Rifle Scopes Noob question about magnification.

[WVshooter]

I'm interested in getting involved in long range shooting/tactical matches and I'm trying to put together a rifle package to get started. I've purchased a 700 5r SS with 24" barrel and am trying to make some decisions about the glass to put on it.

Other than shooting hunting rifles a good bit when I was younger I don't really have much experience with scoped rifles at ranges beyond 250 yards and scopes above 3-9 power.

Edited to be more concise:
I've heard the military used/uses 10x on some of their sniper rifles out to 1000 yards so is it much of an advantage to get up into that 16x or 24x range if you're doing tactical type training classes and competitions vs. bench rest shooting?

Sorry if this subject has been beaten up before. I've been reading through a lot of the articles in the sticky sections and haven't seen this yet.

 

[shootist2004]

Re: Noob question about magnification.

for 1500 you can find a used leupold 8-25 mark 4.

 

[raider1v1]

Re: Noob question about magnification.

how far out will you be shooting and what is your budged? also, what type of reticle are you looking for? ranging? mildot? target dot?

 

[hornet shooter]

Re: Noob question about magnification.

I seem to never change my power above 12x even when shooting at 1k. But it is nice to have the option.

 

[WVshooter]

Re: Noob question about magnification.

I am trying to stay under the 1500 mark for budget but might stretch that a couple hundred if I get a good buy. I'm not entirely sure on the reticle due to inexperience but the Horus reticles look interesting though the scopes I've seen them on seem to be about out of my budget range. At the very least a mil reticle like what I've seen in the viper pst line of scopes.

 

[raider1v1]

Re: Noob question about magnification.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: WV shooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am trying to stay under the 1500 mark for budget but might stretch that a couple hundred if I get a good buy. I'm not entirely sure on the reticle due to inexperience but the Horus reticles look interesting though the scopes I've seen them on seem to be about out of my budget range. At the very least a mil reticle like what I've seen in the viper pst line of scopes. </div></div>

so 1500 will get you a really really nice scope. what ranges will you be shooting? i have mostly 6-24's, and a 8-32. the only downside is that if i have to shoot closer than 100yds the 6x is a bit too much to have a really wide FOV.

 

[mortarguy5611]

Re: Noob question about magnification.

Cant go wrong with a Vortex Viper PST 6-24-50 it will be well under your price range with a lot of options many scopes of a higher dollar doesnt and still leave you money to buy a good set up rings and a base. Nightforce Seekins and Badger are great. I think my 6-24 is about the perfect mag range for tactical type shooting.

 

[raider1v1]

Re: Noob question about magnification.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mortarguy5611</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Cant go wrong with a Vortex Viper PST 6-24-50 it will be well under your price range with a lot of options many scopes of a higher dollar doesnt and still leave you money to buy a good set up rings and a base. Nightforce Seekins and Badger are great. I think my 6-24 is about the perfect mag range for tactical type shooting. </div></div>

if his budget was lower yes, the viper is a good choice, but since he has the extra money the sightron SIII should be the clear winner here.

im also not convinced the seekins rings are that much better to justify the cost. the burris extreme rings are 48.19 w/a swfa pricematch, thats really hard to beat.

 

[mortarguy5611]

Re: Noob question about magnification.

Well I guess we have to agree to disagree. I wasnt as impressed with the sightron than the Vortex. Reticle choices zero stop FFP Non plastic turrets are enough reason for me to buy another Vortex over a Sightron. But thats just my preference and everyone is allowed to have an opinion. As far as the rings I guess i have never used the Burris rings but i have never had a problem with my Nightforce Seekins or Badger so i stick with them.

 

[raider1v1]

Re: Noob question about magnification.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mortarguy5611</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Well I guess we have to agree to disagree. I wasnt as impressed with the sightron than the Vortex. Reticle choices zero stop FFP Non plastic turrets are enough reason for me to buy another Vortex over a Sightron. But thats just my preference and everyone is allowed to have an opinion. As far as the rings I guess i have never used the Burris rings but i have never had a problem with my Nightforce Seekins or Badger so i stick with them. </div></div>

i have several of the PEPR Burris mounts and 2 sets of the Burris Xtreme mounts, rock solid when torqued to their specs (22 in-lb on the screws, 65 in-lb on the bolt)

what vortex did you compare it to? a SII Big Sky or SIII?

 

[mortarguy5611]

Re: Noob question about magnification.

I was referring to a PST 6-24-50FFP MOA/MOA

And I am 95% sure it was the SIII but I will double check on that.

And I may have to try a set of the Burris rings. Always willing to try out something new if it seems like a good product.


Happy Shooting.

 

[uncledog57]

Re: Noob question about magnification.

+1 on the Burris rings. I have now changed thre rifles to them and they are working great!

+1 on the Vortex PST. I bought used here on the Hide and it arrived broken. Vortex had a new one to me in 7 days. No questions asked. Extreme customer service!!

 

[WVshooter]

Re: Noob question about magnification.

Thanks for the replies.

I have a few different scopes in mind. The two Vortex PST's with FFP look like good scopes from the reviews I've read. The Leupold Mark IV scopes look like good options but I've been getting the impression that they may or may not be that great based on some of the posts I've seen about them.

I guess mostly my question was getting to the practical applications of higher magnifications. I'm planning on taking some professional training to get started and the courses I'm looking at said to plan on shooting out to 800 yards which is about 4 times further than I've shot before.

So is it common practice among experienced shooters to shift magnification settings often during matches or training courses and if so do they crank them all the way up to 24x or more or would a max or 10x to 15x be plenty for that type of shooting out to the 800 to 1000 yard range?

Or am I just over thinking it?

 

[Beef Curtain]

Re: Noob question about magnification.

I picked up a used Vortex Razor for $1,500.

 

[Senderofan]

Re: Noob question about magnification.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: WV shooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks for the replies.

I have a few different scopes in mind. The two Vortex PST's with FFP look like good scopes from the reviews I've read. The Leupold Mark IV scopes look like good options but I've been getting the impression that they may or may not be that great based on some of the posts I've seen about them.

I guess mostly my question was getting to the practical applications of higher magnifications. I'm planning on taking some professional training to get started and the courses I'm looking at said to plan on shooting out to 800 yards which is about 4 times further than I've shot before.

So is it common practice among experienced shooters to shift magnification settings often during matches or training courses and if so do they crank them all the way up to 24x or more or would a max or 10x to 15x be plenty for that type of shooting out to the 800 to 1000 yard range?

Or am I just over thinking it? </div></div>

I think it depends on what type of shooting course you take. If it's a hunting course or a course more on the tactical side....you may be encouraged to leave the scope set at say "10x". The long range course I took...several of the guys had fixed 10 power scopes. We were shooting unknown distances from 200 to 700 yards. If you are taking a class that is more BR shooting oriented...then you'll probably appreciate the higher magnification.

I'm an aging varmint hunter. Small targets at long range....so I appreciate higher magnification.

Wayne

P.S.

I used all 32 power on my NF BR 8-32x...when shooting prarie dogs at greater than 800 yards. I appreciated every single one of those magnification levels. Guess I'm a magnification junkie.

 

[Hi Speed]

Re: Noob question about magnification.

I lugged a leupold around for 34 total months in the sand box without a single fail. I have had them all but still love my loopy.

 

[WVshooter]

Re: Noob question about magnification.

Sorry, I should have been more specific. My main interest is in tactical shooting.
The course I'm looking at will be for tactical rifle training shooting from all different positions, around barriers, etc. with some moving targets, shooting through barriers, and varying ranges from sub 100 to about 800 yards and angle shooting uphill and downhill.

The school is in WV and I've taken their tactical pistol courses a couple times which were excellent training. This will be the first time for me in a precision rifle course.

 

[WVshooter]

Re: Noob question about magnification.

That's good to know. I had always thought Leupolds were the shit when I was younger and thought they were the absolute top of the line. That was until I started getting heavier into shooting and started seeing the S&B's, Premier's, and USO's which I'd never heard of before.

I had seen some like the Mark 4 M2 and others in the Mark 4 series that were just on the top edge of my price range that look like really nice scopes. I just wasn't sure if the M2 would be good for a beginner at only 10x or if that was plenty for what I am wanting to do.

 

[Boomholzer]

Re: Noob question about magnification.

That would be a good choice IMO. A 4.5-14 Leupold FFP with the TMR reticle is another consideration. I have a older 4.5-14 Leupold with the Premier Reticle FFP GenII conversion and it is still my most used optic. It has a non-factory shim type zero stop installed.

I have a PST but I have not gotten to play with it much. Only things I can say is that I like the EBR-1 reticle and the eye relief is great. Compared it to a SWFA 5-20 on same day the optical quality difference was easily noted between the two. The SWFA parallax knob is quite annoying. The difference in mass is also easily observed.

The varmint profile Rem barrel and a optic that does'nt size/weigh like a Navy artillery impliment is a plus. Personally, this is quite objective and I would focus on a 14-16x variable FFP, no pun intended. The PST is in the mix but I would not choose it simply based on higher magnification range.

Application is really time/stress/target dependant. Few things, including load, optic, rifle, sling, kit, and shooter, ever work optimally in all situations. You'll build a preference based on results, observations, and experience. Rifle optics relatively hold their value and the resale market is there. Your not adopting it for life. You have a decent budget set aside and a decent rifle. Again, I would favor a variable FFP without stressing having 20x+ magnification on the high-end. HTH

 

[WVshooter]

Re: Noob question about magnification.

Thanks, those are good points. I was looking on Liberty optics site and saw the Mark 4's you mentioned with FFP and the TMR. Sounds like a good way to go considering the budget I'm trying to stick to.

 

[mortarguy5611]

Re: Noob question about magnification.

Best thing I would suggest is to see if you can find anyone in your area who has the ones you are looking at and get your hand on them and look through them.