Thread: To optic or not?

Originally Posted by Soutpiel

Thanks, thats what I expected to hear, happy BLR shooters! I know the warnings about disassembly...DONT! There will be some machine dust from the new gears after a while. so how did you keep that clean? I know the firing pin and chamber must be very clean or soft misfires can happen. What do you recommend? Compressed air enough? I have some Winchester SuperX in 185 gn coming, and luck with those?

185 or 180grn???? the 180s are awesome,bog std and just work....soft recoil impulse and hit like hammer of thor.
we just cleaned using pull through,break free CLP was flavour of month for us.

For me, a Low power scope. Open sights are a struggle in poor light and shadows.

Those were my thoughts too, low light, in the shadows, a good deer but a questionable shot due to lack of definition. Scope would be useful in this conditions, or fit a set of Fibre sights...

Originally Posted by Dicko

For me, a Low power scope. Open sights are a struggle in poor light and shadows.

Yeah same, I really struggle with iron sights in low light. Might have been easier 10 years ago...but now adding lights allover the house just to be able to see stuff. A low power, low mounted scope would be just the ticket.

Yip. i'd put dot or very low optic,

Don't limit yourself to 100yards, a 308 blr is good to 300 with a 5 power scope on it.

I used this a a bush rifle for a while, Leupy VX5 1-5 firedot ( it can be a little "fish eyed" at 1 power but not to bad, firedot is awesome ) . I didn't fuk around suppressing it. It was a "find a Deer - shoot the Deer" gun & it was heavy enough & well weighted as it was.

For real low light/close range stuff I used to squeeze a ball of tinfoil onto the foresight of my Finnwolf, worked well for sitting and waiting type hunting.
Later went to 2.75 scope, magic!

(Except when using 8X binos to spot an animal cos looking through the scope after spotting made it shrink LOTS!

Phil....subsonic is ALL about shot placement...you have next to NO SHOCK when projectile hits...think arrow not bullet.
head/neck or right through breadbasket...if going bread basket...after shot.boil the billy,have your cuppa/ciggy then go find animal.... animal can walk away but will bleed out pretty quickly....with the straight stocked older style a hammer spur is advantage but we got away without it.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Phil....subsonic is ALL about shot placement...you have next to NO SHOCK when projectile hits...think arrow not bullet.
head/neck or right through breadbasket...if going bread basket...after shot.boil the billy,have your cuppa/ciggy then go find animal.... animal can walk away but will bleed out pretty quickly....with the straight stocked older style a hammer spur is advantage but we got away without it.

Whats the comaprison between subsonic .308 vs standard .223 for hunting? That 462ft/lbs figure does not give confidence.

also the 223 will happily point n shoot the likes of goats out to 200-250 subsonic 308 FOR ME would be 75 yards..... I played with subsonic heaps in x39mm and after a few cockups with my house muttons gave it away and went back to .223....the room for error is so much more,a near miss of brain with .223 will have enough shock to drop animal, the subsonic will have it shake head and or just get pissed off.

I know this rifle model comes out with a fibre optic front bead which could be a game changer from other older open sights. Looking at all of the replies( thank you!) I would say it comes down to the quality of your eyes... If you wear glasses then its another ball game! I am going to deny the money hungry retailers and go with the open sights, learn to use them well and rely on that medal I won 30 years ago for marksmanship, as well as good stalking /hunting technique to get as close as possible. ( advice from a retired culler) That way the retrieve is also doing to be easier. If that doesn't work for me I am going to buy a cheap Chinese low powered red dot and scope, and beat them to hell for as long as they last, but that will tell me which option is the next best. Then, if I'm still able, I will get the good stuff and be done. Of course, good load and projectile selection can also help!

223 has shock....its hitting fast and expanding....308 subsonic is boring a hole through flesh..... if you have ever hit animal with buckshot you will have some idea of what Im saying.

yes agree at CLOSE range it would be ideal.... if you try the subsonics at 50-75 yards and dont quite hit brain....its not a pretty outcome. for pig in pen or below 25 yards they VERY good...if you were confident Im sure subsonic is fine out further...but not for me.

Low power scope or red dot

I’ve just got a 16.5 inch barrel bergara ba13 in 308 with dpt over barrel suppressor. Has anyone managed to have open sights fitted to one of these to shoot over suppressor?