Rifle Scopes 0 vs 20 MOA scope base

[Paul1262]

I just purchased a Vortex Viper PST Gen II 5-25x50 scope. I currently have a 0 MOA scope base that I could use with this scope however, I'm wondering if I should purchase a 20 MOA base. I belong to a range that only goes out to 200 yards but on rare occaisions, I could have access to ranges out to 1000 yards.
The PST Gen II"s elevation adjustment is 70 MOA. The scope will be on a Bergara B14 HMR 6.5 CM. Does anyone have an estimate of how far out I might be able to reach with the 0 MOA base?

 

[John Glidewell]

You should be fine with the current base. If you plan on shooting past 1k you will prob need an moa base.

 

[Huskydriver]

Yep to 1k you will be fine

 

[Paul1262]

You should be fine with the current base. If you plan on shooting past 1k you will prob need an moa base.

Thanks - much appreciated.

 

[spife7980]

If you didnt have a base already then I would get a 20.
I would not buy a new one just to get that extra 20 moa unless youre looking to go over 1200.

70/2=35 up and 35 down
You should be able to get out to around 1100 before you run out of elevation with your current 35 moa available.
Add in a 20 moa base and you get 55 up and 15 down. 55 moa will get you out to around 1400 which is where your bullet will really start to struggle as its becoming subsonic.

 

[Paul1262]

Yep to 1k you will be fine

Thanks.

If you didnt have a base already then I would get a 20.
I would not buy a new one just to get that extra 20 moa unless youre looking to go over 1200.

70/2=35 up and 35 down
You should be able to get out to around 1100 before you run out of elevation with your current 35 moa available.
Add in a 20 moa base and you get 55 up and 15 down. 55 moa will get you out to around 1400 which is where your bullet will really start to struggle as its becoming subsonic.

Thanks - Really helps to have a basic idea of what yardage I could expect from a 0 MOA.

 

[spife7980]

Thanks.

Thanks - Really helps to have a basic idea of what yardage I could expect from a 0 MOA.

Maybe something in your rifle is bent etc and you dont actually get the full 35 calculated moa, but it should be closeish and still get you out to your listed 1000 yards without issue.

 

[Paul1262]

Maybe something in your rifle is bent etc and you dont actually get the full 35 calculated moa, but it should be closeish and still get you out to your listed 1000 yards without issue.

Again, thanks for your comments.

 

[Steel head]

As said with that scope and 0 rail you should be able to dial to about 1100.
With a 20 moa rail approximately 1400ish.
With a 30 moa rail approximately 1500ish

 

[Paul1262]

As said with that scope and 0 rail you should be able to dial to about 1100.
With a 20 moa rail approximately 1400ish.
With a 30 moa rail approximately 1500ish

This information is really helpful - Thanks.

 

[Rob01]

After you get zeroed check to see how much elevation you have left. Run your data to 1000 on a ballistic program and see how close you are with what you have left. Then you can make the decision. I wouldn't run right out and get a 20 moa base now in your position as even if for some reason you can't dial to 1000 you still have the reticle to hold the rest.

 

[Paul1262]

After you get zeroed check to see how much elevation you have left. Run your data to 1000 on a ballistic program and see how close you are with what you have left. Then you can make the decision. I wouldn't run right out and get a 20 moa base now in your position as even if for some reason you can't dial to 1000 you still have the reticle to hold the rest.

I appreciate the advice and recommendations.

 

[Moe Ron]

I have a R700 with a 0 moa base, Dback Tactical 6-24x50 zeroed at 100. I got a 20 moa base with intent to install. I dialed the scope down all the way just to check. I don’t have 20 moa of adjustment. Am I in trouble or is my thinking jacked up.

 

[theLBC]

I have a R700 with a 0 moa base, Dback Tactical 6-24x50 zeroed at 100. I got a 20 moa base with intent to install. I dialed the scope down all the way just to check. I don’t have 20 moa of adjustment. Am I in trouble or is my thinking jacked up.

i don't think every scope and rifle is going to put zero at the exact middle of the elevation range of the scope.
for example, my Mark 5HD is listed as having 29.1 mils of elevation, but rather than ~15 mils, i have 18.1 mils of travel down.

 

[Rob01]

I have a R700 with a 0 moa base, Dback Tactical 6-24x50 zeroed at 100. I got a 20 moa base with intent to install. I dialed the scope down all the way just to check. I don’t have 20 moa of adjustment. Am I in trouble or is my thinking jacked up.

You should be fine with a 20 MOA base and that scope. A buddy has one on a 20 MOA base and it zeros just fine. Unless you needed a ton of windage to zero then there might be an issue. That is not uncommon with 700s as they have crooked base holes in the receiver and why people get them trued and opened to 8-40s from the 6-48s.

 

[wade2big]

You may not make 1000 yards depending on which barrel length and which factory ammunition you will shoot. If you are at sea level with a 20” barrel and shooting anything but the highest bc ammunition, you will not make 1000 yards with that scope and a 0 moa rail. If you are shooting 140 or 147 gr eldm then you will make it even with a 20” barrel. Even with a 24” barrel and 140gr american gunner, it will be close at sea level.

 

[Moe Ron]

Hey thanks
Please pardon my ignorance here. I’m really new to this game. So the scope has 60 moa of adjustment. With the 0 moa base zeroed at 100 the scope is already about 45 moa down from max up. I say about because when I dialed it down from the current zero I just know it didn’t make 20 moa. I didn’t pay attention to the exact number and I’m not with the scope right now.
Life is hard but life is hardest when you’re dumb.

 

[Rob01]

Well when you are dial up and see what you have.

 

[wade2big]

Hey thanks
Please pardon my ignorance here. I’m really new to this game. So the scope has 60 moa of adjustment. With the 0 moa base zeroed at 100 the scope is already about 45 moa down from max up. I say about because when I dialed it down from the current zero I just know it didn’t make 20 moa. I didn’t pay attention to the exact number and I’m not with the scope right now.
Life is hard but life is hardest when you’re dumb.

You are hitting your zero stop. You should be zeroing with the inside turret and not the outside turret

 

[Moe Ron]

You are hitting your zero stop. You should be zeroing with the inside turret and not the outside turret

Yes!!! Bingo. I just saw the light. Thanks

 

[Wading]

-20 MOA rail if you are confidant at longer range, 500yrds+, shots. if yo're not going to be putting time in past that range then there's no need and just opt for the 0 rail.

 

[918v]

I would get a 20 MOA base. Otherwise you’ll be bottoming out the erector when dialing far and that will limit your ability to dial windage or even to dial out to 1000 if everything isn’t perfectly centered. If you use a 20 MOA base you will have more room to play with and the scope will be happier.

 

[Moe Ron]

As I said I’m very new to this LR precision stuff. I’m an old guy and been around guns all my life. Since I got interested in this genre of shooting I realize I don’t know shit about guns. The range I currently go to is just 100yds and bench only. There is a range fairly near that goes to 800. You gotta shoot a 1 moa group at 200 to qualify. I think I can but
So many questions . Fundamentals etc.
Again thanks

 

[soap11x]

Do you shoot more than 600-ish yards? in that case, 20MOA is the answer. It will help you reach out to to 1000-1300 yards without needing to change the base to a 30MOA.