My son wants to try long distance PRS shooting (out to 1km) and as I want to keep him and I doing things together so I'm looking into it. So while I check out different bolt action rifles I jumped into the rabbit hole of optics that seems so deep and wide that I had no idea.
Not only brands, but basic magnifications, tube diameters, objective size, MIL, MOA, parallax, illumination, special turrets not to even mention the wild reticles. From plain jane cross hair to a wild array of hash marks, dots, lines.
How do you narrow down to a few? I figured I will max out at $1500 for my scope and $1000 for my rifle. (After I sell some others, ha ha). There seems to be so many good brands, big names with 'budget options' (ya right). So while I'd love to browse the EE area I really have NO idea what I need here. Ideally I'll have a rifle set up for this summer and get to an ORA match and look into joining.
So, what is your advice? Start with a magnification range and reticle preference and narrow down from there? Or is that a bad idea? Buy a cheaper scope and see how it goes? I kind of like the buy once, cry once philosophy, at least in my budget range. Pistols now seem so easy.
j
Can you confirm the type of match you want to shoot? There are matches held at Connaught that are called "precision/sniper" matches which are very different vs what is generically called "PRS/PRL" matches (think Meaford match)
Key features that are pretty much the norm in either style:
larger external adjustable turrets with click value that match the reticle. Mil is the most common unit in PRL matches. For matches at Connaught, you will likely bump into MOA as well. Definitely if you mean F class, MOA is favored. So it helps to clarify the game. You can most certainly use either unit in all forms of shooting.
Hash Mark reticle - for mil reticle, the newest options will be 0.2mil spacings for the windage... for elevation, you will find 0.2 and 0.5 mil lines. In MOA, 1 to 2 MOA spacings is typical.
Xmas tree reticle - these are reticles with the cascading markings to help with hold over and windage. These become very useful if you are shooting targets at various distances and are under time constraints so you can't dial (or the stage format doesn't allow you to dial). Some styles can be really cluttered so you will need to see what suits your tastes and game.
Mag range - for more static prone shooting, you can and will use higher mags with 30X not being too high for 900m pin point shooting. For PRL matches where are you in less then stable positions and have to locate targets and spot misses, lower mag will be used. Depending on the scope, field of view and reticle thickness, I will hover from 10X to 16X for PRL type matches.
Zero Stop - if you have it, you will use it especially if it works precisely and repeatably. Most scopes come with it so it really isn't an upgrade these days.
Side parallax - will be a given in this class of optic. Don't get hung up on the yardage markings, they rarely mean anything. Yes, some optical systems will be harder to get and keep a clear image.
Illuminated reticle - pretty much all offer it... I haven't used it so can't say either way.
Tracking - this is something that price tag and slick ads can't illustrate. You gotta run the scope and it better do what you expect and do it everytime. Test, test, test somemore. Every brand suggests their scope will track... some do, some don't. I am very tough on this for my scopes that I use and offer. In competition, you just don't get a mulligan or do over and if the scope misbehaves, you are chasing ghosts trying to figure out what to do next. The tracking should also match the reticle precisely.. not close, not sometimes.
Ideally my scope will have FFP, 0.1mil clicks, 10mils per revolution, Xmas tree reticle with 0.2mil windage/ 0.2 or 0.5mil on elevation with clear numbering so you can pick up the lines in a hurry. Mag range 4 to 30 or somewhere in between.
As an Athlon optics dealer, I am of course biased towards their products but I have also tested them aggressively on my rifles and in competition.... and they work. For 2018, I ran the Ares BTR 4.5-27 and it helped me get on the podium at both matches I shot. At that time, it was the best entry point for a full featured optic that didn't break the bank. The only "downside" of the scope is the clicks are not as pronounced as others. Now given the time constraints, I don't count clicks... you are dialing directly to a number and the smoothness allows for very fast transitions. Current models have improved clickiness.
Another new scope worth a look is the Midas TAC 6-24. Again, all the features that are "current" thinking but a capped windage knob which some prefer. The Xmas tree is a variant with a very small central floating dot. This allows for very precise aiming and avoids the #1 complaint of FFP scopes - thick reticles.
Either will fit well within your budget and serve you well.
For 2019, I will be running the new Ares ETR. These are 34mm scopes with ED glass, full features and huge amounts of useable travel. The price is a bit more then your goal BUT wowza, what an upgrade. If you can invest a bit more, this is the gem of a scope and I will be moving all my FFP scopes to this model. Perfect? nope, but it ticks off all the boxes with optics that is not far off some very pricey options.
I am also a Sightron dealer and use them on my F class rifles. They continue to offer high mag variable SFP scopes that compete with anything on the market BUT they just seem to get the FFP specs wrong. Feels like they are being "arm twisted" to build these scopes... good in some areas, missing in others. Happy to offer the new STAC FFP to those who want to give it a go.
PM or email if I can help get you get set up
Jerry
PS, also a Delta dealer and the FFP scopes are fantastic. now we are pushing well beyond the OP's budget so didn't mention it. Glass is one of its strongest points and is just behind the ubber expensive stuff. Very nice product but some may balk at the warranty. FYI, the Athlon Cronus BTR is the twin.
