Rifle Scopes Scope Selection Help FromThe Experts 4A Newbee

[Mickey3Gun]

Hello all, I'm a new kid in the town called "Long Range" rifles, and to this forum. I waiting for the arrival of my new Savage 10 FCP-K in .308 <span style="font-style: italic">(damn CA with it's 10 days of pain)</span>. I have been reading and searching this forum till my eyes bleed, and running around to every optics manufactures web-site. So I have tried to do as much homework as I could on my own. That said I can use some help.

I reeeealy like the Vortex Viper PST 6-24. (With older eyes and low light, I believe the illuminated reticle would be a tremendous help.) I plan on shooting between 100-800 meters('ish), (but I would like to go beyond that). What other manufactures have an optic with similar features, at a price point close to the Viper. Will I "need" a 20 moa rail or will a "zero" moa be workable at those ranges <span style="font-style: italic">(read this as 800m)</span> with a .308.

Am I over scoping my Savage? Any thoughts, recommendations or advice will be appreciated! (None of my shooting buddies have any long guns capable of these ranges so "No Joy" asking them for advise.) Thanks!

 

[Natty Bumpo]

Re: Scope Selection Help FromThe Experts 4A Newbee

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Am I over scoping my Savage?</div></div>
It's a matter of personal preference. I've shot to 800 yards and beyond with a fixed 16X scope and didn't feel underscoped. Depends what your target is I s'pose. I don't really think you need 24X to shoot that far, but some guys like as much magnification as they can get.

Beyond that, scopes come in a lot of choices and it depends what you like and what you intend to do with it. Do you want front or second focal plane reticle? MOA or mil turrets? A simple plex reticle, or something with aiming points? Light weight and compact, or is size and weight not an issue?

Front focal plane reticles allow you to use the same holdovers at different magnifications and give you the ability to estimate distance to objects of known size at any magnification. If you're not going to use these features, then it's not a must have.

If you're shooting targets at known distance and plan on dialing in your dope, a crosshair reticle may be a better choice than a thicker or more complicated mil-dot or other ballistic reticle.

I'm just scratching the surface here. I'm sure others will have additional points to consider.

 

[Mickey3Gun]

Re: Scope Selection Help FromThe Experts 4A Newbee

Thanks Natty. I'm planning on shooting steel at distance. Paper (mostly) and steel at closer ranges (sub 400). I'm one who likes magnification, especially with a bipod. But the x24 is not a requirement (more like a "desirement". That said, I like the idea of a FFP too. It seems it's between a Millet and Viper PST. As I said, I like the idea of the illuminated reticle as my eyes are not what they use to be. I'm use to using MOA, but I can learn the MRAD system. And I plan on shooting at targets of unknown distances for the challenge. I figure if your going to learn long range rifle work it's part of the package. My goal is to get a well matched optic for the capabilities of the Savage. Hence my question on the forum. I'm not a newbee to firearms and reloading, just to long range weapons. Thanks again for the response!