Drop a stack on Optics

GundamZero

GundamZero

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So, I while back I started a thread asking for newbie scope options for about $500. After some advice, I decided to sell some more stuff and no cheap out on my optic.

What kind of scope do you guys recommend for a newbie bolt action guy for around $1000. What is the difference between regular and mil dot recticles? Is illuminated recticle necessary?

Try to keep the scope suggestions newbie friends, as I have next to no experience with one. This is going on a 308 sig sg3000. I am looking to shoot from 300-500 yards.

I was looking at the Trijicon TR20 3-9x40 scope in standard cross hair, since I do not know what mil dot is for. What do you guys think of it?
 
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Gundam - Tell us more about your intended use. Given the type of rifle, I suspect that you will be using it for bench or prone target shooting at known distance in good light.

If this is the case, I would err on the side of more magnification than less. 9x is fine for hunting when minute-of-deer is required. For target shooting, I'd opt for as much magnification as I could afford (with clear glass) and 9x would not be my choice past 200 yards. In addition it's nice to be able to see your hits (assuming you won't be shooting at steel) without a spotting scope.

Mil-dot and MOA reticles are useful for estimating range and for estimating hold-over, both of which are useful in the field but unnecessary in most range situations. Illuminated reticles are only needed if you will be shooting in poor light.

While I don't have a Trijicon, I've used them and they are fine scopes in general. In terms of value I really like the Sightrons, especially the SIII 10-50x. This will be my next LR target scope.
 
I have the Sightron SIII 10-50 and it is a beautiful scope. Little over a grand ($1189 at most places - non-illum) but it is a huge step up from most anything at the 1000 level. There are people who will try to tell you that 1-4 is plenty for 300+ yards, but IMHO, as much mag as you can get, especially if you're trying to see your hits and groupings at those distances. I have a Buhsnell Elite 6500 4.5-30 on one of my target guns and while it's good at 200, it looses it at 300. I plan on replacing it with another SIII fairly soon.
 
Some good advice here. Personally I would not spend $1000 on ANY 3-9 scope. A sightron 6-24, 8-32, or 10-50 would be a fantastic place to start. The vortex in that range are "tacticooler" but optically inferior. The bushnell elites would not disappoint either.
 
Another vote for Sightron. I have a 10 - 50 and am very pleased with it. I would stay away from anything in the 3 - 9 range for target shooting.
 
If you now have $1000 to spend, then the world is your Oyster. The list of good to great scopes is endless. In a major center like T.O. there should be a dozen stores with every imaginable brand and model.

Put a dozen or so up against each other and pick the one best suited to your eye, for clarity, price, and reputation.
 
In the $1000 range the only scope to look at is the Sightron SIII or maybe S-tac depending on what you want as far as power range.

If your dead set on shooting between 3-500 yards then the amount of internal elevation adjustment won't be something you have to worry about when selecting a scope. But if you would like to take a 1km shot then you will have to consider it.

Personally I shoot 3 SIII sightrons. One is a 8-32x56 and the other 2 are 6-24x50. All are LRMOA.

Regardless of what SIII power range you choose the reticals will be accurate at 24 power. If you plan on holding for wind and spin drift you will have to shoot on 24 power. (With the 10-50 you may be able to shoot at 48 power and still use the retical but the spacing will be 1moa rather then 2. Some one will have to confirm this.)

Theres a lot to think about when buying a scope.

Another thing to add, if your worried about not having a zero stop with the SIII scopes you can easily build one yourself. All it takes is a custom made spacer under the turret. I used a 1" copper pipe cut to the correct length.
 
What is a zero stop?

What kind of rings should I be looking at? My rifle comes with a rail and I would like one of those quick detach rings.

And does zeiss have a good warranty, with Depot in canada?
 
Zero stop is just something that stops the turret from turning below the elevation adjustment that you need for where your rifle is "zeroed" ie. 100 yards or what ever range you choose.

Nightforce, Ken Farrell and a bunch of companys make good quality rings but as far as I know they dont make quick detach rings. I don't run QD rings on any of my long range guns. Hopefully someone else can help out for that.
 
If you're not planning on using the scope on multiple rifles, I would save the money on the QD rings. You would need to know your zero for each platform as well, and that's something else to consider. Get a good 20 MOA one piece base from Warne, Ferrel, AGW, or EGW, grab a set of TPS rings, they are great and come in matched sets. Buy a good scope like the Sightron SIII 6-24x50 or 8-32x56 with the LRMOA reticule as suggested, the reticule is excellent, it is a great way to go, and you won't need to upgrade, really ever, unless you want to drink the Nightforce kool-aid (I did), or another higher end scope. The above will get you all the way to 1000 yards if you choose to play in that space in the future.

I have had to remove my scope from the rail on my rifle a couple of times. With the TPS rings left on the scope, and using a torque wrench, I can remount the scope with only a minor POI shift requiring maybe, a .25 MOA or 1 click adjustment to get back to zero.
 
If you plan to shoot accurately out to 500 yards you want more than 9 power magnification. You can hit targets with a 3-9 but if you want precision (which your rifle is capable of) you will want more.

I would go with a Sightron SIII 6-24x50, a Trijicon Accupoint 5-20x50, or a Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50.

Illumination is not needed at all but is a cool toy if you plan to shoot right at dusk.
The Sightron is not illuminated.
The Trijicon is nice if you want illumination because it doesn't use batteries (fiber optic and Tritium) so it's always lit.
The Vortex is nicely lit but uses batteries, this isn't a big deal though as I never find I need to light up my scopes. If you have good glass illumination never seems to really be needed.

I would personally go with a mildot reticle as it is good for any rifle you put it on and once you get used to it you can shoot pretty far without ever touching your turrets.

As for having to touch your turrets when going to longer distances, the Vortex is the only scope in the ones I suggested that has a zero-stop system which is very handy a week later when you forgot to dial back down after a day out shooting, you can just dial down till the turret stops and you are back at your zero setting.

You don't need quick detach rings on a rifle like that. Do not try to use one scope over a few rifles. It can be done but in my opinion every rifle needs it's own glass. Even the best quick detach mount will still need to be verified when the scope is removed and replaced and no two rifles will use the same zero settings so you will constantly be adjusting your turrets and having to write down what the correction is when going from one rifle to the next. Easier to just not do it.
You might want to consider a one piece mount with 10-20 MOA of elevation correction built into it though. This will let you take your rifle out further once you get better at shooting. I had my 308 out to 1100 yards a few weeks ago and I am running a Sightron SIII 6-24x50 on a 20 MOA base.
 
Vortex has great customer service and unconditional warrenty.
I Highly recommend a mrad optic.

I bought a vortex PST 6-24 mrad EBR-1
I love it.
 
Best to go and look through a bunch. Not everyone's eye sees the same through optics and their different coatings. Best to go where you can look outside with them too as they almost all look good when viewing in a brightly lit store.
 
I was looking through several Vortex scopes yesterday with the full intent of buying one to put on the XCR-M for our product testing program. I wasn't impressed with the finicky eye relief but the quality of the glass seemed decent, until I peered through one of these:

VHS-PhotoImage1.jpg


At around the same price point as a higher end Vortex (~$1,100) the Nightforce SHV put them to complete shame. Available in 4-14x56 and 5-20x56, illuminated option available if you really need it but most don't. SFP and MOA only, and capped turrets (although "target style" underneath them). The quality of the glass and the generosity of the eye relief was truly outstanding and beat the Vortex by a mile. Give it a look.
 
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