model88_308
Banned
I've decided on a place in northern Maine for a September bear hunt and have started figuring what rifle(s) I'll take with me. My double rifle in 9.3x74R will be #1 and I'm figuring on my BLR in .450 to be my bad weather rifle.
I'm a firm believer in using scopes with illuminated reticles for this type of hunt, having sat many times in the thick woods of northern Maine until the end of legal shooting, 30 mins after SS. It can be pretty dark by then, especially if overcast and the IR can be a very good pick for those times. I had the reticle turned on when I killed my bear in 2015 at 4 PM just as it began to rain.
That said, I switched out scopes on my BLR yesterday from a Leupold 30mm 1.25-4x20 with #4 reticle to a Hawke Optics Endurance 30mm 1-4x24 with LA4 Dot Reticle (#4 with 2moa red dot). I have two of these scopes and while I won't call them the full equal of the fine Leupold VX-R series, at a significantly lower price, I do like them a lot.
I've already used one or the other of the two I have on an 1895G, Ruger #1 in 9.3x62 and a .35 Whelen so I know they can withstand some significant recoil. I bought some new rings and bases for the BLR to allow a bit more forward placement of the scope, allowing a bit more eye relief and it fit very nicely. The Double rifle wears a Leupold VX-R 1.24-4x20 with Firedot #4 reticle.
I can recommend the Hawke Endeavor 30mm series to those considering a scope with IR, but not wanting to pay VX-R prices. My next scope purchase may well be the 1.5-6x44 version 30mm Endurance.
I'm a firm believer in using scopes with illuminated reticles for this type of hunt, having sat many times in the thick woods of northern Maine until the end of legal shooting, 30 mins after SS. It can be pretty dark by then, especially if overcast and the IR can be a very good pick for those times. I had the reticle turned on when I killed my bear in 2015 at 4 PM just as it began to rain.
That said, I switched out scopes on my BLR yesterday from a Leupold 30mm 1.25-4x20 with #4 reticle to a Hawke Optics Endurance 30mm 1-4x24 with LA4 Dot Reticle (#4 with 2moa red dot). I have two of these scopes and while I won't call them the full equal of the fine Leupold VX-R series, at a significantly lower price, I do like them a lot.
I've already used one or the other of the two I have on an 1895G, Ruger #1 in 9.3x62 and a .35 Whelen so I know they can withstand some significant recoil. I bought some new rings and bases for the BLR to allow a bit more forward placement of the scope, allowing a bit more eye relief and it fit very nicely. The Double rifle wears a Leupold VX-R 1.24-4x20 with Firedot #4 reticle.
I can recommend the Hawke Endeavor 30mm series to those considering a scope with IR, but not wanting to pay VX-R prices. My next scope purchase may well be the 1.5-6x44 version 30mm Endurance.
