What Power Scope for Target Shooting in the South??

Hello Guys

I've been getting into some F and FTR shooting recently, and up till now have been using a Weaver Superslam 2-10 on my Ruger PR (in 6.5). I can shoot OK scores to the max 600 yards we do down here, but sooner or later I'll want to go further, and I certainly notice the limitations of the Weaver - at least it dials very reliably. The Ruger with Weaver is going OK but I now have a really good shooting 223 that I want to scope up to its max potential, which given the rifles accuracy and the fact that it will push 80 grainers at pretty good velocities - should be 900 metres.

So - for mid-price-range scopes how much power is useful for the mirage and other range conditions we get down here ?? I was thinking a 6-24 but from some comments I've seen, unless one has a top dollar scope like a Khales or Nightforce, anything much over 20x isn't much use??

Thoughts??

The same power scope as you would use in the north if that helps.

Well thats just it, I don't know if you do, down here where we must typically have low humidity or whatever else helps make mirage, because I hardly ever see it. I think maybe I should be able to use a higher power scope.

Mirage normally comes from heat from the grround I thought. (probably wrong) Hense why we dont see it in Southland often!

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I shoot fclass in the north island, most of the guys at our club are shooting scopes with 42-50x max magnification, I leave mine on 42x and very rarely turn it down


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I don't know anything about "F-Class" shooting but "I" understand that people who shoot "targets" use scopes with the "minimal" as possible per budget a scope up to 32X… I read heaps of articles where a sightron 8-32X and similar are the "basic low end" magnification.

Again, i don't know nothing about "F-Class" i just read about it.

Mac

Several PPl around me on the range use Sightrons and I do on the PRC club gun. It is a 6x24 and I wouldnt go less than this and in fact I'd go for the 8 x 32 which is $100 more? at around $1700?

I have also tried the 10 x 50 x60mm and I like that as well, I think its $1900?, it probably would be my choice as its 60mm allows you to watch the flags a bit better.

You can pay $3k+ for a night force or something but frankly I wouldn't, the Sightrons are well good enough especially for the $s and club shooting. PS On a hot day the mirage will limit the magnification you can get but with the 6 x 24 I am frequently wishing I had more magnification when it can be used. NB This does depend on the shooter, some like lots of magnifcation, some do not. PPS My only criticism of the Sightrons is the eye relief is pretty un-forgiving that is their only real disappointment. oh and the lens caps are utter crap, but no biggee.

An 8-32 is good for 300 to 1200 yards with the ability to reduce zoom even in high mirage situations.

For price and features, the Vortex and Sightron are hard to beat.

If your budget is really tight I have also used one of these on the range and its OK,

http://www.amazon.com/Nikko-Stirling.../dp/B00CI1Z8KG

about $600NZD from reloaders.

Pondering getting one for my AR for load testing over the winter actually.

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Originally Posted by Hades

An 8-32 is good for 300 to 1200 yards with the ability to reduce zoom even in high mirage situations.

For price and features, the Vortex and Sightron are hard to beat.

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Which vortex? I looked up some reviews for scopes in the 2k price range and I think the vortex I looked at wasnt well reviewed.

To be competitive in F Class Open, which has virtually now become a financial drag race amongst the best shooters who can afford it, you need a very high performing rifle, along with the best accessories that you can afford ie front rest, rear bag arrangement. The scope, to match your outlay on the rifle, needs to be 50x at the top end at least with the ability to drop to say 16x when there is extreme mirage. Obviously most scope options will drop to this lower magnification. Once you get scopes up around 50x the cheaper options just don't cut the mustard optically. I am a vortex fan with a couple on hunting rifles but haven't seen a Vortex that would suite my needs or "controlled" budget. The Sightron SIII however is an excellent scope for the money for those that cannot afford the name brands S&B, NF, March.

Thanks for the opinions, all input gratefully received. I think one thing about the F and FTR Classes is that they are exactly like golf, there are two games you can play . . . the conventional game is to try and beat everyone else and those sorts of people often don't worry what their handicap is as long as its "long enough" that they can burgle tournaments etc. Then there are those people who play to lower their own handicap, they strive for single figures, then scratch etc. They almost always end up the best golfers in the long run.

Well that's what I comfort myself with with my older gear, trying to compete with real money playing the first sort of game just isn't realistic for me. I had the Sightron SIII 6-24 as the benchmark but I think maybe after hearing your guys thoughts the 8-32x56 might be an OK option.

I have the SIII 8-32x56 on one of my rifles. The only issue I have with it is I feel the target dot reticle has a dot which is slightly too large. I wish I had gone with just a plain fine cross hair. Pre my club going electronic targets, when manual marking and spotting disc were in use I found the scope dot was larger than the spotter at some ranges. Annoying. You might have a different feeling - look thru one b4 buying would be my advise of course. Otherwise a great scope for the money.

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Originally Posted by steven

Which vortex? I looked up some reviews for scopes in the 2k price range and I think the vortex I looked at wasnt well reviewed.

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Hi @steven, I don't know what Vortex you have quote or read the review, but, i have 4 of the more basic models and i can't rate them more. I have look thru Leupold and Bushnells and the Vortex's and the Vortex is no where to be lesser quality than the others. if you compare similar models you will see that the Vortex scopes have some very good features over the other and also few not so good, but, you need to pick what is good for you and go with what suits you better.
The scopes i have from Vortex are : Diamondback HD 4-16X44 on my .22lr, 2X HS-T 4-16X44 (AR and 7mm Mag 4 Hunting) and a PST 6-24X50 on my general target rifle(7mm Mag).

everyone has its own needs and likes so what is good to me may not be good to others.

Good luck and all the best.

Mac

Zimmer has give you great advise, even i been a Vortex fan you can go wrong with the S3.

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Originally Posted by Tentman

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Well that's what I comfort myself with with my older gear, trying to compete with real money playing the first sort of game just isn't realistic for me. I had the Sightron SIII 6-24 as the benchmark but I think maybe after hearing your guys thoughts the 8-32x56 might be an OK option.

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Same here, I cant afford a $7k gun and in fact I shoot because I enjoy it and because of the ppl. Also such a gun is so specialized and membership dropping so much that I am just not happy to spend that on what I see as a dying sport. So I try and shoot 303s even with my crap eyesight and I'll build up a AR15 for long FTR shooting, well 600yds as that is about the limit for supersonic 223s.

I suggest you seriously consider the SIII in 8 x 32 having used the x24 at 1000yds its a bit lacking in power for my taste. There is a Bushnell XR? that does something like 4 x 32 but the reviews Ive seen from target shooters say its "dark" at x32 and at $2.5NZD ish $600 more for a poorer scope!

I agree the 8-32 S-III is the minimum you should consider. Or up and up from there...