Long range/hunting scope selection
- Thread starter RedRabbits
- Start date
Also if you have no experience with moa or mill it really makes no difference you can learn either and to be more accurate ypu most likely wont learn or master either with the advancement of balistics calculators. I dont do math when shoting at distance i look at dope i have created with said balistics program.
Have a look at Athlon Midas TAC for around $1200, or Burris XTR2 3-15 for around $1400. I find I don't use my scopes over 16x anymore for target or hunting unless I need to zoom in to look for bullet holes or judge a trophy animal. Most scopes in this price range will have poor image quality over 18-20x anyway, so I wouldn't be looking at anything with high magnification without setting your expectations low.
Hand Skills
CGN Regular
- Location
- In the 'heartland', southern SK
That's amazing! Z5's biggest turnoff for me is Mil reticle, Moa turret. Where does one order a Mil turret? What is the cost?
I as well not a fan of mill everything i use is Moa the turrets can be ordered from outdoorsman on the web if memory is correct$ 210.72 Cad shipped with exchange from the USA
In my experiences when I’ve gone hunting I’ve never had the option of choosing to go long range.
The game is where it is, be it 10 yards or 1000 and it does whatever it wants to do.
Sometimes they pose, sometimes they wonder, sometimes they bolt.
For me, I either have an immediate opportunity, it’s way to far to consider or I have to close the gap.
So my scope is always on the lowest power (sfp 3.5).
If it’s a poser within my effective range I’ll dial it up, so far my max power is 9 on a kill, if I had more I would have used it.
By far the majority of kills have been at the scopes lowest level (80-90%).
To harvest I need to be able to make the shot quickly as the opportunity is usually a blink in time.
In my experience target scopes create multiple issues;
1) they are usually big and heavy.
2) most target turrets don’t lock, which means they will move during a hunt and you will have to confirm their settings before you touch off a round. I hope your game waits for you and for the game I hope you check.
3) scopes with high starting magnifications have a narrower field of view which means you spend more time finding your target when you shoulder your rifle and have less surroundings you see.
4) FFP scopes only advantage as far as I can tell is the reticle subtensions remain the same at all magnifications so it is superior to the sfp if you range with your reticle.
5) FFP scopes reticle become unusable at low magnifications, so you have a say 4-18 but it’s nfg below 7 or 8. What good is it?
6) the answer is to illuminate the reticle, this helps but now you have batteries you have to deal with...on a hunt, no thanks.
So I’m a fan of first setting up my hunting rifles for simplicity, for the quick snap shot. Everything else is secondary.
So two thoughts;
Have more than one gun, I have target guns and I have hunting guns.
Or find a cartridge which extends mpbr, put a 4-12 on it and hunt within that envelope (you’d be surprised how far that can be).
JMO, YMMV.
The game is where it is, be it 10 yards or 1000 and it does whatever it wants to do.
Sometimes they pose, sometimes they wonder, sometimes they bolt.
For me, I either have an immediate opportunity, it’s way to far to consider or I have to close the gap.
So my scope is always on the lowest power (sfp 3.5).
If it’s a poser within my effective range I’ll dial it up, so far my max power is 9 on a kill, if I had more I would have used it.
By far the majority of kills have been at the scopes lowest level (80-90%).
To harvest I need to be able to make the shot quickly as the opportunity is usually a blink in time.
In my experience target scopes create multiple issues;
1) they are usually big and heavy.
2) most target turrets don’t lock, which means they will move during a hunt and you will have to confirm their settings before you touch off a round. I hope your game waits for you and for the game I hope you check.
3) scopes with high starting magnifications have a narrower field of view which means you spend more time finding your target when you shoulder your rifle and have less surroundings you see.
4) FFP scopes only advantage as far as I can tell is the reticle subtensions remain the same at all magnifications so it is superior to the sfp if you range with your reticle.
5) FFP scopes reticle become unusable at low magnifications, so you have a say 4-18 but it’s nfg below 7 or 8. What good is it?
6) the answer is to illuminate the reticle, this helps but now you have batteries you have to deal with...on a hunt, no thanks.
So I’m a fan of first setting up my hunting rifles for simplicity, for the quick snap shot. Everything else is secondary.
So two thoughts;
Have more than one gun, I have target guns and I have hunting guns.
Or find a cartridge which extends mpbr, put a 4-12 on it and hunt within that envelope (you’d be surprised how far that can be).
JMO, YMMV.
coleman1495
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Whitecourt
Well I’ve been hunting for the perfect hunting/target scope. Haven’t found it yet but found a few options:
Swarovski Z5 3.5x18 w/BT
Pros
-Excellent glass
-Very lightweight
-Turret works very well in hunting situations.
Cons
-Only allows 12MOA on turret
-after ~700 rounds it wouldn’t hold zero. These are hunting scopes I don’t think they are meant to be range mules
Sig Sauer Whiskey 5 3-15x
Pros
-Good elevation turret, tracks well
-fairly light
-Levelplex works good
- Good reticle
Cons
- Everything is fisheyed in the scope. Unless it’s dead centre you can’t see it clearly.
-Lense coatings are bad. Very hard to differentiate colours especially on sunny days
-Windage adjustment doesn’t work properly. If I have to re zero it I find myself chasing my tail making windage adjustments.
NF ATACR 4-16x
Pros
- Good glass especially in poor conditions.
- Turrets are 100% and work well. Very accurate and repeatable
- Built to be a range mule
- Good reticle
Cons
- Heavy chunky scope.
Swarovski Z5 3.5x18 w/BT
Pros
-Excellent glass
-Very lightweight
-Turret works very well in hunting situations.
Cons
-Only allows 12MOA on turret
-after ~700 rounds it wouldn’t hold zero. These are hunting scopes I don’t think they are meant to be range mules
Sig Sauer Whiskey 5 3-15x
Pros
-Good elevation turret, tracks well
-fairly light
-Levelplex works good
- Good reticle
Cons
- Everything is fisheyed in the scope. Unless it’s dead centre you can’t see it clearly.
-Lense coatings are bad. Very hard to differentiate colours especially on sunny days
-Windage adjustment doesn’t work properly. If I have to re zero it I find myself chasing my tail making windage adjustments.
NF ATACR 4-16x
Pros
- Good glass especially in poor conditions.
- Turrets are 100% and work well. Very accurate and repeatable
- Built to be a range mule
- Good reticle
Cons
- Heavy chunky scope.
Nightforce NXS 2.5-10X42 with zero stop etc etc might be a big heavier but at least you know the scope is gonna hold zero. In fact it's gonna be my next scope purchase if I find a good deal.
Tech Specs at a Glance:
Magnification range: 2.5 to 10x
Field of view: 2.5x - 44 ft / 10x 11 ft @100 ft
Objective diameter: 42 mm
Eye relief: 88 mm
Illuminated reticle: yes
Reticle position: second focal plane
Parallax adjustment: 25 yd - infinity
Turret adjustment increments: .250 moa
Max elevation / windage: 100 / 100 moa
Tube size: 30 mm
Weight: 539 g / 19 oz
Length: 302 mm / 11.9 in
Tech Specs at a Glance:
Magnification range: 2.5 to 10x
Field of view: 2.5x - 44 ft / 10x 11 ft @100 ft
Objective diameter: 42 mm
Eye relief: 88 mm
Illuminated reticle: yes
Reticle position: second focal plane
Parallax adjustment: 25 yd - infinity
Turret adjustment increments: .250 moa
Max elevation / windage: 100 / 100 moa
Tube size: 30 mm
Weight: 539 g / 19 oz
Length: 302 mm / 11.9 in
I have 17 hunting seasons on my Meopta Meostar R1 Tactic.
It has assisted in making long range, one shot shot kills - my stories of legends
Can not say it is better than some of what has been recommended here, but I will vouch for it first hand.
From my almost two decades of hands on experience - simply amazing!! Aboard a .25-06 cal.
Please take a few minutes and read up on it..
All the best!
It has assisted in making long range, one shot shot kills - my stories of legends
Can not say it is better than some of what has been recommended here, but I will vouch for it first hand.
From my almost two decades of hands on experience - simply amazing!! Aboard a .25-06 cal.
Please take a few minutes and read up on it..
All the best!
coleman1495
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Whitecourt
Not holding zero is when the POI changes on you. You have to continually keep adjusting your scope.Its like your scope turrets are being adjusted.
In my case I kept having to decrease my elevation turret by 1-2 MOA every time I took it out. Eventually my accuracy went to crap. I got a lot of flak on here when I brought it up.
coleman1495
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Whitecourt
Depends how much shooting you do. Some guys never seem to have an issue but I wonder how much shooting their scope has endured. Your mileage will vary.It’s a phenomenal little scope, very capable for its weight. The glass is very good.
Swarovski warranty was very good but very slow.
