The struggle is real.....
Currently using a 5-25 .1mil scope, but at 800 yards, a single click is taking me out of the 5's, and messes up my wind holds significantly. So I'm looking to buy my first designated F-class 600-1000 yard scope.
I'm considering the following.
Delta Stryker 5-50 HD 1/8 MOA
Sightron SV 10-50
Nightforce Comp 15-55 with the FCR-1 Reticle.
Budgeting $2300-3000-ish.
Any input from the experienced F-Class open shooters here would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
UPDATE:
Thank you all for the feedback; much appreciated. the one thing I learned here, was that ALL of these scopes are really great, but they are very individual; a lot of reviews don't consider the users physical differences, their other shooting influences like 3-gun or PRS, or the quality of their vision. I for example have excellent distance vision, and can use an incredibly fine reticle, but up close, I cant even see the turret, let alone the magnifications, without 3x glasses or my IDTS reticle magnifier. So these are just the findings of a guy getting into F-class, with a specific budget, a modest experience with high end optics(I own a ZCO & TT, a Razor & and S&B), and enough ability to put lead on V's at 1000 in heavy mirage with a $500 used Strike Eagle, but not enough time on prone to beat serious competitors.
I got a chance to handle a bunch of the suggested scopes. Nightforce, Golden Eagles, Sightrons, a March, even a Kahles 1050. Then I looked at a Delta, after being offered a chance to buy a used one. So, in my humble opinion, here's what I found. ( I've used $250,000 set of Leica Summilx-C lenses at work for comparison, so the bar was set pretty high ).
-The Kahles is hands down the brightest, sharpest and best focusing, IMHO. I didn't like ergonomics of the top Parallax, it just felt unfamiliar, but what a scope.
-The March's were exceptional, but only the MTR-1 reticle worked for me, and I didn't love it at $4300.
-The Nightforce had a weird chromatic edge thing going on, and the eye relief was shallow, not comfortable.Llightest scope in the batch by a mile.
-The Sightrons siii (and another model which I don't remember) were as truly as good as the Kahles in sharpness, though a few stops dimmer, and great warm contrasty color, like the classic S&B look. But the turrets were difficult to see, and I found it rather weighty. From a sheer optical standpoint, incredibly clear, and yes, as advised, the best bang for the buck.
-Golden eagle. Nice turrets. Dark. Really felt like my AMG, but not quite, and the reticles available just didn't quite hit the mark.
Then the Delta. I'll put it lightly. It's sharp as F*&k. Different from the Siii's sharpness, which I think get's its magical status because of edge to edge clarity, and nice warm color. Focuses close enough to do a full Plumb bob alignment in my house. Easy, solid Zero stop. Enough elevation to use it on a 338 for ELR past 3000. D-3 reticle lines up with four sides of the target, so even if you can't see the V, you're on it. Heavy, but the brightness at dusk was sublime, which will make fall evening matches & practices way easier. Did I mention the reticle? loved it. But the one thing I worry about, is the parallax, as the range is only a few degrees of rotation; not really fine until you get to 500 and under, so I'll adopt to putting one of the custom rings on it from IDTS, and correctly calibrate it at the range.
The delta really stood out, and the price, $2275 at Hirsch, you can't complain about. A fellow CGN'er reached out to me and I bought his after trying one, so I'm happy for a great scope at a fantastic price.
If I buy again, it will be the Kahles 1050, no questions asked, other than "when is it on sale?"
Thank you fellas for all the suggestions and messages, it's great to hear from the F-class crowd and see the support they have for the newbies like myself in the pursuit.
Special thanks to John, David, Anwar, Bill, and Kieth for letting me try their scopes, and a special thanks to Allan and Mr Farrel for their concise input and offers on their beautiful scopes. I almost bought the March, but my caveman brain needs hash marks on four sides of a target board or I'm screwed, lol.
Cheers folks.
Currently using a 5-25 .1mil scope, but at 800 yards, a single click is taking me out of the 5's, and messes up my wind holds significantly. So I'm looking to buy my first designated F-class 600-1000 yard scope.
I'm considering the following.
Delta Stryker 5-50 HD 1/8 MOA
Sightron SV 10-50
Nightforce Comp 15-55 with the FCR-1 Reticle.
Budgeting $2300-3000-ish.
Any input from the experienced F-Class open shooters here would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
UPDATE:
Thank you all for the feedback; much appreciated. the one thing I learned here, was that ALL of these scopes are really great, but they are very individual; a lot of reviews don't consider the users physical differences, their other shooting influences like 3-gun or PRS, or the quality of their vision. I for example have excellent distance vision, and can use an incredibly fine reticle, but up close, I cant even see the turret, let alone the magnifications, without 3x glasses or my IDTS reticle magnifier. So these are just the findings of a guy getting into F-class, with a specific budget, a modest experience with high end optics(I own a ZCO & TT, a Razor & and S&B), and enough ability to put lead on V's at 1000 in heavy mirage with a $500 used Strike Eagle, but not enough time on prone to beat serious competitors.
I got a chance to handle a bunch of the suggested scopes. Nightforce, Golden Eagles, Sightrons, a March, even a Kahles 1050. Then I looked at a Delta, after being offered a chance to buy a used one. So, in my humble opinion, here's what I found. ( I've used $250,000 set of Leica Summilx-C lenses at work for comparison, so the bar was set pretty high ).
-The Kahles is hands down the brightest, sharpest and best focusing, IMHO. I didn't like ergonomics of the top Parallax, it just felt unfamiliar, but what a scope.
-The March's were exceptional, but only the MTR-1 reticle worked for me, and I didn't love it at $4300.
-The Nightforce had a weird chromatic edge thing going on, and the eye relief was shallow, not comfortable.Llightest scope in the batch by a mile.
-The Sightrons siii (and another model which I don't remember) were as truly as good as the Kahles in sharpness, though a few stops dimmer, and great warm contrasty color, like the classic S&B look. But the turrets were difficult to see, and I found it rather weighty. From a sheer optical standpoint, incredibly clear, and yes, as advised, the best bang for the buck.
-Golden eagle. Nice turrets. Dark. Really felt like my AMG, but not quite, and the reticles available just didn't quite hit the mark.
Then the Delta. I'll put it lightly. It's sharp as F*&k. Different from the Siii's sharpness, which I think get's its magical status because of edge to edge clarity, and nice warm color. Focuses close enough to do a full Plumb bob alignment in my house. Easy, solid Zero stop. Enough elevation to use it on a 338 for ELR past 3000. D-3 reticle lines up with four sides of the target, so even if you can't see the V, you're on it. Heavy, but the brightness at dusk was sublime, which will make fall evening matches & practices way easier. Did I mention the reticle? loved it. But the one thing I worry about, is the parallax, as the range is only a few degrees of rotation; not really fine until you get to 500 and under, so I'll adopt to putting one of the custom rings on it from IDTS, and correctly calibrate it at the range.
The delta really stood out, and the price, $2275 at Hirsch, you can't complain about. A fellow CGN'er reached out to me and I bought his after trying one, so I'm happy for a great scope at a fantastic price.
If I buy again, it will be the Kahles 1050, no questions asked, other than "when is it on sale?"
Thank you fellas for all the suggestions and messages, it's great to hear from the F-class crowd and see the support they have for the newbies like myself in the pursuit.
Special thanks to John, David, Anwar, Bill, and Kieth for letting me try their scopes, and a special thanks to Allan and Mr Farrel for their concise input and offers on their beautiful scopes. I almost bought the March, but my caveman brain needs hash marks on four sides of a target board or I'm screwed, lol.
Cheers folks.
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