Scopes

As mentioned in another thread I am on the hunt for a new rifle and scope. I have narrowed my scope choice down, and I have been looking at mag options. Now @ 14.5 times mag @ 100m i can see a target fine, but as we get back to 300, i can't see shit. So, I figured the bigger the better in regards to mag. But a few people have said I don't need to go past 24 times or even 30x What sort of mag does one need for shooting out to say 1000m? My eye sight is decent, i dont need glasses and can usually see further than other I know (most wear glasses lol).

I have pretty much settled on a sightron. Initially I was planning on a 10-50x60 (bigger is always better?), but then that idea was poo poo'd by those in the know, so now I am looking at a 8-32x56, or should I flag that and look at a 6-24 instead?

What's the downside to large mag scopes, other than the loss of low end mag? Ideally the rifle will be used to shoot steel out to say (long term goal) 1000m + Weight isn't much of a concern, nor is physical size. Rifle will be some variant of a rem 700 (at this stage)

Also rings and bases. Rem 700 LA Magnum calibre. EGW 20 moa rail fine? Worth getting the HD version in steel? And .900 rings? Warne ones any good?

Cheers guys.


p.s I will soon stop with the questions, just bear with me for now :)

Get yourself a trijicon accupoint 5-20x50 or a nightforce nxs 5.5-25x56 with zerostop:thumbsup:
you pay a bit more for the nf but from what I've seen and heard their worth every penny! although you do get tritium in the trijicon which really helps for precise shot placement during the low light hours which is when its needed most.

warnes are fine, basically if its american made and steel you cannot go wrong(except weaver)... I'd go for a rail and get the meatiest rings you can get your hands on like tactical rings which from experience NEVER FAIL

if your wanting high magnification and in all seriousness here go out and shoot a few high mag scopes first, the optics makes the difference and tbh i wouldn't go above x25 but thats just me

Yeah glass quality is far more important than magnification. A good 10-14 power is far better than a shit 24 @ 1000y, in most cases 20-25 will be ample as Weather conditions such as mirage are a night mare if the conditions aren't 100% on higher mags, Oh & something that tracks

But like alot of things it comes down to your budget

You won't go wrong with a Sightron SIII 6-24x50. Value for money nothing else will come close.
I have a Nightforce 5.5-22x50 on my long ranger and love it and also have a March 2.5-25x42 arriving in a week or so, but "bang for ya buck" get the Sightron.
Pros
Dial reliabily
Glass as good as N/Force
MOA reticule/MOA turrets now available
Lighter than N/Force
Dirt cheap
Cons
No zero stop
Light turret adjustment so need to have caps on
Not illuminated
Not as robust (if you run out of ammo use the butt not the scope as a wacka)

My 2 cents. Only spend money on gear that will get you shooting to 1000++ yards
Rem700 7mmRemMag, Sendro if the budget stretches
Bases anything goes
Warne rings are fine
Sightron
Bedding
Load development
then go shoot some stuff very far away

Now I'd better answer your question,

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What's the downside to large mag scopes

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Field of view, your animal moves and you loose it and have to dial out to re-find. You'll spend to much time zooming in and out

Sightron has better glass in my opion ,i have the S111 6-24x50 moa moa it has nicer glass side by side than NF 5.5-22 x50 that i have in my gun safe ,the sightron is awesome in piss poor light , ive had this scope bout 9 months and very happy with it on paper and steel @ LR as well not much of a bush scope lol, sightron has a life time warranty and its L.O.W premium glass is made in the same factory L.O.W in Japan as NF ,yes its not a NF - but yes it has top jap glass and yes they are good scopes track spot on at half the price,these scopes are popular and win there share long range shoots in the states.

I run a 3-15 on my main LR hunting rifle. Have shot steel to 1,000m without an issue with it. My eyes are average too... But the glass in that scope is top notch (Premier) and as Philipo said, glass quality is often more important that magnification. If something is hazy at low power, it will only get worse as you crank it up. If it rifle is primarily for steel though, I would be looking at something in the 5-25 type range. Its not that often that you have ideal conditions that allow you to use high mag anyway (mirage, haze, low light etc). I had a NF 5.5-22 on my 338 and have shot to 1,300m with it. Have recently changed to a Premier 5-25, now that has awesome glass, build, turrets etc, but you pay for it...

I have never looked through a Sightron, but from what I have read and heard, they are very nice. One thing to check as well, espeically if you are talking 8-32 etc is how much internal adjustment the scope has. Also, what the adjustment graduations are, they often get finer on higher mag scopes

Where is the best place to get a sightron from?

nathan at Ballistic studies is the man.

Category Listing

+ 1 for nathan, or optica zone in the Usa,S111 had 100 moa up and 100 wind 1/4 " clicks. .

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Originally Posted by NZHTR

+ 1 for nathan, or optica zone in the Usa,S111 had 100 moa up and 100 wind 1/4 " clicks. .

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If you order from The opticzone remember to check their home page for a coupon, and if there isn't one wait a few days as they almost ALWAYS have a coupon on their home page
Optic Zone = $1,372.43 Landed with freight and GST and -9% coupon
Ballistic Studies = $1,762.00

While I really would love to support Nathan, I can't justify the extra $500 (rounded) for the same scope. However I will use his bedding/get him to do it, and will probably talk to him about load development (i should do it my self /lazy ass :)