SmallCaliberCentral

I have been lurking for a while now, but didn't feel like I could join in without an appropriate rifle to show everyone. Well, my wait is over.

My new-to-me Cooper Model 38 in .221 Fireball. I got a great deal on it on Gun Broker. Like new condition, and less than 100 rounds through it.

Now I need a scope. Probably a Leupold 6.5x20 40mm LR, unless someone makes a compelling argument for my second choice, the Zeiss Conquest in 6.5x20 50mm.

Welcome! Awesome rifle and, that Leupold would be right at home on top of it .

ScottB--It sure looks like you got a sweetheart of a rifle there!!! Congratulations. You can't go wrong with either the Leupold or the Zeiss. I have three Leupold 6.5-20x40mm LR scopes with the find duplex reticle and really like them. Let us know how it shoots after you get the scope on and work on some load development.

Ya done good, ScottB. I have the same rifle, Phoenix synthetic stock, though; kinda wish I'd gone with the lighter-weight wood one. The .221 now only comes in the Model 21. I went with new VX 2 Leupold in 6-18X because the glass is (allegedly) the same as the VX 3, I won't be shooting any big OH groundhogs past 300 yards with the FB, and it cost a lot less than the LR VX 3; will miss the side-focus, though.

Cooper Porn!!!!!! I like my Leupold 6.5-20's but you can't go wrong either way.
p.s. welcome to the forum! Gary

I'm about to pull the trigger on a Cooper 20 VT soon.
Tonight I looked through a Zeiss Conquest and even though its a 1 inch tube, it was really bright and clear. I like the Varmint-z reticle. There was only a 40mm Leupold to compare it to, but I think either will be a good fit.

Most of my Fireball reloading stuff should be delivered today, and I can start on load development. Now I just need to get a scope ordered.

RowdyYates wrote:I went with new VX 2 Leupold in 6-18X because the glass is (allegedly) the same as the VX 3

Rowdy,

I'm certainly not an expert, but I believe the VX-2 glass is the same that was on the VX-III scopes that were replaced by the VX-3.

Does anyone have the varmint hunter reticle in the Leupold? If so, how do you like it? Is it preferable to a regular duplex or fine duplex?

ScottB wrote:Now I need a scope. Probably a Leupold 6.5x20 40mm LR, unless someone makes a compelling argument for my second choice, the Zeiss Conquest in 6.5x20 50mm.

I have both and can't really come up with a compelling argument either way. I prefer Leupold's varmint reticle over the Zeiss, but not by enough to make it a deal-breaker. On the other hand, I prefer the Zeiss turrets and think the glass is just a smidge better than the Leupold. I use both scopes in prairie dog fields and never feel at a disadvantage with one over the other. You truly can't make a poor choice here, imho.

ScottB wrote:Does anyone have the varmint hunter reticle in the Leupold? If so, how do you like it? Is it preferable to a regular duplex or fine duplex?

Yes and definitely yes. I've used duplex reticles in the past and I would never go back to one in a varmint rifle.

Mike wrote:

ScottB wrote:Does anyone have the varmint hunter reticle in the Leupold? If so, how do you like it? Is it preferable to a regular duplex or fine duplex?

Yes and definitely yes. I've used duplex reticles in the past and I would never go back to one in a varmint rifle.

Agree. Half my varmint rifles have the VHR, alot of my older rigs wear Duplex....no contest at all for varmint shooting, none at all. The VHR is the best thing to happen to varmint scopes since the variable.

Just for fun, here's some more Cooper porn just for Captqc.....my Cooper M38 VR also in 20VT:



That rifle wears a Lupy VX3 6.5-20X LR 40mm M1 w/VHR in Low Leupold 30mm rings, and I'd not change a thing.

Nice rifle, Rick. Mine says "Hello."

It's hard to tell in the picture, but do you have the Leupold Alumina lens covers on that scope? If so, how do you like them?

Scott - All my LR Lupy's on my rat rifles wear the Alumina alloy caps....love 'em.



One thing I really like about them, besides the fact that they seal perfectly (o-ring seals w/rare-earth magnets), is that they fold flat so as not to obscure the shooters downrange vision. The critters I mostly shoot are dinky little guys, an objective cap could hide an entire colony at 300 yards!



Spendy, yes, but worth it? Depends on your budget I suppose, but they are about the best scope lens covers I'm aware of; very well made. I usually put my come-up charts for each rifle in the ocular cap so I can get instant correction data after ranging the target for pretty good first shot hit probability.



The shot above is my Cooper 223, or "Rosa" in 223. One thing for sure, if you put Alumina's on yours, they'll be the last scope covers you ever buy for that scope. Oh, and "Scooter", my Cooper 20VT says 'hi' back.......

Thanks for the info and the pix.