

Jeff

Well I guess I should have clarified that I'm not a hard core hunter, hell I don't even remember the last time I went deer hunting. I hunt hogs every other week and give all of the meat to my dogs. I raise wolfs. They seem to like it. But in the areas that I hunt, with all of the scrub and bramble, thorn bushes and general crap that you have to get through just to find those mean pigs, the expensive stuff just isn't any better than the cheap stuff. I'm also not about to be in those woods at dusk or dawn. Down here we have some mean combat piggies. The longest shot I've ever had to make on one was just under 100yds and the "wal-mart special" scope I had on my .30-06 worked just fine. The average shot is around 10 to 25 yards. Now if you are really serious and hunt in low light and at longer ranges...a little more money spent on equipment might make the difference. My brother hunts hogs with a spear...crazy bast#%d!!! He didn't spend much on a scope either. Ha ha.

Seen those piggys before. We hunt em with bows mostly. I'm out before light and stay till dark so I want a good scope when I have a rifle. And I've got a good Zeiss thats been through the mill pretty tough. Dropped a few times, dinged etc.... still works. But for non trophy or non serious hunters it doesn't matter. And you are right on clothing in that crap. 100 bucks or 5 bucks at wally world. It'll all tear apart. though I've never tried cordura chaps/pants.

What I've never done is hunted the Sam Houston Nat. forest before but in laws want to go around thanksgiving. I doubt we'll see much of anything but I'm going anyway just to get out.

BTW for pigs that are close up, you can't beat a 12ga. That is one deadly weapon. And pack a few slugs and you are good to around 75 or 100 yards with irons. But I bet you know that. If I were out to kill hogs, the 12ga is the only thing I"d consider.

Jeff

Hey - speaking of the 12 ga for pigs... w/ a sXs, was thinking of using double 00 in the first barrel and a slug in the second... one for close and one for long.

Guess it would work same way w/ a slide action... one or two double 00's followed by a slug. What do you think?

Jesse

I carry a pump 590. I load the whole thing with buckshot less one round. I have a speedfeed stock. I carry a pair of birdshot on one side and a pair of slugs on the other side. Since long range shots are generally not in a hurry I can just dump a slug into the mag and cycle the action. Ready to go.

If I run into them in a thicket then I've got 6-7 rounds of buckshot ready to roll instantly.

It's not a perfect plan but it works. For pigs I kinda take a middle road. While I use nickel #4 buck for most deer, I drop down to either 1 or 0 for pigs. Though the 4 is deadly out to about 30 yards. I prefer not to use 00 or 000 since there aren't as many pellets, unless I pack my 10ga which is a PITA to lug around.

Good luck, jeff

Swarovski and Zeiss are nice, but who could reasonably afford the looks from their missus after putting more than one on their rifles???

I have, like, and use Burris, Leupold, Nikon and Pentax. Based my choices on value for the dollar including clarity, reliablility, performance and magnification.

She doesn't know about the two Pentax or the vintage Weaver yet.