i felt like I knew a thing or two about scopes until I decided to buy one for my new 338 Lapua Ulfberht semi auto. I want the ability to shoot steel and hunt with it. I would like magnification in the 30 range but don't know if that is possible or practical. Thought about German glass (I love my Zeiss Victory and Swarovski Z6 glass)but I frankly don't understand all is S&B's markings. Should I just buy a Nightforce ATACR and be happy?
Rifle Scopes Mentally Screwed
- Thread starter BenelliHunter
- Start date
3 turret types ... classic double turn (DT) ... add 'more tactile clicks' or heavier clunk on whole #s (DT MTC) ... add locking turret feature (DT MTC LT)
Turret spin direction ... counter clockwise (CCW) or clockwise (CW)
For the most part everythint had paralax adjustment (P) ... add illumination (LP) ... I use L stands for 'Lit' to remember easy
Adjustment value ... milradians (CM) ...or MOA (MOA)
Mostly it ... so you see something like "5-25x56 PMII LT H59 CM CCW MTC"
...just means it's a 5-25x56 Police Marksman II line, Locking Turret, Horus H59 reticle, Mil adjustments, Counter Clockwise turrets, More Tactile Clicks. For this model, double turn, parallax and illum are assumed
Turret spin direction ... counter clockwise (CCW) or clockwise (CW)
For the most part everythint had paralax adjustment (P) ... add illumination (LP) ... I use L stands for 'Lit' to remember easy
Adjustment value ... milradians (CM) ...or MOA (MOA)
Mostly it ... so you see something like "5-25x56 PMII LT H59 CM CCW MTC"
...just means it's a 5-25x56 Police Marksman II line, Locking Turret, Horus H59 reticle, Mil adjustments, Counter Clockwise turrets, More Tactile Clicks. For this model, double turn, parallax and illum are assumed
S&B is a great choice , you mentioned an ATACR, also a great choice. Pick one that has the features and reticle you want, with your budget you'll end up with a good scope regardless of brand.
That was very helpful. I've been looking at the one on sale at mile high and felt like I was lost. Even though I'm not a serious buyer, it does help to know what I'm looking at. Thanks!!
With your desire for 30X ish magnification, also check out the Bushnell XRS. There are some good reticle options, nice scopes, and under your budget so with cost per round of 338, every $3 saved is another practice round
That scope at 30x gets pretty dark and grayish. I think you would be doing yourself a service if you buy the ATACR 7-35x56. If you can afford the S&B, I don't see why Nightforce wouldn't do the trick very well, I might add. You can't hit, what you can't see. That's what they say. Thems!!!!!!
Fair enough, I think of a scope with a 30X top end as probably being used somewhere in the high 20s most of the time anyway. All of these new 30+ top end "tactical" scopes are a new development. F-class and BR were traditionally high mag markets, but guys have been shooting ELR/ULR with 25x optics for a LONG time. Lowlight was doing the mile and 2200yd shots at Gunsite with a BEAST, amongst the obstacles discussed in doing that shoot, not once did "man I wish I had more mag" come up. He was spotting his own splash at 2k+
You speak the truth. It can be done at lower magnification. I'm lucky, I have youngish eyes. Older eyes more mag. never hurts. Beast has awesome glass that doesn't hurt either! S&B could do it all day long with a 5-25 as well. Pretty level playing field when you get up north of $3000+. Just my humble opinion.
BenelliHunter, you may want to take a look at the Athlon Cronus BTR 4.5-29x56. I really like mine, great glass, turrets passed tall target test, and returned to zero without issues. Mentioning this scope only because it could save you a few bucks for extra ammunition and appears to be very well built. 
That said, this scope is a recently released model from a relatively new manufacturer so durability and ruggedness, while expected and built into the design, is still to be proven. Others seem to have had very nice things to say about this company so I decided to take a chance. Mine sits on a 6.5 Creedmoor and has worked well.
I don't know how it would handle a 338 Lapua, but the importer has been very helpful in answering my questions in the past and may be able to shed some light on their spec and testing methods.
That said, this scope is a recently released model from a relatively new manufacturer so durability and ruggedness, while expected and built into the design, is still to be proven. Others seem to have had very nice things to say about this company so I decided to take a chance. Mine sits on a 6.5 Creedmoor and has worked well.
I don't know how it would handle a 338 Lapua, but the importer has been very helpful in answering my questions in the past and may be able to shed some light on their spec and testing methods.
I'd peek through a NF 7-35x before making a final decision. When someone on another thread asked about magnification for a .223 out to 600, many people recommended he get 25x.
For .338 (which I've never shot before) out to 1600+ yards (which I've also never shot before)... I'd think the option for greater magnification would not hurt. People have posted that the NF 7-35x resolves well at max mag, and NF glass is not bad at all. 10x more mag with good/great glass cannot be made up by clarity from excellent glass.
For .338 (which I've never shot before) out to 1600+ yards (which I've also never shot before)... I'd think the option for greater magnification would not hurt. People have posted that the NF 7-35x resolves well at max mag, and NF glass is not bad at all. 10x more mag with good/great glass cannot be made up by clarity from excellent glass.
Nightforce's 7-35 would be a great option for ELR! Call for hide pricing!
Nightforce ATACR 7-35x56 F1 - Mil-R https://www.cstactical.com/p/5524-Nightforce-ATACR-7-35x56-F1-Mil-R.aspx
Nightforce ATACR 7-35x56 F1 - Mil-R https://www.cstactical.com/p/5524-Nightforce-ATACR-7-35x56-F1-Mil-R.aspx
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