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Rifle Scopes Cant decide on what scope to get

D

Da Chitter

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 6, 2013
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39
Dallas TX
New to posting but not new to the thread, I have just been poking around looking at other posts getting answers I needed. I am having trouble with deciding on what scope would be good for me to put on my rifle, I am shooting a Tikka T3 light .270 with a floated and fluted barrel, Brileys custom muzzle break and custom hair trigger. Mainly used for hunting but am looking to get into long rang shooting. Scopes I have looked at have been Leopold, vortex, huskemaw, and if I really wanted to drop the cash maybe even a night force. I wanted to know what the comfortable long range is for a .270 and would I be wasting money putting on a scope rated at 1000 yards if the rifle isn’t capable of doing so. I will also be investing in a new stock as well and have had my eye on a manner, any input would be helpful and greatly appreciated. Here are some pictures of my rifle.


 
Well, there are a few questions I have for you before I try my hand at an answer. Do you handload? What twist is your barrel? What length is your barrel? What profile? Do you have a range where you can shoot that far? There are many optics that can get you there, I would be more concerned with the rifle and round. There aren't too many quality high BC bullets to chose from in the .270.
 
If you still plan on using the rifle for hunting, and if that hunting may require "up close" shots, thats much different than if you're thinking 200 yards shots and out. You need to decide FFP vs SFP also. My opinion is SFP is better for hunting, but others disagree. I like that on low power a SFP reticle doesn't shrink and get hard to see in dim light. If I turn up the magnification for a long shot, I like that the reticle stays thin for precise aiming. Again, others may disagree.

So, if you need a scope for up close hunting, but still want to shoot long range, that's going to be a big compromise on both ends. Something like a Leupold MK 4 4.5-14 would work. Maybe stretch to a 6-20 or another brands 6-24. NF 5.5-22?
 
Bruno, I do not hand load but i am looking into it. Twist is 1-10 and barrel length is 22 7/16" plus 2 in barrel break. We hunt a 5,000 acre ranch in north Texas and yes some shots would be over 700. Would it make more sense to just bite the bullet and invest in a more long range caliber rifle, .308, 300 win...etc?

slm9s, i would use the rifle for hunting in more open blinds that require long range shot and also I do love the fact of having the availability of being able to reach out and touch an animal from long range. as far as under 200 yards, we have some stands that fit that and I would bring my LWRC .223 for that, the biggest animals I will encounter are deer and have shot plenty of hogs around the 300lb range.
 
I think you should look at SWFA scopes or the viper PST... 270 isnt my kind of caliber. You have a factory action and barrel it sounds like so spending the money on a manners stock is pointless unless you have higher quality action and barrel to make it worth it. IMO... Your use is walking around a 7 mag caliber.
 
Viper PST's use a shim system for a zero stop. It's not the best design, but it does work and it keeps the cost down.
 
While the .270 isn't really know for long range shooting, there are some really good loads out there nowadays. It is a hunting hall-of-famer for a reason and is unduly overlooked in favor of the more trendy calibers. The Hornady 140 grn. SST has a good ballistic coefficient @ .495 and velocity of 3090 fps and is suitable for game, unlike a lot of match bullets with hi BC's. I wouldn't feel under gunned at all with that Tikka, I think that setup you have is awesome with the fluting and brake, and light weight! A scope with a low end of 3-4 and a high of 12-18 would be perfect, imo. The new SWFA 3-15 would probably play perfect. Also, For the money a Minox ZA5 3-15x40 would be killer -- they are very Zeiss Conquest-like for cheaper and have german Shott glass. CameralandNY has them on clearance for a killer price, I just got the ZA3 3-9x40 for a steal. I think you would want to stay with a scope under 24 oz., it'd be a shame to ruin the balance one of the best lightweight rifles in production! For your application it isn't critical to have a "tactical" exposed turrets for hunting, there are some nice bdc scopes out there that with some tuning are faster than spinning dials. A good laser range finder and clear glass, I think you have a 1000 yards capable rifle no problem. I say use the factory stock for awhile, if you are getting unexplained flyers then look at the lightweight hunting options from manners. The Vortex PST's are nice too, for a little cheaper the Viper HS would be really nice as well and have zero stop. Good luck and nice rifle.
 
I think that the .270 really has only one bullet that would suit your needs, berger 150 match hunting VLD with G1 BC of .531. Before a new scope or stock I think that, if your set on this rifle, handloading is going to give you the most performance for your money. There are no match factory rounds that are going to allow you to be consistent at those ranges you mentioned. I think the .270 is a fair hunting round, and the tikka is a nice hunting rig, but not something I would put a lot of money into to try and make a 1000 yard rifle. If your on a tight budget, handloading will get you to where you want. Consistent hits on targets at 1000 should be doable. Later down the road, when you fall in love with LR shooting, a dedicated rig, or a better suited hunting/target rifle would suit you better. And then, you will have all the reloading components and experience needed to get the most out of it! What scope do you currently have on it?
 
I would consider building a new rifle and leaving the tikka for hunting. I went that route and pimped my hunting rifle out for both worlds only to build a long range rifle shortly after. My hunting rifle just wasn't doing what I wanted and I didn't want to pack a rifle in the mountains up here weighing 12+ lbs. The 270 win will flat out shoot but once you ring steel at distance you will want to go further than your rifles capability next. Save your beautiful tikka for hunting and build that rifle you dream about. Ya only live once! Good luck and shoot straight!

Robert
 
Just my .02 as I have spent several years hunting in wide open country in west Texas (in between junction and Sonora) I've shot deer with my .308 out to 500yds with no problem. I've hunted with people who have taken 270s that far too, but if your talking about cracking shots at half a mile or more I would suggest investing in a .300 mag, and a leupold scope. In a hunting situation it will have more knock-down if you don't hit your mark perfect (like if you don't see the cross wind pick up at the last second). Leupold makes great scopes and especially if you get one with the shorter turrets (I think they are called m2 or m3) they do the trick without getting to bulky in a stand. My personal opinion is that S&b is the best glass but very pricy, night force is good (I shot one for a year), but leupold I find the best for long range hunting purposes. I'm sure people will disagree, but I only base my info off of experience, nothing else.
 
Fellas, thank yawl so much for the input it has been more than helpful, I think I am going to purchase a really good scope and then begin the process of building a custom LR rifle and keep the tikka for hunting. The scope I have on the tikka now is a junk shooters edge but has done the trick last hunting season but it leaves a not in my stomach to have a nice rifle and not a nice scope to match it. I am going to save up and purchase a very nice optic so that i can get used to it on the tikka and then transfer it to the custom build. I will update every one along the way with what I have done and I am sure as all of you know it will be a long process but from the Intel yawl have given me it has made my decision much easier. Once again I can’t thank yawl enough for the help and I am very excited to start Long Range shooting as another hobby to go along with many others that I have.
 
here are some pics of kills i have had with it so far, I guess its my ADD but i always enjoy a thread with pictures.

300 yard neck shot

very lucky shot through the trees while walking

Biggest one to date
 
I am in between a nightforce or a bushnell nsr, I know it will be more advanced for what i am shooting but like Glassbeaver said it can be moved to a different rifle later down the road. I have been a firm beliver of doing it right the first time and you dont have issues later on.
 
Nahhhhh bull shit, it's not to advanced for the rifle! I my opinion think of it this way your rifle is your engine and you scopeis your transmission, in order to utilize and harness your engine you got to have a nice transmission. I order to utilize your rifles ability, get a scope capable. Night force are great scopes! You wouldn't regret one I promise! (I've owned one). But first are are you looking for mil/mil or moa/moa or mayb even moa/mil?
 
TFONT48, not sure yet on mil/mil, moa/moa, moa/mil. i am thinking moa/mil though. BTW i see your from Baton Rouge, i have alot of family around there and i was born in Slidell
 
Da Chitter, I would go with a matching reticle/knob scope. They simplify the use of the scope. I personally use a mil/mil set up and find it easy to use. As other have stated spend the money on a good scope and it can progress with you on your future rifles.

R
 
Good so see somebody from this great state on here. I would also advise a matching system. I to use mil/mil now because i find it a much simpler system. I used moa/mil for a while and then moa/moa and now switched to mil/mil (I switched to mil because I liked the S&b and the Horus) it's just time to decide which system you like more. I like mils for making easier wind calls/wind formulas
 
Maybe one idea to throw out there, you could slam on a Weaver 3-10x40 mil/mil from midwayusa for $300 and be practicing with a high quality mil/mil scope and whenever you get your dedicated long range rig, throw a nightforce on it then and not disturb the Tikka. The Weaver acts and seems like a lot more than a $300 scope, it would last for a lifetime of hunting most likely, and has some of the best glass under $600 out there.
 
I would also reccomend that you go mil/mil or moa/moa. For mil I would reccomend the new Bushnell XRS, and for moa I would reccomend a NF ATACR. Both will be excellent optics for any rifle you put them on, and both American made.
 
I have been on you tube and looking up info and i agree i am going to go mil/mil. It seems more user friendly and i feel it will be a good intro to the LR shooting. Once again thank you to every one with the help it has been more informative than any where else.
 
My recommendation would be buy a quality optic and then learn how to use the rifle and scope. Perhaps take a course at Rifle's Only?
 
BUDGET IS AROUND $1500.00, I dont have it now but close to it

tyler02, i have actually won 5 classes of tactical and long range shooting in a drawing that i will be attending soon.
 
Once you take the course, you'll have a better idea of what you need. You're equipment will tell you what you need to upgrade. I wouldn't do anything until then.
 
I think you made the right decision. Building a dedicated LR rifle and keeping the Tikka for hunting is the way to go. I have mil/mil scopes on my rifles. You definitely want matching turrets. You'll want 20-24 high end magnification for out to 1000 yds or more. I personally find FFP scopes easier to use for ranging. I'm using March 3-24 and 5-40 scopes, but can't go wrong with Nightforce, S&B, Steiner, or Kahles. Consider hand loading as mentioned by others. Many options to keep you busy for years to come.
 
Well i took yalls advice and made a new purchase, LWRC REPR .308 with a SWFA ss 10x42 tactical scope, what do yall think?




 
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