Rifle Scopes 600 yards- 4.5-14 or 6.5-20?

[45Badger]

Looking to put a bigger scope on my 700p in .308. I've never consistently shot at distances longer than @250 yards. I;m joining a new club with a 600 yard range and want to get a scope that will let my old eyes see the target. Any old farts (50 years or so) here have an opinion or advice?

 

[SmokeRolls]

Re: 600 yards- 4.5-14 or 6.5-20?

With eyesight getting dim. I would go with the NightForce 5.5x 22x 56 as my first choice. The second choice for less $$ would be the 6x 20x 50 Leupy I'm assuming you were talking about.
If you have the extra change and want premium glass you could go S&B or ???
.....SmokeRolls

 

[gpz750]

Re: 600 yards- 4.5-14 or 6.5-20?

zeiss conquest in 6.5-20x50 if your trying to stay on a 1k or less budget. Very nice glass IMO.

 

[TonyAngel]

Re: 600 yards- 4.5-14 or 6.5-20?

I have 50 coming around the corner. I went to get myself a Nightforce 3.5-18X. When i got there the guy offered me a really good deal on a 5.5-22X50, so I took it. There are often times when I think it's too much, but the more time I spend shooting past 300 yards the less I think it's overkill. I went with the 50 because I would had to have gone with high rings if I had gotten the 56.

 

[rezmedic54]

Re: 600 yards- 4.5-14 or 6.5-20?

I turned 60 not to long ago and my eye went to hell when I turned 40 LOL. I shoot out to a 1000 sometimes farther farthest has been 1200 and I use a WOTAC 4 x 14 x 50 It works for me Glass is clear and I haven't noticed any fuzziness at 14. Before you go there I went from regular glasses to tri-focals in less then 4 years after I needed to start having to put the dam things on.

 

[vman]

Re: 600 yards- 4.5-14 or 6.5-20?

I regularly use the 22x mag on my NF, especially with the handy Birchwood Casey Shoot'n'C targets out to 600.

The higher mag lets me see those hits at longer distances when combined with a reactice type target.

 

[5RWill]

Re: 600 yards- 4.5-14 or 6.5-20?

Well in the sense age, if your eyes aren't getting better which i assume they wouldn't i would go with a larger power. You can always back off if you don't need it. Helps for splash and shooting groups also.

 

[silentbutdeadly]

Re: 600 yards- 4.5-14 or 6.5-20?

54 years young here. I bought a NF 5.5-22x56 and it is the greatest thing since sliced bread. The sight picture is so clear it's amazing.

Regards,

Rick

 

[45Badger]

Re: 600 yards- 4.5-14 or 6.5-20?

You guys are gonna cost me some scratch

 

[sr15match]

Re: 600 yards- 4.5-14 or 6.5-20?

I had been going in circles for a couple months trying to decide what to do too for glass & power. My eye-sight has gone downhill in the past several years so a bit of extra power is needed and I'm only 39.........

After a lot of looking (I mean a lot), lots of reading and a couple sleepless nights I bought a new 6.5-20x50 LR/T MK4 M1 w/TMR and a set of MK4 rings delivered for just shy of $1150.

I had a "revised" budget to stick to so that meant NF & USO were out of the question and the deal on the Leupy was excellent. I didn't need the latest FFP, illum reticle, zero stops, high speed turrets, big tubes or mil adjustments. So the Leupold should do well as it won't see a tough life or any serious rough handling.

Todd

 

[bolloxinaspanner]

Re: 600 yards- 4.5-14 or 6.5-20?

It easier to give scope advice when it's clear what the scope will be used for. KD paper targets? UKD steel? KD steel? Hunting? Mil ranging? Highpower matches? Tactical matches? Both? All of the above? What load are you using? Hand load or factory ammo? 15 to 25x can be sufficient out to 1K yards depending on what you are using it for. The greater the power the bigger the target... and the more mirage you will see, not always a good thing. Of course the quality of the glass is a big factor, more power with crappy glass means more crap. A bowl with one scoop of ice cream and a scoop of dog crap is a bowl of dog crap.

 

[Shooter21]

Re: 600 yards- 4.5-14 or 6.5-20?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bolloxinaspanner</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It easier to give scope advice when it's clear what the scope will be used for. KD paper targets? UKD steel? KD steel? Hunting? Mil ranging? Highpower matches? Tactical matches? Both? All of the above? What load are you using? Hand load or factory ammo? 15 to 25x can be sufficient out to 1K yards depending on what you are using it for. The greater the power the bigger the target... and the more mirage you will see, not always a good thing. Of course the quality of the glass is a big factor, more power with crappy glass means more crap. <span style="color: #FF0000">A bowl with one scoop of ice cream and a scoop of dog crap is a bowl of dog crap.</span> </div></div>

LMAO!!! I would go Zeiss Conquest or possibly Vortex Viper if that power range is needed. I wouldn't use Luepold for anything more than a door stop or plunger, since they are totally shittacular... If you have the coin to spend go with Zeiss Diavari or Hensoldt, but I would probably lean toward the first two

 

[limited_10]

Re: 600 yards- 4.5-14 or 6.5-20?

I am 53 and use the Night Force 5.5 X 22 X 56mm and really love it, it is very clear and easy to shoot 600 and out with!!! I have a 338 Lapua that I have one on and we were shooting milk jugs with water two weeks ago at 1450 yards and it was still really easy to shoot that far with it!

 

[tatemarb]

Re: 600 yards- 4.5-14 or 6.5-20?

Well, I'm only 30, but I have pretty bad eyesight (combo of nearsightedness and astigmatism for those in the know). I picked up an IOR in 4.5-14x50 a few months ago and I have been amazed at how well I can see detail with it at distance. It is far better than my Leupold scopes and I thought they were pretty darned good. The key is having enough diopter adjustment to correct for my eyes. At 573 yards I use 2" orange pasties as accuracy targets on white or black background and have no problem picking them up and the small floating dot in the modified mp-8 reticle helps too.

When I went to a local 500 yard range to shoot I had to buy some targets. The owner insisted on giving me 6" fluorescent green targets since I only had a 14x scope. I made him give me some 4" targets too just in case.

The 6" targets looked huge and the 4" was too large without making some kind of dot in it for an aiming point.

If you have the coin go with some of the high end German glass. If not get the same glass in the IOR for around $1100.

my .02

tater

 

[Drifter™]

Re: 600 yards- 4.5-14 or 6.5-20?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 45Badger</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Looking to put a bigger scope on my 700p in .308. I've never consistently shot at distances longer than @250 yards. I;m joining a new club with a 600 yard range and want to get a scope that will let my old eyes see the target. Any old farts (50 years or so) here have an opinion or advice? </div></div>

I find 14x plenty for 600 yards. Adjustable parallax recommended.

 

[RBell24]

Re: 600 yards- 4.5-14 or 6.5-20?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bolloxinaspanner</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It easier to give scope advice when it's clear what the scope will be used for. KD paper targets? UKD steel? KD steel? Hunting? Mil ranging? Highpower matches? Tactical matches? Both? All of the above? What load are you using? Hand load or factory ammo? 15 to 25x can be sufficient out to 1K yards depending on what you are using it for. The greater the power the bigger the target... and the more mirage you will see, not always a good thing. Of course the quality of the glass is a big factor, more power with crappy glass means more crap. <span style="color: #FF0000">A bowl with one scoop of ice cream and a scoop of dog crap is a bowl of dog crap.</span> </div></div>

Haha so very true.

I would much rather have quality glass and less magnification, than mediocre glass and higher magnification

 

[komifornian]

Re: 600 yards- 4.5-14 or 6.5-20?

I'm 52 and my sight isn't that great either...

I use a USO 3.2-17x and it's more than enough when shooting out to 800 meters

I wouldn't get anything more that 15X if you're only going to shoot out 600 yards, you won't need it.

 

[Tyler Kemp]

Re: 600 yards- 4.5-14 or 6.5-20?

I like higher magnifications..you can always turn it down. 20x for me!

 

[BaileyMoto]

Re: 600 yards- 4.5-14 or 6.5-20?

This is 632 yards at 3x, 10x, and 12x.



Click for full size image: 632 yards

10-12x is plenty to 600 and beyond, imo. I also vote that quality of optics trumps magnification and the above scope is 'mid line' optics.

 

[Jackalope33B]

Re: 600 yards- 4.5-14 or 6.5-20?

DAMN! Your reticle is canted LOL.... Good pics BTW..

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BaileyMoto</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This is 632 yards at 3x, 10x, and 12x.



Click for full size image: 632 yards

10-12x is plenty to 600 and beyond, imo. I also vote that quality of optics trumps magnification and the above scope is 'mid line' optics.

</div></div>

 

[samnev]

Re: 600 yards- 4.5-14 or 6.5-20?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TheSmokeRolls</div><div class="ubbcode-body">With eyesight getting dim. I would go with the NightForce 5.5x 22x 56 as my first choice. The second choice for less $$ would be the 6x 20x 50 Leupy I'm assuming you were talking about.
If you have the extra change and want premium glass you could go S&B or ???
.....SmokeRolls </div></div>
+1 Another old fart chiming in. The only change to the above would be the 6.5-20X50 EFR and perhaps the 50MM NF rather than the 56mm.

 

[East County]

Re: 600 yards- 4.5-14 or 6.5-20?

15 X will perfect for me!

 

[cuffm4615]

Re: 600 yards- 4.5-14 or 6.5-20?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TheSmokeRolls</div><div class="ubbcode-body">With eyesight getting dim. I would go with the NightForce 5.5x 22x 56 as my first choice. The second choice for less $$ would be the 6x 20x 50 Leupy I'm assuming you were talking about.
If you have the extra change and want premium glass you could go S&B or ???
.....SmokeRolls</div></div>

+1 this is the route I would take regardless of how good your eyesight is.

 

[TonyAngel]

Re: 600 yards- 4.5-14 or 6.5-20?

If you're considering going with Nightforce, you should probably decide what the closest distance is that you will be shooting. When comparin the 3.5-15X to the 5.5-22X, the larger scope is less than half and inch longer and there is only a difference in weight of 1oz. Unless you need the lower bottom end, there really is no reason not to go with the 5.5-22X. The only drawback would be if you never (or rarely) run it at 22X and want to use a ranging reticle.

Since I use an NP-R2 reticle, I just range at 11X and divide by twice the MOA. Or, I can just dial up to 22X, crunch my numbers and dial back down. It's easy to do on a Nightforce since the whole eye piece is the magnification adjustment.