Rifle Scopes High Magnification Scopes???

[bronco9588]

I have a 300 Winchester magnum that I am building to be a long range rifle. The purpose of this rifle is to validate a ballistic calculator on which I am working and perform long range load development. More importantly, it is NOT intended as a hunting rifle nor as a tacticool rifle. With that being said, I am not looking for a bench rest cannon that weighs a ton, uses dials, and a plunger to pull the trigger. I still would like to use this rifle for hunting and tactical training, but know that it will be a compromise in these areas. I may use another optic to accomplish those things.

I know the most "trendy" thing in optics is to get ridiculously large objectives with high magnifications. Often times these scopes make the weapon more unwieldy or the field of view so small for the purpose for which they are being used. I don't care too much what people think at the range, but I want to make sure that I am making the right optic purchase. The right one aren't cheap...

I cant help but consider the Sightron SIII 10-50x60 rifle scope. It has a big objective and a ridiculous magnification range, but I think these are in line with my builds intentions. 1/8 moa or 0.05 mrad clicks that will give an extra level of precision I am looking for, ~1100$, and tactical turrets. I am a little concerned that it only has 50 moa for windage and elevation. From my calculations, that should be good to 1200 yards with a 40 moa base. I am looking at going with a mil/mil optic.

What do you all think? Do I have too much magnification envy? Any other scopes I should look at? My budget is 1,000-2,500. Intended use is 1000 yards bench-rest. Desired features are mil/mil, consistency, turrets, diopter and paralax controls.

 

[MoBoost]

I have two 10-50x60 SIIIs. No problems at 1000 with 20MOA base.
I you need more travel - look at lower magnification models (24x has 100moa).

 

[bronco9588]

Crap... I did the math wrong. 50 moa would be +/- 25. A 20 moa base would be +45/-5 which seems pretty ideal. That should be 45 ft of bullet drop at 1200 yards.

 

[Opticsspecialist]

nightforce competition model comes to mind.
Nightforce Competition Rifle Scopes - Nightforce Competition Scopes - Nightforce Scopes

 

[Rob01]

Crap... I did the math wrong. 50 moa would be +/- 25. A 20 moa base would be +45/-5 which seems pretty ideal. That should be 45 ft of bullet drop at 1200 yards.

That's in a perfect world. We don't live in a perfect world. You use windage to zero you will lose some elevation.

 

[sarge7174]

I've got three of the Sightrons,no problem getting out to a 1,000 with a 20MOA base.

 

[Q-Unit]

I like the high mag for target shooting. I used to be like you and think the large objectives were over-rated. I now think the benefit of them is not for the reason people often say they like a large objective (letting more light in).

The reason I like the larger objectives is because it gives a larger exit pupil which helps reduce eye strain.

 

[XTR]

If you are looking for a target scope to shoot to long range, and not spend a fortune there are three, the SIII is one of them. I believe Russell Simmons, the past World Champion on the British team, used one in the FCWC at Raton this yr and finished second by one point. Trust me, the scope had nothing to do with where he finished, but it works for someone shooting at that level it will work for you. The magnification is not ridiculous when you are trying to hit a ½ MOA X-ring at 1000 yards.


The other two options would be any of the Nightforce BR or NXS scopes in the 8-32 or 12-42 range. Usually lots of them to be found in the for sale pages on this forum or on Accurateshooter.com

 

[James n TN]

My vote goes with NF the 12x42 is a very nice scope and has served me well NF is redoing there new 15-55 for 2014 so that may also be a consideration

sent from RAZR Maxx HD using Tapatalk Pro

 

[scudzuki]

That's in a perfect world. We don't live in a perfect world. You use windage to zero you will lose some elevation.

This may have been true in the past, but it has been designed out in the modern rifle scopes I own.
None of the scopes I've owned (USO, Bushnell, S&B, Steiner, March, Sightron, Trijicon, to name a few) exhibit this.
The limits to the travel are dictated by the turret screws, the erector assembly never comes into contact with the main body, and the travel of the erector at its limit forms a square with perfectly sharp corners, not a circle.
This behavior is easily viewed through the objective with a flashlight.

Joe

 

[Rob01]

Have had the same scopes and if you run the windage you will lose elevation. Anyone can try it. Center the elevation and windage and run elevation up and down to see how much elevation you have. Then run the windage all the way to the right or left and see if you have the same. Some manufacturers will limit the windage to make it seem elevation isn't lost but if it wasnt stopped you would lose more.