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Review: Leupold VX-3HD 4.5-14x40mm

Leupold’s VX-3HD riflescopes are lightweight, rugged and well balanced, and included in the line may be the best value for a hunter looking to cover all the bases: the 4.5-14x40mm. With its 30mm main tube, this scope offers a wider range of elevation adjustment than its 1-inch counterparts, as well as better light transmission.

Hardware: Leupold VX-3HD 4.5-14x40 Side Focus CDS-ZL Wind-Plex

The VX-3HD CDS-ZL gives you more than your money’s worth. If you’re an old-school (or at least older) hunter who’s settled in with your old scope, you might want to entertain a roving eye in the scope realm.

Mule Deer on the Eastern Edge

Fifty years ago it was tough to find a mule deer in West Texas, but today it seems like they’re everywhere … unless you’re hunting them, of course. Last year, the author scoured the area’s red rock canyons and mesquite-covered ridges to learn what has led to their abundance.

5 Best Budget Big-Game Riflescopes

These five riflescopes offer big-game hunters great value at a budget-friendly price.

Hardware: Nosler Model 21

The new Model 21 is packed with cutting-edge features, including a wire EDM machined receiver, nitride-coated, fluted bolt, TriggerTech trigger, Shilen match-grade stainless steel barrel, and a rugged, lightweight synthetic stock.

Top 5 Long-Range Hunting Scopes

Here’s a look at some of the best long-range hunting scopes on the market.

Hardware: Woodman Arms Patriot Muzzleloader

The Woodman Arms Patriot muzzleloader is light, short and easy to carry. It shoots extremely well and, with the closed breech, can be waterproofed to ensure it goes off every time. It’s accurate enough to manage the open country, light enough to climb mountains and small enough to handle well in a deer blind.

Behind the Bullet: 27 Nosler

Nosler took the venerable .270 caliber to a new level with the introduction of the 27 Nosler. Conceived as a 21st century upgrade, the cartridge delivers previously unobtainable downrange ballistics by pairing the ultimate combination of case capacity with modern long-for-caliber bullets.

The Umpqua Basin Bonus

In Oregon’s Coast Range last year, the author pursued the state’s rarest deer: the Columbian whitetail. The hunt marked a rare double bonus, as far as he was concerned: a chance to hunt a species he’d never hunted in a state he’d never hunted.

Belted vs. Beltless Magnum Cartridges

What makes a magnum? Does a magnum cartridge need to be belted? What are the advantages/disadvantages of both designs? Contributor Philip Massaro takes a closer look at each to help you make a more informed decision.

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