LOW LIGHT RIFLE SCOPE HELP

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I have a $2000.00 budget to spend on a new scope. I am wanting to buy the best scope for hunting deer in a stand at 100 to 300 yard range. I want to be able to see as early and late as possible. The Schmidt and Bender rep. told me to buy a 30mm tube classic 3-12 X 50mm or the 2.5 -10 X 56mm for the best low light optimization. He says that these two scopes will capture the most light.

I have also heard that I should buy a fixed 6 power X 42mm with a 30mm tube. They say a fixed power will have less objects for ligght to travel through to capture the most amount of light. I have also heard that the variable power scopes with larger objective lenses will capture more than the fixed power scopes.

Can anyone tell me what the very best scope to capture light will be when hunting deer from 100-300 yards away???

More expensive scopes will have better quality glass and coatings and will sometimes offer better light transmission than larger objective cheaper scopes. Read about exit pupil here: http://www.opticsplanet.com/how-to-choo ... .html#ch03 . S&B scopes are some of the finest in the world. Middle aged persons have pupils that can dilate from anywhere from 4 to 6mm, and any exit pupil over that won't give you more useable light. For the exit pupil of any scope just do the math. Objective lens diameter divided by magnification. You have to determine how much magnification and size you want for your application. The rest of the article is there for the reading. http://www.opticsplanet.com/how-to-choo ... scope.html . You can also read many posts on this forum regarding this subject.

Steven-L is absolutly correct on all accounts. Schmidt & Bender has some of the best glass out there. The best glass has the best coatings so once you get to that level of scope your going to get the best light transmition as possible.

A 30mm tube does nothing for light transmition, it is stronger since it is a larger diameter and it give you greater adjustments for longer distance if you took a one inch tube and a 30mm tube with the same lenses the low light performance will be the same.

Also, I am not a huge fan of BIG objectives but you may be different. A 50mm is too big for me and I know a 56mm definitly would be. The problem with big bells on a hunting rifle are, well they are heavy and you have to use super tall rings that make you mount the scope up high in order to clear the bell which changes the whole natural shouldering point of the weapon. On a bench gun its not as much of a problem for me.

At the level of scopes you are looking at unless in the area you hunt your allowed to hunt at night (like well well past sunset..NIGHT) good glass even in a 40mm bell will allow you to hunt well past legal and ethical hunting/shooting hours.

You certainly don't need a 56mm objective lens or a 30mm tube or 12 power on a 100-300 yard hunting rifle. The S&B all seem to go towards overkill to give the appearance of staying ahead of the rest of the market but its just too much of a non needed thing, weight. Ace.. already mentioned excess height also.

try this.

http://www.opticsplanet.com/kahles-kx-3 ... copes.html

This kahles has a 1 inch tube and is a better zoom range for hunting and does open up to 50mm. At 10X that is a 5mm exit pupil which is more than enough and with excellent glass and coatings should be more than adequate for hunting to end of day. I wouldnt go any larger.

too fast on the trigger again.

I have a $100 swift brand scope. It captures light better than any scope I've ever looked through at dark. Nikon, B & L, Leo, Swav, etc. My buddies have more money than I do, and they are always coming up with some $1000 - $2000 scope to throw at me each year at deer camp. They just can't beat it.

I talked to the guys I bought my original Swift from many years ago because I was going to buy another. They said the quality has gone down hill drastically over the past few years. I cannot recommend the Swift anymore, but I looked through a Kahle while I was there. AMAZING!

Does anyone know about Miopta from Check Repub.? I looked at onelast year and it looked very bright and clear.

Meopta has decent scopes...I still think I'd go with a Leupold over them though.

Trijicon Accupoint or Leupold VX-R

But I like the accupoint the best

I will look at a swarovski Z5 3.5X18-44.

Great light, compact, 18X magnification for long shoots, great optics in general.

They for around 1.5 K