I have a new slug gun ordered up so now it's time for optics. I'd like to stay around $200-250 if possible and would like to be able to kill deer out to 200yds. Here are some of the scopes I'm considering:

 

http://swfa.com/Nikon-165-5x36-SlugHunter-Shotgun-Scope-P42356.aspx

 

http://swfa.com/Nikon-3-9x40-SlugHunter-Shotgun-Scope-P45663.aspx

 

http://swfa.com/Leupold-2-7x33-UltimateSlam-Riflescope-P11669.aspx

 

http://swfa.com/Leupold-3-9x40-UltimateSlam-Riflescope-P11671.aspx

 

Thoughts? Comments? Other recommendations? Whichever scope I decide on, I plan to buy x2. One for the slug gun and one for the muzzleloader.

Nikon makes some really nice scopes in that price range. I would lean towards the 3/9 zoom because in thick brush the extra magnification allows you to count antler tines a lot easier. More and more places are putting antler restrictions in and you don't want a fine for having two on one side instead of three. I would lean towards the Nikon over the Loopy. Loopy doesn't seem to put the same quality in the $200 to $300 range of scopes that Bushnell or Nikon does. Once you break the $500+ range or for professional use, then I would go with the Leupold's over Nikon. I have a refurbished Nikon spotting scope from SWFA and it is a great scope for $500.00. I have two Nikon's scopes, one on a 22lr rifle and the other on a 30-30 and work fine.

Nikon makes some really nice scopes in that price range. I would lean towards the 3/9 zoom because in thick brush the extra magnification allows you to count antler tines a lot easier. More and more places are putting antler restrictions in and you don't want a fine for having two on one side instead of three. I would lean towards the Nikon over the Loopy. Loopy doesn't seem to put the same quality in the $200 to $300 range of scopes that Bushnell or Nikon does. Once you break the $500+ range or for professional use, then I would go with the Leupold's over Nikon. I have a refurbished Nikon spotting scope from SWFA and it is a great scope for $500.00. I have two Nikon's scopes, one on a 22lr rifle and the other on a 30-30 and work fine.

 

Sorry Wojo- Totally disagree. Go w/ a low power scope. If you have to take a shot on the run 1.5 is still alot. I sit w/ the scope set low and if I have a far shot I have time to ramp it up.

Bushnell is either discontinuing or revamping its Elite 3200 and 4200 lines (I would bet they'll become 3500 and 4500 to be more in line with the newest line, the 6500) and there are closeouts offered on those two lines. If SWFA isn't offering closeout prices, check Natchez Shooter Supply. I really like the glass in the Elite series. Not sure if they make a shotgun specific scope, but it's worth a look.

 

Good luck.

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

Shouldn't be shooting at running deer is my safety tip. Plus 1.5 to 5 isn't much at 200 yards as the OP said is his range. And you really shouldn't be shooting at running deer at that range with a slug gun.

Shouldn't be shooting at running deer is my safety tip. Plus 1.5 to 5 isn't much at 200 yards as the OP said is his range. And you really shouldn't be shooting at running deer at that range with a slug gun.

 

 

With very effort to be respectful - Wojo you don't hunt do you? Running, walking deer are safe shots as with everything you must know you back stop. And if you cannot hit deer sized game with 5x @ 200 you should stay home.

 

Further more...even sabot slugs are iffy at 200 yds. 200 yds is kind of wishful. Max capaility is aout 150 then the tragectory really starts to fall off.

Thanks for the info, everyone. Wojo I have personally killed a deer that was running at full speed at 120yds with a sabot slug. I was in an elevated position shooting into a lower field.

 

Old School, for my new H&R, the holdover from a 100yd zero is only 8.3" at 200yds using 3" sabots. Yes the trajectory is off, but not a whole lot.

Thanks for the info, everyone. Wojo I have personally killed a deer that was running at full speed at 120yds with a sabot slug. I was in an elevated position shooting into a lower field.

 

Old School, for my new H&R, the holdover from a 100yd zero is only 8.3" at 200yds using 3" sabots. Yes the trajectory is off, but not a whole lot.

 

PM sent

You got me pegged, I've never hunted. Never when I lived in Alaska, or my trips to VA and WV and PA and NY and NJ. I have shot deer on the run, but they were real close when I spooked them and they jumped. Shooting a deer that is sauntering or grazing is much different running. Everyone has their own standards of a clean, humane kill. I'm not into trying to hit a running deer at 100 to 200 and chance wounding an animal. How do you find your blood trail if you wound it at 120 yards while it is running at dusk? Everyone is different, guess why I can't remember the last time I had to fire twice at a deer.

 

 

You got me pegged, I've never hunted. Never when I lived in Alaska, or my trips to VA and WV and PA and NY and NJ. I have shot deer on the run, but they were real close when I spooked them and they jumped. Shooting a deer that is sauntering or grazing is much different running. Everyone has their own standards of a clean, humane kill. I'm not into trying to hit a running deer at 100 to 200 and chance wounding an animal. How do you find your blood trail if you wound it at 120 yards while it is running at dusk? Everyone is different, guess why I can't remember the last time I had to fire twice at a deer.

 

 

 

 

Caught me there buddy... I concede...

 

But you're still wrong. A 1X4 is better for a 200yd max gun which in NJ will probably never be fired at game over 100.

 

I agree on that "on the run" stuff at distance. But I'll take a shot at 30-50yd on the fly and like as little power as possible.

 

Nice Pic BTW. How long ago was that taken in Paterson?

 

Again I apologize and concede to you outdoorsmanship.

 

And yes I did have to shoot one twice this year. Had to stick two arrows in him.

I have a new slug gun ordered up so now it's time for optics. I'd like to stay around $200-250 if possible and would like to be able to kill deer out to 200yds. Here are some of the scopes I'm considering:

 

http://swfa.com/Nikon-165-5x36-SlugHunter-Shotgun-Scope-P42356.aspx

 

http://swfa.com/Nikon-3-9x40-SlugHunter-Shotgun-Scope-P45663.aspx

 

http://swfa.com/Leupold-2-7x33-UltimateSlam-Riflescope-P11669.aspx

 

http://swfa.com/Leupold-3-9x40-UltimateSlam-Riflescope-P11671.aspx

 

Thoughts? Comments? Other recommendations? Whichever scope I decide on, I plan to buy x2. One for the slug gun and one for the muzzleloader.

I would not be a good advisor, as I shot iron sights on my Foster slug gun when I used it and now use peep sights on my muzzleloader. Maybe I like the challenge with those arms, but in the terrain I use them in, they were setup fine for close yardages. I like to match the arm and the caliber for the terrain conditions I'll be hunting. If you're hunting New Jersey, I can't think of many places that offer 200 yd. shots unless you're hunting private land over bean or cut cornfields in the southern or western part of the state. Most "open" areas are usually not where the deer are in this state. Where I've hunted in PA I've never taken a shot over 40 yds. But, it would be comforting to have the right equipment if you have the ability to take a 200 yard shot. A 4X scope appears adequate when used on an open shooting range and sighting in on an 8" bull @ 200 yds. from a solid rest. But add low-light, thick woods, a less-than-perfect solid rest, all while you are trying to pick out your trophy at 200 yds. slipping through the underbrush and that 4X scope might not seem so ideal. We never seem to be offered optimal conditions when shooting at game unless we prepare for them.

 

I like Leupold scopes, but also have a few Weaver's. For rifles where I know I could get some longer yardage shots, I still tend to like scopes with low to medium magnifications. I was just never a fan of "large" scopes. A few of my friends have Bushnell's and they have said good things about them. I have seen the Bushnell's discounted due to the line closing out as others have noted.

http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&brand=BH&prodID=BH422104M&prodTitle=Bushnell

 

Some of my 'scoped rifles and how they are setup for the caliber and style of the rifle for hunting on the East coast. Some need a revision, but that will get done over time. I guess the point of my rambling response is I never once commented to myself while afield that I didn't have "enough 'scope" for the job at hand.

You got me pegged, I've never hunted. Never when I lived in Alaska, or my trips to VA and WV and PA and NY and NJ. I have shot deer on the run, but they were real close when I spooked them and they jumped. Shooting a deer that is sauntering or grazing is much different running. Everyone has their own standards of a clean, humane kill. I'm not into trying to hit a running deer at 100 to 200 and chance wounding an animal. How do you find your blood trail if you wound it at 120 yards while it is running at dusk? Everyone is different, guess why I can't remember the last time I had to fire twice at a deer.

 

 

 

 

LOL nice

 

+1

 

I run a Leopold 3-9x40 on my DPMS 308.. it is very clear at 100 yards and am more than satisfied... the scope has held zero and has had no issues.. I am not a "hunter" so my opinion may be worthless.. but I really appreciate the magnification.. I am comfortable with it set at 5 out at 100 yards.. so I would personally look for something that goes beyond that if I planned to shoot 150 yards and was hunting something..

 

the magnification will likely be a personal choice because we obviously don't all have the same quality eye sight..

Thanks for all the comments everyone. I've decided to go with the Nikon 1.65 - 5x with BDC200 reticle. After looking through some 3x scopes it's just a little too much magnification should I jump a deer on my walk into the woods.

The set up in the picture wasn't an idea set up for normal deer hunting and was more of an experiment. I was on a friend's family farm in North VA / WV. They had 3,000 acres and had culling permits. The terrain went from dense hard woods as scene here, to open alfalfa fields on the other side of the mountain. I threw this (hold on to your low zoom noggins) a 6x-24x Bushnell 4200 with Mil-Dot on a AR10T lower with a Eagle Arms 20" upper launching hand rolled Nosler 165g Ballistic Tips. Hits were made from 80 to about 300 yards. I was experimenting with MilDots and my range guess-timating skills on the deer's torso. It was interesting hunting with a small calculator on my lap. Especially when the LED display froze because of the cold temps.

 

j0n, for 200 yards your selection will be fine. Doing this type of shooting in this picture, having the extra zoom to penetrate thick brush at distances to 'see inside' the brush is where the extra magnification comes in handy. I love seeing an ear twitch in the brush at 200 yards and making a head shot from a ridge line. Hunting is just practice for urban warfare.

 

The following year after my hunting partner missed with two shots out of his 270 when we spooked a mating pair I went the other extreme. Turns out that after a minor bump in the truck, his Weaver scope lost it's zero. I tagged out in the morning and was going to watch the gut piles for the 'yotes that have learned to follow guns shots for an easy hot meal. Out of my 'Trunk - Gun', an abused stainless Mini 14 that I used to fly with in Alaska as my survival gun, and using Wolf 62g FMJ ammo I shot the buck he missed at 80 yards when it stopped running in very thick cover. I 'barked' loudly to get it to turn towards me so I could break the shot, it did a death launch and died about 50 feet away. I broke every 'rule' but after his macho statement of, "Oh, you think you can kill it with your mouse gun", I did. Shut him the f'up after that about what a 223 can do.

Nikon 2-7x32 prostaff is in the bargain cave at cabelas. It's perfect for a slug gun and it's cheap right now.