Talk me out of it....

[jlm1216]

So, I recently bought a Bergara B14 HMR in 300 PRC. As it sits now the build is American Percision Arms fat bastard gen 3 brake, Area 419 20 moa base, seekins 30mm rings, vortex viper hst 6-24x50. Love the rifle so far and have shot out to 770 with it. Seriously debating buying a razor gen II 4.5-27x56 but I love my sfp

optics, or maybe something from Nightforce, or maybe a chassis and trigger..... talk me out of it or into it lol.Before anyone asks, yes I have plenty of ammo. Been pretty lucky finding it in stock online and am sitting on 200 rounds of 212 eldx and 560 rounds of 225 eldm. Not developing a load for it yet until I use all the factory ammo first.

 

[Animal357]

760 rounds is plenty of ammo?

 

[Steel head]

I have that exact scope.
You’ll absolutely see the difference especially since the image quality on the HS-T really goes downhill at the upper limits of travel and the zero stop is so so.

 

[powdahound76]

glass.
I have one of those scopes (sits on a loaner 22). was ok years ago. Now its in the dust as far as quality of glass and features.
Also look at the Bushnell series. One of the DMR PRO scopes when for sub $900 today in the PX and another is at $900.
There was a screaming deal on some of the XRS scopes on Midway too.
They dont give much, if anything, up to the more pricey stuff, and are a good bit cheaper (maybe not a lot cheaper than a used Vortex genII Razor).
And FFP is all good IMO. All my LR rigs and hunter run them now.

 

[MarshallDodge]

I'm confused as to what we should be talking you out of. You have a good rifle and decent scope, with a good amount of ammo to keep it fed for a while.

That caliber has plenty of grunt to get you a long ways out so it's not lacking in that department.

Do you have a decent training rifle in 22LR or 223?

 

[ACW39]

Hey jlm1216, welcome! I see we’re in the same area and notice your picture is at Gateway. What are you desiring to do with this set up? Is it a dedicated range rifle? You said 770, so I’m assuming you go to Saltwater to shoot. I think you might find that you will receive a million different suggestions asking SH to talk you into or out of changing scope, chassis or trigger. Do you have a budget?

 

[jlm1216]

760 rounds is plenty of ammo?

Yes ma’am, I think it’s a decent amount for a bolt gun.

 

[jlm1216]

I'm confused as to what we should be talking you out of. You have a good rifle and decent scope, with a good amount of ammo to keep it fed for a while.

That caliber has plenty of grunt to get you a long ways out so it's not lacking in that department.

Do you have a decent training rifle in 22LR or 223?

Yeah, I have a few .22lr and a handful of AR’s. Just really debating on what to spend money on lol. Either glass, or a chassis for the most part.

 

[jlm1216]

Hey jlm1216, welcome! I see we’re in the same area and notice your picture is at Gateway. What are you desiring to do with this set up? Is it a dedicated range rifle? You said 770, so I’m assuming you go to Saltwater to shoot. I think you might find that you will receive a million different suggestions asking SH to talk you into or out of changing scope, chassis or trigger. Do you have a budget?

Picked this rifle specifically for an elk hunt later this year but fell in love with it when I fired it so it will be a range/hunting rifle. I’d say a realistic budget is $3,000 ish, give or take. Really leaning toward a razor 4.5-27x56 and some 34mm seekins rings. The hst on it now does fine at sw to 770, and actually have never even dialed it past 12x.

 

[ACW39]

Glass

 

[ACW39]

Good luck on the elk hunt! I think a higher end scope will really prove it’s value in the long run. Have you had a chance to look through or use the razor or any other scopes in that price range? If not maybe run up to shooters on university Blvd and handle a few. They won’t have all brands and makes, but you may find that you like one better than the other. Personally I wouldn’t buy the razor, but that’s me. I’m not saying it’s a bad choice. Why are you choosing the razor if you don’t mind me asking?

I also wonder if you’re not dialing past 12x, have you considered a lower power scope that will save you some weight when out hunting? You could go 3-18x and still easily go past 1k.

 

[jlm1216]

Good luck on the elk hunt! I think a higher end scope will really prove it’s value in the long run. Have you had a chance to look through or use the razor or any other scopes in that price range? If not maybe run up to shooters on university Blvd and handle a few. They won’t have all brands and makes, but you may find that you like one better than the other. Personally I wouldn’t buy the razor, but that’s me. I’m not saying it’s a bad choice. Why are you choosing the razor if you don’t mind me asking?

I also wonder if you’re not dialing past 12x, have you considered a lower power scope that will save you some weight when out hunting? You could go 3-18x and still easily go past 1k.

I mentioned the razor because I have some time behind one and was amazing other than being ffp lol. But that’s something I could get used to. Also leaning toward nightforce, it’s kind of a toss up at this point.

 

[sleeplz]

Go to a match and look through the glass yourself. Getting in your hands will make a huge difference compared to word of mouth.

 

[hafejd30]

I had the same scope you do. But the HS version not the HST. It crapped out in 50 rounds of 308.

Spend the money on the glass. Buy glass you plan to keep for a long time. If the razor is that then get it. If you want the Nightforce then get that

The glass can always transfer to another rifle. So put the money there as the glass you have is definitely worth an upgrade

 

[ubettcha]

THe Razor is 4#. On anything other than a competition rig where weight is a hindrance that is excessive. THe AMG is alot lighter and close price wise if Vortex is your brand. NIghtforce has the ATACR in sfp if that is your preference the NSX series is not quite as crisp in the glass but the turrets built the brand. March is lightweight and many sfp options. Ziess and Swaroski both have sfp options with lighter weight and steller optical quality
Something not mentioned would be a good class

 

[ACW39]

I agree that attending a class and or going to a match would be beneficial. You would get exposed to a lot of options. That’s why I asked why you were leaning towards the razor. I think many have been where you’re at, in that we had some experience with a better piece of equipment and wanted to jump on it, but at that particular moment was lacking experience with much else. A 2-3k piece of equipment would suck to not get what suits you best.

You could go to the next local PRS match and see a ton of different options on everything you’re currently considering. I know a few people in your situation that did just that and were able to get to hands on a bunch of different equipment to help them make a decision. Most everyone is helpful and will go through what they’re using if you ask and let you look at it.

Here’s a link to the next match in our area if you want to go check it out.

Precision Rifle Series - Volusia County PRS Regional Match - ...

The Precision Rifle Series is the preeminent rifle organization in the world, structuring a yearly points race for both the PRS Pro Bolt Gun Series and the PRS Regional Series. The PRS Championship Shooting Series is synonymous with precision rifle shooting.

www.precisionrifleseries.com

 

[Shootin Stuff]

I love my sfp optics

Unless it's a low power or fixed power optic, FFP is by far the way to go.

 

[FuhQ]

I love the HST 6-24x50 scopes. When they first came out, I replaced a bunch of mix & match different brand optics on my rifles with Vortex Viper HS and HST scopes. Still love them. A lot of scope for the money!

 

[jlm1216]

Went with a razor.

 

[FuhQ]

The Viper HST 6-24x50 that you pulled off, is it an MRAD or MOA model?

If it's MRAD, how much you want for it?

 

[jlm1216]

The Viper HST 6-24x50 that you pulled off, is it an MRAD or MOA model?

If it's MRAD, how much you want for it?

It was an mrad. I actually sold it the other day with the vortex rings and bubble level for $480

 

[FuhQ]

It was an mrad. I actually sold it the other day with the vortex rings and bubble level for $480

Damn... I would have snagged it at that price!

 

[79steeler]

I've shot out to 1,680 yards with the Gen 2 Razor on my .300 win mag. Went 5 out of 10. Great scope for the money. You will be happy. Mrad is easy to learn.

 

[jlm1216]

I've shot out to 1,680 yards with the Gen 2 Razor on my .300 win mag. Went 5 out of 10. Great scope for the money. You will be happy. Mrad is easy to learn.

Awesome. Yeah, I prefer MRAD> moa. Made the change a few years ago.

 

[jlm1216]

Took it out today to rezero it with the new glass. Did a boresight zero for group #1. Adjusted windage before group #2, then dialed elevation the following groups. Rifle shot amazing. Was using 225 ELDM factory.

 

[jlm1216]

Ended up picking up a gen 3 razor 6-36. Also bought a silencer co harvester big bore so I have a dedicated can on it.

 

[chevy_man]

Damn... I would have snagged it at that price!

They regularly go in the px for $400. I paid $425 for a 4-16 mil. Sold it after the second warranty claim though.

 

[chevy_man]

Ended up picking up a gen 3 razor 6-36. Also bought a silencer co harvester big bore so I have a dedicated can on it.

Nice choice.

Once the ffp grows on you, you'll wonder why you ever did anything else.

I thought it was silly because who doesn't hold on the highest power? Then I got into it and realized that anything beyond a 1-6/1-10 needs ffp. Even the few 2-12's I have are ffp and I really enjoy them.

 

[jlm1216]

They regularly go in the px for $400. I paid $425 for a 4-16 mil. Sold it after the second warranty claim though.

Doubt that. Maybe the 4-16, but not the 6-24, especially with vortex precision rings and a level.

 

[FuhQ]

Doubt that. Maybe the 4-16, but not the 6-24, especially with vortex precision rings and a level.

Agreed. I was thinking more like $600-$650 with that $150 set of rings on it...Unless it's just beat to hell and back. LOL

 

[jlm1216]

Also, brought my 9 year old hunting hogs in November. We killed it, ended up with 6. Made some skewers out of the first sow I shot, hit her in the right shoulder and completely blew out her left side (photo attached).

 

[jlm1216]

Decided to upgrade this rifle a little. I mostly hunt in Florida and South Carolina so I gave it some color, added a salmon river solutions hunters rail and bedded the recoil lug.