Rifle Scopes 12-42x56 NXS and 308?
- Thread starter seabass25
- Start date
I have it on my F/TR rifle. With a 20 moa base, it will zero at 100 yds and have about 34.75 moa up. It will reach 1000 for my gun, but my gun has a 30" tube on it.
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Is it a gun you already possess? If so, do you know the velocity or drop of your round?
Using 2650 fps, 750' altitude, and 45 degree temperature, it is borderline with a 20 moa base. A 30 moa base should get you there. If I have 34.75 moa left with my 20 moa base, that should mean there is approx 10 moa left in the scope, correct? If that is the case, it should zero at a hundred and have all 45 moa up remaining? I think that is all correct, but I could be wrong.
Using 2650 fps, 750' altitude, and 45 degree temperature, it is borderline with a 20 moa base. A 30 moa base should get you there. If I have 34.75 moa left with my 20 moa base, that should mean there is approx 10 moa left in the scope, correct? If that is the case, it should zero at a hundred and have all 45 moa up remaining? I think that is all correct, but I could be wrong.
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Why, aside from the fact that you CAN, do you WANT or otherwise NEED a 12-42x optic on a semi-auto .308? I only ask because at first blush...its OVERKILL to put it mildly.
Adding more magnification is often times more of a hindrance than a help when glassing any rifle, but particularly a semi-auto, AR-type rifle depending on how you'll be running it...more is often less in that regard!!
Sure...they are great for benchrest, etc., but a 12x min mag range for use on a semi-auto (.308 or otherwise), a 42x top end that could quickly become useless at extended ranges with mirage factored in (again, depending on how you'll be running the rifle), etc., that particular NF is hardly a good combination in my experience where a .308 gasser is concerned. Also, not sure if you have the optic yet as you don't yet have the rifle, but NF is in the process of discontinuing/phasing out the 12-42x NXS so if that's the direction you have decided to go...better find one and get it now or you'll be stuck scouring the used market for one!If you do go that route, even with a canted base, depending what load you want to run and the environment you'll be shooting it in, you may have issues with the limited internal elevation in that model. Badger makes a good 22MOA riser for the AR platform rifles that is rock solid and one of my preferred mounting bases for the AR (if that's the "semi" group you are referring to), and others like WOA make some quality 20MOA rails. That will allow you to zero at 100, but again...making it to 1k with that optic will depend heavily on your particular rifle/load combo and the environment you'll be shooting it. Going to a 30MOA rail (not easily done on an AR-platform), depending on how much of your scopes adjustments you'll need to use up to get zeroed, could compromise the ability to get a 100yd zero. Again, without knowing your particular load/MV/etc., its only a semi-edumacated guess at this point.
Why so much magnification? You would be better off with a 5.5-22x50 and have plenty of elevation to get a 20" gas gun to 1000 as well as enough magnification to see what you are shooting at.
What will you be doing with the rifle?
What will you be doing with the rifle?
I'm currently using the scope on my 40x in 22lr shooting off a bench. I like the amount of magnification when shooting golf balls at 200 yards. My intention is to get a 308 and use the scope that I have on hand for a period of time to save up for another nightforce. I agree the 5.5-22x50 is the best choice, but right now I can't swing it.
For a stop-gap...that scope will serve you "ok" on the rifle in question as previously mentioned, but just keep in mind that you may or may not be able to get out of it what you want/need as it really isn't a suitable optic for those purposes. Also...you do NOT need anywhere near 42x to see and shoot smaller/finer targets at longer ranges. Sure...it is nice to have that kind of juice sometimes, but with something like the 5.5-22x NF scopes, that top end gets you plenty of magnification for a .308 gasser out to 1k (and beyond) with precision levels of accuracy (depending on the rifle/shooter/ammo/etc.).
As for not being able to afford the 5.5-22x, I'd gladly sell off the 12-42x scope or trade it for a 5.5-22x and replace the BR scope setup on your rimfire with a cheaper optic (but still one of excellent quality) like a Weaver T-36 (36x fixed) or Sightron SII 36x if its the higher magnification you desire for golf balls at 200yds. They can be had for ~$400 mark and won't break the bank by any means. That'll give you two optics that you don't have to go swapping between rifles and still give you plenty of juice for your rimfire and a FAR better optic for your gasser.
42x, you gonna hurt ur eyes man, trust me 308 can't go that far......5-25x is best for 308 or bigger
