Advice for new precision rifle shooters
- Thread starter Tomochan
- Start date
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Bob, Steve and Jerry, thank you all, for your great input, and advice....
Now would someone buy all 4 scopes: Sightron, Nightforce, March and
Schmidt and Bender, and do a side by side comparison for us poor folks....
Inquiring minds want to know?
As was said, the info is out there many times over. The exception being the new mega mag S&B which only a few mortals have in possession.
No matter what is said, the only way to judge optics is to look through them yourself. Not just a glance but use them for a period of time - like a weekend match.
Changes in light, humidity, mirage, winds all have to be viewed and most importantly, the scope focus has to be changed to suit you.
Not so easy with the mega dollar stuff as shooters tend not to want to part with it..... hint, hint.
The most common rivalry is NF and Sightron. Plenty of them on the line now so easy enough to compare. Unfortunately, comparisons almost always lead to personal preference and the need to rationalize funds spent.
Years back, I would have bought several NF scopes but viewing them at LR didn't impress me. As has been said many times, they are a good grade of Japanese glass. No more no less.
Then I got some Sightron SIII scopes (only the new stuff need apply) and was blown away. With massive inroads into the competition world globally, I am most certainly not alone in this. When you put in the dollars saved, it is a no brainer.
Are these the end all? Of course not. They are a serviceable product that many will find does all that they need or want. Like how some feel of their NF products.
But are there better? Of course. ED glass (real ED glass not a label on the side of a box) AND the improved coatings used have a real world tangible improvement in optical quality.
Old gen scopes and a lot of mid priced stuff is like old CRT TV's and reg cable. Worked for years and most were happy with the image.
NF/Sightron and some older Bushnell Elite 4200's are like HD TV with HD cable. Depending on the channel and feed, the image quality can be excellent and a real improvement. For some, this is better then their eyes can resolve.
Top Tier ED glass is like HD TV and Blu Ray. The clarity and resolution is obvious but if the feed is not full meal deal HD, then the benefits aren't as good and not much better then the previous tier. Unless you have at least 20/20 vision, you may not be able to see the improvements.
Same with scopes. Tier 2 is plenty good for most shooters and a tangible improvement over generic scopes. Under most shooting conditions, it does the job nicely.
Top tier stuff really is better UNDER SOME CONDITIONS. There are times when it is really hard to see a difference.
Is the top tier stuff worth the extra dollars? How competitive do you want to be? Does another 1/2" of resolution at 1000yds matter? Can you make use of the image vs your ability to dope the air?
Should the difference be spent on ammo to practise?
There is no right answer and only you, your eyes and your wallet can make that decision.
But if you want to get serious about competition, getting into the tier 2 stuff is pretty much essential for any success. Remember, these scopes also have trustworthy mechanicals which is almost MORE important then the glass.
Select scopes from Weaver and Nikon and Bushnell are pretty close to the Tier 2 stuff so there are options. Some older scopes like the Bausch and Lomb and even Leupold can be really useable.
Spend some time looking through a variety of scopes and it will be come very obvious the differences they have.
Jerry
As I said previously, would I buy the March/S&B strickly for optical quality over the Sightron/Nighforce? Probably not, but the number of features on the March make it a nice package for me.
"Having said all the previous, I would not consider buying the March or S&B strickly for the optic quality because I don't think it means all that much for F-Class shooting. I prefer the March for a number of other features like the scope size, eye relief, reticle, zero stop, 1/8 MOA clicks and the tactical turret markings."
However, this is an understanding acquired by shooting in a lot of matches in the last few years. If you are only shooting in the odd match then the Sightron or Nightforce would suit 99% of people perfectly. Actually it would be hard to justify the expense of a Nightforce over the Sightron for just a few matches IMHO.
Steve
"Having said all the previous, I would not consider buying the March or S&B strickly for the optic quality because I don't think it means all that much for F-Class shooting. I prefer the March for a number of other features like the scope size, eye relief, reticle, zero stop, 1/8 MOA clicks and the tactical turret markings."
However, this is an understanding acquired by shooting in a lot of matches in the last few years. If you are only shooting in the odd match then the Sightron or Nightforce would suit 99% of people perfectly. Actually it would be hard to justify the expense of a Nightforce over the Sightron for just a few matches IMHO.
Steve
Last edited:
unnervingfalcon
New member
- Location
- Warkworth, Ontario
That answered a few questions for a newbie. Thanks
