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.
Scopes should be sized to the range you want to have an accurate shot at. A scope for 200 yrd and 2” accuracy is going to be different than 500 yrd 5” accuracy. You also will want to know which reticle you can / want to use. Do you want bullet drop compensation, mil-dot, range finder ... etc.
I have one too. They are pricy, but worth it. I am looking at the 1x4 they make for my AR-10.
Don't let the low price scare you. This is a lot of scope for the money. It even comes with mounts. Read the 117 reviews for a lot of insight.
Redfield 3X9 40mm. This is IMO the best value on the market today. It’s a Leupold- made scope, literally made in the same factoy to the same standards. They make 30, 40, and 50mm objectives and all models are typically under $175. No fancy reticular, etc., but a fine bright scope nonetheless. I have one on my CZ 527 .223 bolt action. Candles and Midway have em. Academy Sports also (where I got mine) for $160.
I put a Nikon on the 700 .308 I got last winter. Haven’t fired it yet but am looking forward to it.
Still, if for hunting I recommend the lightweight Leupold straight 4X.
If for sniping (assuming you have a bull barrel or found a bullet weight that shoots .5in at 100yds in your rifle) I recommend the Shepherd 4 x 10 x 40.
Leupold is now making the Redfield scopes, but you can buy a Leupold that will exceed your purpose at a better price than the Redfield by shopping at Cabela’s online.
I have a Leupold on the first rifle that I built almost thirty years ago, a 30-338 that rocks a 190 gr boat tail at 2994 fps. That scope has never lost zero in any hunt from the Carolinas to Washington state. I believe the Vari-X 3.5 x 10 is around $600.00 now.
My .375 safari rifle that I built to match a 1950s Remington, has a 1957 Weaver Steel tube that is crystal clear and stands the recoil and weather extremes just fine.
Buy the best scope you can afford and become proficient with it. Most rifle scopes today are more up to the task than the rifleman.
But! I do know lenses, expensive lenses, and agree with your opinion about Zeiss and Swarovski. Never had experience with Schmidt and Bender so can't venture anything first hand. Zeiss though, I have observed objects though that should be impossible to see optically, violate the rules of optics but by gosh, there they are. Extraordinary flat field of view with low distortion and high light transmission.
At the end of WWII, General Patton loaded up convey of trucks and sent them into the Russian sector to load up the Zeiss factory and all the technicians + family they could get a hold of. This is why Zeiss is a western company. I have figgered that the Zeiss folks they missed in the round up ended up with Swarovski, which is why these Russian optics are so good. By the way, this was told to me by a Zeiss factory tech that came from Germany once a year to service my Zeiss gear under the service contract.
Within the price range that seems to be set points to something along the line of Bushnell or equivalent. I strongly advise a variable magnification. I was deer hunting once with a guy using a fixed 10X scope when a buck popped up about 40 yards from us. All he could see was deer fur so he shot and it turned up he was looking at the foot. Duh...
I have used one working up loads for a 45-70 ruger #1 it worked great
http://www.hornady.com/store/OAL-Gauges/
good luck
Yep, sure does. My truck gun which gets rough usage, is a bubbarized MN scout mounted with a cheapo garage sale $15.00 BSA 2x pistol scope. But it takes a licking and keeps on ticking, remains dead on accurate with cast boolits and never a problem with it.
BTTT
For the minimum priced scope that is still a good product, check out Redfields. They are being made in the US by Leupold. Here’s one source: http://swfa.com/Redfield-Rifle-Scopes-C2839.aspx
I’d be looking at the 3-9x40, but if you are planning on a lot of 500 yard shooting, you might want to move up a bit to the higher powered scopes. You’ll still spend less than $300.00 and have a solid, made in the US scope.
I can vouch for the Bushnell 6500 tactical, 4.5-30x50mm. I’ve got that on my Winchester Model 70 in .308, and it serves me well out to 600 yds. (for the price I was willing to pay)
I could have researched it all I wanted to online, but I prefer to hear advice based on experience from a group that I trust knows what they are talking about.
I'll weigh all of your input before I make my purchase.
Nikko Stirling is really an overlooked scope ... great optics for a reasonable price, although they have been getting more expensive on eBay in the past year.
Since the rifle purchase, I have given that one to our youngest and bought a Browning X-bolt and chose a Nikko Stirling Diamond 30mm tube and illuminated reticle. I've never been more pleased. There is a photo on my home page of the first deer I bagged with this setup. Split his heart in two at 285 yds. No, he is not a record by any means, but he was certainly a trophy for me since I bought all of the gear, mounted the scope and sighted it in myself. You can see that it is a really nice looking scope.
You won't be wasting your time if you go to Nikko Stirling.com and take a look at what they offer. If you are familiar with eBay and have some patience, you can pick one up at brand new scope at a super price.
Best wishes to you on whatever you end up buying!!!
Have at least a look at the US Optics products if you can. S&B are obviously very good glass, but I think you might be surprised by the USO product. They have a more limited product line compared to the sporting optics companies, but what products they do have I’ve found impressive to look through... then I turn to The Boss, who looks at the rapture on my face, then the price tag... and then says “WHAT?!”
A bit down the price scale, don’t discount Kahles without a look through them either.
Wow! Looks like you can see all the way to Springtime with that one!
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