What kinds of scopes do you guys run on your 308?
- Thread starter Kosmonument
- Start date
If you just want to shoot at point blank range, then any decent scope will be fine.
If you want to shoot farther, since youre asking about max distance, then you will want something with adjustable turrets and NO CAPS!
You want clicks to match the reticle... MOA clicks + MOA reticle.
As for max distance, it's not so much the caliber that determines that as the bullet. You will want to back track from the muzzle velocity and the ballistic coefficient of the bullet you want to use.
Download a free ballistics program to your phone like BallisticsARC or just go online to JBM ballistics and enter the particulars of what you'd like to use.
Basically what you are looking for is the distance where the bullet drops to the speed of sound. (about 1200-1300 FPS depending on elevation and barometric pressure) That's what most would consider max effective range.
If you are not familiar with Ballistic Coefficient, you should get to be...
In simple terms it works like this...
Fire two bullets at the same speed, (regardless of weight) one has a G1 BC of .300 and the other has a G1 BC of .600
The 300 yard velocity of the 0.300 BC will be the same as the 600 yard velocity of the 0.600 BC
Furthermore the 300 yard angular wind drift (In MOA) of the 0.300 will be the same at 300 yards as the .600 will be at 600 yards.
So bullet selection is actually more important than caliber selection, for long range shooting.
About the minimum scope you might want would be something like the Vortex 4-16x Diamondback Tactical. The glass is crap, (as most scopes in that price range) but it will get you going with all the needed features. If you can afford better, then the sky is the limit when it comes to optics.
Max distance to remain supersonic with an over the counter 308 is really about 800 yards, unless you are running something really configured for long range, then you can get out a little more than 1000 yards. Such a rifle would have a long throat to shoot heavy bullets seated long to maximize case capacity and fast twist rifling 1:10 or faster.
If you want to shoot farther, since youre asking about max distance, then you will want something with adjustable turrets and NO CAPS!
You want clicks to match the reticle... MOA clicks + MOA reticle.
As for max distance, it's not so much the caliber that determines that as the bullet. You will want to back track from the muzzle velocity and the ballistic coefficient of the bullet you want to use.
Download a free ballistics program to your phone like BallisticsARC or just go online to JBM ballistics and enter the particulars of what you'd like to use.
Basically what you are looking for is the distance where the bullet drops to the speed of sound. (about 1200-1300 FPS depending on elevation and barometric pressure) That's what most would consider max effective range.
If you are not familiar with Ballistic Coefficient, you should get to be...
In simple terms it works like this...
Fire two bullets at the same speed, (regardless of weight) one has a G1 BC of .300 and the other has a G1 BC of .600
The 300 yard velocity of the 0.300 BC will be the same as the 600 yard velocity of the 0.600 BC
Furthermore the 300 yard angular wind drift (In MOA) of the 0.300 will be the same at 300 yards as the .600 will be at 600 yards.
So bullet selection is actually more important than caliber selection, for long range shooting.
About the minimum scope you might want would be something like the Vortex 4-16x Diamondback Tactical. The glass is crap, (as most scopes in that price range) but it will get you going with all the needed features. If you can afford better, then the sky is the limit when it comes to optics.
Max distance to remain supersonic with an over the counter 308 is really about 800 yards, unless you are running something really configured for long range, then you can get out a little more than 1000 yards. Such a rifle would have a long throat to shoot heavy bullets seated long to maximize case capacity and fast twist rifling 1:10 or faster.
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I currently swap a S&B 5-25X56mm PM-II between my 30hate and my .260 Rem. I use both for hunting ,competitions, and general long range shooting out to 1000m with the 30hate and out to 1500m with the .260 Rem.
If you figure out a budget that would help people suggest appropriate scopes. The best suggestion would be the nicest scope you can afford that has the features you want, haha.
2 rifles I have that occasionally have .308 barrels on them have a 3.5-21x50 Bushnell HDMR2 and a 3-12x44 Bushnell LRTSi. I would consider both of those scopes solid mid-tier optics. They track perfectly and are really tough. I shot one of those rifles in a PRS ELR match a few years ago and the furthest I connected at was 1500 yards. There are tons of nice optics out there, really depends how much money you want/can spend.
2 rifles I have that occasionally have .308 barrels on them have a 3.5-21x50 Bushnell HDMR2 and a 3-12x44 Bushnell LRTSi. I would consider both of those scopes solid mid-tier optics. They track perfectly and are really tough. I shot one of those rifles in a PRS ELR match a few years ago and the furthest I connected at was 1500 yards. There are tons of nice optics out there, really depends how much money you want/can spend.
nowarningshot
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Punching paper your range is defined by your ability. Hunting its defined both by your ability and your ethics.
Read the rest of the thread. I have a 3.5-10 loop in the EE.
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I've got a Vortex Diamondback Tactical 6-24 MOA on a Savage .308. Considering getting an Athlon Argos 6-24 MOA and using it on the .308, swapping the Vortex onto a .223. Reviews are generally positive for the Athlon, but there are still some that are pretty bad calling it absolute garbage - so I'm on the fence about it at the moment. I know there are a number of guys on this forum who rave about Athlon and the Argos scope, though...
Another vote for the Leupold 3.5-10x40 Vari-X III Long Range, also the Sightron S-Tac 3-16x40 is excellent, but the reticle is better suited to target and long range, at least for me I found it a bit too thin in low light etc. I had my new USO TS-12 3-12x42 on the 308, but switched back to the Leupold and put the USO on the 223.
Personally I would go with something in the 3-18 × 50 range with an illuminated reticle. Second focal plane if hunting is going to be the primary activity.
3-18×50 is a nice scope for the range too.
If you go First Focal Plane, an illuminated reticle is almost a must for low light hunting. You would be using low power to gather more light and the reticle under those conditions would be very difficult to see.
3-18×50 is a nice scope for the range too.
If you go First Focal Plane, an illuminated reticle is almost a must for low light hunting. You would be using low power to gather more light and the reticle under those conditions would be very difficult to see.
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redshooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Central Ontario
As others have stated application is important, but I'm going to assume since you're asking in a Precision Forum that most of your shooting will be at paper/steel at 100-1000 M. The best advice I can provide is get what you can afford...well, duhh, but wait, hear me out.
If you can afford an S&B, outstanding, and that's the price range you should be considering. That's not to say you have to pay that kind of cash, half as much will still get you an outstanding optic. Anything less than top of the line, now things can get a bit confusing courtesy of Fan Boys and Marketing. I've had a few "garbage" scopes over the years, and some were just that, others were perfectly serviceable assuming you could ignore the odd shortcoming. I have a few friends with Vortex Diamondbacks, and I've had a few Cabela's Covenant scopes. Both seem to do the job adequately, so if money IS an object you can get something serviceable for under $500. I'm currently using a Cabela's Covenant 5, 5-25 X 56mm. To be blunt I think it's likely I'll be trying to get them to honor that lifetime warranty listed on the side of the box one day. Regardless it works, it tracks properly, it's acceptably bright at full power, my only complaint is the eye relief is a bit weird as you move through the power range. In the end get the best you can afford, if you can afford $1k, it's a safe bet you'll be happier with a scope that was in the $750-$1000 range then my Covenant 5. If you have to go lower end a Vortex is a good bet, and the warranty is nice, the cheaper the scope the more likely you are to need a good warranty. Once you know what your going to spend, it's down to power range, reticle, and Mil/MOA. Power range/size 4-16 X 44 to 6-24 X 50 will likely fit your requirements (you'll want a 30mm tube most likely). Reticle can be simple or "busy" look at a few, some of the more elaborate may be a bit distracting (I like them some don't). Mils/MOA the turrets and reticle need to match as others have mentioned, look at the math required for both, figure out which you do in your head better and pick that one...Mils for me.
Most important is take a trip to a local store with a good selection so you can see the features first hand, and also compare a few side by side.
If you can afford an S&B, outstanding, and that's the price range you should be considering. That's not to say you have to pay that kind of cash, half as much will still get you an outstanding optic. Anything less than top of the line, now things can get a bit confusing courtesy of Fan Boys and Marketing. I've had a few "garbage" scopes over the years, and some were just that, others were perfectly serviceable assuming you could ignore the odd shortcoming. I have a few friends with Vortex Diamondbacks, and I've had a few Cabela's Covenant scopes. Both seem to do the job adequately, so if money IS an object you can get something serviceable for under $500. I'm currently using a Cabela's Covenant 5, 5-25 X 56mm. To be blunt I think it's likely I'll be trying to get them to honor that lifetime warranty listed on the side of the box one day. Regardless it works, it tracks properly, it's acceptably bright at full power, my only complaint is the eye relief is a bit weird as you move through the power range. In the end get the best you can afford, if you can afford $1k, it's a safe bet you'll be happier with a scope that was in the $750-$1000 range then my Covenant 5. If you have to go lower end a Vortex is a good bet, and the warranty is nice, the cheaper the scope the more likely you are to need a good warranty. Once you know what your going to spend, it's down to power range, reticle, and Mil/MOA. Power range/size 4-16 X 44 to 6-24 X 50 will likely fit your requirements (you'll want a 30mm tube most likely). Reticle can be simple or "busy" look at a few, some of the more elaborate may be a bit distracting (I like them some don't). Mils/MOA the turrets and reticle need to match as others have mentioned, look at the math required for both, figure out which you do in your head better and pick that one...Mils for me.
Most important is take a trip to a local store with a good selection so you can see the features first hand, and also compare a few side by side.
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- Location
- Near Edmonton, AB
For general range use, I've been very happy with the Leupold VX-3i LRP line. I'm currently running the 4.5-14x50 on a .308 and the 6.5-20x50 on a .223. Both are Mil/Mil and FFP. I was always an MOA guy before that but I figured it was time for me to learn Mils.
Depends on the intended use, and scope preferences are pretty subjective.
My .308 has a Khales K624 with an MSR-K reticle. It's a decent general use reticle, from a great scope manufacturer.
Farthest I've taken it is 1,200 yards with factory 168 FGMM ammo on a rifle with a 21.75" barrel. First round hit on an IPSC target at K&M. When I lived in Houston, I would regularly take it out to 1,100 yards with success on a KYL rack that had targets as small as ~1/2 MOA.
Max effective range depends on quality of rifle/barrel, ammunition and skill of the shooter. I know of people taking .308's successfully past 2,000 yards.
My .308 has a Khales K624 with an MSR-K reticle. It's a decent general use reticle, from a great scope manufacturer.
Farthest I've taken it is 1,200 yards with factory 168 FGMM ammo on a rifle with a 21.75" barrel. First round hit on an IPSC target at K&M. When I lived in Houston, I would regularly take it out to 1,100 yards with success on a KYL rack that had targets as small as ~1/2 MOA.
Max effective range depends on quality of rifle/barrel, ammunition and skill of the shooter. I know of people taking .308's successfully past 2,000 yards.
I've had 3 Sightrons on 3 rifles , S111 6 x 24 LRMOA for 6 years with no problems . Some day i'll upgrade but for now i can't find a reason . I bought zero stops and tactical turrets for them , they track well and no need of warranty work . One each on a .223 , .308 and .338LM .
