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36mm or 42mm ?

3K views 10 replies 8 participants last post by  Capt Mullet 
#1 ·
I am finally gathering the things I need to scope my M1a.

Primary use is hunting.

I am getting a Zeiss or a Swarovski so the glass will be excellent.

The 36mm looks more compact lighter and would be my first choice but will the low light capabilities be a big difference between the 36 and 42?? Should I get the 42mm instead?

biggest concern is low light vision!

Thank you for your input
 
#2 · (Edited)
A bigger objective lens will allow more light. So bigger is better. So my vote is for 42mm. As far as Zeiss vs Swarovski, they have good, better and best lens. Both are good scope manufacturers. Swarovski is geared to the Sportsman. They have entered the tactical scope market in the past couple of years with the purchase of Kahles. I have a Zeiss Diavari on my 300 Win Magnum Winchester Model 70 Ultra Grade rifle. Great glass. It is the High Definition lens with Fluoride included in the lens chemistry to improve optical clarity. It has a 50mm objective. Scope cost over $2K. On my Springfield Loaded M1a converted into a Sage EBR I have a Hensoldt. Also made by Zeiss, at the time. Zeiss has since sold its military rifle scope division (Hensoldt) to Airbus Defense. Great glass also. 56mm objective. 34mm tube. That scope cost over $3K. It is set up to hunt animals of the two legged variety but will take most North American Game. Great low light capability. With scopes you get what you pay for.
 
#5 ·
How much do you want to spend?
I just bought a Millett for my M-1A. It's now a subsidiary of Bushnell, and like so much other stuff, they're assembled in China, but parts are US. I gave a bit over $400 for it, but the reviews I read before I bought it compared it to some upper-end Leupold and Nightforce scopes. It has a 56mm objective, 35mm tube, and goes from 6-25 power. Side focus, illuminated reticle (Mil-dot crosshair), and rings and sun shade are included. Several reviewers were using theirs on .50BMG and .338 Lapua, and said they held a zero well under all that recoil. There are a couple of pics of it in my thread "Bought a Millett"
 
#3 ·
Your looking at 3/16" , 36mm is 1-7/16", 42mm is 1-5/8". If your primarily concerned with low light vision, the choice should be obvious, bigger lens = more light gathering capability, go with the 42mm.
 
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#7 ·
Not spending a dime except on rings and mount of course. Probably doing a trade for the glass. The Swaro Z3 or Zeiss HD5 look like my final 2 choices. They both make a 2 X 10 X 42 mm with a decent hunting reticle. Will make the trade today.

Looks like the 42mm it is. Thanks guys !!!!!!!!!
 
#6 ·
Another guy for the 42mm objective. I was going to get a scope with a 56mm objective, and boy I caught hell for that, I got a 44mm because I was asking guys that know a lot more than I. I wish I'd listened to myself and got the bigger one, nobody knows my eyes and what I find comfortable.
m14brian
 
#8 ·
i honostly dont think its that much difference in light gathering in quality scopes. my grandfather hunted with a scope he bought in the 50s that had something like a 1" objective. my great uncle hunted with an old scope from the 30s or 40s on his 98 krag that was smaller. i would go with a 32 or 40.
 
#11 ·
9ft'er on the gator

ended up with the Trijicon Accupoint 40mm

Lots of positive reviews in prior posts from other members so looks like I made a good choice..

Now I need rings
 
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