Thread: Mid range scope

For the record my interpretation of “range” definitions.

Short range is anything up to 300m, or yards, take your pick. Basically the range you can shoot using the MPBR principle and not need to make serious ballistic adjustments assuming you’re zero’d at the correct range.

Medium range is 300-600m. Some will say 700m. But for me, the game changes big time past 600m, especially with a 140-165gr bullet at non-magnum velocity.

Long range is 600m+. I’ve argued with my cuz about whether it’s 600 or 700m, or yards, but for me it’s 600.

So for a mid-range scope, you need a good ballistic reticle that matches your load for a given rifle, ballistic turrets are optional and definitely preferable if you’re routinely shooting 500m+. A magnification of 4x or 5x is good, so 3-15 or 4-16 or 4.5-18. Also depends what you’re shooting. I like using my mid-range rifles on smaller pests, so a 6-24 is helpful in some circumstances.

FFP or SFP is just a matter of personal preference and one is not “better” than the other. I like FFP for medium range shooting, for the ability to use lower magnification for a wider field of view, and still maintain the calibration on the reticle, very useful when tackling a mob of goats when you’ve not got time for dialling and you’ve got to make quick adjustments to your holdover.

Your first and most important specification @Ginga is how much you are willing to spend. I could go out on the hill tomorrow with a scope that cost $500 or a scope that cost $2000, and I’ll bet my left nut that I’ll come home with a deer regardless of which one I choose.