I know there are ample threads on this. I cannot find them. Sorry.

Can someone point me to those threads or simply offer suggestions?

Consider budget up to 2000. Less is best, but 2K is tops.

What are the best light weight scopes for the money, thinking 3-18(ish) or 4-16(ish).

Thank you,
JDK

Swarovski 3.5-18x44's are excellent lighter weight hunting scopes

https://www.sportsmans.com/hunting-...cds-zl2-4-20x-52mm-rifle-scope/p/1626510

I am a big fan of the VX-5 series. For hunting the firedot duplex and excellent glass are all I need. For a little less weight look at the https://www.leupold.com/vx-5hd-3-15x44-cds-zl2-side-focus-htmr-riflescope

The Vx-6HD does have more bells and whistles but at a significant cost and no better performance. After owning both I will not have another 6, they’re not worth the money to me.

Except buy them from Doug not the links I posted.

Thanks, both. I think those have become two of my front runners.

Any recommendations on a lower price point?

The second link I listed is $999 plus tax. To be fair the VX- 5-6 series are all in familiar with in the light hunting scope class with high quality glass. I’ve narrowed my world down to Leupold for hunting and SS for target.

S&B Summit 14 ounces.

Thank you. I'm really liking the VX-5 at this point.

I like the mag range of the Swarovski.

I wish the S&B came in a higher magnification range, but I suppose that would make it weigh more.

JDK,

What is the purpose of the scope? Lightweight- so I'm assuming a hunting rig-- what type of reticle do you want, distance you are shooting and what focal plane do you prefer??

SFP Options

Leupold VX5/VX6HD (3-15 or 3-18) are great for the money, very light, the zero lock turrets are great for hunting, 30mm tube but they are SFP-- so plan on dialing your distance or only holding off when you are on max magnification. Some great reticle options available as well.

Nightforce NXS 2.5-10x42 Compact is 20oz, solid reticle, bombproof scope, SFP but limited to 10x mag

The Swaro Z5 (1" tube)/Z6 (30mm) - both SFP, will be the lightest of all but depending on your cartridge and desired distance it only gives you a total of 13moa to dial and the reticle options are limited.

----------------------
FFP Options

Leupold MK5- 3.6-18-- 26oz, FFP, illuminated or not, price point $1450-1750ish, but it's an awkward 35mm tube-- I went this route for my 7saum and found a company that will take the Hawkins Hybrid (ultralight) and open them from 34mm to 35mm-- saving me about 3oz from adding a pic rail.

March 3-24x42(or 52)-- 23oz, FFP, illuminated or not, price point $2000 +/-, 30mm tube, fantastic glass and turrets-- but the parallax is very finicky and I didn't want that for the purpose of my UL hunting rig.

Correct. This is for a hunting rifle.

As for what reticle... that's a great question. I've only had standard duplex reticles and the MRAD reticle on a Vortex PST. I'd probably rather dial than rely on a hold over (so a simple duplex or the Leupold firedot might suffice). To my knowledge, all my hunting shots have been within 300 yards. I don't have an easily accessible place to practice much beyond that.

Thanks for the recommendations and info

Huge fan of the VX-5 here, too. Light weight, easy to dial up for distance if you need it. Amazingly clear glass and love the firedot. Huge advantage close to dark. Black cross hairs on a black pig is tough.

Awesome; thanks everyone

Great questions asked and answers provided...based upon what's been said.

I personally hate a FFP for a hunting scope (sorry not sorry JG, I know you won't like this)...only one reason, the crosshairs get WAY too small on the lower mag ranges and that is where all my hunting scopes live until and IF I have the time to crank them up. So that eliminates everything FFP from my recommendations, if you like an FFP scope that March listed above a buddy of mine has and it's an impressive scope with a great reputation both in service and performance.

VX5/6HD...I have a non-firedot model, my buddy has a firedot...it's worth the extra money. I don't have anything bad to say about mine and it tracks well thus far but their past tracking issues are always on the back of my mind. I know that is me and not fair to them, I've not had tracking issues with either of the ones I've owned and the other was a vx2.

Vortex Razor LHT 3-15x50 (I'd like to look through a 42 but I honestly have not)...it's a firedot of sort too. I don wish they had Leupolds paralax knob markings, the paralax can be a little finicky.

Zeiss V4 4-16x44 - I don't like their turrets but glass was in the same range as above.

Nightforce SHV 5-20x56 - too heavy, too tall...strong as an ox and clarity was plenty adequate for legal shooting hours but not as good as the ones above.

Those I have first hand experience with and can recommend and speak too.

I've looked through the Swarvo but I wouldn't buy one because their turrets...give me my numbers and let me make my mistakes. I won't want little dials and I don't want little markers. I'll know my dope because my rangefinder will give it to me. But their glass is slightly better than the list above and likely always be able to see well past legal.

Tract Toric is getting a lot of internet attention lately and likely worth a look.

Nightforce is a tank, always worth a look and consideration if you're hard on stuff and they just work, day in and day out...it just comes with the cost of weight. (2-10x42 is the exception but I want more power) The SHV, NX8 and NXS lines are great scopes.

I'm getting tired of typing and feeling like I'm rambling...that's my opinion and likely to be different than the masses on this site a little.

I agree on the FFP v. SFP for hunting purposes. Thanks for all the info.

VX5-HD on a Tikka CTR in .308 has done great work for me, fantastic scope.

Vortex Razor LHT 3-15x50 (I'd like to look through a 42 but I honestly have not)...it's a firedot of sort too. I don wish they had Leupolds paralax knob markings, the paralax can be a little finicky.

Excellent Hunting Scopes and probably my current first choice for a hunting scope

Nx8 4-32x is the best under 2k scope you can buy, and now comes in sfp..

^^^^^^^. This all day everyday. Though the glass in Swaro or Schmidt & Bender mentioned above may be slightly clearer, the NX8 IMO sets the bar in all other categories in this price range. It comes in either FFP or SFP. Has good reticle choices for your intended purposes. You can get the 2.5-20 that’s a little shorter but the same weight as the 4-32. If you aren’t going to dial turrets for distance then I would lean towards the Swaro as simple “point and shoot” scope.

If you're still mulling, take a hard look at the Leupold Mark V-HD. Excellent clarity. Glass gathers light exceptionally well. I'm seeing deals on them at less than $2k.

I picked up two this year, one in 5x25x56 (mil dot (mk)) and the second in 7x35x56 (CCH). They cost less and outperform the USO on my .28 Nosler.

I personally like the FFP for hunting under 100 yards in the 5x25x56 only. But the turrets on both are precise and the CCH reticle really excels at longer ranges (1,500 - 2,000).

The EOTech Vudu might be another good option. Good glass, and lightweight. But for my $, the Mark V is hard to beat.

I second this! I have a Leupold Mark 5HD and have been extremely impressed with the performance. I wrote off Leupold scopes years ago after I use to own a few lower end hunting scopes and a Mark 4. I thought they could not compete with other brands with similar prices, but I think Leupold hit a homerun on the Mark 5HD. I would even go as far as to say that the Mark 5HD is as good or even better than scopes above the Mark 5HD price point.

+1 on this analysis. Personally, I'd put the Mark V - HD up against any new precision optic available below $5,000.

Side note, the Eotech did surprise me. Great clarity and much shorter. If you're in the mountains or take more close shots than long, it's worth a look. Would be a good option on a spotter's rifle.

This info helped me make my choice. Thank you for your post!!

I use the VX-5HD 3-15X44, and the firedot is awesome. Even in good light, that small red dot really helps the eye and brain to focus on the reticle and tune all the other "noise" out. In low light, it's a game changer.

The new bushnell elite lrhs is supposedly badass. I have one on order

I have two VX-5 HD scopes one 3-15x44 HTMR the other metric #4 Firedot 3-15x56 both great scopes . Glass is really close to the Mark 5HD which I’ve also owned and was a very good scope. I sold it because the CCH reticle was too much for hunting. The TMR reticle would be my choice for a target/hunting scope.

Have a look @ the Meopta Optika 6 series.
Very nice scopes in the range you are looking at and 2nd FP
Very nice glass and I think most are in the $600 range