Hey all!
tl;dr I'd love some help choosing an optic for shooting F-class.
I've spent the last few weeks doing research into optics. After all that time and work, my final conclusion is that I do not know jack and I will never know jack just from reading the internets! So rather than waste so much money on guesswork... can I ask a little help orienting myself?
Here's my story:
I've been shooting rifles for under a year. I go to the range three or four times a week. I started with the guns I already had - first a .22, then an old .30-30. In both cases I started with irons and then eventually moved to low-power scopes. I think I learned some good fundamentals this way.
A few months ago a friend sold me his Savage 110 Elite Precision, in .308, with a Mystic Precision bipod & a fresh barrel. (Total weight: 13.6 lbs). I've been using it to shoot at the 600y line with the F-Class / PRS guys at my range. My dudes: I have been sucked in.
My friend recommended I pick up a cheap scope to start with, and I could upgrade if and when I learned I needed it. I settled on a Mueller 5-25x50 "Eraticator" that cost me $140 online. It's been a really good investment. It's let me shoot a thousand rounds at 600 yards... and it's let me outgrow it naturally. I will sincerely appreciate better glass!
Because ah... guys. The tracking is worse than a yard sale Betamax, the turrets have the build quality of a Canal Street Rolex, the IQ is right up there with one of those tower-viewers that you put in a quarter to look through, and now that it's getting warmer out the mirage is like getting hit in the face with a PIE. I think I am going to put it on my .30-30, get a solid 100-yard zero, Loctite the turrets, and then use it to miss deer for the next six decades. But for precision shooting: I NEED TO UPGRADE.
I want a scope to shoot F-class (F-Open and F-TR). If it let me shoot PRS as well, so much the better - but that's secondary.
And if I have to sell a KIDNEY to do this right... well, I've got two of 'em.
Got any recommendations or advice?
Here are some questions that I've thought of:
-My understanding is that I'll be shooting almost exclusively at 1000y. As such, is there much benefit to an FFP scope?
-Would that change if I started shooting PRS at varying distances?
-I think that weight is not really an object (my rifle + bipod weighs about 13.6lbs). Is that right or am I missing something?
-At 1000y, wouldn't a high max zoom (cough Majesta) be incredibly useful? Or has the IQ on this lousy Eraticator just broken my brain?
-Barring major accidents, how often does a high-quality scope need to be repaired? And how much can that cost?
-If I put one of these scopes on a larger caliber rifle (338LM, say), would the increased recoil make it more likely that they would be damaged?
-How much benefit is there to looking through the glass myself if it's just inside of some store?
-Are there places that let you actually demo glass on a live range?
-Are there any stores that stock a variety of high-quality glass for comparison purposes? I've never seen a store with any TT, S&B, ZCo, March, Kahles, That German One That Begins With "H" That I Can't Remember... let alone more than one to compare!
- ...are any of those places within driving distance of Portland, Maine? Or do I have to, like, fly to ShotShow just to buy a @%$#@ scope?
Thanks so much, guys. I appreciate it a ton.
tl;dr using the form
tl;dr I'd love some help choosing an optic for shooting F-class.
I've spent the last few weeks doing research into optics. After all that time and work, my final conclusion is that I do not know jack and I will never know jack just from reading the internets! So rather than waste so much money on guesswork... can I ask a little help orienting myself?
Here's my story:
I've been shooting rifles for under a year. I go to the range three or four times a week. I started with the guns I already had - first a .22, then an old .30-30. In both cases I started with irons and then eventually moved to low-power scopes. I think I learned some good fundamentals this way.
A few months ago a friend sold me his Savage 110 Elite Precision, in .308, with a Mystic Precision bipod & a fresh barrel. (Total weight: 13.6 lbs). I've been using it to shoot at the 600y line with the F-Class / PRS guys at my range. My dudes: I have been sucked in.
My friend recommended I pick up a cheap scope to start with, and I could upgrade if and when I learned I needed it. I settled on a Mueller 5-25x50 "Eraticator" that cost me $140 online. It's been a really good investment. It's let me shoot a thousand rounds at 600 yards... and it's let me outgrow it naturally. I will sincerely appreciate better glass!
Because ah... guys. The tracking is worse than a yard sale Betamax, the turrets have the build quality of a Canal Street Rolex, the IQ is right up there with one of those tower-viewers that you put in a quarter to look through, and now that it's getting warmer out the mirage is like getting hit in the face with a PIE. I think I am going to put it on my .30-30, get a solid 100-yard zero, Loctite the turrets, and then use it to miss deer for the next six decades. But for precision shooting: I NEED TO UPGRADE.
I want a scope to shoot F-class (F-Open and F-TR). If it let me shoot PRS as well, so much the better - but that's secondary.
And if I have to sell a KIDNEY to do this right... well, I've got two of 'em.
Got any recommendations or advice?
Here are some questions that I've thought of:
-My understanding is that I'll be shooting almost exclusively at 1000y. As such, is there much benefit to an FFP scope?
-Would that change if I started shooting PRS at varying distances?
-I think that weight is not really an object (my rifle + bipod weighs about 13.6lbs). Is that right or am I missing something?
-At 1000y, wouldn't a high max zoom (cough Majesta) be incredibly useful? Or has the IQ on this lousy Eraticator just broken my brain?
-Barring major accidents, how often does a high-quality scope need to be repaired? And how much can that cost?
-If I put one of these scopes on a larger caliber rifle (338LM, say), would the increased recoil make it more likely that they would be damaged?
-How much benefit is there to looking through the glass myself if it's just inside of some store?
-Are there places that let you actually demo glass on a live range?
-Are there any stores that stock a variety of high-quality glass for comparison purposes? I've never seen a store with any TT, S&B, ZCo, March, Kahles, That German One That Begins With "H" That I Can't Remember... let alone more than one to compare!
- ...are any of those places within driving distance of Portland, Maine? Or do I have to, like, fly to ShotShow just to buy a @%$#@ scope?
Thanks so much, guys. I appreciate it a ton.
tl;dr using the form
- What is the platform for the scope? Bolt-action rifle
- What cartridge are you shooting? .308
- What is your intended use for the scope? Belly Benchrest, maybe PRS (Open or Tactical)
- What type of conditions will you typically shoot in? Daylight and dusk - I love shooting after work
- What are the typical distances you intend to shoot? 1000y
- Are there any specific specifications you would like? Durability.
- What is the price range you can afford? Just fuck my shit up.
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