Optics for service rifle?

In service rifle, you have a fixed time to get off your shots. You get nothing for shooting faster than everyone else. The best strategy is using up the allocated time to make the best shots possible.

Those lines are useless at longer distances, they almost never match the trajectory of your load. Scoring zones are HUGE in 3G compared to SR, and the distances are much shorter. 3G is a game of speed, SR is about marksmanship.
 
A.T.R. said:
Is the 3x good enough, or would 5x be better?
Click to expand...

That is a question that I'm struggling with myself.....I bought it (the AR-336) as a compromise unit for short range to medium applications--even for 3 gun stuff, as the reticle seems to pick up quickly up close. The unit has rails on it where a fast-fire type optic can be mounted if one finds that the 3X is too much for the close stuff in 3 gun and other types of CQB events. The relatively small size of the optic (less surface area to get knocked around) appealed to me as well.

I've always thought that for strict marksmanship application, the more magnification (without it being so high as to see the shake everytime your heart pumps---when using a sling etc--, or to make it hard to acquire a close in target) the better.
 
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zupermann said:
I've always thought that for strict marksmanship application, the more magnification (without it being so high as to see the shake everytime your heart pumps---when using a sling etc--, or to make it hard to acquire a close in target) the better.
Click to expand...

Don't forget the higher chance of cross-firing...
 
If I was going to go for a fixed magnification I would lean to the 3x. 5x is too much for anything closer than 200 yds IMO. For SR with the ORA we shoot as close as 10 yds, a 5x would really suck at that distance. Most civies run variable. The CF guys run C79 Elcans which are fixed at 3.4x and that works well for them. Check the CFSAC scores on the DCRA website. Very impressive top end by a large number of shooters using issue rifles and optics.
 
Higher magnification can be useful in deliberate stages, when there is no time pressure.
It can be a disadvantage for snaps, movers, position shooting, close range, and as mentionned, the risk of crossfiring increases.
This is the advantage of variable power scopes - the power can be taylored to the application.
Personally, I would not use a sight with a reticle having aiming marks for different distances. In my experience, at longer ranges, elevations do vary with ammunition, atmosheric conditions. In addition, under stress, there is a real risk of using the wrong mark. Similarly, if the elevation adjustment has range settings, the settings will be precise for some ammunition, some of the time. The Fig. 11 target has leeway in elevation; the various Fig. 12s and the Fig. 14 do not.
If a fixed power scope is being used, it is important that a crisp sight picture can be had. Some reticles are only useful at shorter ranges, and blot out the target at longer ranges.
Fine shooting is done with the C79 sight, although is this because of the sight, or in spite of it?
Installed the new Leupold Mk. 4 2 1/2-8x32 using a PEPR mount today. Will be testing it in the next week.
 
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Finally some competition to the CQBSS!!!


U.S. Optics, Inc. SN8 1-8x

The cost of the scope is $2k US

Power - 1-8x
Eye Relief - 3.38 "
Tube Size - 30mm
Objective size - 27mm
Reticle - C2 and CDMIL
Travel - 90 MOA
Knobs - 2/10 MIL zeroing
Illumination - Red, Green, Blue
Weight - 1.4 Lbs
Length - 11.75"
Parallax - Set at 100 Yards
FFP


308882_10151217799088762_1289011195_n.jpg



Note the nice thick outer bars on the crosshairs. Those make it usable at low magnification, similar to the March F. That is the proper way to design an FFP reticle!
 
That would be so ###y on my SR-15!

Hopefully, Darren will get them... And that he can take my left nut as deposit...

kombayotch said:
Finally some competition to the CQBSS!!!


U.S. Optics, Inc. SN8 1-8x

The cost of the scope is $2k US

Power - 1-8x
Eye Relief - 3.38 "
Tube Size - 30mm
Objective size - 27mm
Reticle - C2 and CDMIL
Travel - 90 MOA
Knobs - 2/10 MIL zeroing
Illumination - Red, Green, Blue
Weight - 1.4 Lbs
Length - 11.75"
Parallax - Set at 100 Yards
FFP


308882_10151217799088762_1289011195_n.jpg



Note the nice thick outer bars on the crosshairs. Those make it usable at low magnification, similar to the March F. That is the proper way to design an FFP reticle!
Click to expand...
 
I was actually going to ask about that optic. I'd like to get started in service rifle and was looking for optics that had

mil dot reticle
mil turrets
vari zoom, in the 1-6, 1-8x range

initially I looked at the elcandr as a lot of people seem to love them. from what I found they are moa adjustments (which is fine, but I'm trying to stick to one system so I can wrap my head around 1 type and its what my long rifle has on it) and didnt look like they had hashmarks for wind holds. I know a lot of people use them successfully so obviously people deal with it. (unless I missed how people do wind holds or movers with it)

its had me looking at the nightforce
1-4x
2.5-10x

I know at my level, training is more important than gear. I just like to find a good fit and buy once.

big thing for me this winter is to just get out and train with my rifle as a sr match would be something new to me. Started last year with ipsc and would like to expand to something I can use my carbine in. My range is 200m limited, and I hear 1-4x being a favorite for sr, but 500m sounds a ways out there for my eyes, thought I could benefit from a bit more power. Maybe I'm just overthinking it. If that uso 1-8 makes it up here that could be interesting. expensive but interesting. Now I just need to find some of that pmc 62 gr on sale so I can load up for next year.
 
Honestly, the 10x will do more for you than the 1x. The idea of 1x is that you can use the scope like an Aimpoint and shoot with both eyes open, which is faster target aquisition for CQB type stuff. However, since service matches (even ORA CQB) are timed exposures, there is no advantage having it. On most of the cheaper 1-4x scopes, you can't even focus the target on 1x with both eyes open. If you need to close one eye, there is no advantage to having it over 2.5x. But, the 10x is an advantage over the 4x in that you don't need a spotter to see the target markers at 500.

A 1-8x or 1-10x that actually works like an Aimpoint at 1x is the ideal all around black rifle optic. It gives you the CQB performance AND the longer distance spotting capability. The 1x isn't needed for SR per say. But its a really nice feature to have if you want to use the rifle for other stuff that could take advantage of it. I personally don't build guns that are only suited to one application...
 
that was my main reason for looking for a 1-? vs the 2.5-10x I'd like to be able to use this setup for carbine courses and cqb if possible and thought a 1 power would be better for some of those applications
 
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