Need help deciding on a scope

blueoval56 said:
I'll do a little more research on the Bushnell 3.5-21.

I had considered a Ziess conquest a little while ago, but since I plan on stretching this rifle out as far as I can go I figured it would be smarter to go with something that had more elevation. Are you saying that these scopes have much more elevation than what is printed in their "box test"? I have looked through a couple Ziess and I am aware of how nice their glass is.
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I haven't shot far enough with it yet to answer that question, nor have I arbitrarily spun the dials to see how far it actually goes. I would presume the range is as advertised. I mounted my Zeiss on a 20moa farrel base, and during initial 100 paces (yeah, crude but I don't make special trips to the range for rifle shooting as I can do this at the farm) sight in, predictably had to lower the elevation about 15 moa. (I haven't handmade an excellent load for this rifle and scope yet, and I am waiting until I fit a new laminate stock to replace the plastic that came stock on the T3... I am embarassed to say I've had the scope and rifle 6.5X55 for a couple months, waiting on a new stock and haven't been able to put it through the hoops - I have high expectations, but my opinion is not necessarily more than a grain of sand)Adding 15moa to the advertised 45.4moa is 60.4moa: In comparison, the Vortex PST I mentioned boasts a 100moa range. Something I haven't figured out is if all the manufacturers claims of elevation is maximum from bottom to top, or if they are all measured from center? If it is from bottom to top, with a zero moa base, the maximum elevation available is half of that advertised. I only expect to be able to shoot up to a 1000m with my rifle and Zeiss and this will suffice but look into that issue first as you intend on achieving twice that distance. There aren't many places around here that allow such long shooting although an isolated lake in the winter would work: The nearest range that long is two hours away so I have limited opportunity for the long range experience beyond 400meters, even then 200meters is mostly what I have access to. I feel woefully inadequate. :(

So without subterfuge, until I play with my scope more, I don't know the answer to your question, but with the Zeiss and all scopes you would need a 20moa base minimum for that distance to take advantage of (out of necessity) the scopes adjustment range.
 
blueoval56 said:
...The rifle will be used for paper and steel from 1000 to as far as I can stretch it...

...I was wondering what you guys would pick for a scope with a budget of $1500...
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I guess the Leupold Competition Series 30MM with side focus don't get a mention here. 1/8 MOA clicks.
They fall under your $1500 budget and come in 35X to 45X with 45mm objective.
I've looked through both Nightforce and Leupold side by side at Long Range and cannot tell any real difference.
 
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I appreciate the reply New Camper, thanks. I live in the foothills of the Rockies and I am fortunate to have a 2500-ish yard range pretty much out my back porch :)
I know I'll need a 20 moa rail, maybe even 40. The rifle comes with a 20 moa rail already.

Thanks again for all the thoughts guys, I find this is something that doesn't get discussed very often.
 
ultimate_monkey said:
^^^ all scopes MOA range is measured from dead bottom to very top , 100moa scope is 50up 50down off mechanical centre
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Thank you.

blueoval56 - Verified by ultimate monkey, adjustment range from 100yard zero to maximum elevation on my Zeiss with 20moa rail is going to be around 37.7moa. So it's a fair bit less than the maximums for Leupold, Vortex etc - may be too much for the superb range off your back porch. The closest I can find to that are isolated lakes in winter but the fields long enough around here are few and far between, and most are rendered unsafe by lack of backstops/population: You are very fortunate to have that, plus I can imagine a magnificent view of the mountains to boot.
 
I was examining some ballistics tables here http://www.jbmballistics.com/cgi-bin/jbmtraj-5.1.cgi and reconsidering the starting data I intend on using with my 6.5X55 when complete, it seems at preliminary, at 1000yards, bullet drop for the 139gr scenars and load I will try, is about 30 moa. I don't know what it will be for a 338LM but my 6.5 with Zeiss will be near it's maximum published elevation with the 20moa rail. That might exclude the Zeiss from your consideration unfortunately, unless a 30-40moa rail would compensate? ... it is such a fine optical sight.
 
Thanks for all the info New Camper.
And yes, I feel extremely fortunate about where I live and the land that is available to me. And the view of the mountains right now is pretty spectacular :D

If Zeiss made something with more elevation in my price range I would probably go with the conquest. For the 338, iSnipe tells me that a 300gr Berger hybrid going 2800fps should need 22 MOA at my elevation of almost 4000 feet. So I could probably go further with a 40 moa rail, but then I I probably would have a minimum zero of 3 or 400. Something to consider I guess
 
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