Optics for service rifle?

Beaver said:
Well, I an revisiting this topic again for the ??? time... LOL

Some new considerations are:

* must have true 1x magnification (something to do with balance being affected by vision -- an important factor when running and gunning)
* must have a reticle that will allow hold-off aiming from 15 yards to at least 300
* minimal parallex
* great clarity
* protective caps for turret nobs

What are the winners using (JP Recoil Eliminator with Zeiss Varipoint 1-4X, but information is old... http://www.triggerfreeze.com/docs/2006/IPSC_Rifle_norway.htm)?

While equipment cannot work miracles, it can greatly increase a competitor's performance. While the best CFSAC shooter may use a 4x power scope, he likely does not have my aging eyes that often are challenged seeing orange marks on black from the 500 yard line with 4x magnification.

This is the scope that I am looking for:

* true 1x magnification, but an still evaluating 1.5 (or less) magnification, due to the Zeiss Varipoint 1.5x-6x and Elcan SpecterDR 1.5-6x.
* go to 10x magnification, but considering 6x maximum
* have a reticle that will allow hold-off aiming from 15 yards to at least 300
* minimal parallex (15 yards to 500 yards)
* great clarity
* protective caps for turret nobs
* illumination (for dark rainy days)
* zero stop (because I don't want to crank the turrets more than necessary)

My biggest issues with my current Vortex PST are:

* Parallex (improvements fix my need to have a consistent check to stock placement)
* Magnification (greater magnification improves my ability to see at further distances)
* Protective turret caps (fixes possibility of accidental changes to turret settings)
* First Focal Plane (FFP) allows me to learn hold offs irrespective of magnification settings
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SR is not IPSC... True 1x only gives you a split second advantage. For fixed time exposures like we have in ORA SR and CQB, it won't really gain you anything. I've been using 3x with good success.

With a good optic, parallax only needs to be adjusted coarsely. With both my Falcon 4-14x and my March F, I set the parallax just past 100 for 100 yards and beyond and at ~20 for CQB.

A good thick reticle eliminates the need for illumination. I like Illumination in my PR optics since I want finer crosshairs in them, but for SR, I like a good thick crosshair.

There are few scopes that have both FFP and capped turrets because in a tactical scope, it is desirable to have quick access to the turrets. With good turrets, it generally isn't necessary to cap them (that's a quick fix for cheap, mushy turrets). Very high end scopes have adopted locking turrets when it is.
 
Bolivar said:
between 1 and 10 magnification, leaning on the lower end being more important. I like the 1.5 low end on my Falcon.

Reticle, something with full width horizontal and vertical at least from the center down to the bottom. Not a fan of the Vortex PST reticle. Seems to small to use for lead on movers (but then maybe I am using too much lead anyway :D)
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Tough to find in the price range you mentioned. The Vortex 2.5-10x would have been my suggestion.

Bolivar said:
MRAD or MOA does not matter. I covert Mils to MOA in my head anyway cause most correction input is provided in MOA anyway.
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That is an artifact of your scope being SPF. With FFP, the reticle tells you what you need to correct so that you don't need to burden your brain with needless calculations that fall apart when done under stress. Its a ruler that is always right in front of your nose and always accurate.
 
kombayotch said:
Tough to find in the price range you mentioned. The Vortex 2.5-10x would have been my suggestion.



That is an artifact of your scope being SPF. With FFP, the reticle tells you what you need to correct so that you don't need to burden your brain with needless calculations that fall apart when done under stress. Its a ruler that is always right in front of your nose and always accurate.
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Article of SFP and my weak brain. LOL.

Thanks for the input. At least I can always sit tight with the Falcon.
 
kombayotch said:
Tough to find in the price range you mentioned. The Vortex 2.5-10x would have been my suggestion.
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Thanks for the tip. That might work.

http://www.vortexcanada.net/products/riflescopes/viper_pst/viper_pst_2-5-10x44ebr1mrad.html

I also found this Weaver 2-10 on their site. I like that it is FFP.

http://www.weaveroptics.com/optics/tactical/

Anybody have any experience or information on Weaver quality?
 
When I gave up on the 1-8x coming out in time for summer, the FFP scopes I looked at before buying my March were:

Leupold Mark 4 3.5-10x40 FFP
IOR 2.5-10x42 FFP
Bushnell 2.5-16x42 FFP

These were all around 21 oz. and had a low end magnification and FOV usable for ORA M2.
 
Did you get a chance to examine the brand new Vortex 1-6 that Jason was displaying at Connaught? Very interesting scope. SMRP $1830, IIRC, real world price about $1600.
 
Its a nice looking scope, but the reticle leaves a lot to be desired. If Vortex were smart, they would offer a variant with a feature set similar to the new Leupold Mark 6 1-6x (there is a lot of interest out there for a lower cost CQBSS-like optic). Vortex really went backwards with the feature set... but, that's apparently what 3-gunners want.
 
Bolivar, are you serioulsy now following in my painful optic footsteps? I learned 3x is a fine low end, which means, if you're going to have separate guns/optics anyways, your options are a lot better.

In hindsight I really wish I'd gone with a leupold VX3 with a TMR reticle and turrets. Great value options, small size, weight, and everything you need. That being said, now I really wish I'd just gone with the Leupold Patrol 3-9. Everthing I just stated, but, also illuminated, and a 9x top end, with the 3x low end.

I think I'll be moving to that optic for next year, once I drum up the extra cash and sell my nikon...
 
SPRTN308 said:
Bolivar, are you serioulsy now following in my painful optic footsteps? I learned 3x is a fine low end, which means, if you're going to have separate guns/optics anyways, your options are a lot better.

In hindsight I really wish I'd gone with a leupold VX3 with a TMR reticle and turrets. Great value options, small size, weight, and everything you need. That being said, now I really wish I'd just gone with the Leupold Patrol 3-9. Everthing I just stated, but, also illuminated, and a 9x top end, with the 3x low end.

I think I'll be moving to that optic for next year, once I drum up the extra cash and sell my nikon...
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It just occurred to to me that an optic I am more confident in may be a good thing to get and a bit more top end would be good for the reason I stated. Painful as the process may be I am going that way at least research wise.
 
FWIW, the person who took 2nd place in NSCC Service Rifle this year was shooting a Leupold 1 1/2 - 5 hunting scope, retofitted with target knobs. First place was taken by someone with a larger, more sophisticated sight.
There are others who use this scope. Medium priced, sound quality. I have one myself.
The same target knob conversion could be done on other Leupold hunting scopes, if different magnification was desired.
 
Bushnell is supposed to be releasing a 1-8.5x to compete with the CQBSS:

Bushnell1_8X.jpg


523379_428199020549135_423023303_n.jpg


About time someone does!
 
Just bought a new Leupold Mark 4 2 1/2 - 8 scope. This should be an outstanding sight for Service Rifle.
 
Not in Open.
ORA doesn't have any restrictions on their service Rifle shoots, either. Provincial winner this year had a 3-24 mounted.
 
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D_ said:
The Swarzovski is taking over the 3g market. Anybody play with one for Service type stuff?
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Scope lacks turrets, which is fine in 3G, but you need to be able to dial in at longer ranges if you want to be competitive in SR.
 
These are not timed events? I would think that scopes with multiple lines would be popular due to time taken to adjust with turrets.
 
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