Posted on 05/29/2011 1:13:35 PM PDT by Washi
O.K. All of you firearms experts:
I had hoped to go to the range today and sight in my new Remington 700 .308. However, the winds here are 20mph with gusts in the 30s. Not conducive to an accurate zero. I also realize that I'm probably going to want to put a better scope on the rifle than the cheap one that it came with.
So, what rifle scope would you recommend? What should I look for in a good scope. What should I avoid? What scope, in your opinion, represents the best value for a reasonable price? What tips would you give for the zeroing process?
Thanks.
You certainly can hunt deer from 500 yards, but do you need an expensive scope for that? Deer are pretty large animals, and the more expensive scope won't give you that much. If you want to shoot small varmints (ground squirrel, PD) at that distance then first I'd be impressed, and then I'd indeed suggest you need a better scope.
Target shooting requires a good rifle and a good scope. If your rifle is not sub-MOA then there is no reason to splurge on a better scope. You may see the target better, but that's about all it gives you. Besides, isn't .308 a tad expensive to shoot at paper?
Price-wise, if you are cringing at $500 for a scope, the best scope you can get is the one that is already on the rifle. A decent Leupold scope (VX-III or better) will cost you about $900.
i was looking at one similar to that to buy.
Just how bad is the scope that comes with it?
I mean it looked OK in the store, but ??? why does everyone say the first thing they will do is replace the scope
In the price range you indicate I would go with a Burris TAC 30 LRS. I have a couple of them on my primary hunting guns. 3-9 power is plenty for hunting out to 500 yds. Don’t make the mistake that you need a higher power for more accuracy. The TAC 30 LRS has both ballistic reticle and target style knobs an lighted reticle with push button operation. Lighted reticle is really nice for low light hunting situations.
http://burrisoptics.com/ff30tactical1.html
The way I figure it, if they can knock 480 bucks off of the price of a scope it is WAY too expensive for me even on sale:).
OK, that brings things into a much better defined range of options.
For that money, I’d be looking at Leupold and Nikon, first. Both of them have good warranty programs and good scopes.
Here’s what you’ll be looking for:
1. You won’t find a good scope with a front objective of more than 40 to 42mm in that price range. You might find scopes with 50 to 56mm objectives, but in that price range, they won’t be good. Good, distortion-free glass costs money, and the bigger the front of objective at a low level of distortion, the higher the cost.
2. You won’t find a scope with more than 10 to 16 times magnification at the top end of the range and still be a “good” scope in that price range.
With that said, I’d be looking at something in the 3x9, 4 to 10 to 4 to 16x magnification range, with an adjustable objective, fog proof, fully sealed, lifetime warranty. If you’re looking on keeping the overall cost down, look in the 1” scope tube family, as your rings/mounts will cost less. Don’t forget that you have to budget for the rings and bases (if your rifle doesn’t already have them). Buying a scope is just part of the expense here.
Before my weapon was tragically lost in a boating accident while crossing a river, I had the Remington 700 police special in .308 with the kevlar stock. I mounted a second generation Springfield Armory scope (costs as much as the rifle) and was able to shoot 3 shot groups of 1/2 inch at 200 yards with it. I am not the best shot but that is good enough for government work. I had a bipod on the front and a monopod on the back for dialing in the shots with a good rest..I miss this rifle so much and wonder if the fishes enjoy it half as much as I did when I dialed it up to 12x and counted the freckles on a groundhogs nose at 100 yards. Yes, Freckle counting is a strange hobby. : )
A Mk 4 Leupold is not really a “price is no concern” scope. It is a good higher-end offering in rifle scopes, but it isn’t the top of the range.
There are scopes that run $2500 and *up*. Want to see a “price is no object” sort of scope?
Hensoldt, Schmidt und Bender, Swarovski, Zeiss, Leupold Mk 8, US Optics, Nightforce, etc - can run up to $5K for the glassware alone. Then you need to worry about mounts, bases, etc.
That was a *fast-moving* river as I remember it, right? I mean the tragedy was that your Remington was swept away before we could even think about trying to retrieve it, right?
I agree with you and I was giving serious thought to a 4200 recently. I was brought up in the days when Bushnell was a name on the downhill slide, but what I saw in that 4200 impressed me quite favorably.
I prefer Schmidt and Bender, Zeiss, and Swarovski, in that order with 30mm tubes. They all expensive European glass. It boils down to resolution, clarity and light gathering, they cannot be beat. I have used Leupold and replaced them with the European optics.
My next rifle is getting a Schmidt and Bender.
Everything is currently scoped with the Leupold above but I’d like to try the Schmidt and Bender. I understand the refractive qualities are amazing in low light.
I understand that mentality as most people think along those lines. I would recommend you not lock yourself into that mindset. It's more palatable to think of your firearm as a system; from the weapon itself, to the optics to the sling, to the ammo to any other accesories you add to it. These days there are a lot of rifle manufacturers that are making impressively accurate weapons at relatively low cost, and finding optics that are fully capable of taking advantage of the weapon's capabilities will regularly lead to glass that can easily match, if not exceed the price of the rifle.
Have Trijicon on the AR.
I was really surprise at how accurate you can be using it.
Very quick acquisition and pretty dang’d good in low light.
Classic Arms is running a mega good deal on a UTG 3X9X40 op scope,($69.95) a Bushnell sharpshooter 3-9X40 ($39.95) and a Barska pro hunter 3X12X50. ($75)
A rifle like that deserves a good scope. There are better scopes of course, but you were looking for something in this price range.
Yes ,Dave, IT was a deep and swift river. I noted the gps coordinates in case I ever needed to try to find it if I ever give up my nonviolent “can’t we all get along” philosophy that I have developed over the years since I served in the 101st Airborne in Viet Nam many years ago. By the way, the load I used in this attempted zeroing in of the late weapon was the “dollar a shot” (at that time) red box Black HIlls 168 grain Match Ammo. I have heard you can get more accuracy in the Remington 700 by handloading the .308 slightly longer than commercial ammo requirements, something to do with the bullet engaging the rifling but I digress as I am now nonviolent and thinking of becoming a democrat.. : D
All had bad glass and moving reticle problems.
I was sold a bill of BS. The Burris Fullfield II (3x9x50) was expensive and not worth sh!t.
Back to Leupold.
Get a true measurement of the throat of your rifle, back off .005 from that and start there.
Flip a PM if you have questions.
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