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Evening Guys,
Im in the process of building a long range hunting rifle.
A Sako 85 in 300WM, Hardy silencer and full cerakote etc, but Im finding it hard to decide on a decent scope for this set up.
Im currently looking at a Vortex Razor HD Gen II 4.5-27x56. I was looking at a Leupold VX-6 but have been told to stay clear.
Any knowledge/past experiences would be a great help! :)
Cheers Craig
What's your budget.
What do you define as "long range" ?
Will it ever be used for bush hunting (6x low end too much IMHO)
Are you likely to ever have to take shots from positions like off-hand, kneeling etc (lower magnification useful)
Are you happy do dial (SFP) or are you willing to spend extra money for hold-over at any magnification (FFP)
Are you set on a particular turret/reticle ? Mil/MOA ?
Is weight a consideration ?
Don't really have one as long as its a decent scope :cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by jakewire
Well for a man without an upper limit I would say a Schmidt and Bender PM11, but that is simply because I have one.
There are many very good scopes starting at a Leupy Mk 4 and on up from there .
Check some of ebf's questions and you'll get a better idea of your requirements.
I would love to get a shot out to 1000m! But the majority of shooting will be less that that.Quote:
Originally Posted by ebf
Wont be used as a bush gun, not worried about weight it will be a ground/bipod rifle.
Do like the idea of FFP
Sightrons are the best value for money IMHO :)
At the top end a S&B PM11, Nightforce NXS or an ATACR would all be up there, but they are a heavy scope and not ideal for a lightweight hunting rig.
To be honest, you don't need that much scope to get to 1000m, I have shot 12" plates very repeatable to +1000m with a VX3 4.5-14x40 on several different rifles but find it a lot more pleasant and easier to spot the exact placement of the hits with a higher mag scope.
My best advice would be to read some reviews and then go and have a play and look through those that you have short listed. It may mean a bit of a drive, but from personal experience, it's better to get it right the first time!
A fair few people on the forum rat on it, but in my opinion there is nothing better than a March 2.5-25X42. Good magnification range, compact size for the magnification range and repeatable. If weight and money isn't an issue, I would go either go S&B or NXS!
Only thing I would recommend would be to have a play with as many as you can, weight can vary a wee bit... That as well as personal preference on some small things :P
+1 on the March.Quote:
Originally Posted by lost
I use a March-F 3-24x42 FFP on my 270wsm and it's a great scope for a lightweight hunting rig!
Or the 52 mm version
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Ok, so budget no issue
Range 200-1000m
Not worried about weight
Prefer FFP
Does your rangefinder do both meter and yards, or one of them only ? If yards only, look at MOA scopes, if meters only, look at Mil scopes.
Try to get something where the turrest match the reticle.
Magnification wise 4-16 is 100% capable of 1000yd shots, I use a 12 power scope :D 6-24 range is nice if you don't have to do off-hand etc, and you can easily distinguish 1/2moa sized targets at 1000yds with reasonable glass.
Bottom end price wise, have a play with Vortex FFP or Sightron S3 FFP, both decent scopes and good value for money.
Top end: March, S&B, Nightforce etc (way out of my price range, so no experience other than having the occasional look thru one).
Find a second hand premier glass is jaw dropping. Havnt seen the new ones tangent something? But imagine they would be good too. Would be interested in what people think of the razor compared to something like a beast or s and b.
The vortex you mentioned is awesome, but it's a huge scope, would look really out of place on a nice sako, when you see one in person you'll understand.
Here's one on a r93 338 lapua for a size perspective.
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...ac817c7592.jpg
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iv got a zeiss hd5, best scope iv ever owned, i shoot deer over 500m with it and could easily do much further. easy to dial, clear glass, not too big.
No question Nightforce atacr!!!
I like my Kahles K 6-24x56 with the msr reticle. Its FFP and not too heavy.
Not sure how much they are in NZ but they are about 3.2K here.
Here is a report on my S&B 3-12. It's not really for "long range" as my spec was only up to 500m, which is when the 7mm08 runs out of foot pounds.
The scope is heavy but actually one of the shortest available with parallax and dialling.
If you are hunting, the low end of the power range is important. 3.5 or 4x is plenty low enough specially if the exit pupil and field of view are good. I've shot more animals with it under 30m than over 250m.
You'll be on a mission now to actually get hold of scopes to look at. A good bet might be to try and go to a longish range field shoot and ask nicely to look through peoples glass. Pay particular attention to whether you like the crosshairs - fine or bold, fancy or plain, whether you like first or second focal plane and specially the exit pupil which can be an awkward limitation above 12x.
There's better options for 1km shooting i'm sure, but what's wrong with the VX6's? Love my 3-18x, only issue with it is the power ring is really tight.
The VX6 3-18 is superb for LR with the fine reticle
I tested a Kahles K624i recently and it dialed very accurately. Pretty much anything from Nightforce will work well (appropriate magnification of course) and if your on a Budget Sightron. Do'nt get to worked up on FFP ve SFP for target work it makes virtually no difference.
Though the long range ones I have used are painfully picky on eye relief.Quote:
Originally Posted by redbang
Nice to dream of a 1 k shot.
Start shooting and training for hitting diner plate target size every time from first cold shot . That might set back your limits a bit.
Good luck
Check your rings are lapped as this can cause tight power ring if rings are not coming together squareQuote:
Originally Posted by MattyP
@25/08IMP how do you mean lapped? Would like to resolve it without sending it to Leupold and being scopeless for a couple of months. I hear their customer service is excellent though.Quote:
Originally Posted by 25/08IMP
Put the scope out in the sun for half an hour and turn the power ring around to evenly distribute the assembly lube, it will free up with useQuote:
Originally Posted by MattyP
Lapping squares up (or aligns) the rings.
But it depends what type of runs you have. I.e. optilocks or Burris signature z rings have inserts so don't get lapped.
But the likes of warne do.
Can I leave the scope attached to the rifle and do this? Or does it need to be unmounted so the lube will distribute better?Quote:
Originally Posted by 7mmsaum
I've heard the free up with use one, but i've literally sat there for an hour turning it back and forward from 3x to 18x and it seemed to make very little difference. Maybe some.
Do I have the rings on too tight? That's another one i've heard.
If its tight off rifle it is most likely lack of use. One of my scopes is three years old and still quite tightQuote:
Originally Posted by MattyP
Yep leave it on the rifle and sit outside with it, the hot sun will warm it up quick, as will a hairdryer.Quote:
Originally Posted by MattyP
if your budget is wide open then S&B or March would be my pick.
BUT if this is going to be your go to huntn boomstick ..... then how many shots are you really going take beyond 600 yrd ? And i can guarantee while you are stumlbing thru the bush on the way to the tops u will sooner or later come across a target close up.
I want a 3 or 4 x bottom end for those situations. 6x is a non starter for me in a hunting rifle.
I have a couple of long range rigs in 300wsm and 7mmRM, & used/tried a number of scopes, some dial up & some with good ballistic reticles.
eg 300wsm has Swaro 4-12x50 with BRH reticle that will get me close 900 yrds. Another option Swaro 3.5 - 18 x 44, but dial up is a bit limited getting you to ~800 yd max.
The Vortex Viper 4-16x50 PST is a good budget choice if you want to save some $.
As stated above the Vortex Razors are HUGE .... look like they'd work well on some field artilliary but I would not want to hump one around the hills myself.
+1 for the Zeiss HD5's - superb optics, I have the 3-15x42 with Z600 reitcle on my 7x64. Wont get you much beyond 600 yd, but damn fine glass for money.
You could also look at the Trijicon 5-20x50 , the tritium illumination is a really cool system. Dial up very soild (like NightForce but better optics) But you're now dealing with a 5x bottom end.
(I have one of these in the cupboard so if u r interested let me know)...... u see I like the idea of your bottomless budget ;)
I've seen mixed reports on the VX6's, using one alongside some of the above i found optics are pretty damn good - close behind Swaros & Zeiss to my eyes. And way better than Nightforce.
Personally I also like to get an illum reticle, but that might be just my old, tired eyes.
What ever u do make sure you go look thru the various scopes to see what suits your eyes.
good luck
I have a March 2.5-25x42 possibly for sale. Certainly fits for your application :P