Ok guys, first post so don't flame please. I am 55, been shooting for about 3 years. Rem 700 leupold mark 4 3.5-10 .308. Starting to get further out distance wise, want to shoot out to 600-800 yards. My current scope just ain't making it with these eyes. So question is, leupold mark 4 6.5-20 or 8.5-25? And should I spend the extra money on FFP? Thanks.
Rifle Scopes Older eyes
- Thread starter smiledr
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I'm 62 and feel for you. Get all the help you can get.
To me, optical quality (resolution) is more important than a lot of the tactical features. In the past month I've spent a lot of money on glass -- one Swarovski Z5 5-25x52 (BRX reticle); two Zeis Conquest HD5s in 5-25x50 (Rapid Z-Varmint reticles) and one Nightforce ATACR 5-25x56 (MOAR reticle) and they join my year-old Leupold VX-3L 8.5-25x50 (Varmint Hunter reticle).
IMO, that is five really nice pieces of clarity. Some will say the Swaro Z5 and Zeis HD5s are not tactical long-range scopes but they sure do turn in a sharp picture at long range. The NF ATACR has the glass and the features (it is SFP). The Leupold holds its own with the others.
I don't think FFP is going to make a difference in clarity like better glass would. I think you need sharpness more than you need ranging ability at your age. I returned two SFP scopes for better glass.
I am sure most of the 30-somethings and 40-somethings (and a few lucky 50-somethings) on the Hide will shoot holes in my post. But clarity has brought enjoyment back into long-range shooting for me.
In short, go for the best glass you can afford at the highest power. There is a reason why so many quality scopes are going to 25x.
To me, optical quality (resolution) is more important than a lot of the tactical features. In the past month I've spent a lot of money on glass -- one Swarovski Z5 5-25x52 (BRX reticle); two Zeis Conquest HD5s in 5-25x50 (Rapid Z-Varmint reticles) and one Nightforce ATACR 5-25x56 (MOAR reticle) and they join my year-old Leupold VX-3L 8.5-25x50 (Varmint Hunter reticle).
IMO, that is five really nice pieces of clarity. Some will say the Swaro Z5 and Zeis HD5s are not tactical long-range scopes but they sure do turn in a sharp picture at long range. The NF ATACR has the glass and the features (it is SFP). The Leupold holds its own with the others.
I don't think FFP is going to make a difference in clarity like better glass would. I think you need sharpness more than you need ranging ability at your age. I returned two SFP scopes for better glass.
I am sure most of the 30-somethings and 40-somethings (and a few lucky 50-somethings) on the Hide will shoot holes in my post. But clarity has brought enjoyment back into long-range shooting for me.
In short, go for the best glass you can afford at the highest power. There is a reason why so many quality scopes are going to 25x.
I got to look through a NF 5.5-22x50 today with the MOAR reticle. That was a thing of beauty. It is SFP so the reticle size does not change, lines and hashes are a little thicker and the moa subtension increments are etched into the glass. As long as you are at max power, there is no guessing or calculating, just read and adjust.
http://nightforceoptics.com/pdf/MOAR.pdf
http://nightforceoptics.com/pdf/MOAR.pdf
http://www.bearbasin.com/nightforce_reticles.htm
http://nightforceoptics.com/benchrest/8-32x56-precision-benchrest/
A Nightforce benchrest scope, something else to consider.
My eyes are 51 years old.
http://nightforceoptics.com/benchrest/8-32x56-precision-benchrest/
A Nightforce benchrest scope, something else to consider.
My eyes are 51 years old.
I'm 28, have good eyes, and value good glass as one of my top priorities when selecting a scope. My best scope is a Premier Heritage 5-25x56...cost an arm and a leg though. Sold 2 Leupolds and a NF scope which barely covered the price. There's just something about looking at a crisp and bright image on a low mirage day and picking up all the tiny details. Also is terrific fun to see bullets flying thru the air when the sun is at the right angle.
lol This topic is near and dear to my heart. I turned 40 this year and my eye-doc turned up the power on my prescription. Oh well. I sold my DCM (CMP) Service Rifle and am upgrading my scope collection. I loved my Mk4 3.5-10 and I effectively engaged with it out to 910 yards with my 308, but I found that as dusk settled in, I had a hard time picking out targets from the backdrop. I took a peak through my buddy's higher powered S&B optic and there was a good bit of difference. Now, I am trying a Mark 6 1-6 now on my short gun, and the glass in the Mk 6 is fabulous. If you like Leupold, they have a Mark 8 3-25 power scope that I saw at SHOT this year. It is a fine piece of glass and you would like it. I am partial to S&B and I am favoring a 5-25 on my new 6.5 Creedmoor long range build. I bought new FFP optics, but I never had trouble ranging and hitting with my regular old Mk4, either.
As above good glass is more inportant then extra cost for FFP, especially if you're only shooting known distance targets at the range. Would definitely recommend 20-25X. More than that and you start getting mirage issues. I'm 65 and my 2 premium scopes are 24 & 40X. I can also use the 40X for a spotting scope. Some days mirage is limiting, but just crank it down.
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I am older than all of you guys but I echo what everyone else has said. I would go with the Night force NXS 5.5-22X50/56 with the MOAR reticle. I find the resolution to be excellent which is the most important factor to me. Or if you want a scope with more magnification the NXS 8-32X56 with the MOAR reticle which is the scope I use on my AIAW 308 folder.
I'm 59 and have poor eyesight. Like others have said get the best scope you can afford as far as glass. I have two Premier 5-25x56 scopes and to my eyes they do make a difference as far as color, clarity, image quality. the Gen2 XR reticle works particularly well for me. I shoot the rifles with the premiers exclusively at 600 and 800 yards, unless I'm ammo testing or zeroing.
I'm going to get another 5-25x56 and was set on Kahles but read some remarks about I believe it was erector issue requiring new scopes to be send back to Austria. I more of a fan of scopes that can be fixed here in the US. I need to get my hands on the Steiner 5-25x56, I've read good things about it and I believe it can be fixed here in the US.
I'm going to get another 5-25x56 and was set on Kahles but read some remarks about I believe it was erector issue requiring new scopes to be send back to Austria. I more of a fan of scopes that can be fixed here in the US. I need to get my hands on the Steiner 5-25x56, I've read good things about it and I believe it can be fixed here in the US.
Yes spend the extra money on FFP.
So far the scope I'm most impressed with concerning the optics is the March FX 5-40. If March had put 10 mil knobs on it I would likely had bought one. I bought a S&B 5-25 instead. I'm happy I did as it has most of the features I like.
Leupold MK4's are OK scopes but not in the same league as higher end scopes, especially the glass. If you can afford the money for higher end scopes it'll make your eyes seem like they are 45 years old instead of 55.
The new Kahles and Steiner 5-25's are supposed to have pretty good glass and closer in price to the Luepy's.
So far the scope I'm most impressed with concerning the optics is the March FX 5-40. If March had put 10 mil knobs on it I would likely had bought one. I bought a S&B 5-25 instead. I'm happy I did as it has most of the features I like.
Leupold MK4's are OK scopes but not in the same league as higher end scopes, especially the glass. If you can afford the money for higher end scopes it'll make your eyes seem like they are 45 years old instead of 55.
The new Kahles and Steiner 5-25's are supposed to have pretty good glass and closer in price to the Luepy's.
U can upgrade the glass ane with that upgrade such companies as USO , SB Premier etc, have a lens which allows you to dial more + diopters which may clear your view and sharpen the target...USO allows you to specify an increase in the std. number of + diopters...
This is a common problem for the older shooter...farsightedness...
This is a common problem for the older shooter...farsightedness...
In my 20's and 30's thought the Leupolds were the cat's meow and couldn't understand why people spent the extra money on those high dollar scopes. Just turned 49 and found it is a little more difficult to pick out the targets and the my Leupolds just don't seem to have the resolution they use to especially in low light situations. Going mostly with Kahles as I think think they have the best bang for the buck.
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