Swarovski X5 5-25

I have decided to go with this scope on my 6.5 Creedmoor. I will use scope 90% for hunting and 10% target/practice. Should I go with the illuminated? And what is everyone preference on reticles? I kind of like the 4W or 4WX. Less complicated.

I also have a new 338 Lapua that I plan on using for a brown bear hunt this year. I was thinking I could go with a rail system and swap them out. I will probably only use the 338 Lapua on large game hunts only, so the scope will spend 99% of its time on the 6.5. What is the best rail for this application?

Thanks

On Brown bear I would want less magnification than 5X on the low end. Big critter often at close range when hunting last thing I would want on one of those is a field of view full of hair and not be able to see where I am aimed.

Also check regulations on where you intend to hunt with it some states I do not think allow the illuminated reticles.

The scope is certainly clear enough for the job and seeing well past legal shooting light times.

Do not have to go with the rail system to swap scopes around between guns just good rings/mounts and a scope that tracks true. See FiremanJG thread about swapping scopes

I like my Z6 for such an application though many other would work. 2.5-15 gets me good field of view and 15X is good enough for me on shooting as far as I care to.

I have a Z6 and like it. The X5 is their new line. Looks awesome. My Brown bear hunt is in Alaska in spring. Late April. We will be catching them coming out of their dens. Most of the shots will between 100-400 yds or so, with most in the 200 plus range. I have a 375 H&H with 2.5-10 Accupoint on it for my backup gun.

Oldpaint, your brown bear shooting will be UNDER 200 yards, likely inside of 100, that is unless you've wounded him and he's trying to escape. So the 2.5 low-end magnification on the Accupoint is about perfect, and as kmon1 has written, 5x is too high to be optimal in the alders. IMO (and that of many Alaska guides and outfitters) your primary gun should be the .375 H&H stoked with premium bullets of 270-300 grain. If your Holland has a blued finish, be sure and wipe it down good with Eesox or Corrosion-X and tape over the muzzle of the barrel with electrical tape. Use a bikini scope cover, as the flip-ups and others will eventually leak.

Also, I would only take a single rifle, the Holland, because your guide will have a back-up. And leave your big handgun at home. All that said, abide by your guide's recommendations. (That is, if he's experienced.)

He has a .338 Lapua Mag

At 4 a.m. I thought he said he had a .375 H&H as well as the Lapua. At 4 o'clock, without coffee, I might have read anything into it.

I don't see any reason why the OP can't go with the lower power scope and kill a big bear with his Lapua either.

EDIT: Oldpaint DOES have a .375, as he says in the third post. IMO, that is the better rig for the Peninsula or Kodiak.

Speaking from personal experience, I say yes on the illumination. And not saying its a better to have it than and not need it, than needing it and not having it scenario. But often when hunting, you finding your self burning the candle at both ends and looking up, What time is sunrise and referencing thirty minutes before or vice versa with sunset. Light is limiting during these times.

All of these reticles are black, and when placed against a black or dark background they can washout making it difficult to obtain acquiring a target. This is where having illumination is critical. Being able to illuminate the reticle will help provide that aiming point in order to be successful.





The two you brought up are fast reticles, you know if hog or coyote hunting they would really be ideal. But I think for anything like Deer, Elk, Sheep, ect...I would use the BRM.


While initially I thought it would be a cluttered mess. Seeing one first hand isn't overwhelming. I found it very useful and after talking with our rep about it, it is very sue to subtend the reticle for ranging. Even though it is MOA, each hash mark is 1 MOA to the next, it is very useable.

Evidently I needed more coffee as well.

Dr. Pepper Jason, Dr. Pepper

Mountain Dew please

I love it, but it is poison. Got myself down to one a month.

But beer?

Go with Illum....Their new X-5 is pretty cool

Looks Good! What reticle did you go with?

All correct, but I would take the handgun. Never went hunting or fishing w/o one.

Just the duplex ballistic turret with their custom BDC,dial

I keep thinking that one day I'll take along my Ruger Single Six in stainless to bag a couple ptarmigan or spruce hens for the pot. Just never got around to it......

You could also go with the little Nightforce nxs

I'm pro illuminated

I spoke with my guide again today and he said that on this hunt in the spring almost every shot will be over 100 yards. Out to 400. It is a hunt in the snow catching them coming out of their dens.

Either way what kind of rail do y'all recommend or should I just go no rail? I have not used a rail on a bolt action rifle before.

Well since you want to swap around scopes on rifles the rail makes it easy. The system is super secure. If you look at all the tacticool rifles and such where the rifles are expected or could be abused, they all use a rail system.

What brand / model do you have?

One is a Remington 700 and the other is a Stiller

Remington there are multiple bases out there egw, larue, seekins to name a few

Stiller- call stiller and just get one of theirs

Rings
Seekins, night force, talley tactical, and my personal new favorites the Arc 10'a

Well put Patrick!

He's correct, 100%.