Need help picking optics for 45/70 and 300BO

Tamu98

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Oct 28, 2008
116
17
DFW, TX
I'm having trouble on deciding what optics to put on two rifles that I'll primarily use for hunting. The first is a Marlin Custom Shop 1895 lever gun in 45/70 and the second is an integrally suppressed 300 Black Out bolt gun (16.25" total barrel/suppressor length). I'm not looking at trying to shoot any type of extreme distance with these rifles and am not wanting to buy another S&B for guns that are going to be thrown into the truck. I would prefer something in the lighter/shorter range, FFP, and an actual usable reticle (not duplex or BDC). I prefer Mil but am OK with MOA on a hunting rifle. I'm considering the Trijicon Credo 2-10x36 and Eotech Vudu 2.5-10x44. I was also considering the USO TS-12x, but am kind of leaning away from it now that I have read a few posts. I'm open to any other hunting scope options and am not trying to buy the same optic for both rifles unless there is a clear winner.
 
I'd put a scout scope or something on the 45/70. Most of my 45/70s wear irons. One has a firedot of some kind. For the blackout, the credo would be nice.
 
I forgot to mention that I wanted to load up some heavy grained 45/70 loads and shoot them with my SiCo Hybrid. Thats why I wanted a scope with a Mil/MOA reticle. Not planning on dialing most of the time, but I want to know hold overs at different ranges. I've considered a 1-6, but I started to think, "If I'm going to add a scope, a little more magnification would be nice." I do have a Trijicon MRO on my integrally suppressed 77/44.
 
On my Marlin Guide gun, I run a Dimondback 1.75-5x32 on it since it is for short range hunting. On the 300 BO, I would stick with a 2-7x32 or a 3-9x40 for hunting.
 
I went with a Razor LHT HD 3-15 mil/mil for my 300BLK SBR bolt gun

1) I should mostly sub and needed something with reliable locking turretszero stop
2) Id never get a hunting scope without illum
3) I want adjustable parralax
4) I want a sub 20oz optic
5) I want a mil based reticle
6) I didn’t want to pay 3K for a March on a rifle that I wouldn’t shoot past 300yards.

SFP is better than FFP for me for hunting application because even with long range subsonic, you don’t really need to hold for wind and I dial elevation
I’ve had good hunting experience with the VXR Patrol 3-9 mil/mil but it has non locking exposed turrets which I don’t like for hunting. I also used a VX6HD 1-6 with the mil turret with decent success as well. The Razor Gen III 1-10 would also be nice but out of my budget.

In fact I liked the LHT HD 3-15 enough that I was considering buying another one to replace my Accupoint 3-9 on my 204 Ruger and I’m really not a fan of Vortex in general.

That being said if you want FFP and don’t mind the extra weight, I’d go with the 3-12 LRTSI
 
I’ve thought along the same lines on a .45-70 (an old vari-x iii 1.5-5x20 resides on my #1), and think if I went a more modern route, it’d be a SWFA 1-6.
Just my .02....