Rifle Scopes bought my first scope, what do you think?

[Walter Haas]

I'm new to guns and I really don't know a lot about what I need in a scope, or a rifle for that matter. I bought two Steyr rifles simultaneously in December because I loved the idea of both of them for different reasons. One is the Steyr Scout and the other is the SSG 08 A1. I'm fascinated with long range precision shooting but the scout seemed like a good "go to" rifle so I got both.

They say get a scope equal to the rifle price or better but I didn't think about that until after I bought these rifles which was $7K for the SSG08A1, and something like $1700 for the scout. I bought I Leupold Scout scope for the scout(about $500) which doesn't have parallax adjustment and I've been dry firing with that.

Anyway, for the SSG I just ordered the "Vortex Razor HD Gen II 4.5-27x56 Riflescope with EBR-2C Reticle". It was marked down to $1900 because I guess they're discontinuing the ebr2c reticle.

My thinking was, you don't know anything so what difference does the reticle make.

 

[JC0352]

I'm new to guns and I really don't know a lot about what I need in a scope, or a rifle for that matter. I bought two Steyr rifles simultaneously in December because I loved the idea of both of them for different reasons. One is the Steyr Scout and the other is the SSG 08 A1. I'm fascinated with long range precision shooting but the scout seemed like a good "go to" rifle so I got both.

They say get a scope equal to the rifle price or better but I didn't think about that until after I bought these rifles which was $7K for the SSG08A1, and something like $1700 for the scout. I bought I Leupold Scout scope for the scout(about $500) which doesn't have parallax adjustment and I've been dry firing with that.

Anyway, for the SSG I just ordered the "Vortex Razor HD Gen II 4.5-27x56 Riflescope with EBR-2C Reticle". It was marked down to $1900 because I guess they're discontinuing the ebr2c reticle.

My thinking was, you don't know anything so what difference does the reticle make.

Good scope! Not the best price

Are you a veteran by chance?

 

[308Gunner]

Those are nice rifles and the scope will not hold you back, I have a Gen2 and I prefer the 2 to the new 7 reticle myself. Welcome now go shoot the ever loving shot out of them and have some fun. You might want to check out the training section and before asking a lot of questions use the search function it will save a little bit of your ass

 

[Walter Haas]

Good scope! Not the best price

Are you a veteran by chance?

Not a war veteran but I have an honorable discharge from the USAF.

 

[Rancid Coolaid]

Good scope! Not the best price

Are you a veteran by chance?

Is anyone a veteran "by chance"?

Asking as a veteran.

To the original poster, before you look at dumping huge sums of money into a scope, I would consider some professional instruction. If you wish to become proficient in long range, an introduction into good long range practices will help orders of magnitude more than that same money spent on a scope - and no instruction on its correct use.

Mileage may vary, but I run into lots of shooters who overspent on gear and underspent on marksmanship instruction.

 

[Walter Haas]

Those are nice rifles and the scope will not hold you back, I have a Gen2 and I prefer the 2 to the new 7 reticle myself. Welcome now go shoot the ever loving shot out of them and have some fun. You might want to check out the training section and before asking a lot of questions use the search function it will save a little bit of your ass

Thanks for the tip on the training section, I had not seen that. I see some good courses in interesting locations. Thank you!

 

[Rancid Coolaid]

Not a war veteran but I have an honorable discharge from the USAF.

That's "kinda" like being a veteran, but with nap time. Right?

 

[Walter Haas]

Is anyone a veteran "by chance"?

Asking as a veteran.

To the original poster, before you look at dumping huge sums of money into a scope, I would consider some professional instruction. If you wish to become proficient in long range, an introduction into good long range practices will help orders of magnitude more than that same money spent on a scope - and no instruction on its correct use.

Mileage may vary, but I run into lots of shooters who overspent on gear and underspent on marksmanship instruction.

Thanks, yes, I'm taking instruction seriously. My two Steyr rifles each came with a two day course at Steyr Academy in Alabama. I'm signed up for precision rifle 1 in ten weeks; already booked my flight. Will probably take precision rifle 2 in may but haven't booked it because they are tied up with ShotShow next week and can't deal with scheduling until after.

 

[fdkay]

The "spend as much on the scope as you did on the rifle" daes back a very long time ago when two things were evident:
Rifle prices were much lower
Optics were still in their infancy.

So much has changed in the last 15 years, it is incredible.
You can now get a scope that costs less than 500 dollars with features and reliability not even dreamed of 25 years ago.

The scope you chose is an excellent one, which I'm sure you're just here to make yourself feel better about your choice.
It is a VERY popular scope amongst the various long range tactical shooting crowds.

My only issues with your choice is the SSG has a press fit barrel, not a threaded one.
However, since it is a .308, you can probably count on 10,000 rounds or so before you need to worry about it.
They are damn fine rifles.

 

[Steel head]

Razor 2 won’t hold you back at all.

 

[Walter Haas]

That's "kinda" like being a veteran, but with nap time. Right?

I try to keep the word "veteran" to mean "war veteran", not the beer-swilling, fresh-smelling pretender that I was in the Air Force.

 

[Walter Haas]

The "spend as much on the scope as you did on the rifle" daes back a very long time ago when two things were evident:
Rifle prices were much lower
Optics were still in their infancy.

So much has changed in the last 15 years, it is incredible.
You can now get a scope that costs less than 500 dollars with features and reliability not even dreamed of 25 years ago.

The scope you chose is an excellent one, which I'm sure you're just here to make yourself feel better about your choice.
It is a VERY popular scope amongst the various long range tactical shooting crowds.

My only issues with your choice is the SSG has a press fit barrel, not a threaded one.
However, since it is a .308, you can probably count on 10,000 rounds or so before you need to worry about it.
They are damn fine rifles.

If I understand you about the barrel changing, isn't that the same as most rifles?, that you would have to send it in to be replaced? Or is it standard in the long range shooting world to have a threaded barrel you just replace yourself? Steyr has a rifle where the barrel and the receiver are one piece so the barrel can never be replaced even if you wanted it to be. Its probably moot because I can't imagine shooting that many rounds but who knows what the future holds.

 

[JC0352]

Is anyone a veteran "by chance"?

Asking as a veteran.

“Do you happen to be a veteran?” Is that better?

 

[JC0352]

Not a war veteran but I have an honorable discharge from the USAF.

I ask because that can get you better pricing from a lot of optics manufacturers.

I don’t typically ask for a veteran’s discount anywhere but damn, scopes are expensive.

 

[Rancid Coolaid]

“Do you happen to be a veteran?” Is that better?

I specialize in unnecessary comment and in stating obvious things but in ways that are meant to sound insightful.


All is well.


Carry on.

 

[Fig]

Is anyone a veteran "by chance"?

Asking as a veteran.

To the original poster, before you look at dumping huge sums of money into a scope, I would consider some professional instruction. If you wish to become proficient in long range, an introduction into good long range practices will help orders of magnitude more than that same money spent on a scope - and no instruction on its correct use.

Mileage may vary, but I run into lots of shooters who overspent on gear and underspent on marksmanship instruction.

If you were drafted then it’s definitely “by chance”. The rest of us are idiot volunteers.

 

[Walter Haas]

I ask because that can get you better pricing from a lot of optics manufacturers.

Do you have to show your DD214? Just kidding. Like I said I consider veteran's benefits to be for war veterans. The biggest benefit of my honorable discharge was that it gained me priority entry to the State University system in California. That was plenty.

 

[JC0352]

Do you have to show your DD214? Just kidding. Like I said I consider veteran's benefits to be for war veterans. The biggest benefit of my honorable discharge was that it gained me priority entry to the State University system in California. That was plenty.

You can submit your DD 214 to ExpertVoice to get Vortex’s mil pricing. I’ve found that other dealers are willing to match that price.

(I believe I blacked out my SSN when I submitted mine)

 

[fdkay]

If I understand you about the barrel changing, isn't that the same as most rifles?, that you would have to send it in to be replaced? Or is it standard in the long range shooting world to have a threaded barrel you just replace yourself? Steyr has a rifle where the barrel and the receiver are one piece so the barrel can never be replaced even if you wanted it to be. Its probably moot because I can't imagine shooting that many rounds but who knows what the future holds.

Most barrels are threaded into the receiver. Any competent gunsmith can rebarrel those.
It is more challenging with a press fit barrel and would require significantly more work, but it isn't impossible.
Don't fret, shoot your rifle and enjoy it.

 

[Rancid Coolaid]

If you were drafted then it’s definitely “by chance”. The rest of us are idiot volunteers.

Patriotic...idiot volunteers.

Patriotic.

 

[ChuckP65]

If I understand you about the barrel changing, isn't that the same as most rifles?, that you would have to send it in to be replaced? Or is it standard in the long range shooting world to have a threaded barrel you just replace yourself? Steyr has a rifle where the barrel and the receiver are one piece so the barrel can never be replaced even if you wanted it to be. Its probably moot because I can't imagine shooting that many rounds but who knows what the future holds.

Most are threaded however changing barrels isn't something most do. You need special tools and gauges. As far as round count this may be true of a 308 but I wouldn't say the same for a 6mm Creedmoor for example. You are not getting anywhere near 10k rounds on one.

 

[Kamerad]

The "spend as much on the scope as you did on the rifle" daes back a very long time ago when two things were evident:
Rifle prices were much lower
Optics were still in their infancy.

So much has changed in the last 15 years, it is incredible.
You can now get a scope that costs less than 500 dollars with features and reliability not even dreamed of 25 years ago.

The scope you chose is an excellent one, which I'm sure you're just here to make yourself feel better about your choice.
It is a VERY popular scope amongst the various long range tactical shooting crowds.

My only issues with your choice is the SSG has a press fit barrel, not a threaded one.
However, since it is a .308, you can probably count on 10,000 rounds or so before you need to worry about it.
They are damn fine rifles.

Both rifles are the Steyr SBS Action, and the barrels are threaded in the traditional manner. Steyr has not press fit since the SSG 69. It’s a common misconception.

Call Herbert at Steyr USA, (205) 417-8634. He’s knowledgable and helpful.

 

[Walter Haas]

You can submit your DD 214 to ExpertVoice to get Vortex’s mil pricing. I’ve found that other dealers are willing to match that price.

(I believe I blacked out my SSN when I submitted mine)

I think I would feel guilty applying for a veteran's discount from a private company. If it were a government agency I wouldn't feel that way as much, but I never faced hardship or threat of death in the military. I don't feel like I'm owed anything.

 

[fdkay]

Both rifles are the Steyr SBS Action, and the barrels are threaded in the traditional manner. Steyr has not press fit since the SSG 69. It’s a common misconception.

Call Herbert at Steyr USA, (205) 417-8634. He’s knowledgable and helpful.

I thought all the SSG rifles were press fit. Thanks for the clarification. They are dandy rifles

 

[pkrl]

Are You happy with Your SSG 08 Sir ?

I am looking at :

Sako TRG 42 in .338 lapua magnum
and
Steyr SSG 08 in .338 lapua magnum

Any input Sir ?

 

[308pirate]

Are You happy with Your SSG 08 Sir ?

I am looking at :

Sako TRG 42 in .338 lapua magnum
and
Steyr SSG 08 in .338 lapua magnum

Any input Sir ?

I don't think he'll be answering you.

 

[pkrl]

I don't think he'll be answering you.

Did I violate some kind of forum rule or something ?

Oh I see ... he probably did...

Do You have any input then, Sir ?